Working in the computer field has taught me several things. One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that if your job description, company name or industry has the word "computer" or "internet" in it, friends and family assume you know the answer to all their computer problems and have the time (and desire) to fix their issues.
The truth is, computer savvy is not about having all the answers in your head. Sure, its gratifying when a stymied colleague ooh's and ah's when you pull a nugget about an Asus motherboard driver incompatibility out of thin air, but usually, 5 minutes on Google can come up with the same answer. Its more about the understanding that computers are not infallible machines and the patience to research, try and fail until the problem is solved. "Unsavvy" people are used to dealing with machines like blenders and power tools. These machines seldom fail in a way that the average layman can fix so an expectation of unwavering mechanical reliability is created. When these expectations are transferred over to computers (and cars to some extent), people develop an intolerance for anything other than normal operation. When computers do fail, whether its an OS or hardware issue, this intolerance will cause people to throw up their hands and call.... me.
The cycle of research, try and fail is not something magical that only computer savvy people can perform. It is the standard process of learning. Although it may be time consuming at first, the more you learn, the more you know. The more you know, the shorter the cycle is next time around. And there's always a next time, believe me - I know.
Posts
