The night before last was spent training family friends of mine how to use two new laptops that I set up for them. As I was showing them the ins and outs of Windows Vista and their new system other people who were there in the room with us kept piping up to help point out how to perform certain tasks.

I don’t have a problem with any of these other people and their response is very typical. When you see someone using a computer that doesn’t know how to do something that you know how to do your first reaction is to get up and try to help them overcome their problem by pointing out where they need to go.

There is not a worse way to frustrate the user of the PC

Pointing out how to do things faster than the person using the PC usually only frustrates them.

This message is to both sides. If you are slower than the Average computer user, then you need to tell everyone else to back off and allow you to work at the pace you like. You won’t get faster at using the computer if everyone else is always using the computer through you.

If you are someone who gets aggravated when others don’t’ use the computer as fast as you think they should be then you need to either leave the room or learn some patience. You will only cause bitter feelings if you keep trying to take control of the computer from the person who is trying to use it!

Patience is the key

Be patient with each other and allow the slower user to learn on their own. They won’t be able to build the skills to use the computer faster if everyone else is always telling them how to do things (without their consent.)

God Bless,
-Dan