What to do while sitting next to someone who can't handle the computer?
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Hi all, I'm sure you know the following situation: For some reason (be it personal, related to your profession, ...), you have to deal with somebody (relative, friends, subordinate, or, in the worst-case, someone you report to) who simply can't handle the computer, or at least not in that efficient a way you could do. You can not leave, because you have a job in common with this person to be done now, and also, you cannot take over the keyboard and mouse yourself. But this guy looks for 3 seconds to find the magic 'x' to close a window, doesn't use hotkeys for the the clipboard (or doesn't use it at all and retypes even entire sentences all the time, including several mistakes), doesn't save documents frequently, doesn't find the menus he has opened 5 times in the last 2 minutes already again etc. etc. And it burns under your finger nails, you could to it 10 times faster and better, but you can't do anything about it except waiting, grinding your teeth. It's slightly better if you at least get paid for it, but still it's simply a waste of resources. So, does any of you know something useful to be done in the meantime, except picking your nose, thinking about the next vacation on sunshine beaches or imaging the most efficient way of get rid of our villain? Regards, sm
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Hi all, I'm sure you know the following situation: For some reason (be it personal, related to your profession, ...), you have to deal with somebody (relative, friends, subordinate, or, in the worst-case, someone you report to) who simply can't handle the computer, or at least not in that efficient a way you could do. You can not leave, because you have a job in common with this person to be done now, and also, you cannot take over the keyboard and mouse yourself. But this guy looks for 3 seconds to find the magic 'x' to close a window, doesn't use hotkeys for the the clipboard (or doesn't use it at all and retypes even entire sentences all the time, including several mistakes), doesn't save documents frequently, doesn't find the menus he has opened 5 times in the last 2 minutes already again etc. etc. And it burns under your finger nails, you could to it 10 times faster and better, but you can't do anything about it except waiting, grinding your teeth. It's slightly better if you at least get paid for it, but still it's simply a waste of resources. So, does any of you know something useful to be done in the meantime, except picking your nose, thinking about the next vacation on sunshine beaches or imaging the most efficient way of get rid of our villain? Regards, sm
sm2009 wrote:
you cannot take over the keyboard and mouse
You can and it works. They soon realise you are the master and they the pupil.
sm2009 wrote:
something useful to be done in the meantime
:beer:! Lots and lots of :beer:! I also find projecting a psychopathic aura helps.
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done.
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Hi all, I'm sure you know the following situation: For some reason (be it personal, related to your profession, ...), you have to deal with somebody (relative, friends, subordinate, or, in the worst-case, someone you report to) who simply can't handle the computer, or at least not in that efficient a way you could do. You can not leave, because you have a job in common with this person to be done now, and also, you cannot take over the keyboard and mouse yourself. But this guy looks for 3 seconds to find the magic 'x' to close a window, doesn't use hotkeys for the the clipboard (or doesn't use it at all and retypes even entire sentences all the time, including several mistakes), doesn't save documents frequently, doesn't find the menus he has opened 5 times in the last 2 minutes already again etc. etc. And it burns under your finger nails, you could to it 10 times faster and better, but you can't do anything about it except waiting, grinding your teeth. It's slightly better if you at least get paid for it, but still it's simply a waste of resources. So, does any of you know something useful to be done in the meantime, except picking your nose, thinking about the next vacation on sunshine beaches or imaging the most efficient way of get rid of our villain? Regards, sm
Suggest that he/she takes lessons! Offer to give them at a reasonable rate and if they refuse just laugh at them.
------------------------------------ "The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion" Arthur C Clarke
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Hi all, I'm sure you know the following situation: For some reason (be it personal, related to your profession, ...), you have to deal with somebody (relative, friends, subordinate, or, in the worst-case, someone you report to) who simply can't handle the computer, or at least not in that efficient a way you could do. You can not leave, because you have a job in common with this person to be done now, and also, you cannot take over the keyboard and mouse yourself. But this guy looks for 3 seconds to find the magic 'x' to close a window, doesn't use hotkeys for the the clipboard (or doesn't use it at all and retypes even entire sentences all the time, including several mistakes), doesn't save documents frequently, doesn't find the menus he has opened 5 times in the last 2 minutes already again etc. etc. And it burns under your finger nails, you could to it 10 times faster and better, but you can't do anything about it except waiting, grinding your teeth. It's slightly better if you at least get paid for it, but still it's simply a waste of resources. So, does any of you know something useful to be done in the meantime, except picking your nose, thinking about the next vacation on sunshine beaches or imaging the most efficient way of get rid of our villain? Regards, sm
I think I am too polite to say anything, and I will patiently wait until the excruciating session is over. Or maybe try a "You've typed enough and I am sitting here doing nothing, let's switch for a while".
