Most Hated Phrase

[leetmasterjames.livejournal.com]

"I'm computer illiterate"

This nonsensical term is so aggravating. People from all walks of life use the term even some fairly intelligent people. The major problem with the statement is that it makes no sense logically or grammatically.

Does it mean they cant read something on a computer screen but if its printed out they can read it.

Does it mean that they cant read the text on the outside of the system itself.

The statement is so stupid and the fact that people chime it out as a way of saying they don't know about computers only aggravates me.

Now, I have no problem with people who don't know much about computers, I don't know much about blacksmithing, raising farm animals, brain surgery or tennis to name a few. I would have no problem with people showing us and saying something like "I'm not good with these", "I don't know much about em" heck ill even accept "I'm scared of these things" but at least those are legitimate statements that would not make an English teacher cringe.

Comments

[anonymissity.livejournal.com]

Lol, "tennis illiterate".

[barbituratecat.livejournal.com]

The part that bugs me the most about that sentence, at least for my job, is that YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING I DON'T TELL YOU TO DO. Seriously. I will spell things out in explicit detail for you. As long as you don't start clicking like a crazed baboon on whatever random shit you see on your screen, you'll be fine.

Also hated, "I'm not technical enough for this!" when asked to unplug a power cord.

[ptomblin-lj.livejournal.com]

"If you can't use the computer, I'll talk to HR and get you reassigned to a position that doesn't require computer use - I hear the janitorial department is looking for broom pushers."

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

The major problem with the statement is that it makes no sense logically or grammatically.

Does it mean they cant read something on a computer screen but if its printed out they can read it.

"I don't know much about em" heck ill even accept "I'm scared of these things"

Can I borrow the English grammar design document when you're done with it? After you review the sections on run-on sentences and punctuation, that is.

[juliet316]

Also hated, "I'm not technical enough for this!" when asked to unplug a power cord.

...!

People actually say that?

[spaz-own-joo.livejournal.com]

I hate to be controversial, but I think you're being obtuse. 'Computer literacy' is a perfectly descriptive phrase for a useful concept. It doesn't imply a literal reading of the word "literacy" as in 'ability to read', and it's weird that you're insisting it should.

If you look you will also find papers, written by people with degrees, which make reference to "media literacy" and "visual literacy" and any number of other literacies. If you have a problem with this, you have a problem with the entire English-speaking world.

[lunatic59.livejournal.com]

"Computer Illiterate" means that they lack the familiarity with paradigm in the use of software and are too intimidated to attempt it or unwilling to learn. People who use the term about themselves generally fall into two categories.

The first are those who are genuinely terrified of the technology. They beleive that if they click the wrong button, enter the wrong data or install the wrong application they will take down the power grid from Ontario to New York, launch a nuclear missle strike against Panama from an abandoned silo in East Germany and infect thier children with Bubonic Plague. This is an irrational phobia that requires psychological counseling like fear of flying, heights or spiders.

The second are those lazy ba$tards who don't want to bother looking something up and feign ignorance so they can pass the buck or cover up their own screw ups. These are the ones who need an application installed on their machines that connect the keyboard directly to line voltage whenever they do something stupid.

[pyxiwulf.livejournal.com]

Language evolves and the evolution of 'literacy' has been consistent and organic leading to this entirely appropriate use of the word. That's why that little part of the dictionary called definitions has numbers, there can be more than one.

[gholam.livejournal.com]

Indeed and they do. They also manage to mess it up, with hilarious results. My own mother has, once, tried to pry a stuck 220V plug out of its socket with a knife. Metal knife. Fortunately the handle was insulated, but there was a nice blackened semi-circle about a centimeter across gouged from its back.

[juliet316]

*facepalm*

[barbituratecat.livejournal.com]

Yes. It's surprisingly common, and just bugs the hell out of everyone at my work. It's like... "Have you ever unplugged a toaster? Yes? This is as technically complicated as that is."

Usually it's older people, or customers who want us to send a tech out to turn their TV to channel 3. Sure, I'll roll a truck for you, but I hope you don't mind waiting four days for that, buddy.

[juliet316]

I shouldn't laugh, but I am.

[lolotehe]

I don't know how to do my job; can I blame it on you?

[darquethoughts.livejournal.com]

The phrase I hate more after that one is "I know enough to be dangerous."

-sigh-

[natalie-i-am.livejournal.com]

Even broompushers have to sign in and out using technology these days

[ptomblin-lj.livejournal.com]

"I'm time clock illiterate".

[asbrand.livejournal.com]

This reply is just chock full 'o win...! :)

Literally...you made me giggle out loud. :-D



-Az

[argonel.livejournal.com]

That's fine. We'll start paying you when you learn how to punch in and out properly.

[the-reda.livejournal.com]

What pisses me off about that statement is that is usually translates into: I don't want to/ You do it/ I can't be arsed

[tanamiya.livejournal.com]

C: "I'm computer illiterate. Can you install this program for me?"
T: "Sure, that'll be $xx.xx."
C: "$xx.xx!? But something like installing a program should be simple for you? Why won't you do it for free?"
T: "..."

[gargoyle575.livejournal.com]

I have this conversation at least once a day: "Can you exit out of the program for me?" "Hee hee, I'm computer illiterate so I don't know how to do that!" "Click the button that says 'exit'."

My other most hated phrases are "We've been having glitches" and "We've been having challenges." Challenges is just an overly polite way of saying "the software has been breaking all day and we're about to chuck this thing out the window", and I hate the word glitch. Neither phrase actually tells me what the problem is.

[caira.livejournal.com]

Because they're both usually true?

[tanetris.livejournal.com]

If you have a problem with this, you have a problem with the entire English-speaking world.

You say that like there isn't already plenty of reason to have a problem with the entire English-speaking world...

[goose-entity.livejournal.com]

appropriate user icon is appropriate.

[ptstech.livejournal.com]

"It's like they take pride in being ignorant (on this subject, at least)."

Frustrated luser replies

[lwj2.livejournal.com]

Challenges is just an overly polite way of saying "the software has been breaking all day and we're about to chuck this thing out the window"...

Depends. "Challenges" can also be a polite way of saying "The cheap basta#ds in purchasing bought the minimum OS requirements, overloaded it and now the CPOS won't work/run."

Been there, more or less survived it.

The crowning moment was when a vendor -- ahh, sod it -- when AGFA told my former employer (Carilion Clinic) that they weren't extending the service contract AGAIN because Carilion had failed to upgrade a 10 year old program.

Laughed my butt off. We had the inevitable hardware failure -- six year old drive died -- and I had the pleasure of listening as my boss told the admin puke "I understand it's $400/hr. It's broken and HAS to be fixed. YOU didn't upgrade it, now GET IT FIXED."

linguistic fail

[silece.livejournal.com]

language changes to meet the needs of its speakers. grow up, it's a brave new world.