In 2023, a coworker saying "Im not good with computers" is as much dumb as saying "Im not good with pencils". amirite?

I agree with you 100%. But saying "as much dumb as" instead of "as dumb as" isn't helping your case here.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Chill! OP is not good with computers

by Anonymous 1 year ago

OP probably is not good with pencils either. Special penmanship.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

At least if op had written it in pencil he could have rubbed it out

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Yep, my bad haha

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Ur stoopid

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I may be some dum but I'm not plum dum.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I love this line so much I'm gonna have to steal it lol

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Probably worse imho.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I've heard IT people say that young people today aren't tech savvy, they're tech dependant. A lot of people grew up with nothing but touchscreen devices, and have no idea how to use a keyboard and mouse

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Gen Z is growing up in an era of technology where everything "just works" out of the box. They know how to navigate a Home Screen and that's about it. Millennials had to learn how to troubleshoot and fix everything.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I don't think the divide is millenials v Gen Z, as an older Gen Z (19) I've seen most of my peers are fairly computer savvy compared to younger Gen Z like my niece who can't input a wifi password at 13 years old.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Unfortunately, I have to agree with you. I'm ten years older than my siblings and know how to fix very basic stuff with my computer, like if the monitor is not working, it might not be plugged in right. If a program is misbehaving, a quick restart or some googling usually does the trick. However, my siblings don't even know how to start looking for a solution. The same goes for my parents, who are early X-Gen.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I feel like this is true. The older generations had little screentime and feel sort of "paralyzed" when faced with a computer. They get overwhelmed by all the options and typically know how to use only a few of them. They quickly give up and call for help. When you try to show them better ways to do a task you often get hit with a "this is how we've always done this." The younger generations on the other hand have grown up with a screen in their hand, but everything's an app nowadays and they've never had to delve deeper. Never had to e.g. change router settings to play some obscure PC game online. In areas other than IT I sometimes lean towards the former (e.g. speaking foreign languages) and sometimes the latter (e.g. cooking). But I try to have a "this isn't rocket science, you can learn this" attitude.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I visited my old college a couple years ago doing some recruiting / presentations. Every computer screen in the labs was grubby on the lower left corner, the students kept touching the screens because their lesson start with instructions to open the start menu.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

inventory software is a weird choice. Why do you assume every is used to that? Like I'm a dev and while I sure I'd pick it up quickly if quizzed on it now I probably would do great

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I would imagine OP works in a field where this is important software and is having trouble at work with people not understanding it. I work in game dev and this kind of software is not so prevalent in my work. I am sure I can learn it if I have to.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

There is literally no reason someone who will never need to use one should learn to use one. If some intern wants to come and organize some inventory that is great, but thankfully I made it past that pay grade without needing to learn it.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I'm QA for mainframe Devs... the amount of boomer coders that are borderline computer illiterate is mind blowing. I have to explain Excel on a daily basis to the salary blackholes.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I've done internal IT support at a fortune 500 company. Most devs are tech illiterate.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

The everyday person has no natural reason to have learned inventory software. Not quite the same as using a pencil.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

> The everyday person has no natural reason to have learned inventory software. No, but if you're not comfortable with a mouse and keyboard, and have a general understanding of concepts like "File", "Folder", "Account", or "Application/Program" then you're pretty far behind.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Yeah I say I'm bad with computers because I'm nowhere near my PC building, fixing, gaming, IT partner, not that I don't know how to use anything

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Yeah but work Boomers are saying it because they don't know the difference between a username and a password and they can't copy/paste files.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It's not just boomers. I teach business technology. My first lesson is always how to create a folder in Google drive, save a file and share it with me. Would you like to guess how many of my students can do that without explicit step-by-step instructions? Only maybe 5 out of 30, give or take.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Young people have become way worse at tech. Their user experience is so clean that they never learn how anything works.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

send gen alpha back to assembly

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It's unclear whether they can't do it before the instructions, or can't do it after the instructions.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

