Feel weird when freinds talk about comps?
 

Whenever my freinds talk about comps and stuff, I find it really weird. Cause they don't really know how they work.
I don't really either but at least I can build a comp, and I read the hardware section in a A+ book (not to brag)

Quote one guy:
"The IT guy has to move the motherboard in my processor to the one in my other processor" :rolleyes:



Quote me to another guy:
"Dude just build your own comp its soo cheaper"

Other guy:
"I know I just started building my motherboard."

Me:
"Dude you need a ton of cardboard and silicon for that"

Other guy:
"Yeah Im gonna build it and put it all together"

Me:
"What kind of CPU will it have? Socket 361 or Slot Q?"
(Yeah I knew he was bullshitting me.
Just putting some pressure on the asshole)

Other guy:
"I havent decided yet, but its gonna have Intel's pentium 4"

Me:
"Oh you should go AMD it's cheaper and faster"

Other guy:
"Whats an AMD?" (quizzical look)

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


Anyways, do you guys feel weird around our computer-illiterate companions? Share your past, um, experiences.

My friends know they are computer-illiterate and don't hide that fact. And I be respectable and try to keep it in laymans terms so they understand what I am talking about.

That guy that was bullshitting you needed to be put in his place, kudos sir.

I have friends much more computer illiterate than me, and I can call them on it, but I've also got some friends who are the biggest nerds in the world. I learned early on to shut up and follow the adage "It's better to appear stupid than open your mouth and remove all doubt" around them when it came to computers. I've ended up learning a lot in the process as well.

At work I was asked if a game would run on his computer (I'm an assistant Manager at a software/hardware store)...

Me- "What kind of computer you got in terms of specs?"
Him- "It's a new one, a Dell."

Me- "Ok, you wouldn't know the specs would you?"
Him- "Of course, it has Windows ZP with a Meg of RAM."

Me- "Cool, we have a seven day right of return policy so feel free to try it out and see if you have any luck."

Yeah my main group of freinds don't really know anything, and occasionally give me shit about it. Especially about hacking into mainframes which is always a hoot for me (i am studying software engineering and no one really knows what that means :lol: ).

With my other software engineering friends, they know more about it than me. so no biggy there :)

It can be embarrassing to listen to people who know less about computers than you do talking about computers as if they knew more than you.

But at least they try... If someone doesn't know so much as where the Start button is in Windows, it's not a big deal. We all had to start somewhere.

My friends don't pretend, but I never did hang out with the bullshit crowd.

One of them is happily ignorant and wants to stay that way (so long as he can surf his pRon, that is.) The other guy uses them all day at work (he's a civil engineer) and has NEVER had one at home (he's 39).

a computer professional opens up a cabinet and says"theres a virus" (swear its true)

thats the dude i had a LOT of fun with playing around with trojans

When I talk tech around people I try to keep the more confusing terms to a minimum. Also, when I talk, I try to speak coherently, so even the computer illiterate will know what I'm talking about doing, even if they don't understand the specifics. In short, it's a bad idea to get too technical around people who don't understand it, it makes you (in a general sense, I'm not addressing anyone) come off as condescending, or too eager to impress.

My problem comes from talking in laymans terms to everyone whose level of computer literacy i'm not yet aware of, so sometimes it seems like I'm talking down to new people. It's a thin line to walk.

heh...having almost finished a PhD in EE, I have certainly been around a few conversations where I had to chuckle about stuff being said related to computers. As long as they are genuinely unknowledgeable and not trying to sound like they know alot, it doesn't really bother me. I just think to myself that I probably sound just as stupid when I throw out my opinions on 14th century art or some classical piece of music.

I know as much about computers as I do about cars...

They are really really complex, but useful...

You know, since you mention that, I know WAY less about cars than I do about computers. I open my car's hood and I see... stuff. Dirty stuff.

I sure hope that when I talk about cars I don't sound like some of these people do when they talk about computers....

...ummm you're supposed to keep your porn on your computer not under the hood of your car.... :lol:

I usually call people on their ignorance when talking about computers, especially Lusers (users) every once and a while we get someone in the shop that works in another area, like personel, or whatever, and they start talking about their computers or what they have heard of in the computer field, and they come off sounding like complete idiots, and most of the people in the office just laugh at them behind their backs when they are gone, but I usually correct them and try to lead them in the right direction. They and I feel better for it in the long run...

I'll never forget the woman at work who wanted to know why her screen was blank because she had checked to make sure her monitor was plugged into her modem multiple times.

To her, a 'modem' meant the case. :rolleyes:

Are you kidding me? There's nothing sexier than a well built race motor!

yes, very much so. comps, cars, girls, sex, the whole shebang. but when we talk about music, the ball's on my court.

Nah, it's just a sign that he's managed to avoid the mis-named OS. It's NOT a "win". It should be called "losedows".

I did that to a W95 machine I had to use at one contract. Renamed WIN.EXE to LOSE.EXE. Worked the same, so I figured it should be honest.

A female friend of mine proudly told me that she had managed to move the harddisk from one computer to another.
That meant unplugging all the cables, and moving one computer to the other monitor... :D

i know this feeling.
now i'm a total newb when it comes to computers and such, but compared to 99% of my friends IRL i'm an expert.

i just don't bring the subject up any more around most of them.

i only have one person with whom i can discuss internet happenings with. the rest just see the internet as a massive conduit for porn.

I'm always amazed at the lack of computer knowledge my friends possess. I love letting them use my computer, and then they freak out because they can't find their precious little IE, and don't know how to use this Mozilla thing. :rolleyes:

My friends know I know more than them so they don't bother bullshitting, my dad though! I talk to him and he starts making stuff up left and right, and god forbid I ever take him to a computer store with me lol. I usually have to slink out of there nonchalantly when he's really getting into the conversation and the salesperson starts trying to figure out what the hell he's talking about :)

I think that one of the funniest things I've ever seen was when I changed my shell application. One of the kids tried to use the computer and was completely befuddled by the lack of desktop icons and the usual taskbar. ;)

I usually have a good grasp on what I do and don't know, and I'm quick to ask "What the hell are you talking about?" when I don't know. I'm always happy to answer when someone asks the same of me. :)

Not to make fun of them,

But some people I know approached me to day about buying a "CPU" because theirs was messed up.

With a few questions it was quickly established that they meant the box.

Their son had taken it home (South Carolina) to work on when all that was needed was a reformat and OS install.

Oh well, it's how I make my money.