I didn't say they should find using a mouse intuitive. Just that they should be able to use one before they get a job where they have to use one.
Your point was that for all the mocking we do of "idiot" users, we are probably comparable in the same terms to people with expertise we don't have. I wouldn't agree. I don't know anything about cars, and my mechanic has to explain everything to me in layman's terms, but I wouldn't start driving with the handbrake on and then ask my mechanic why it felt strange. However, I have had users phone me and ask "there is something wrong with my keyboard, it is typing stars instead of the letters in my password". On 21 June 2011 16:02, Ken Schaefer <[email protected]> wrote: > Sorry – I disagree.**** > > ** ** > > Some people can’t read a timetable. Or work their mobile phone. Or work out > how their microwave/vcr/dvd player/dishwasher works. Or understand how their > car works. Or how to cook chicken. Or make an espresso – a typical espresso > machine only has two buttons, one knob and a steam nozzle. Not everyone > finds a mouse intuitive. I struggled to use an iPhone for several days, and > yet I figure myself to be a tech-savvy person.**** > > ** ** > > Cheers**** > > Ken**** > > ** ** > > *From:* James Rankin [mailto:[email protected]] > *Sent:* Tuesday, 21 June 2011 10:51 PM > > *To:* NT System Admin Issues > *Subject:* Re: Stupid user tricks**** > > ** ** > > Basic they may be, but they are not on as fundamental a level as reading, > writing, arithmetic and understanding how a mouse works. In my opinion > anyway.**** > > On 21 June 2011 15:46, Ken Schaefer <[email protected]> wrote:**** > > Surely understanding your legal obligations are also a basic skill?**** > > Understanding how to bank is a basic skill?**** > > Understanding your employment terms and conditions is a basic skill?**** > > **** > > I mean, most people obey the law, pay taxes, are employed, have a bank > account/mortgage etc.?**** > > **** > > Sometimes you are going to do something – whether that be to tell the bank > to pay someone, or you’re going to fill in something on your tax return. And > you are not 100% sure if you are right, and you’re not sure what the > consequences are. So you call an expert that is **being paid by the > company** to answer these queries. And if the burden of answering these > queries is too much, then get management to pay to automate the solution or > educate the users.**** > > **** > > *From:* James Rankin [mailto:[email protected]] > *Sent:* Tuesday, 21 June 2011 10:39 PM**** > > > *To:* NT System Admin Issues > *Subject:* Re: Stupid user tricks**** > > **** > > It's fair enough to make that comparison, but a lot of basic IT skills - > the ones that sometimes we get called by users about - are probably just as > important as reading, writing and maths in the modern world. You wouldn't > expect a user to call you with a question about adding up or punctuation, > would you?**** > > > > Wannabe British teachers have to pass a test called a QT test these days > that, among other things, tests the basic IT skills. It includes word > processing, storing and retrieving documents, sending an email, browsing the > Internet, etc. I think it is a pretty good idea.**** > > On 21 June 2011 15:31, Ken Schaefer <[email protected]> wrote:**** > > Have you never called/talked/emailed any other professional anywhere, in > your entire life, with a question that the other person thought was basic? > Maybe about your taxes (your accountant), your HR/employment status (HR > department), your banking details (your bank) etc.? > > Sometimes people do not wish to take risks that they can not ascertain. So > they call the designated expert. Your job is to answer their queries. That > is what puts money in your bank account every week/fortnight/month/whatever > period you get paid.**** > > > -----Original Message----- > From: John Aldrich [mailto:[email protected]]**** > > Sent: Tuesday, 21 June 2011 3:13 AM > To: NT System Admin Issues**** > > Subject: Stupid user tricks > > This morning I got a call as I was getting ready for work. I had "borrowed" > a machine from one part of the plant for a couple days and then put it > back. > The place where I put it had a different sign-on for the AS/400. This > morning they called to complain that they were on the wrong screen. I told > them to log out and log back in as the correct user. That took care of it. > **** > > *sigh* Why did they have to call??? Didn't they have enough sense to log on > as the correct user before calling???