I'm waiting for Windows Feng Shui, where you have to re-arrange your icons in a manner which best enables your application to run. Richard Jones www.immo-brasseurs.com
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Hi all, I'm sure you know the following situation: For some reason (be it personal, related to your profession, ...), you have to deal with somebody (relative, friends, subordinate, or, in the worst-case, someone you report to) who simply can't handle the computer, or at least not in that efficient a way you could do. You can not leave, because you have a job in common with this person to be done now, and also, you cannot take over the keyboard and mouse yourself. But this guy looks for 3 seconds to find the magic 'x' to close a window, doesn't use hotkeys for the the clipboard (or doesn't use it at all and retypes even entire sentences all the time, including several mistakes), doesn't save documents frequently, doesn't find the menus he has opened 5 times in the last 2 minutes already again etc. etc. And it burns under your finger nails, you could to it 10 times faster and better, but you can't do anything about it except waiting, grinding your teeth. It's slightly better if you at least get paid for it, but still it's simply a waste of resources. So, does any of you know something useful to be done in the meantime, except picking your nose, thinking about the next vacation on sunshine beaches or imaging the most efficient way of get rid of our villain? Regards, sm
Try to be assertive but don't stop yourself to say what you think. Good luck... I won't take any responsibility on the decision you will take... :rolleyes:
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Suggest that he/she takes lessons! Offer to give them at a reasonable rate and if they refuse just laugh at them.
------------------------------------ "The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion" Arthur C Clarke
Offer to give them [the lessons] Don't try to do that! Ever!
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Hi all, I'm sure you know the following situation: For some reason (be it personal, related to your profession, ...), you have to deal with somebody (relative, friends, subordinate, or, in the worst-case, someone you report to) who simply can't handle the computer, or at least not in that efficient a way you could do. You can not leave, because you have a job in common with this person to be done now, and also, you cannot take over the keyboard and mouse yourself. But this guy looks for 3 seconds to find the magic 'x' to close a window, doesn't use hotkeys for the the clipboard (or doesn't use it at all and retypes even entire sentences all the time, including several mistakes), doesn't save documents frequently, doesn't find the menus he has opened 5 times in the last 2 minutes already again etc. etc. And it burns under your finger nails, you could to it 10 times faster and better, but you can't do anything about it except waiting, grinding your teeth. It's slightly better if you at least get paid for it, but still it's simply a waste of resources. So, does any of you know something useful to be done in the meantime, except picking your nose, thinking about the next vacation on sunshine beaches or imaging the most efficient way of get rid of our villain? Regards, sm
I excuse myself to the restroom.
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I excuse myself to the restroom.
This may be the most expedient answer of all! I have been in this situation with many others. With my wife, if I get impatient or try to take over the keyboard, I get rage (from her) -- I sit patiently now... :sigh: With a past co-worker who did not seem to be able to translate what I was asking him to do into coding actions on the keyboard, I tried to intervene at the keyboard and ended up getting the keyboard thrown at me! :omg: I sit patiently now... With all others, I sit patiently now... But I do have to try the restroom idea next time.
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Hi all, I'm sure you know the following situation: For some reason (be it personal, related to your profession, ...), you have to deal with somebody (relative, friends, subordinate, or, in the worst-case, someone you report to) who simply can't handle the computer, or at least not in that efficient a way you could do. You can not leave, because you have a job in common with this person to be done now, and also, you cannot take over the keyboard and mouse yourself. But this guy looks for 3 seconds to find the magic 'x' to close a window, doesn't use hotkeys for the the clipboard (or doesn't use it at all and retypes even entire sentences all the time, including several mistakes), doesn't save documents frequently, doesn't find the menus he has opened 5 times in the last 2 minutes already again etc. etc. And it burns under your finger nails, you could to it 10 times faster and better, but you can't do anything about it except waiting, grinding your teeth. It's slightly better if you at least get paid for it, but still it's simply a waste of resources. So, does any of you know something useful to be done in the meantime, except picking your nose, thinking about the next vacation on sunshine beaches or imaging the most efficient way of get rid of our villain? Regards, sm
If presented in the right way most people are happy to learn a faster way to do something. I have found that most people will respond well to asking them something along the lines of "Could I show you a trick to save you time?" Occasionally the answer will be no or later, but usually the person is only to happy for the help - if it really saves time. Walk them through doing the steps instead of just doing it for them. They learn better and remember more if they are the ones doing it. Things like Ctrl C really are "tricks" to the average user because they are not documented anymore. Why I remember when WordStar came out with all these nifty key combinations.................