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Subject: why do some people fear or dislike computers?
Why do some people fear computers,or dislike them sometimes? I'm trying to get my roommate to at least TRY OUT my computer,he keeps saying 'maybe someday'but he never follows through! I told him there is NO way he can do anything wrong on my computer. Yet he watches hours of TV every night-passive entertainment. Maybe he's afraid of the social interaction on the 'Net? He's hard of hearing,but reads well,so I don't think his hearing is a factor. How can I get him to MAYBE try computers once?
Subject: Re: why do some people fear or dislike computers?
Sometimes people are nervous about learning new things because of frustrating experiences they've had with learning new things in the past. In other words, fear of failure. I've often had to overcome relecutance for this reason.
Some people are phobic about computers for paranoid or political reasons. They want to take a stand against the tyranny of technology, or they fear the government, or some other menacing entity, tracks your every move on the internet. It doesn't sound like this is the case with your roomate, though.
A friend of mine in his late fifties has an attitude that says, "I've done just fine without computers all these years, and I'll do fine without one for years to come." I think he resents their intrusion into every facet of life. The sad thing about Ken is, as a political organizer, he would benefit tremendously from access to email and all the political sites and networks on the web.
Maybe you could figure out a way to casually introduce your roommate to the computer while you're using it. That way he could get the hang of some simple internet processes by watching you.
:)
Subject: Re: why do some people fear or dislike computers?
My parents are in their 60's and I recently gave them my old computer. My mom is starting to use it more regularly, since my brothers and I have taught her how to operate it, but it took her a while. My dad, as far as I know, doesn't go anywhere near the thing. I think what intimidates a lot of people, particularly those over 50, is the technical terminology. Megahertz, gigabytes, RAM, hard drive, etc...when I bought my first computer I felt the same way. But once I put it together and got it up and running I kept tinkering with it until I figured out what I was doing, whereas some people are afraid (understandably) of maybe pushing the wrong button or clicking on the wrong icon and screwing it up.
I kid my dad about this sometimes. He grew up on a farm and back in those days when something broke down, they had to fix it themselves. And when I was a kid, he would always fix his own vehicles. And I'm like, "Geez, Dad, I remember watching you replace the water pump in the old '65 Chevy but you can't even figure out how to program the VCR?" Paradoxically, a lot of people who are technically savvy today don't even know how to change a flat tire.
Subject: Re: why do some people fear or dislike computers?
Quoting:
My parents are in their 60's and I recently gave them my old computer. My mom is starting to use it more regularly, since my brothers and I have taught her how to operate it, but it took her a while. My dad, as far as I know, doesn't go anywhere near the thing. I think what intimidates a lot of people, particularly those over 50, is the technical terminology. Megahertz, gigabytes, RAM, hard drive, etc...when I bought my first computer I felt the same way. But once I put it together and got it up and running I kept tinkering with it until I figured out what I was doing, whereas some people are afraid (understandably) of maybe pushing the wrong button or clicking on the wrong icon and screwing it up.
I kid my dad about this sometimes. He grew up on a farm and back in those days when something broke down, they had to fix it themselves. And when I was a kid, he would always fix his own vehicles. And I'm like, "Geez, Dad, I remember watching you replace the water pump in the old '65 Chevy but you can't even figure out how to program the VCR?" Paradoxically, a lot of people who are technically savvy today don't even know how to change a flat tire.
End Quote
There's a prejudice about computers. Whereas a tractor or a table saw are everyman's tools, computers are still thought of as the province of whiz kids and scientists. At least that's the case with older people.
I'm in the first generation to "grow up" familiar with computers, but I'm still lost on maintenance and repairs. I have to reinstall my Windows program. My computer is doing goofy crap and not cooperating. If I try to reinstall the program myself, I JUST KNOW I'll screw it up. I don't want to talk to tech support without my computer engineer friend sitting right there in case I get confused. It makes you feel at the mercy of machines!
How do people learn how to do these things for themselves?
Subject: Re: why do some people fear or dislike computers?
