Computer illiterates aka my dad

[RadioNate]

I'm not a good teacher. Does anyone else have a parent who is completely computer illiterate? My dad is a college professor. He's not even 60 yet he can not use a computer to save his life.

I have no patience for his questions. My 5 year old is more computer literate!

He just got a new machine and can't set up his email. Of course he didn't read the 'how to" directions that came with his new internet service. Then he expects me to fix it from 1200 miles away. It is nearly impossible because he doesn't understand basic terminology like 'highlight' or 'click.'

It is so frustrating.

I tired to help. I asked him if he did the wizard and he said yes but couldn't remember what he listed for incoming or outgoing servers. Turns out he just skipped that part because he didn't know what to put. And then he calls me all upset because his new computer doesn't work.

After 10 min he was mad at the ISP because they didn't tell him what the servers were. But of course the internet people gave him set up instructions but he didn't look at it.

Now he is mad and hung up on me because I can't help him and told him to look for the set up directions and call me back.

 

[Sonya]

*sigh*
my mom and her best friend are like this. Usually DH talks them through things, but sometimes I have to. It amazes me what you can expain over and over but nothing seeps in. I'm a teacher, I should be able to do this! My high school students retain more than my mom!

 

[LadyZolt]

I did telephone support for a major internet service provider and I've found that the older folks do better if you "translate" it into something that they do understand. Like, explain how "the desktop" is like a real desktop, that "files" are like files in their file cabinet, that they can open one "directory" and it's like a "drawer." Be patient with him and just walk him through it over the phone while he reads what he's seeing to you. Many people his age are too scared to even try to run a computer, so I think it's wonderful that he's up to trying something new at his age. I'm not sure I'll be wanting to do anything new when I'm 60. LOL! Best of luck!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[pumba]

my mom got her computer five or so years ago and she still has no clue.......but she goes to internet lessons every monday and has been for the last few years.....but

she is almost 92

 

[Cool-Beans]

Parents + Adult children + computers = Yikes!

Made my mother switch to msn for this reason. If you both have msn, you can connect to the other and see their screen. They can also see your pointer. This makes it much easier to explain things to people.

 

[ilovemcbride]

My daddy doesn't even know how to turn one on. I've offered to teach him, but he says he doesn't want to. My mom's not computer illiterate...she can look up info on the 'net, check her email, type simple stuff. She gets frustrated and nervous if something doesn't go the way she thinks it should. Then she gets mad if you try to show her. But I guess I'm the same way.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Hey no fair! Don't just limit it to older parents. I am a computer illiterate. Most of the terms are just jibberish to me, I can't seem to retain any information about it either. I could learn a thing or two from my 76 year old mother .

 

[mrsv98]

I used to call folks like this.....job security! lol

I used to be a tech coordinator at a school and there were a few people, quite intelligent who just never "got it" no matter how many times I told them, explained it or showed it to them. The only thing that ever worked was to show them hands-on and then have them do it over and over and over. Anything else, they would forget in a day or two.

Try taking yourself out of the equation and have him call Geek Squad or Geeks on Call. For a fee, they will set him up and walk him thru it. It will cost something, but you will retain your sanity!