Not so stupid

[Seth]

I take offence when certain computer users are referred to as "stupid" simply because they lack computer knowledge. I've seen this occur on many computer forums, and hope that it will not be tolerated here.

Most people have a particular talent or a particular field in which they are "intelligent". Calling another "stupid" because they know little of a particular field (like computers), is simply narrow minded.

Computer experts weren't always experts. We were all amateurs at one time.

[dale@fcg]

Seth,
After just reading Pete's thoughts on quality subject titles, I couldn't help :D a bit when I saw your title. And you are so right,a novice's lack of knowledge in a specialized field is not stupidity. And labeling a novice stupid is never going to represent a forum well at all. Therefore the saying- "There's no stupid question except the one that is not asked".

The above motto is what has kept many users around on this and our preceding forum, namely Lina and myself, to name two. I have never gotten the feeling of the gurus here being condescending or belittling- to the contrary, many a time have our members gone the extra mile for novices. Believe me, I've been on the receiving end. The theme around here is to educate, educate, educate therefore making the computing experience a successful effecient one. Even when it's a deeper issue that needs resolved, we all take the info learned from that thread and file into our brains in case it becomes relevant to our situation- either specifically or generally. It might be over my head at the moment, but if I attempt to comprehend whatever I can, then if I run into a similar issue, I'm already on my way to resolving it.

However, this is not excusing the users out there who should or could know better. There are many who refuse to take the time to learn what startup items to remove, what av and spyware/adware removers/blockers to run, or what harmful downloads to avoid. Also, there are many users who won't take the time to run spyware/adware removers. Not to mention about installing whatever lousy downloads they feel like- from file sharing to weather trackers ;) to useless utilities that infect the pc or hog its resources doing endless checks for hw or sw updates.

Once they've been educated on the above, their persistence in sticking with their nonsense wears our patience thin. I still don't like calling anyone stupid, but surely they are not being very smart. :noidea:

Now there's my two cents (with inflation it be worth .0231% more):tinfoil3:

[Seth]

LOL:)

I was also thinking of Pete's post when I wrote the title.

Regarding your post, I would more apt to label such as a user as lazy, uncaring, or indifferent.

[PeteF]

I take offence when certain computer users are referred to as "stupid" simply because they lack computer knowledge. I've seen this occur on many computer forums, and hope that it will not be tolerated here.


I agree with that. How could we promote a policy that would discourage
people from engaging in personal attacks on other members? How could
we discourage members here from generalizing and insulting certian
computer users?

Perhaps peer pressure is the best way.
If someone posts something that unecesarilly degrades another member
or has intent to insult someone or a group of people, the moderators
or other members could politely remind that person that insults are
generally frowned upon here at KH Forum.

---pete---

[mylanta]

I have started to get into this a few times and stopped myself but let me say a few things here.
There are several definitions of stupid.
"a poor ability to understand or to profit from experience" is one.
"Stupidity is the quality or condition of being stupid, or lacking intelligence. This quality can be attributed to both an individual himself (John Smith is stupid) or his actions, words or beliefs (John Smith's policies are stupid). The determination of who is stupid is difficult, despite attempts to measure intelligence (and thus stupidity) such as IQ tests."
No forum should allow an individual to be called stupid, but I don't think that has ever happened here. Instead what I think is happening is the more or less "non personal" remarks like "stupidity will always keep us working" meaning the average user is uneducated (which is their fault actually) and will accumulate spyware issue after spyware issue. In the same thread we were talking about educating the user meaning like while stupidity might not have been the best word and might sound like it is condescending, the meaning was as long as their is an uneducated user, we will always have a job and the word "stupid" used to describe that person or persons, was not meant to be derogatory or mean spirited at all, rather to describe a condition.
My mom used to talk about "the bright stupids" all the time meaning the educated brilliants who unfortunately had 0 common sense and walked through life srewing everything up (as she would have called the Troika in our own Washington DC right now)
The longer we are "in the trenches", for many of us, the easier it is to diagnose the real issues, but nowhere is it written that a good pc tech, needs to be a diplomat either. That is an art for sure I know I aspire to.
There is a user on Tech Guy forum, "gldit" many of you have read who is Australian I believe and has a way with words where he can make the fact that your pc blew up and burned the carpet and is beyond hope, into an exciting shopping expedition of purpose for you that you can actually look forward to. He has you "dancing" out the door with a "wheelbarrow full of money" you have saved by owning this pc for 11 years, to go and learn and grow from the experience, which could make a sane user with no problems throw his pc out the window, just to experience the excitement in his words...and this is no exxageration. And he is quite knowledgeable and does it with almost every post. He always starts his answer with "top of the morning" to you "befuddled one", now lets take a serious look at this problem!

[Pi rules]

If someone posts something that unecesarilly degrades another member
or has intent to insult someone or a group of people, the moderators
or other members could politely remind that person that insults are
generally frowned upon here at KH Forum.
Good idea. :)

Computer experts weren't always experts. We were all amateurs at one time.
Good point. I'm no expert, but I have some experience fixing PCs (mostly came from fixing mine :dizzy:) and I remember quite well how I felt when I got my first group of BSODs and when I almost lost everything on my main partition (it wasn't backed up, either :() I was reminded when I couldn't figure out my last PC problem. It's still a mystery, because it works great now (I think there was something on the mobo causing a short).

[Tortanick]

Computer experts weren't always experts. We were all amateurs at one time.

No, not me, I was never an amateure


My mom used to talk about "the bright stupids" all the time meaning the educated brilliants who unfortunately had 0 common sense and walked through life srewing everything up

Guilty as charged, however it can be Extreemly fun to go out side as soon as a could bursts overhead. Even if common sense says its not a good idea.

[Guest110]

I agree with that. How could we promote a policy that would discourage
people from engaging in personal attacks on other members? How could
we discourage members here from generalizing and insulting certian
computer users?

Perhaps peer pressure is the best way.
If someone posts something that unecesarilly degrades another member
or has intent to insult someone or a group of people, the moderators
or other members could politely remind that person that insults are
generally frowned upon here at KH Forum.

---pete---

so theres no plans for a Kicken Insult forum.. to let off steam then:) :hurt:

[Dan18960]

I may be STUPID - BUT I AIN'T DUMB!:banplease: :decision:

[Guest117]

'There is no such thing as a stupid question.'
"If there are no stupid questions,
then what kind of questions do stupid people ask?
Do they get smart just in time to ask questions?"
-Scott Adams, Dilbert cartoonist:closed_2:
(just thought I'd throw that funny in):rolleyes:

[PeteF]

so theres no plans for a Kicken Insult forum.. to let off steam then:) :hurt:

Hahhahaa!
You know, blackmirror, that's might not be such a bad idea. :)
Having one special place to go where members are allowed (expected to )
to bash each other and call each other names. Hopefully in a half serious
half joking manner. It could be quite entertaining and definitely a unique
addition to the Kicken Hardware Forums.

Take it to the "Insult Room" boys!
Fight nice!

Hahhahahaa.
I'd like to see it happen on a trial basis.
For anyone brave enough to enter the Insult Room forum.;)

---pete---

[mylanta]

Well now Nick that is a bit out of context and a few key words were left out..."when it comes to computers there is no such thing as a stupid question", that was what Dale meant.

[dale@fcg]

Also under the context that someone sincerely wants to better their knowledge. I'm a teacher, and believe me- I've dealt with more stupid and dumb questions than I can remember- but always from students that either didn't give a hang or were trying to deteriorate the classroom.

[qldit]

Good Evening All, An interesting topic, it is not uncommon to find odd characters with some knowledge appearing in places where they may appear to be helping odd people yet when careful scrutiny of their actual behaviour is made, it becomes quite apparent that in fact they are really practicing an alpplied egoist exercise.

The first time I actually witnessed this was with a charity organisation and I suddenly realised one of the regular "helpers" was really "top of the tree" in that category.
Thorough belittling of persons with problems was obviously his thing!

When you have been there, seen that, done that, you appreciate when persons are genuinely in need of real assistance as against those that are careless with contempt for technical commonsense.

I really do feel that every assistance should be given to genuine cases but with obvious other circumstances a minor degree of censure is proper and reasonable.

Promoting "understanding" is the basic underlying aim, and motivation destruction needs to be avoided.

When someone has destructed their pride and joy, they generally are aware that they have by their own actions caused this problem, so an attempt to explain what may have occurred will help fill in the blanks for them and working with them from that point, explaining that many people pay enormous amounts for that kind of learning, has a positive effect and is an excellent area to build on.

So applying the term stupid needs careful consideration with it's application, of course if it were in the context of "Smoking is Stupid" it can be interpreted as "someone that smokes is stupid" but in fact it really infers that "the act of smoking is stupid" and doesn't really reflect on the person at all apart from that.

More often people that carry on in an obnoxious manner, simply lack understanding and general intelligence.
Cheers, qldit.

[Pi rules]

:welcome:
Welcome to Kicken Hardware! :wave:

[mommalina]

qldit wrote: More often people that carry on in an obnoxious manner, simply lack understanding and general intelligence.
Cheers, qldit.

Agreed. But we must tread carefully. To savvy computer users, I may ask what appear to be the dumbest questions possible. We can't all be a jack of all trades.

In the meantime, qldit, :welcome: .... glad to have you aboard! :cheer2:

You are just what we need: a retired Australian engineer who characterizes himself as a professional bum! You will fit right in here, qldit, especially if you have occasional "senior moments"!

We encourage and appreciate suggestions and comments about our relatively new board! For the immediate attention of our moderators, please post them in the Feedback forum. When we finally add a spell-check here, perhaps we should consider two -- one for U.S. members and another for the growing number of members across the pond and in Australia. (Lord help us! What have we Americans done to the English language! -- Rumor, rumour; organization, organisation; behavior, behaviour; realize, realise; etc.) Do other forums have more than one spell-check? Maybe I'll start a thread about it in the Feedback forum -- after all, we aim to please.

qldit, we invite you to also join us in our KH Computer Help Desk Paltalk chatroom each Wednesday night, from 9 pm EST until whenever. Here's how to get there:

www.paltalk.com *
Chatrooms
Rooms
Computers & Technology
Computer Help & Advice
KH Computer Help Desk

* you need to download Paltalk messenger 8.3 software first if you don't already have Paltalk on your system.

