The Great Divide. Why I’ll Always Work In Computers
Except for the stint I did as a bagger at the local grocery store back in high school, my father has never really understood what I did for a living.
Whether it’s selling computer software, graphic design or writing, my pop has never been able to explain to anyone exactly what I do. Whenever anyone asks, his standard reply is, “Mike works in computers.” This explains why I get so many relatives and friends of the family calling me on a regular basis, or snagging me up at family gatherings, to work on their PCs. (My apologies to all of those people. I’m sure your computers will be just fine if you leave them alone.)
Like many people born in the early 40s, my dad just doesn’t get technology. And trying to explain it is like trying to tell the dog why pooping in the living room isn’t acceptable. He may look at you with understanding, but the message just doesn’t get through.
My folks came up for a visit on Saturday and we ended up going out for lunch. A meal out with my parents always means two things: 1) They always pick up the tab, and 2) I always get a $20 bill for gas money. It’s a mom thing - she worries.
During the ride home my dad decided to do a little more prying into what I do - and more importantly - why people pay me for it. I had a feeling this would be much like The Great Paypal discussion of Easter ‘08, so I braced myself, determined to make him understand.
All was going well until the issue of technology came up - specifically how I write and how the customers get the material. I thought I was doing pretty well explaining how computers were pretty much like typewriters, and Word documents were just like paper only in digital form.
He paused and I thought I saw the light go on.
Then he turned and asked, “So, do you need some kind of special pens for that?”
Thank God we still have sports.
I love ya dad.
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Sunday, April 13th, 2008 at 12:39 pm under
Well, you just made me appreciate my parents a WHOLE lot more. They were born in ‘37 and ‘42 and they each have their very own computers. In fact, my father used to be a programmer for the first (one of the first?) US banks to be computerized. And, sure, okay, they might not be RIGHT on top of computer things these days, but they do both browse the internet, send e-mails, read PDFs … Mom even has a digital camera. I am so proud! (grin)
April 13th, 2008 at 7:23 pmI’ve tried to get my mom a computer for several years now, but she just doesn’t want one. Dad still has trouble with all of the buttons on the remote.
April 14th, 2008 at 5:01 amYou are better off with a Dad who doesn’t get computers. My father (born in 1930) has “embraced” computers. That means I am constantly having to bail him out of various online messes.
April 14th, 2008 at 5:14 pmWell, yes and no. My dad has a habit of fiddling with the television remote, or rolling over it when he’s sleeping, and re-programming the TV. One day, he called in a panic, because he somehow turned on the subtitles for the hearing impaired and couldn’t turn them off.
April 14th, 2008 at 5:19 pmMy parents drew an arrow on a piece of paper and taped it to the DVD player so they can locate the PLAY button more easily.
April 15th, 2008 at 5:58 amI absolutely loved this post! It reminded my of my first trip to my grandmother’s with a laptop. She’s had a pretty hard life, being an orphan during WW2 and wants nothing to do with computers. But she sat patiently near me while I explained how I watch movies on it, and how I type. She didn’t get much, but she’s still proud of me
April 18th, 2008 at 1:58 amThanks for the kind words, Alina. The story about your grandmother sounds like it would make a good post or even short story.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:14 am