My main cert. Is special ed. So I usually find a way to get them there lol.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Your username is quite fitting.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Do you mean through the webapp, or the Android app? Because I have a CS degree but even I have trouble with the app. I'm sure it's intuitive to *somebody*, but it usually takes me two or three tries to get it to work right, and I'll probably get the permissions wrong.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

so what scares me is the youngest zoomers are worse. All they know is phone UI.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Doesn't help that Apple pretended the iPhone didn't have a file system until a few years ago.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

What I've learned and witnessed is that it isn't that they can't learn, they don't are stubborn assholes who refuse to take the time to learn and are adverse to any kind of change. Yet somehow this behavior is tolerated.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Boomers are baffled by computers for obvious reasons, but zoomers and even later millennials are flummoxed by things like file folders and directories. Their exposure to "computers" were as end users on things to be highly user-friendly, idiot-proof apps/programs which never forced them to take a single look at even surface-level things happening behind the scenes. Late GenXers and early millennials who had to us MS-DOS and Windows 3.1, command prompts and locate were and exe were saved to get anything to run seem to be the only age range that isn't handicapped.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

No, but if in 2023 you still can't figure out how to send an email or type with more than 1 finger, you might as well be writing with the eraser side of a pencil

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Good thing i know how to use 2 fingers

by Anonymous 1 year ago

My high school freshmen are always flabbergasted that I can type quickly without looking at what I'm typing and it's not full of errors.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Do they no longer teach touch typing in schools?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

yea, but imagine working with computers since 2004 and STILL not knowing how to convert a office doc to pdf or send an attachment in email despite it being part of your job on almost daily basis is definitely not normal

by Anonymous 1 year ago

No, but - and I deal with this on a near-daily basis - not understanding what copy/paste is, or what a URL/address bar is, is pretty bad. Especially when you're taking *online classes*

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Mandatory for office jobs maybe but not everyone works an office job.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Boomer response: But can you add an outlet to your living room without hiring an electrician?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Give me a few minutes to watch a youtube video.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

This. I wouldn't do it, I would pay the electrician. But I could, it's easy. I'm just lazy.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I did electrical engineering, and it's illegal to do in-wall wiring without the certification/licensed in Australia because people die thinking it's straightforward and mix something up with 240V AC, without doing the safety checks and not having experience to ensure they know what they are doing. I would not touch 120V/240V AC in a home. The point of the training is to ensure you NEVER make a mistake, because people's lives are on the line, not just yourself but anyone who uses that house. YouTube videos don't cut it, because who is checking competency? There are probably a bunch of boomers who think it's easy and screwed up, killing themselves or others. I would call out that boomer who thinks you're not a "real man", because let's be honest, this is supposed to be a man's role to do dangerous dumb things like this without proper training in the beginning.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

No. But that Boomer isn't going to do it up to code either.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Yes

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Which skill is more useful for everyday life and most jobs? Someone working in an office and not knowing basic computer functions is like an electrician not knowing how to do the above. So you're kind of proving OP's point.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I think for everyday life knowing how to do odd jobs like fixing a light or jumpstarting a car are much more important than using a computer. Outside of work what use is a computer in your life beyond entertainment?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I can tell you with a decent amount of certainty, knowing basic handyman skills is way more useful than knowing how to use inventory software for most people. Wiring your own house is bit more advanced though

by Anonymous 1 year ago

More millenials would learn that stuff if they could afford a house

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Exactly. I don't know how to wire a house because I've practically never lived in one. I can't just start ripping things out in my apartment. If I ever get blessed enough to buy a house - I will learn. With Youtube instead of Frank down the road.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Is that relevant to doing your job?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

No, because it's illegal to do so here.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

We don't have living rooms so that skill is antiquated.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Someone who writes titles like that has no right to call anyone dumb.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

All work places? So the dude hammering nails and hanging sheetrock (with no desire to move up) absolutely MUST know how to handle the excel budget for his company? He absolutely MUST be proficient in "basic computer skills"? Nah, my dude. I've worked multiple jobs from valet to retail to security to construction and flagging. You know the most advanced software I've used? DOS. And that was just 4 years ago, working retail. Don't grt me wrong- I know everything you listed. I grew up on computers. But that doesn't mean EVERY job EVER needs to use them. My grandpa recently retired at 78 as a crusher supervisor for a gravel/cement company. He never touched computers, other than to check and send emails and set up his crews schedules (which was copy/paste)

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I don't see this as an unpopular opinion. It's like people putting Microsoft Word on their resumes. Today that's assumed.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

And yet, I had a 60 year old coworker who listed a 70 WPM typing speed. On a typewriter. The woman didn't know how to minimize a window.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Yeah the current workforce is interesting. A third of them don't get technology until later in life (boomers). A third of them got technology in their youth (gen x). And a third grew up only knowing technology (the young people).

by Anonymous 1 year ago

That last third also grew up with intuitive touch screen devices and are often the least computer literate. Even just googling things is beyond some of them.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Yup. I'm gen x and been in IT for 20+ years. A lot of that younger group think technology is much simpler because of how they interface with their iPhones or gadgets. Of course in actuality it's far more complex but the complexity is hidden from the user.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Back end goes bbbrrrr

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I heard that recently , in Computer Science courses in college , some teachers have had issues teaching because most students don't understand how a file system works.. Like creating folders and navigate them...apparently kids who grew up on iPads and iPhones exclusively like don't understand how folders work

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I've met Zoomers who don't know what a USB cable is. I don't know how it's possible to not even *accidentally* know that in this day and age.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

The 4th third.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I'm gen X and did not get technology in my youth.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I agree, and the wild thing is that it's gen Z/alpha who seem to be lacking basic computer skills these days. We've had so many people in their early 20's come through my job who have appalling basic computer skills, to the point where I have to teach them how to write an e-mail. I don't understand it.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

My brother (who's is in his late 20s) went back to college to be a graphic designer, good for him but he would ask me every single day stuff like "what's a pdf" "this folder is zipped how do I open it", "my file is too big to email what do I do?" (He didn't know how to zip) These questions are fine, everyone needs to learn it at some point but he would call me over every single day and ask the same questions, I would show him how to do it himself and get the same question the next day. After about a month of daily repeat questions I said "this is the last time I'm going to show you because you need to know how to do this, pay attention" and he got really mad about how unfair I was being and that they make stuff like that "purposefully confusing" He dropped out after the first semester and went back to what he was doing before, a job with no computers.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

We had to let go a fresh college grade because after 6 months he was still struggling with using windows. He had other issues, but he just couldn't grasp using a computer or many of the programs we use.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Exactly! I am gen z and most of my friends don't know anything about computers. They only know how to open roblox and tiktok. I think I have okay computer skills (web browsing, e-mailing, downloading stuff, torrenting, navigating different operating systems, etc), but my 40 year old uncle knows way more than me. Even my old dad who rarely uses computers knows more than my gen alpha brother who is on his pc every day.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

The soul-crushing reality of dealing with MS Office suite, Teams and Outlook will dawn upon those at your age cohort either right now, or very very soon as they get shoved into the workforce.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It's also important to remember that some people, through no fault of their own, are just dumb. Intelligence is a spectrum and you're going to find that certain folks will be on the low end. They're still capable of learning, still capable of being productive, but they'll need consideration and patience. Most of them are afraid to try to learn because others come at them with this sort of attitude and it's intimidating. They shut down. Easier to say "I'm not good with computers" than deal with an impatient jackass who assumes everyone was born being able to figure out why certain fields aren't properly populating on his spreadsheet.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

> They're still capable of learning They might technically be *capable* of learning, but most of the ones who say "I'm not good with computers" don't *want* to learn, and they'll actively refuse to if you try to teach them.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

That's an incredibly empathetic response and I am glad you had the guts and the instinct to say it.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Why… would I know how to use inventory software? Lol. If I need to know, I'll learn. I'm not stupid I just have limited time to learn random job skills I don't need. I guess by "all workplaces" you mean office jobs? Not sure what's going on here.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

All workplaces? Including mine, where I'm a ranch hand who never steps foot into the ranch office, where I'm in the field working livestock or operating equipment all day, and where working a computer isn't even part of my job description? I'm NOT good with computers and I probably never will be, because I don't have a need to learn. I just never use them.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

