Users, the bane of our existence
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
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emartinho wrote:
Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like:
< sarcastic deer in headlight > Well no I can't, as I'm not a techie/compter expert... < /sarcastic deer in headlight > :laugh:
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you forgot to close your tag, you have now broken the internet
You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
Maybe a few screenshots in written instructions would help?
emartinho wrote:
When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"?
Yes, many people would answer that way. The key is to know your audience/users. IMHO, users are not the bane of our existence, they're the reason we have jobs. :) /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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you forgot to close your tag, you have now broken the internet
You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
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you forgot to close your tag, you have now broken the internet
You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
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you forgot to close your tag, you have now broken the internet
You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
< /Pulls out a shotgun and fires > Fixed :suss: Edit: the closing tag disappeared the first time, ist really broke
if(this.signature != "") { MessageBox.Show("This is my signature: " + Environment.NewLine + signature); } else { MessageBox.Show("404-Signature not found"); }
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Maybe a few screenshots in written instructions would help?
emartinho wrote:
When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"?
Yes, many people would answer that way. The key is to know your audience/users. IMHO, users are not the bane of our existence, they're the reason we have jobs. :) /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
Absolutely! If they don't understand what you are telling them to do, you are saying it wrong.
Never underestimate the power of stupid things in large numbers --- Serious Sam
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
emartinho wrote:
when you tell users to do things like:
- open windows Explorer
- in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x"
- Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document.The procedure failed on step 2 since the word "the" did not appear. Thus I stood there like a deer looking at headlights thinking I was reading it wrong. Nope. Definitely no "the" appeared.
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet. The interesting thing about software is it can not reproduce, until it can.
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
I remember the old "If General Motors had a help desk" schtick. One that has always stuck with me:
GM: You've reached the GM help desk. This is John, how can I help? User: I just got one of your cars, and I can't get it started! GM: What have you done so far? User: (Gives rambling 5 minute story involving a shotgun, a case of beer, and a feral cat.) GM: Ok, I think I see your problem. First, sit in the driver seat, behind the wheel. Then put the key into the ignition. Put your right foot on the brake and turn the key forward until the engine turns on.... User: Wait, wait! Key? Ignition? Brake? Why do I need this technical jargon to use your product?
Other clips include the user who ran out of gas and complained about needing to keep paying out good money to use the car, and the guy who wrapped his car around a tree and demanded that the manufacturer either fix it or give him -- for free, of course -- a version that doesn't crash.
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
I always explain it thusly:
The User Is The Enemy
After all, we all learn to code defensively - and one need only defend against ones enemies.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
Lusers gonna luse.
emartinho wrote:
When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"?
It's not actually like that, though. Who the heck checks their own oil? That's what you're paying the mechanic for. It's as if the mechanic had to clean the windshield and then tells the owner "you know you can press this button to get some wiper fluid, right?" and owner would say "huh no, I don't know and I don't want to know". You know, absolute basic stuff that you have no excuse not to know if you've ever driven a car / used a computer.
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
If a mechanic told me to change my oil by: 1. take the pan for the old oil, crawl under the car, and place the pan under the oil-release valve 2. then: crawl-out, and turn off the engine 3. then: crawl back under the car, and open the oil-release valve I might well say to her: "I'm not really a mechanic, you know." :)
“There are obvious things, and there are many obvious things no one tried, because no one needed to try them.” Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov, January 1, 2014
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
I cant answer since i'm not a User because i don't do drugs.
"Coming soon"
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
How do you know my wife? Seriously, I STILL haven't gotten her to use Alt-Tab to switch between applications and it's only been a part of Windows since before our 21 year old daughter was born. On the occasion when I remind her, she uses both hands, the right hand on the right Alt key and the left hand for the Tab and it's a simultaneous click and release like it will electrocute her if she keeps her hands on the keyboard, which may or may not be the right application. :mad: (Me, "You have to hold down the Alt key and then press Tab until you get to the one you want.") "Where did it go I can't find it!" A statement said about many different things, application windows, websites when she has multiple tabs open, documents she wants to email(Me, "Where did you save it?" Her, "I don't know I just hit save.") I love my wife, I love my wife, I love my wife. :-D Truly I could not live without her.
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< rant > Can someone tell me why, when you tell users to do things like: - open windows Explorer - in the screen the appears, navigate to folder "x" - Run Word, click on "Open" and navigate to your document. and then they act like deer in headlights, they almost always say "well I'm not a techie/compter expert, etc..." in a sarcastic tone?? When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"? Sheesh. Is it too much to expect someone who uses a computer/car/appliance on a regular basis, to actually know something about what they're using? < /rant > Thank you for your time. We now return you to your regularly scheduled hell..... -EM
As much as I want to agree with you and complain, my wife showed me a new feature on the TV remote that I didn't know existed. Even with her instruction, I probably won't remember as I don't watch that much TV. As long as I can turn it on, change volume and channel, I'll eventually get where I want to be. Hogan
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Maybe a few screenshots in written instructions would help?
emartinho wrote:
When the mechanic tells them to check their oil in their car, do they say "well I'm not a mechanic/car expert"?
Yes, many people would answer that way. The key is to know your audience/users. IMHO, users are not the bane of our existence, they're the reason we have jobs. :) /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
Best answer my friend. :cool:
It was broke, so I fixed it.
