General Rant . . . When People ask for help with their computer

[ET Awful]

They are asking for help with THEIR computer, not for suggestions on new computers, why they shouldn't have the computer they have, etc.

They are looking for real-world advice on how to make what they have work. If you are not going to offer suggestions to HELP them then shut the hell up. This happens time and time again.

"I'm having problems with X"

"Well then throw it away and go buy Y."

This is complete bullshit and it's totally pointless. If you want to help someone, help them. If you want to attack a computer platform instead of helping someone in need, then shut the hell up and stay the hell out of the threads asking for help.

They aren't asking you to bang your drum and toot your freakin' horn, they're asking for ways to make their system work. That's THEIR system, not a system that's sitting on a shelf in a store awaiting an owner. That's not a removal of their operating system and subsquent loss of data and functionality by trying to walk an inexperienced end-user through an install of a Linux distro (if they're lucky enough to find drivers that will work with their hardware).

If you go to a mechanic to get your car fixed because of a faulty wheel bearing, he's not going to tell you to throw your Nissan away and buy a Chevy. He's going to fix the issue that is happening.

So, if you can't actually help when someone asks for it, then STFU and let those of us who CAN help do so.

[Bronco69]

1. OK n/t

[ET Awful]

3. LOL . . . that was easy.

Now, if everyone else would just do the same :).

[JimmyJazz]

2. rough day?

:P

[ET Awful]

4. Nah, this is just the fifth or sixth time this week someone has had a

fairly simple to fix problem with a PC, and all the Mac fanboys have jumped in (on this and other forums). "BUY A MAC."

I just get sick of people who think that "BUY BUY BUY" is the solution when all someone needs to do is put in 20 minutes work cleaning some stuff up.

It just gets old :).

[ret5hd]

6. if you had a Mac...

you could filter out all the replys with "Mac" in them.

:evilgrin:

[ET Awful]

9. Mmmmhmmm, so now your magical Mac can rewrite DU's

programming remotely?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

11. Then they'd miss all the "Mac Davis" threads/

[intrepid_wanderer]

8. Well..

I think that you should try another point of view... I mean... jeez... just because I cannot help you with your problem...


that shouldn't mean that I cannot post something completely distracting for the sole purpose of self-justification... er summim

:bounce:

[ET Awful]

12. LOL . . .

I'll guess by your avatar you're a Mac user, but one of the non-sanctimonious ones :). I can appreciate that.

[intrepid_wanderer]

21. sanctah-WHAT?

it's sad I'm not even willing to look it up, despite having broadband to about anything out there...


oh well...

:bounce:

[Padraig18]

5. *applause*

As one of those who occasionally SEEKS such help, I can only say "Encore, maestro! Bravo!".

:D

[ET Awful]

7. Well you just need to clean off your desk and quit letting the ferret

chew on the cables and your computer will work fine :) :) :)

[Padraig18]

10. LOL!

But there's SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much cool stuff to 'check out' on the computer desk. I'm convinced, but then again, I'm not an intelligent rodent on speed.

:P

[KG]

13. and it's so predictable, too.

yes, i'm sure macs are Gods own computer, but my fave games and AutoCAD don't run on them.

besides, i never really have much trouble with my PCs.

[ET Awful]

14. Exactly, like I said in another thread

When a Mac can run Half-Life 2 and handle all my other applications (without having to use a shell program running Windows inside), and will do so as efficiently and robustly as my 64-bit processor will, then come talk to me.

As it is, I can play Half-Life 2 while burning a DVD and re-indexing a fairly large accounting database, all with no apparent slow down (and with 4x AA enabled on HL2) :).

[Dookus]

15. I couldn't agree more...

it's very annoying. it's either Windows/mac or Explorer/Mozilla wars.

I use a PC and IE Explorer. I have worked in the computer biz here in Silicon Valley for 20 years. I even worked at Apple. I worked on MacPaint, and MacDraw and MacWrite.

I'm quite familiar with Macs, and have used them since the original 128k Mac. I used a Lisa before that.

I have my reasons for now using a PC. Reflexively assuming that I, or others, should just "buy a mac" in response to a question is insulting and condescending.

[Padraig18]

16. Thank you

We inherited a Mac when we bought the bookstore, and as God is my witness, we will be buying a PC as soon as we can afford it!

:evilgrin:

[RC]

17. Can't hardly knock your post.

I also agree with original poster. When people ask for help, help them if you think you can. Other wise just read and go on to another thread. OK?

[ET Awful]

19. The thread that prompted the rant

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=2621046

Like I said, it's about the fifth or sixth time this week I've run into this kind of sanctimonious bullshit.

[Dookus]

20. oh, it's as predictable

as a Dean/Clark flamewar.

I've never ONCE seen somebody ask a virus, adware or popup question without being told to buy a Mac.

[johnnie]

18. I agree ET

I have noticed that on here a few times also. I laugh at the "mine is better than yours" attitudes, but it doesn't help the original poster get their answer.
Some people don't understand that not everyone has the money to throw around on the newest and top of the line equipment and just want to get an answer to help keep what they can afford running.
With that said, I have had two Macs and trashed them both and now run my 4 PC's without any problems. Macs are so 1990's. :evilgrin: