I owe a lot of my computer knowledge to computer forums. I have used various ones since first owning a computer, way back in 1999, but have settled on one particular one since 2014 when I received a really amazing amount of help from it. I hold the guys who provide help on all these forums in high esteem - they give up hours of their time and get nothing back in return, save for the knowledge that they have helped somebody solve a problem that they would not otherwise have been able to solve. So big kudos to them all.
Having said all that, I just had a spell in a computer forum that I found really hard. The guy helping me was excellent and solved my problems for me. I just found it difficult to deal with the fact that there was no feedback from him at all, no interaction whatsoever. He didn't say hello, goodbye or really give any indication as to whether or not I had carried out his instructions correctly. (I guess I need a bit of reassurance sometimes!). Nor, when I thanked him, did he ever even say something like "No problem" or "You are welcome".
Somebody else said to me that the person who was helping me was 'a professional'. Even professionals can be polite though, surely? To me it is not polite to fail to acknowledge thanks, or to observe at least a minimum level of basic interaction. Maybe he thinks the way he is is the right way to be, the 'Professional' way. I just couldn't deal with it though! I found myself believing that the fact that he was effectively ignoring me as a person meant that he was either angry with me for some reason, or that he he must think I was really thick! It is no good telling me that this guy was too 'Professional' to think any of those things: however professional somebody is, unless they are complete automatons they are bound to form their own private opinions about the person they are dealing with.
Maybe it's a female thing. You know, 'Women are from Mars and men are from Venus' and all that jazz! I guess we girls find it harder to disassociate our emotions and personalities from what we are doing. I cannot turn into a robot when I am dealing with computer problems: I am still me, with whatever that entails!
It goes without saying that in spite of the above, I am very grateful to the person who helped me solve my computer problems. He is obviously a very knowledgeable guy - and anyone who voluntarily helps people out without any reward for themselves cannot be all bad. The fault probably lies mostly with me......
Of course, not everyone who helps out on computer forums is like the guy who recently helped me. I have been helped by some very nice people in the past, who do acknowledge thanks and do occasionally show their human side. There are really not enough of these people around and the ones who exist are often in a hurry and don't get time to answer lots of questions - and being me, I usually ask too many! It takes me back to my oft-repeated complaint, that I don't know a single real-life person who I could talk to about computer matters. I live my life in a world where nobody knows a single thing about any of this stuff! :(
I have been thinking of joining a computer club which I have discovered takes place in a village a few miles from where I live. It would take a bit of complicated travelling to get myself there, but I am thinking of giving it a try. I am a bit nervous though, as I am not sure whether as an old lady in my 60s I would feel completely out of place. I guess there is only one way to find out though, by giving it a try. I won't be able to do that until the end of September now, but will let you know if I eventually pluck up courage and go along.
Going back to the original topic of computer forums, it is certainly not my intention to put anybody off from using them. If you have a computer problem, do please give them a try. I have learned so much from them and my old computer would almost certainly not still be chugging along without them. Just remember what I have said - especially if, like me, you are an over-sensitive female! :)
Chris (channeal)