^ this part. I run equipment, and almost every one of us, barely at drinking age ones included, have to have help from the office ladies or engineers with some of the computer stuff. It's never been something I've needed or was interested in.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

There was no typo lol. You meant to write out "is as much dumb"

by Anonymous 1 year ago

You think that all workplaces require computer skills? I'd kill myself if I had to work in an office sitting in front of a computer. Could I learn it if I needed to? Yes Have I ever needed to? No I'm sure most people could make a long list of things that they do in their jobs that you wouldn't have a clue about. If someone asked me to do something random on a computer that I've never needed to do, obviously my response would be sorry, I don't really use computers.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Yeah, it's like op thinks everyone works in an office.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Not everyone works in an office, and most people don't own computers.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I'm a plumber. Why do I need to know these things?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I dont, and won't ever, know excel.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

No one will. As soon as you know it all Microsoft will depreciate the feature you used the most.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

i think you mean deprecated

by Anonymous 1 year ago

No, they're gonna amortize the cost of the feature over its useful life

by Anonymous 1 year ago

defecate upon*

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I haven't used Excel since IT class in school 20 years ago. It has literally never been a requirement for me.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It's just something people say so they don't become "the IT guy" at work I used to pretend I wasn't that tech illiterate to get out of helping people with phone and computer problems

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I made that mistake when I was in college; boss would call me on my days off to solve computer issues at work (At least, after I complained about it, he started giving me overtime pay; 1 hour minimum per-call- even if it only took 5 minutes.)

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I'm a chef, I haven't used excell in at least 20 years.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Can you swap a motor? Grow your own food? Skin a buck? Bait a line? There are billions of people in the world, dude, some of them don't need to know how to any off that, and I can promise you that your life would not be as comfortable as it is if they didn't live like they do.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Except studies have shown the current generation knows less about computers than the previous two generations. Everyone uses a phone or tablet so they have no use for a computer. This opinion is as dumb as boomers saying you just need to work harder to buy a home, very out of touch.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

>but In my experience it is more common with older folks. Tell me you've never worked with children without telling me you've never worked with children. There is an always will be kids that put me to shame, but the vast majority know about as little as every other useless twat of a user.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Your grammar is terrible. You're in no position to call other people "dumb".

by Anonymous 1 year ago

What if you haven't had a profession that required a computer for 10,15 even 20 years? Maybe think outside the little box

by Anonymous 1 year ago

"I'm not good with computers" = "I'm not good at my job" For any case in which your job has *anything* to do with computers.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

If you're gonna start insulting people's intelligence, you sure as hell better make sure that you don't have any stupid mistakes like "as much dumb as"

by Anonymous 1 year ago

This is a pretty idiotic take. Not everyone works in an office

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Idiotic and super judgmental

by Anonymous 1 year ago

My 91 yo landlady can use a computer and smartphone, text, etc.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Most of the young people I know are not good with computers. They actually watch the ads on YouTube and can't do anything with a PC except run apps.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

We interviewed a guy to do a data entry job and he said he wasn't a "keyboard person".... He only liked to use a mouse.... Did you read the job title?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

So, this person expected to use a virtual keyboard to do the data entry then? Wild.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Our education system is a joke and barely incorporates technology into classrooms for Gen Z. This take ignores the countless people who are tech illiterate because they never received an education in it. This opinion reads like someone calling people stupid for never learning to read.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

If you think boomers are bad on computers wait until the kids in school now enter the work force. They grew up on "apps". Apps are not part of the working computer world so good luck with your zero computer skills 👍 It is even worse if the only things they have used are apple products. The world runs on windows.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

A lot of the gen-z kids don't know how to use a computer as well as many gen-x

by Anonymous 1 year ago

As someone very into computers growing up in the 2000s, I'm the guy all my family asks for computer help. I've built my own computer and I've taken quite a few courses on coding, cabling, art software(Photoshop/GarageBand), hardware, and cyber security. What is *inventory software*?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I don't care if you're good, I just want you to try.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

My guy, The way you said that isn't doing you favors lol

by Anonymous 1 year ago