When people say "I'm IT illiterate"does that mean they WONT or CANT learn IT?

Question

Im an IT Manager and i find it hard to believe that poeple of all ages say "oh im no good with computers" or similar. Seems to me this is a habitual saying used as an excuse for laziness or ignorance!

I might be being unfair but i was able to use Windows to a reasonable degree before I ever went on any IT Training. But i guess everyone is different. Thing is I have an IT Trainer as a member of my staff so the users do get training but they only seem to be able to use EXACTLY what they learn and are unable to improvise.

Answer 1

I know for some older people are intimidated by technology so they dont bother learning about it. And you are right some just are to lazy to learn about it

Answer 2

Actually, I think it's sometimes hard for us to understand that It technology is simply a completely alien concept to people over a certain age. It's really only over the last 5 years that the internet has risen to its current status in schools and in the workplace.

The other thing is that IT has so many different aspects to it. Sit someone in front of a computer for the first time and they have to suddenly decipher:

what to do with a mouse
why the screen makes their eyes hurt
what do people mean by this weird language (click, icons, folder, right click)
what the strange noise is
what things like save, save as mean
Why some things move around the screen and some things don't

I think 'illiterate' is quite a descriptive word here. Try teaching someone to read that not only can't read, but also has no concept of what the written word, books, letters etc are.

Now you can see why for some people IT illiterate is a reality, not just a catchphrase...

Answer 3

I'm also an IT manager, and in my experience the majority just can't be bothered to learn. It's not ignorance or laziness, in some cases they don't need to learn. You could really say the same about most things, in my case I'm foreign language illiterate, and I don't consider myself to be either ignorant or lazy. Program in 4, but speak only one.

People lived without computers for a long time, so I guess a lot of people think they still can.

Answer 4

I think some people like to wear it as an almost badge of honour. They seem to like the fact they can barely use computers, which is odd, you don't see anyone bragging about being a bad driver, for example. But I think people see it as a symbol that they are far too busy to learn - they already know so much about so many things, they couldn't possibly learn about computers as well. This is arrogance and a comlplete folly - they can easily learn. I work in IT support at a University, people think that its my job to do the basics for them, but I waste so much time doing that it gets in the way of my true job, which is doing the higher end stuff that keeps the system working. In a modern workplace, I see it as any employees duty to get up to date with computers, and to become at least competent in using them - but some just refuse. However, I've seen people at retirement age and beyond learn how to use computers well - and these aren't particularly technical people. So I put it down to arrogance - "I'm far too clever to learn that computer nonsense"

Answer 5

Maybe your IT trainer is the problem. Are they told in an authoritarian way how to do something EXACTLY and if they don't all sorts of terrible things will happen? Do they get computers to play with at home? I agree with the posters who say that the ones who can't learn are probably scared -- people don't learn well when they're scared, but when they're shown that something can be a) useful and b) fun they will take to it.

Answer 6

I think you're being unfair - its actually extremely difficult for the average person to learn from scratch. College courses like New Clait and ECDL teach you how to use Microsoft Office, but the IT component of these courses is pitiful. The Microsoft manuals are so basic they're really not much help.
There are a few magazines for beginners like ComputerActive and Webuser; but it is really difficult to find any tutorials that teach you from scratch what to do.
To add to the problem everyone is an expert and heaps on the advice. Not all of it is good advice - but how are you supposed to know?
For people who want to learn its really difficult to get started.
People who can't be bothered can just pay people like you to fix the problems they cause, so stop grumbling. They pay your wages!

Answer 7

oooh, you're clever, that's nice, and I'm not being sarcastic. Anyone who can actually understand computers, let alone have any job to do with them gets my vote! Yes, sadly, i am one of those who must be 'lazy or ignorant' ! In fact, I just can't get my head round it all at all, and I'm not particularly old (35), just previously been hibernating in a marriage with children and having not worked in an office for years, never kept skills up to date, nor had the time or inclination to previously feel the need, so to speak! So, now of course, woooooow, what's it all about? If you look at some of my illiterate IT questions, I am sure you would just be tutting and shaking your head!! I'm actually a bit scared of them, fall into the category of believing that you press a wrong button and it will all be lost forever, don't understand any of the jargon, but....... I want to learn and will do as soon as. So be kinder, please to us novices, or the elders, or those who just never got round to keeping up, and remember that if someone says to you...'ooh I'm sooooo IT illiterate', they're probably just saying 'computers scare me sh****ss, please help' !!!

Answer 8

I'll tell you something funny. I have an 93 year-old neighbour who comes over every other day to learn something about computers. We started off small (learning to control the deadly mouse was fun) now he can write and save and send emails (to hear him brag you would think he had invented Windows). Hey! It takes all types of people. I can't speak Japanese but with help I could learn the bare bones of it. Don't knock the slower ones out there one day they might just surprise you.
Vicki R

Answer 9

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/aw3iC

"If you don't fall down, you aren't trying hard enough" - Tenley Albright, first American female skater to win Olympic gold. I find ice skating much easier than roller blading, but that's mainly because I grew up on the ice and my roller blades require me to put my weight further back in the skate than I'd ever put it in my figure skates. Come to think of it, the weight balance in roller blades feels about the same as ice hockey skates. Skating of any kind leaves you prone to lots of falls, and it's better to get used to it asap, than to avoid it. Ice is a bit more forgiving for falls because there's a lot less friction while sliding on it than there is on a wooden floor of a roller rink (or cement), so you get less scraped up. Try ice skating on a non-crowded skating session so that if you do fall, you won't be falling down on chopped up ice that scrapes your skin up. Keep your arms up for balance, and keep your knees slightly bent while skating. If you feel yourself falling, try to fall without putting your hands on the ice to break the fall, as you'll only hurt your wrists. Just sink into the fall by bending your knees, relaxing your muscles and going limp - if you fall and your muscles are tense, the fall is a lot harder because your center of gravity has a lot further to travel than if you intentionally got as close to the ground/ice as possible before letting gravity do the rest. But really, get out on the ice and try ice skating at least once in your life. You only live once, so there better not be any regrets! :)

Answer 10

as an employee, you might consider if your duties and responsibilities is enough for you or you can add an extra duties and responsibilities...

of course people loves learning except to those who don't, how come an employee has been hired if he/she is not learned? right? they have this time adjustment to say, "Oh am no good with computers"...they are just lazy about it...

but try to tell them about it again in their good mode...most probably they will do it and learn...