Marta, You tell the truth. I bought my very first computer (at age 65) three and one half years ago. I immediately found out about the MacGroup and joined. I don't attend all the meetings; but those that I have been to have each given me at least some small insight. Some have been on a level that I could understand. It does mean that questions are needed at times... and some things I just hope to absorb a little of, for the future. It's a great way to get to know whose answers you are getting on the list serve... makes them better, somehow. Mike
On Jan 8, 2006, at 11:04 AM, Marta Edie wrote: > Randy, now let me tell you, those topics need not be too advanced, in > fact, if the group would only consist of Geeks to blink into each > others' eyes and say: "Ain't we great?" , then the group would quickly > dissolve and leave a few oldtimers who might as well gather in the > local tavern over a beer . - I myself have learned about everything I > know from that group and a lot in the meetings ( right now i have > trouble seeing in the dark and difficulty with my equilibrium and had > to miss the meetings, but I have promise from a member to take me and > I will take advantage), but YOU must ask the questions and insist that > the presenter explain himself a bit more. And never think the question > is dumb , to ask a question shows intelligence on whatever level it is > asked. And you would be surprised how many people have no inkling of > what is being said and would welcome someone asking , being too shy of > saying something themselves. > Then you have to consider that jargon and techno talk is the lifestyle > of some, every profession has those "in" expressions, and to get "in", > you will have to knock and make yourself and your question known. You > have also to consider that not every Guru has those pedagogical > qualities to explain a complex subject to the general public ( Leo > Laporte and David Pogue are experts in that field), but the interplay > of question and answers and the involvement of the whole group can do > wonders. - When I joined this group my knowledge about computers was > absolutely a tabula rasa, but I asked my way through the whole gamut > and thus forced the group to rephrase, explain, be more general, draw > comparisons, check their own presuppositions, so that there was never > one single meeting that I did not come out to know more than I went in > with. Sometimes I wished that somebody regular in the group would > welcome newcomers so they would not feel so alienated in their first > appearance, because I know that not everybody is as bold as I am and > just walks in and talks to the first best one he encounters. My many > years of teaching have taught me that. Maybe the group could make a > bit more of an effort in that direction. And then there are topics > that sometimes are more upscale, they need to be held on one's back > burner until the revelation comes or the necessity to delve into that > particular subject becomes individually necessary. therefore nobody > should judge the whole dinner by just one vegetable not having the > right tenderness . So , do not hesitate to come, ask and ask and ask. > And you know, giving just one example, our Lee, who knows it all, who > can talk on a level that seems more difficult to me than Japanese, but > ask what it all means, and bingo, you get it presented in the right > portion and the right seasoning just for you individually to swallow > and digest. > > Marta > > On Jan 8, 2006, at 9:41, rangrsz263 at mac.com wrote: > >> thanks. We're members and did attend several meetings but they are >> way too advanced for us. >> >> Randy >> >> On Jan 8, 2006, at 12:18 AM, Harry Jacobson-Beyer wrote: >> >> You should check out our >> monthly meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month. >> | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will | be January 24 at Pitt Academy, 6010 Preston Highway. | The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. | List posting address: <mailto:macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> | List Web page: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup>
