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This is a humorous comment. I worked for a large company many years ago and they paid big bucks to hire Fran Tarkenton as a consultant on process improvement. One of his favorite quotes was: "Whoever said 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' should be shot". His theory was that you should continue to improve processes even when they were working OK. So, watch out for old Fran!

I do some PC work on the side and have come to the conclusion that nearly all PC related issues are caused by the user(s). Seriously, many PC users are as ignorant as they come. They know little, refuse to learn and blame the OEM's for their problems. Guess I shouldn't complain...they're keeping the "computer repair" business in business!! LOL!!!

Good advice, Rick!

jeepmanjr, on 20 April 2012 - 04:47 PM, said:

It's true that most people don't know very much about their computers. But to call them 'ignorant' is not really fair, unless you add 'about computers'. They really can't be expected to want to learn techie things... they just want to be able to turn on their device, and at the same time not have to plow through a stack of manuals.

This post has been edited by artzy65: 22 April 2012 - 11:00 AM

cheeesehead, on 20 April 2012 - 02:58 PM, said:

Don't confuse process improvement for "fixing" a working process. If I'm manufacturing a pharmaceutical drug and find I can use a safer, less expensive solvent the substitution is an improvement on the "unbroken" process. Software developers routinely tweak processes in an effort to optimize performance. The difference between them and Joe Enduser is he is making uneducated guesses.

artzy65, on 22 April 2012 - 10:58 AM, said:

To call them ignorant is completely accurate. According to dictionary.com, the definition of ignorant is "lacking in knowledge and training". Based on that definition, it's actually generous.

I've run into a number of users. I tend to group them into these categories:

Ignorant: lacking knowledge
Obstinant: refusing to acquire knowledge
Stupid: unable to acquire knowledge

It's the "obstinant" category that drives me nuts.

Ignorance isn't a bad thing. There are many more things I *DON'T* know that things I do know. If I weren't ignorant about any number of topics, there'd be nothing left to learn. I'd become (even more) insufferable and hopelessly bored.

Stupid is as stupid does. Some people are simply incapable of grasping certain things. I have a mother, 5 sisters and a daughter. They'll all agree: I'm incapable of understanding women. It's like asking a parapelegic to run a marathon. The fact there are parapelegics who DO run marathons makes their efforts and abilities that much more extraordinary and laudable.

Obstinant is having the ability to learn, but refusing to do so. Makes me NUTS.

cheeesehead, on 20 April 2012 - 02:58 PM, said:

Tarkenton is a highly knowledgable, highly disciplined man. While I'm sure he'd disagree with "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", I can't see him agreeing with "change things at random that don't matter, then whine when things break"

"...And deleting Windows' pointers and wallpapers? What on earth for? ..." It is a philosophy. Let us put it this way - a friend was having a house built, and just before the wall board was put over the framing he took a vacuum cleaner and cleaned the sawdust, odd nails, and other trash that was going to get walled off. The construction workers thought it was a waste of time. What on earth for? Or here is another example, you are cleaning your house and you insist on moving a large bed to clean under it. What on earth for? No one will see it! I have, ever since Windows came out, wanted to eliminate the trash that I didn't use. I learned the hard way that it will waste your time like nothing else, that what is not right in my face doesn't affect me, but that does not mean I am happy with the state of affairs.

An incorrigible end-user/tweaker, one of the benefits of using the same XP for ten years is that I made my tweaking mistakes seven or eight years ago, and now have some idea what works and doesn't. It was fun to tweak W7 on my little netbook, to overcome its default bloating with processes and to use the great little apps developers have made to overcome the irritating "Starter" cripples.

Finally a Humor article hehehe, I've been Building and fixing systems for a long long time myself and i have seen a lot.

Really the person that could learn it and doesn't i don't feel for at all, they are their own worst problem with any tech gear of any kind even cars to TV's not just Computers. And every tech or mechanic's, or any type of business's worst customer.

The ones that i really try to work with and don't mind is the one's that just can't grasp what you are trying to show them, though i found a way that helps a lot of them.

Set them in front of the system and give them pointers and let them do it. They will learn it, That's what i had to do with the Mrs. and she's pretty good on Computers now and even has learned to build her own systems. She has taken over 95% of Tech help with the family to.

I have tried this with others and it works, but you still get one now and then....

Like the math genius i knew a few decades ago, couldn't tie his shoes, so he wore penny loafers, could not change a light bulb, just couldn't figure it out. But could tell you how the universe works in math terms i couldn't even begin to understand. He said he see's the world in numbers. Wonder how he fairs with Computers. He was part of a Think Tank then. Yeah I've seen all kinds and have had some really wild stuff come across my bench. He lived like a Spartan to.

I educate those i can and I'm educated at the same time. Some times trying not to laugh and embarrassed them, is the hardest thing to do of all.

The sad thing of this is to I've seen shops take advantage of people like this.

Many times i just clean a system and show them how to do it and take care of their own system. And i have had them as customers ever since when something really serious comes along. And they now laugh right along with you some times to.

marcjell, on 23 April 2012 - 03:27 AM, said:

I would disagree with that characterization. A dog cannot acquire the knowledge to do algebra. That doesn't make it stupid. A similar argument might be made about a human with Down's syndrome. That person has a limited ability to acquire knowledge but is not necessarily stupid.

Stupid is when you acquire acquire the knowledge then do the opposite on impulse. A number of years ago a PA couple bet their life savings on a big Powerball lottery and didn't win. They know the odds but bet anyway. That was stupid. Texting while driving is stupid. Smoking is stupid. Riding in a car driven by a buzzed driver is stupid.

I'm sure you can come up with many more examples.

This post has been edited by RickEvans: 23 April 2012 - 04:29 AM

Speaking of ignorance, there is no such word as "obstinant." The word you want is "obstinate."

marcjell, on 23 April 2012 - 03:27 AM, said:

Ahhhh, tinkering with the OS is a joy no OSX user will ever know.....

artzy65, on 22 April 2012 - 10:58 AM, said:

Um this is 'PC World" meaning computers. OF COURSE he means ignorant about computers. If it's that hard to understand the difference, then you shouldn't be here either especially to troll someone else and their comment. What else would he be talking about someone being ignorant about in a computer site.....toilets?

Ah...the old 'ignoorant vs. stupid' argument. I too am a self-proclaimed computer guru/know-it-all... and my opinion is that either character flaw will get you into much trouble when fiddling with ANY system file. Those files don't belong to the operator...they are the sole property of the "System". Catchy name huh? Fiddle and tweak at your own risk...and don't be too surprised when you take ownership of your new doorstop.

How about create restore point prior to tinkering?

jtimouri, on 23 April 2012 - 03:55 AM, said:

I agree. You paid for the storage which you now have. Why should you have to purchase more storage for the bloatware people? Here is a good solution: An honest online service which removes all the bloat stuff. I have inherited an older HP laptop, and the radio TV doesn't work. What good is the TV anyway? It is in NTSC, not digital. To me multi-media marketing means trying to be all things to all people. A lot of the one-time hot stuff on my laptop is now disappeared.

artzy65, on 22 April 2012 - 10:58 AM, said:

Uhh...being ignorant doesn't necessarily make you stupid...as you allude to. However, blaming an OEM - or whoever - for your ignorance (lack of knowledge) is, indeed, stupid. Learn the difference.

This post has been edited by jeepmanjr: 23 April 2012 - 03:01 PM