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1. Embed this notice
   Colin the Mathmo (colinthemathmo@mathstodon.xyz)'s status on Monday, 04-Mar-2024 20:55:12 JST Colin the Mathmo

   in reply to

   Understand this ...

   #ElderlyRelative is clever and capable, it's just that everything has an unexpected name, and there are more capabilities than they are used to. Those capabilities have all been "explained" quickly, and with little or no reference to what they already know, so there's been no chance to assimilate the knowledge.

   The frustration and rage are palpable ... I can feel them ... and they are SO F'N UNNECESSARY.

   This intelligent, curious, capable person has been reduced to believing they are stupid and unable to learn anything.

   IT MAKES ME FURIOUS !!!

   • Embed this notice
     Colin the Mathmo (colinthemathmo@mathstodon.xyz)'s status on Monday, 04-Mar-2024 20:55:13 JST Colin the Mathmo

     in reply to

     [I'm not asking for advice ... please don't try to help me]

     I'm trying to work out where to start so that we end up more capable, less confused, and with an accurate mental model.

     Just Giving Up isn't an option. We need these extra facilities and capabilities, and I need to find an absolutely minimal reworking of the system and their understanding.

     It's a bloody nightmare.

   • Embed this notice
     Colin the Mathmo (colinthemathmo@mathstodon.xyz)'s status on Monday, 04-Mar-2024 20:55:14 JST Colin the Mathmo

     in reply to

     [I'm not asking for advice ... please don't try to help me]

     When people have "explained" things they've talked about files and directories.

     Well, for #ElderlyRelative a "file" is a place you put letters, photos, and other documents.

     A "Directory" is a thing like a old-style telephone directory ... it's a document with a listing of things in it.

     Then there's the confusion of putting a "File" inside a "Folder" which is inside another "Folder" which is on a drive.

     No, not this drive sitting beside the computer, and not the drive inside the computer. It's actually on a drive in "The Cloud".

     "How did it get there? Why don't I have it any more?"

     Oh, not that cloud, the other cloud. Not "One Drive", but "Google Drive".

   • Embed this notice
     Colin the Mathmo (colinthemathmo@mathstodon.xyz)'s status on Monday, 04-Mar-2024 20:55:15 JST Colin the Mathmo

     [I'm not asking for advice ... please don't try to help me]

     OK, so ...

     Trying to assist #ElderlyRelative to to things on the computer. These are things that they are absolutely capable of, and will (I believe) greatly enhance their quality of life.

     Then Oh. My. God.

     The misconceptions are f'n unbelievably. The way they think things work, the things they believe happen when they perform certain operations, it's just ... inconceivable.

     I've started to unpick some of what's going on, and it's horrendous.

     To start ...

   • Embed this notice
     DougMerritt (log😅 = 💧log😄) (dougmerritt@mathstodon.xyz)'s status on Tuesday, 05-Mar-2024 00:09:24 JST DougMerritt (log😅 = 💧log😄)

     • goatsarah

     @goatsarah @ColinTheMathmo
     Indeed, but to be fair, lots of people *have* actually thought about it, but have not been able to solve the multiple multifarious complexly knotted problems involved, and instead just have smaller bright ideas -- like those folders/drawers instead of DOS/Unix directories.

     Those smaller bright ideas are pitched to us by enthusiasts (and by corporate advertising) as solutions to the issues, but of course they are not, even if focus groups on average react positively. It still doesn't mean that the central issues have been resolved.

     Some percentage of people are enthusiastic or persistent and learn *whatever* the paradigm is, and some other percentage remain baffled.

   • Embed this notice
     DougMerritt (log😅 = 💧log😄) (dougmerritt@mathstodon.xyz)'s status on Tuesday, 05-Mar-2024 01:28:16 JST DougMerritt (log😅 = 💧log😄)

     • goatsarah

     @goatsarah @ColinTheMathmo
     P.S. I still have my Amiga 1000!