Were there points you all felt overwhelmed, or are most of you just naturally geared to geekdom? Before, about all I ever did was email, but this last few months I'm trying to learn how to do EVERYTHING, and learn how to fix things (that I mostly mess up), and I really feel stupid! I realize I don't know the basics. People helping me are patient, but I know they must sometimes throw their hands up, and say, "You've got to be kidding!" so what are you trying to ask us?
Shes not trying to ask anything:

This forum is all about helping people in need, no matter how much knowledge they have with computers.

Even if you dont know the basics, you dont have to feel stupid. Everyone has to START somewhere!

Oh, and yes, probably most of us are geared towards geekdom!
Thank you. Guess not everyone can be a Geek. But maybe I'll learn enough not to feel totally hopeless. Appreciate it! I think I get your point...

I can't answer for all of those who frequent this forum...I, like yourself, am self-taught. I went to school, a long time ago, and learned COBOL, Fortran, Basic, RPG, etc., etc. Has it helped me in the computer world...absolutely not.

It's a Windows world...unfortunately.

I learned by getting my hands dirty...using the web..."the world is at your fingertips".

Also...I learned by frequenting sites, such as this one.

I volunteer my time, because I want to...and knowing I've helped someone gives me all the satisfaction I need.

There were times when I've helped people as much as I possibly could...only to end up at a stalemate...without being able to correct their issue. However, I'm only one person...there are thousands who frequent this forum...and there has to be at least one who has the answer...so it really doesn't make me feel that bad.

However, there are people out there, who demand help from you...and make you feel like a "shmuck" from the start. People like that don't understand that what we provide is free. Giving us a hard time, because we don't know something...doesn't mean we're stupid...we're just not privy to the information. Heck...I learn something new everyday, by VISITING this site.

I'll only answer questions, I feel I have a good grasp on...otherwise...I LEAVE it alone.

I also try not to step on others toes...if they are already in the process of helping someone...so I don't confuse the original poster.

I admire you for taking on the responsibility of teaching yourself. Remember, though...if you ever get stuck...CH will always be here for ya.


Thanks for the post...and all the best! Thank you for the encouragement. I have high regard for you folks, for all the time you put in to help, and for all the knowledge you share. I'm aware that this old computer is a mess, but it's a lot more usable because of all the help I get here. Thank you!yet some of the old thing you learned in the past, like BASIC and DOS are still around and are helpful, this one guy(David Cook, writer of Intermidiate Robot Building, see it at http://www.robotroom.com/) learned programing the Apple 2 and the Commedore 64 using the 6510 Asm Language which helps him program Microcontroller chips for his robots using the 68xx Asm Language which is relative to the 6510 Asm. even though i wasnt around during the time of DOS and the 386 Computers, i still use the technology principals for computers here and now.I didn't have any of that. I just began teaching myself when I bought a Compaq second hand (without a CD), sticking mostly to emailing, as I didn't have much time. It had XP Pro installed, and I was getting updates until MS suddenly told me I had counterfeit, and quit giving me updates. Took them a few years to decide that. Can't afford to do anything about that right now, so just trying to maintain and learn, keep it cleaned out. I'm going to be looking into Linux, for when I can get a new computer. Maybe by then I won't be such a danger to a computer. I can assure you of one thing. If you only want to learn, you'll. It won't happen next day, but eventually will.
Twenty some years ago, I knew computers from pictures only. Never went to any computer related school, but I was stubborn. I just hate not to know about something, anything, so I started spending few hours every day with computer....it paid off