In the chatroom you can receive or give one-on-one, hands-on help for computer problems, alert us or learn about new developments in computers and software. Computer subjects get first priority. If there is a lull, then humor, finance, and whatever can be discussed intermittently. We try not to talk about politics or religion .... there's enough disagreement about antivirus scanners. LOL

For more information about the KH Computer Help Desk Paltalk Chatroom, see: http://www.kickenhardware.net/forum/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2006-6-14&e=1&c=1

Hope you'll visit us there, too. Again, welcome, qldit! .... :yo: .... :clap2:

Cheers, Lina

[mylanta]

gldit,
Welcome and boy do I think it fitting that in a thread where I paid tribute to your unique attitude towards everyone, you should then join and comment in that thread!!!That's the way things should work!

[Tortanick]

qldit, wecome to the forum

[dale@fcg]

Welcome, gldit

[qldit]

Good Morning All, thankyou for the warm welcome and comments and allowing me to enter your domain.
Actually I really got sick of having to use all the scanners and malware stuff with windows, and still having problems with viral stuff, so simply switched to Linux.
I regularly recommend it's use in troubleshooting kinds of areas.

We are on +10 hrs GMT here in Brisbane, mid-winter, glorious clear day, +24 degs C at 0900K. Wed26
We are a bit out of phase timewise here.
Cheers, qldit.

[kern]

To summarize our "Mission Statement":
The intent of KH Forum is to provide a place where computer users, from novice to pro, can get prompt and accurate answers to their computer questions, via the collective computer knowledge and skills of the KH "community".
Trolls, flamers, egoists, and other odd characters will not be tolerated!

[Guest110]

To summarize our "Mission Statement":
The intent of KH Forum is to provide a place where computer users, from novice to pro, can get prompt and accurate answers to their computer questions, via the collective computer knowledge and skills of the KH "community".
Trolls, flamers, egoists, and other odd characters will not be tolerated!

Seth never told me there were so many rules:jaw:


He said i would be safe in here:D

[mylanta]

Seth never told me there were so many rules:jaw:


He said i would be safe in here:D

Rules you say???Surprisngly we do have some:
http://www.kickenhardware.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2917

[Guest110]

well im safe on all but the multiple posting one... double posted in humor by mistake.. if someone could remove it for me please

[Terry Hanushek]

BM

All gone ... no problem :cool:

Terry

[Guest110]

BM

All gone ... no problem :cool:

Terry

thanks sorry about that i dont know what happened.. unless my memory is really getting bad and i forgot i had posted it already:eek:

[kern]

thanks sorry about that i dont know what happened.. unless my memory is really getting bad and i forgot i had posted it already:eek:

BM,
for the record, the "double post" rule is intended for those who deliberately add useless posts, such as to increase thier post count.

we're not trying to "rule with an iron fist"- simply set some ground rules to help make KH a pleasant place.
any of our members can notify the mods of an innappropriate post by clicking the "RED TRIANGLE" ICON at the upper right hand corner of each post, and typing a brief comment.

[Guest110]

BM,
for the record, the "double post" rule is intended for those who deliberately add useless posts, such as to increase thier post count.

well i would say all my posts are useless.. ask Seth:D i am sure he would back me up on that......and i do tend to have dizzydays as well...( one coming up next week)

[Seth]

well i would say all my posts are useless.. ask Seth:D i am sure he would back me up on that......and i do tend to have dizzydays as well...( one coming up next week)

Heh heh...

I'm dreading the day you get that new hard drive. :help:

(just kidding...you know I love ya'):D

[Guest110]

Heh heh...

I'm dreading the day you get that new hard drive. :help:

(just kidding...you know I love ya'):D

i have got a problem seth.. i orderd one exactly the same as my old one ( samsung sv1204h and with the delay i am wondering whether it would be better to have an external one... any views.. would an external one be easier for me with transferring everything over

Whoops there i go again.. hijacking a thread i have realised...... ( waits for punishment.)..nowhere dark and damp please.. and NO spiders:eek:

[Seth]

i have got a problem seth.. i orderd one exactly the same as my old one ( samsung sv1204h and with the delay i am wondering whether it would be better to have an external one... any views.. would an external one be easier for me with transferring everything over

We went off topic BM.

Go with the internal. When you get it, swap it out with the old hd, then run the full recovery from the cd's. I just hope the cd's don't give you a hassle with an empty hd.

Start a new thread if you need more help.

[Guest117]

:sorry: Only meant that in a funny way and forgot to add computers.
I did state it was a funny and it came from a Dilbert cartoonist.
When I have a stupid question, I go HERE (http://www.stupidquestionsanswered.com/).:tape:
Remember this?:
Answers..................$1
Correct Answers.......$5
Dumb Looks.............FREE;)

[Seth]

No need to be sorry Nick:)