Quoting:
There's a prejudice about computers. Whereas a tractor or a table saw are everyman's tools, computers are still thought of as the province of whiz kids and scientists. At least that's the case with older people.
I'm in the first generation to "grow up" familiar with computers, but I'm still lost on maintenance and repairs. I have to reinstall my Windows program. My computer is doing goofy crap and not cooperating. If I try to reinstall the program myself, I JUST KNOW I'll screw it up. I don't want to talk to tech support without my computer engineer friend sitting right there in case I get confused. It makes you feel at the mercy of machines!
How do people learn how to do these things for themselves?
End Quote
I set up my Compaq Presario myself so I would be familiar with everything should something go wrong,it was really fun to do it myself too! Had no problem installing Windows XP either,it's pretty self-explanatory. Ditto my Hewlett Packard printer. Maybe the way I talk about my computer-the tech terms I use-make him shy away,but that's the only way I can explain it!
Subject: Re: why do some people fear or dislike computers?
Some people just aren't made for computers. A couple years back I spent a little time trying to teach a 40-something woman how to use a computer. She'd NEVER used one before, and I spent a couple hours just trying to teach her how to use the mouse. She never really got the clicking and sliding and right and left button thing down. It was too bad. She owned her own business and a computer would have been a great help. She was very, very intimidated by the whole thing.
If we'd made it past the "Here's how you start it" phase I was going to let her learn how to use it by loading a couple of games - mah jong, hearts, something like that. I think one of the quickest ways of getting into computers is playing with them.
About the same time I was able to get a house bound older woman (70s) into computers.... Sort of. She was housebound, recovering from a major operation at her daughter's home. She'd never dinked around with computers at home BUT she enjoyed playing bridge. So I bought a bridge program and she became computer savvy right quick.
Subject: Re: why do some people fear or dislike computers?
Yeah its strange how some people take to technology and others dont.
Back when I was a kid - my younger brother was the one who begged dad for a commodore computer and use to take calculators apart and rewire them etc. So you would assume he would grow up into a technological minded adult with all mod cons etc. Instead he owns nothing - a TV only and a mobile phone - but no stereo, computer, dvd player etc. Its like he doesnt want to continue with the curiosity factor he had as a child.
Me back then - I definately wasnt tech minded at all. And while I adored War Games - I seriously thought only a geek would have that much technical stuff in their bedroom.
Yet here I am now - spending hours each day online, building websites, communicating with people around the world, shopping, banking, bill paying etc etc .
My grandmother on my mums side refuses to use ATMs as she thinks they are dangerous, she wont use eftpos in shops, she wont even get a cordless phone (i forget her bizarre reason for that) or a microwave. I try to explain to her that I put all my photos on the net so relatives can view them etc but she wont visit anyone with a puter to look at them.
Yet my grandfather on my dads side got his first puter in the early 90's and taught himself everything. He loves that he can contact me at anytime via email and that he can keep updated on my life by viewing my home page.
One of the first things he did was transfer his 60 year old record collection to DVD and digitally remastered it all !!! (Mind you this is also the guy that jumped out of a plane on his 80th and is planning to do it again on his 90th next year). I should note that he was not a technological minded person to start with - he worked as a sheep shearer most of his life.
Its amazing two people the same age can have such completely different mindsets about technology.
Subject: Re: why do some people fear or dislike computers?
Tony, have you tried finding something cool on the 'net and saying "hey, you have to come try this"? Maybe if you find something that interests him (even if it's the website for one of his fave tv shows), he'd be more likely to try the puter.
Subject: Re: why do some people fear or dislike computers?
I don't fear computers, just our reliance on them. Web goes down, half the businesses in the West lose their communication tools...
I worked for one of Europes' leading mobile phone networks when Pay As You Talk handsets first became available to the general public. We had an elderly female customer there who had called to complain that she had been sold this phone on the basis it was mobile, yet found this to be at odds with her experience. It took quite some minutes of careful questioning to establish she did not realise she could unplug the handset from the charger in the wall and still use it!! :o