Wednesday, January 11, 2012

man, i'm just tired and bored with myself

it took a heavy dose of the frustration that comes from giving computer help to the computer illiterate to overcome the depression induced blogging dry spell i've been having. i suddenly understand what all my professors were talking about for the past five or so years. i suddenly see that people using optical drives for cup holders and thinking their web browser was google are not just stories made up to add an element of amusement to an otherwise dry class. it's true. it's all true. helping my dad with his computer problems for the past couple of years was just the warm-up for the kind of users that are out there. what i really don't understand is why people insist on making things complicated when they are provided with a simple, easy to follow, step by step guide to do everything they need to do in half an hour or less. i mean, i don't claim to be an expert at everything, but when i come across something i can't do and i have a set of instructions, i follow them. it's the logical thing to do.

gah.

at the same time, though, it kinda feels good to be presented with a problem and have to search for a solution. helping someone achieve their goals makes me feel like maybe i'm not a complete waste of a college education. i researched, and tested, and struggled, and was tempted to throw junior out of the window, and then i found something that fit what i wanted. and i played around with it until i was able to make it work. and then i helped "the client" learn how to use it. and it just feels good to work at something and have it turn out right, you know?

*Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen

2 comments:

  1. anonymous hippopotamusJanuary 11, 2012 at 9:19 PM

    omg this made me soo happy! this is the kind of feeling I would get during java classes. :D

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  2. Haha... I had to teach my dad how to turn on a computer, and do everything else that comes after that, so we could keep in touch over facebook when I moved to Germany. It was almost IMPOSSIBLE to cram my entire life's knowledge of computers into a week or so. I feel your pain.

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