Rooftop

Parents - teach your children to RTFM

Most of my work involves helping people with computer problems. I help them convert a word document to a PDF, format HTML for use in an online class, or figure out why something isn't working correctly. I'm pretty good at it, and people wonder where I learned all this stuff. Well, I learned it by doing and reading.

Lately I've been getting a fair number of repeat requests from repeat offenders. Many should know how to do this stuff by now, and most of it is very simple. Now I hate to be harsh, but there's a saying in the computer world; If you don't know something - "Read the F*cking Manual." Hell, the link for help is right next to the link for the thing you have a question about!

I'm starting to get the feeling that this idiom may be lost for the older generations, so we should start teaching it to our children. Right away. Its an important lesson that can be expanded well beyond the computer realm to other areas of life. If you have a problem with your VRC, your conditioner, or your azaleas, read the f*cking manual. There's got to be one somewhere. Check your library, or the Internet.

I realize this may sound somewhat cold, and it is. I do enjoy helping people that I want to help. This includes friends and family ( at the appropriate time and hourly rate). And I myself have been known to ask questions even when the answer may be staring me in the face. Its nice to have someone explain things to you, but its also nice to socialize with people as well.

I thought about this all day yesterday, then a friend came over for help selling his returned engagement ring on eBay. I thought about delaying the post, but he knows this isn't about him.

I still haven't worked out the appropriate parody to "Mommas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys." It'll take some time.