**** > > **** > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~**** > > > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > --- > To manage subscriptions click here: > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > or send an email to [email protected] > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin**** > > > > > -- > "On two occasions...I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr Babbage, if you put into > the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able > rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such > a question." > > ****** IMPORTANT INFORMATION/DISCLAIMER ***** > > This document should be read only by those persons to whom it is addressed. > If you have received this message it was obviously addressed to you and > therefore you can read it, even it we didn't mean to send it to you. > However, if the contents of this email make no sense whatsoever then you > probably were not the intended recipient, or, alternatively, you are a > mindless cretin; either way, you should immediately kill yourself and > destroy your computer (not necessarily in that order). Once you have taken > this action, please contact us.. no, sorry, you can't use your computer, > because you just destroyed it, and possibly also committed suicide > afterwards, but I am starting to digress...... ***** > > *The originator of this email is not liable for the transmission of the > information contained in this communication. Or are they? Either way it's a > pretty dull legal query and frankly one I'm not going to dwell on. But > should you have nothing better to do, please feel free to ruminate on it, > and please pass on any concrete conclusions should you find them. However, > if you pass them on via email, be sure to include a disclaimer regarding > liability for transmission.***** > > *In the event that the originator did not send this email to you, then > please return it to us and attach a scanned-in picture of your mother's > brother's wife wearing nothing but a kangaroo suit, and we will immediately > refund you exactly half of what you paid for the can of Whiskas you bought > when you went to Pets At Home yesterday. ***** > > *We take no responsibility for non-receipt of this email because we are > running Exchange 5.5 and everyone knows how glitchy that can be. In the > event that you do get this message then please note that we take no > responsibility for that either. Nor will we accept any liability, tacit or > implied, for any damage you may or may not incur as a result of receiving, > or not, as the case may be, from time to time, notwithstanding all > liabilities implied or otherwise, ummm, hell, where was I...umm, no matter > what happens, it is NOT, and NEVER WILL BE, OUR FAULT! ***** > > *The comments and opinions expressed herein are my own and NOT those of my > employer, who, if he knew I was sending emails and surfing the seamier side > of the Internet, would cut off my manhood and feed it to me for afternoon > tea. ***** > > ** ** > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > --- > To manage subscriptions click here: > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > or send an email to [email protected] > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin**** > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > --- > To manage subscriptions click here: > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > or send an email to [email protected] > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin > -- "On two occasions...I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ****** IMPORTANT INFORMATION/DISCLAIMER ***** This document should be read only by those persons to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message it was obviously addressed to you and therefore you can read it, even it we didn't mean to send it to you. However, if the contents of this email make no sense whatsoever then you probably were not the intended recipient, or, alternatively, you are a mindless cretin; either way, you should immediately kill yourself and destroy your computer (not necessarily in that order). Once you have taken this action, please contact us.. no, sorry, you can't use your computer, because you just destroyed it, and possibly also committed suicide afterwards, but I am starting to digress...... * * The originator of this email is not liable for the transmission of the information contained in this communication. Or are they? Either way it's a pretty dull legal query and frankly one I'm not going to dwell on. But should you have nothing better to do, please feel free to ruminate on it, and please pass on any concrete conclusions should you find them. However, if you pass them on via email, be sure to include a disclaimer regarding liability for transmission. * * In the event that the originator did not send this email to you, then please return it to us and attach a scanned-in picture of your mother's brother's wife wearing nothing but a kangaroo suit, and we will immediately refund you exactly half of what you paid for the can of Whiskas you bought when you went to Pets** ** At Home yesterday. * * We take no responsibility for non-receipt of this email because we are running Exchange 5.5 and everyone knows how glitchy that can be. In the event that you do get this message then please note that we take no responsibility for that either. Nor will we accept any liability, tacit or implied, for any damage you may or may not incur as a result of receiving, or not, as the case may be, from time to time, notwithstanding all liabilities implied or otherwise, ummm, hell, where was I...umm, no matter what happens, it is NOT, and NEVER WILL BE, OUR FAULT! * * The comments and opinions expressed herein are my own and NOT those of my employer, who, if he knew I was sending emails and surfing the seamier side of the Internet, would cut off my manhood and feed it to me for afternoon tea. * ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin
