[stackoverflow]

Learning how to communicate is part of development. It's not his fault, it's yours for not being able to better communicate.

If the guy didn't understand the archive and the "..." notion, how would he even understand a file browser window or anything else? You should explain in a way he could get it.

This post has been edited by stackoverflow: 19 June 2012 - 05:44 AM

[Celerian]

Quote

You should explain in a way he could get it.

Really? No shit. If I knew exactly the way to explain it so he would get it, he would have gotten it the very first time.

I explained it in several different ways, gave analogies, drew diagrams. The only thing I didn't do was get a stack of manila folders, set them inside each other, and have a few that were folded up with papers inside to represent a zip/rar archive.

Some people don't want to learn, and no matter what you try, they aren't going to learn. I did not give up on explaining it to him, he decided he didn't have time to try and figure it out. That is not my fault. I cannot make him put forth the effort.

[h4nnib4l]

TheITNinja, on 19 June 2012 - 05:13 AM, said:

Instead of calling names, and making fun of the technically challenged

You do know that this is the lounge, right?

[TheITNinja]

h4nnib4l, on 19 June 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

TheITNinja, on 19 June 2012 - 05:13 AM, said:

Instead of calling names, and making fun of the technically challenged

You do know that this is the lounge, right?

Yes I'm aware, but my strict up bringing makes it hard for me to be rude even when allowed

[BenignDesign]

Have you tried therapy?

[Celerian]

TheITNinja, on 19 June 2012 - 08:36 AM, said:

h4nnib4l, on 19 June 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

TheITNinja, on 19 June 2012 - 05:13 AM, said:

Instead of calling names, and making fun of the technically challenged

You do know that this is the lounge, right?

Yes I'm aware, but my strict up bringing makes it hard for me to be rude even when allowed

Look, I'm not really trying to bag on my boss. He can be a complete dick, but he's also been pretty understanding about a lot of things. He's a good guy to work with. It was just something I felt might elicit some funny anecdotes, so I figured I'd share. We all have frustrating moments. He's actually pretty cool outside of the workplace when you get a few 7 and 7's in him.

[Aphex19]

After about a year with his computer and repeated explanations using various metaphors and analogies, my Father still doesn't understand what a window is, or does, in MS Windows. His excuse is the ever obvious, "I didn't grow up with these things!". He is getting better though, and I'm sure that deep down he understands more than he lets on, which leads me to believe that he's pulling my leg a bit now.

My Mother would likely be the same if she had any interest in computers at all.

I think Celerian summed it up.

Quote

Some people don't want to learn, and no matter what you try, they aren't going to learn. I did not give up on explaining it to him, he decided he didn't have time to try and figure it out. That is not my fault. I cannot make him put forth the effort.

This post has been edited by Aphex19: 19 June 2012 - 07:00 AM

[cfoley]

I remember a conversation long ago that went a bit like this:

Boss: Can you show me how to do this thing on the computer?
Me: Sure just move the mouse pointer over there and right click.
Boss: No, I don't do right clicking?
Me: What?
Boss: I just use the left button.
Me: OK, the right button just brings up a menu. The command you need is on that.
Boss: No, show me another way.
Me: Well, there probably is another way but it would take me a few minutes to look through the menus to find it. Are you sure you won't right click just this once?
Boss: I thought you were good with computers.
(Boss exits stage left)

[jon.kiparsky]

Wow, that's so... typical.

[TheITNinja]

cfoley, on 19 June 2012 - 08:40 AM, said:

I remember a conversation long ago that went a bit like this:

Boss: Can you show me how to do this thing on the computer?
Me: Sure just move the mouse pointer over there and right click.
Boss: No, I don't do right clicking?
Me: What?
Boss: I just use the left button.
Me: OK, the right button just brings up a menu. The command you need is on that.
Boss: No, show me another way.
Me: Well, there probably is another way but it would take me a few minutes to look through the menus to find it. Are you sure you won't right click just this once?
Boss: I thought you were good with computers.
(Boss exits stage left)

I think the problem there, was at this line:

Me: OK, the right button just brings up a menu. The command you need is on that.

Instead, you should have said:

"Click the right button"

if he had said:

"no" or "I can't" etc then you should have responded:

"I'm sorry, I can not help you any further"

[lordofduct]

What if he said, "No, show me another way.", like he did?

Your fix for the scenario played out roughly the same. Only difference is you more quickly backed away with "I'm sorry, I can not help you any further". How do you think the boss would have reacted to that? Just say, "oh, that's ok then".... I highly doubt that.

[cfoley]

I think my mistake was showing an interest in computers. I was hired as a biochemistry lab assistant and she was a very good lab technician.

This post has been edited by cfoley: 19 June 2012 - 10:00 AM

[lordofduct]

That's my favorite. The showing interest bit.

"Fix this for me. For free. Why won't you? What, I thought you like computers."

[jon.kiparsky]

cfoley, on 19 June 2012 - 11:59 AM, said:

I think my mistake was showing an interest in computers. I was hired as a biochemistry lab assistant and she was a very good "lab technician".

I'll bet she was, heh heh heh. I'll just bet she was.

[DarenR]

no one ever said it was his lab tech....
or what she was good at

This post has been edited by DarenR: 19 June 2012 - 10:43 AM