Just call me the computer whisperer.

Willow ,'Lessons'


Natter 37: Oddly Enough, We've Had This Conversation Before.  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Wolfram - Aug 16, 2005 11:32:41 am PDT #8621 of 10002
Visilurking

I'm not sure how much money I'd have to save before I'd wet myself....

You couldn't pay me the value of a laptop to wet myself....


Kathy A - Aug 16, 2005 11:33:20 am PDT #8622 of 10002
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil

Speaking of computer stuff, there's a great article in Wired about the expectations of the Internet ten years ago (it's the 10-year anniversary of the Netscape IPO that put the Internet on the map). I loved this:

What could be a better mark of irreversible acceptance than adoption by the Amish? I was visiting some Amish farmers recently. They fit the archetype perfectly: straw hats, scraggly beards, wives with bonnets, no electricity, no phones or TVs, horse and buggy outside. They have an undeserved reputation for resisting all technology, when actually they are just very late adopters. Still, I was amazed to hear them mention their Web sites.

"Amish Web sites?" I asked.

"For advertising our family business. We weld barbecue grills in our shop."

"Yes, but..."

"Oh, we use the Internet terminal at the public library. And Yahoo!"

I knew then the battle was over.


Jesse - Aug 16, 2005 11:38:14 am PDT #8623 of 10002
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

Especially when they are the talk around the problem for 15 minutes and aren't particularly computer competent type?

And this one EXPECTS me to stay on the phone as he futzes and fusses and OY!

Ah, these people are the reason why, when I call phone support, they keep me on the line going, "OK, now click Start. Got it? You should see..." I always want to say, "Can you just tell me what to do and I'll call you back if it doesn't work??"

"Oh, we use the Internet terminal at the public library. And Yahoo!"

That's hot.


Jessica - Aug 16, 2005 11:42:49 am PDT #8624 of 10002
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

I thought it was the teenagers who did all the web stuff for their Amish communities (before they officially convert and have to start avoiding electricity).


tommyrot - Aug 16, 2005 11:46:31 am PDT #8625 of 10002
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

I thought it was the teenagers who did all the web stuff for their Amish communities (before they officially convert and have to start avoiding electricity).

Is there a browser that would run on a horse-powered difference engine?


amych - Aug 16, 2005 11:48:36 am PDT #8626 of 10002
Now let us crush something soft and watch it fountain blood. That is a girlish thing to want to do, yes?

Is there a browser that would run on a horse-powered difference engine?

Lynx is very plain.


Kathy A - Aug 16, 2005 12:00:38 pm PDT #8627 of 10002
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil

An interesting webpage on Amish Tech. It sounds like they might hire non-Amish (or Amish teens, as Jessica said) to code and maintain the page, and possibly stop by the library to check it out from time to time. I didn't know that many kitchens had blenders operated by compressed air!


Vortex - Aug 16, 2005 12:25:59 pm PDT #8628 of 10002
"Cry havoc and let slip the boobs of war!" -- Miracleman

Kathy, that was a great article. I guess that I would have thought that any webpages were done by posers or people taking advantage of the Amish.


Nilly - Aug 16, 2005 12:36:25 pm PDT #8629 of 10002
Swouncing

Susan, my deepest condolences, to you and all your family.


UTTAD - Aug 16, 2005 12:41:58 pm PDT #8630 of 10002
Strawberry disappointment.

Did someone mention Amish?

Cindy: PM elsewhere.