Computer Literacy is a Curse (Personal Essay)

Butterbescotch · Post by **Butterbescotch** » 27 Apr 2011, 19:12

My mother always calls me when she is in the front of computer. Her annoying and yet pleading voice kept me detached in everything I do. She asks question I've already answered and demonstrated, numerous times. It is always how to log-in on Facebook, how to upload a photo, how to find the address bar or, in worse cases, how to turn on the computer. She is persistent to learn but I was not persistent to teach.

At first, I was eager to share my knowledge. After all, whose children don't want to impress their parents? I was enthralled to the idea. I was even making lesson plan and carefully planning what topics to be discuss per day, like teachers do. It wasn't long before I realized that my efforts are futile. My mother couldn't digest all the teachings. I couldn't figure out what went wrong and why. Eventually, I pretended not to hear any commands on the fort coming nights.

Well, not all parents share this trait, even my fellow peers belong to this category. You volunteered to answer and the next thing you know you are drowned by questions. They expect you to answer every single one of their queries. Even if you did, the same question appears in the next few months with the same person who asked it. It is like an obligation to be computer literate rather than an asset.

I was patient in all aspects of life but they took that attribute from me. To be a teacher was my childhood dream and my hero. But after having a glimpse of its insanity, I vowed not be one. Out of the questions, I was tempted to write books with titles like Mouse for Dummies, Taskbar for Dummies and the like. I fancied how much sales I will make.

In this modern world, knowing how to use computer is useful. Many people are enrolled in a computer course. They are widely used whether in business or in personal purposes. However, no matter how a blessing it is, there will always be a curse out of it.

------

Thanks for reading. Any thoughts of improvement?

Maud Fitch · Post by **Maud Fitch** » 27 Apr 2011, 19:35

Well said!

(My personal opinion is that most people should sit down in front of a computer and fiddle with it. Without the internet. Investigate, get to know all the functions, the ins and outs of each program, the dropdown menus, the properties, the control panel, click on everything until a working knowledge is obtained. Then tackle the internet. The old fallacy that you can lose all data with one click needs to be remedied in the older generation).

Butterbescotch · Post by **Butterbescotch** » 27 Apr 2011, 21:07

Thanks for the thought Maud :]

Jp1978 · Post by **Jp1978** » 28 Apr 2011, 01:50

You're the fix-it guy for life.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » 28 Apr 2011, 05:08

Butterbescotch wrote:My mother always calls me when she is in the front of computer. Her annoying and yet pleading voice kept me detached in everything I do. She asks question I've already answered and demonstrated, numerous times. It is always how to log-in on Facebook, how to upload a photo, how to find the address bar or, in worse cases, how to turn on the computer. She is persistent to learn but I was not persistent to teach.

At first, I was eager to share my knowledge. After all, whose children don't want to impress their parents? I was enthralled to the idea. I was even making lesson plan and carefully planning what topics to be discuss per day, like teachers do. It wasn't long before I realized that my efforts are futile. My mother couldn't digest all the teachings. I couldn't figure out what went wrong and why. Eventually, I pretended not to hear any commands on the fort coming nights.

Well, not all parents share this trait, even my fellow peers belong to this category. You volunteered to answer and the next thing you know you are drowned by questions. They expect you to answer every single one of their queries. Even if you did, the same question appears in the next few months with the same person who asked it. It is like an obligation to be computer literate rather than an asset.

I was patient in all aspects of life but they took that attribute from me. To be a teacher was my childhood dream and my hero. But after having a glimpse of its insanity, I vowed not be one. Out of the questions, I was tempted to write books with titles like Mouse for Dummies, Taskbar for Dummies and the like. I fancied how much sales I will make.

In this modern world, knowing how to use computer is useful. Many people are enrolled in a computer course. They are widely used whether in business or in personal purposes. However, no matter how a blessing it is, there will always be a curse out of it.

------

Thanks for reading. Any thoughts of improvement?

Just wondering how many questions your mother answered for you and how many times she answered the same question? Are we there yet? Why? Where's my bag, lunch, workbook, socks etc etc?
Such ungrateful children

I think older people do better when they get instruction for their peer group rather than from know it all kids especially their own.
(Just thought maybe I should have put that on the Rant Thread)

Butterbescotch · Post by **Butterbescotch** » 28 Apr 2011, 05:35

I guess countless questions.

But, of course, its not that I really undermine my mother. It was exaggerated.

Vogin · Post by **Vogin** » 28 Apr 2011, 10:49

Oh, yes, well... I'm sure that when 40 years pass and you'll find yourself asking questions like "Damn, won't this teleporting device mess up with my moleculs or something" (or maybe "I remember what it was like to live in an advanced civilization" after surviving WWIII).

The best way by far is not to make fun of it, but to, say, tolerate it and give a hand whenever possible.

GotThatSwing · Post by **GotThatSwing** » 28 Apr 2011, 15:06

Woah, your mum sounds like my dad. He always wants me to show him how to do something on a computer. He writes everything on paper, step by step, but he never looks back on that, but asks same thing again next time.

That's not all, if he buys some gadget and doesn't know how to use it, he calls me to READ THE INSTRUCTION and show him, telling that he read it but couldn't find the information while I know he didn't even open it. If I try to find out how it works without instruction he get's angry.

So I feel your pain

Butterbescotch · Post by **Butterbescotch** » 28 Apr 2011, 18:48

@Vogin

It isn't really about being grateful and ungrateful. I made the premise of my essay and I'll follow it. And I know its wrong to complain.

@Got

I guess our parents is being competitive in the digital field.

Vogin · Post by **Vogin** » 29 Apr 2011, 01:39

We have a prominent national website which so far manages to compete with Google in terms of services, search volumes etc. It goes so far the my mother once called me and asked me "to get her the internet" - it turned out Firefox had a Google default homepage and all she wanted was the other one...

So yeah, I got what you mean.

Aileenhu · Post by **Aileenhu** » 29 Apr 2011, 21:39

Sounds good. :)

Cowboy14 · Post by **Cowboy14** » 27 Jun 2011, 07:17

agree with you

Abigail55 · Post by **Abigail55** » 18 Aug 2011, 15:07

I think it is fun to be computer literate, and to have the ability to teach an older generation, just as they taught their own parents about typewriters and telephones. I fully enjoy having the knowledge necessary to help my parents with their computer problems! I feel like it is a way to give back to them, for all of the knowledge they've given me over the years.

I of course can understand your frustration, though! It's no fun when the students get greedy. But you'd rather have that problem than to have them be apathetic, right?