Difficult versus Tedious

[BruceCM]

Don't know how to set up a poll here but I'd rather people replied in a bit more detail than that, anyway. Recently, sorted out parents' problems with their netbook. They think that sort of thing is 'very difficult', where I find it more tedious! Partially due to 'getting into' computers too late but mainly due to limited interest (I can't have a relationship with one!) Oops, must have got the NT 'social' bit, not working properly but, anyway.
Whereas, of course, they mostly find socializing easy & I find that very difficult. For computer stuff, I can find the help/ support online, telling me what to do, in nice easy steps, when needed (knowing I'm not an expert in them, as covered). Where there isn't anything like that (even in AS forums) for socializing. Must be some others here who'd agree?

 

[King_Oni]

Yeah, I agree with you on the thing about "being social" and not being able to have that in steps, whereas something "technical" can be broken down into steps.

Keep in mind, for instance, an operating system like Windows, can be explained step by step to what you have to do to get it working again. With people, I'm inclined to say "if people just acted the way protocol requires there would be no problem".

Imagine if you had a computer and instead of an OK button somewhere the machine went on with a conversation about it. That's what it's like with some people. People will not just say "yes" and "no", they eleborate about something yet that does not answer my direct question, and in fact is a tedious process in filtering the information I need in the first place.

I think tedious work like the one you described has to do with a bit of interest, as well as basic understanding of the "logics" behind machines. The logics of machines are really binary, it's either yes or no. I've had a lot of well.. "sessions" with my parents about how to use a computer, where it just required them to click this and that and it came down to just "doing it", which is where they burst out into the entire "why?". Why is not the question you use for using a tool. I don't discuss why I press the on switch on my coffeemachine either. I think with computers it also has to do with the stigma it has from the "older" generation, which are kinda opposed to "computers are for smart people".

 

[BruceCM]

For parents' problems, they couldn't have followed the 'step by step' instructions! Partially, the 'generation' gap but partially my parents aren't THAT interested in computers & aren't that kind of person. Neither of them's 'stupid', it's different kinds of thinking, like nobody actually understands. I try to keep it simple for them, then they go asking questions they don't really want answers to! Like, 'how did you fix OE can't open it's message store'? Click start, computer, open C drive, user folder, find options, untick boxes....... & put in user folder! Simple, huh?

 

[King_Oni]

yeah, that was the thing I was adressing also. if you ask questions of which you know you don't handle them easily, why even ask? If I want to browse the internet, why would I want to ask "how does internet as a network protocol work?". Are your parents the kind of people that don't read manuals as well? Because I see people like that all the time and they just want to have anything intuitive. Problem solving, especially computers, is hardly intuitive. And some times the problems start if you are stretching the limits of being intuitive.

Another thing that crossed my mind right now, was that with the "simplied" systems on computers, no one has to actually do that much anymore. Everything is a single button thing. Yet, if something goes wrong or if you for instance can't use a modern system, that's where it gets ugly. I've seen it with my aunt, who got a computer last year, and it was really, really old one (something I used to have back in 1999 or so), yet with all "modern" tools like mailclients and all, it's a pain to work around with because of compatibility. It makes up for a really weird mix and match of old and new (and also a mix of "simple vs. difficult") in a way it's good because now she gets to see more of the "basics" on how computers were, just the software nowadays isn't really cooperating on that level. Makes me wonder if there is actually a cutoff date where people actually just need to get over it and either learn to use a computer or just forget the deal for the rest of their lives.

 

[BruceCM]

Well, they do look in manuals but they don't exactly get on very well with them! It's usually easier asking me to sort it out for them. To be fair, many of the 'instructions' in manuals aren't as clear as they should be (& if I think that, they must think that much more so). I sure feel like throttling them plenty of times but they are my parents (admittedly by adopting me, which may explain why I'm so 'different' from them). For me, I've some 'intuition' for computer stuff, I think I can safely say; hence, it was more tedious than difficult looking up their OE problem & sorting through the hundreds of 'answers' to find the best overall help.
Most people only want a pc/laptop & especially a netbook for emails, some browsing, possibly facebook, etc. Obviously, the netbook is primarily for taking on hols but, having one, they use it sometimes, to look up crossword clues &/or check emails, etc. They'd have called in an expert & paid them to sort the problems out, if that'd been their only option, though