(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.)
Technology
Copyright 2023 © by Jim Potter
I remember in my youth, hitchhiking from Illinois to Central America. The unknown didn’t scare me. It was an adventure. I only knew a little Spanish (Por favor, dónde es la baño?), but I dived into a foreign culture.
Now I get anxious when a computer file won’t open, or when I can’t figure out why my weekly blog entry isn’t being forwarded to my Facebook page. And I’m still using Windows 10 because I want the techie problems to be corrected before I welcome Windows 11 into my life. Heck, by the time I download (or is that upload?) Windows 11, there will probably be a Windows 12. Or, I will have jumped out a window. Only kidding.
My anxiety over computer technology feels like I don’t know how to swim and I’m in the Amazon River with piranhas ready to rip off my skin down to my bones. I exaggerate.
I can’t blame anyone for my technological ignorance. We’re all different and we all have unique skills and talents. There are programmers and web designers who love what they do; they get excited about solving computer problems. I’d rather improve an essay I’ve written so I can publish the story in a blog post, create an audible file for my next podcast episode, or write another book.
My website designer, Rosemary Miller, “The Tech Chick,” excels at her work. She loves a problem. I’d just as soon avoid them, but they’re part of life and part of being an indie publisher.
When Rosemary and I speak, we use two different languages. She speaks in Tech Talk. That’s when I feel like I need to reach for a bilingual dictionary—or a language translator app—if I knew how to download it. Or is that upload? I’m dyslexic.
Beyond word processing, researching, creating blog posts with photos and audio files—I get overwhelmed trying to solve computer issues. But, it’s my choice. Every day, I turn the electronic baby on and give her hours of my attention, not devotion.
I always thought I was empathetic to foreigners who didn’t speak English, but with the computer age and my old age, I’m constantly reminded how much I don’t know.
Fortunately, Rosemary loves a challenge and enjoys helping people. She’s trying to teach me her language so we can improve our communication. That’s a worthy goal. Occasionally, I learn terminology. Until the other day, I was still referring to a new blog post as a new blog. “No, no,” she explained, “you only have one blog; each new essay you write becomes a new blog post.”
Have you heard? You now have access to my website audio files at Spotify and Apple Podcasts. In reference to podcasts, Rosemary informed me, “You only have one podcast. Each new essay that you’ve recorded is a new podcast episode, not a new podcast.”
I’m fortunate to have Rosemary as a website coach. She’s a friend and a personal lifeguard who routinely saves me when I’m drowning in, or on, the internet.
I must be one of Rosemary’s worst clients. The other day she said, “I think the problem could be solved if you cleared your browser.”
Browser . . . browser . . . I thought. I should know this, but what is a browser? Is that the same thing as when I google, searching for something? And where is my browser? Isn’t that the space at the top of my computer screen where I type in what I’m looking for?
“Jim,” said Rosemary, “your browser is used by your computer to search for websites.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
“We may have fixed the problem,” said Rosemary, “but until you empty the browser cache, the computer will keep directing you to the old file, not the current one.”
“Okay,” I said reluctantly, anxious to solve the problem without taking the time to understand the reasoning. Again, I thought, Am I too old for this?
Now you know how my limited laptop computer skills can create anxiety in my life. My eight-year-old android phone and I have a similar dysfunctional relationship. I can’t get the email to work any longer because I must have changed my password or the phone’s no longer compatible. I’d ask for help, but I don’t know where to begin.
Maybe I’ll call Rosemary if she hasn’t blocked my number . . . yet.
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Until next time, happy writing,
My testimonial on Rosemary’s website:
“Fortunately for me I called Rosemary Miller, ‘The Tech Chick,’ when I wanted to create a professional and secure website. She has been a joy to work with through its development, launch, and tweaking. I’m so impressed with what she’s done to bring this website to life! In addition, the design and functionality of the site is an amazing accomplishment. Rosemary’s experience, creativity, drive to excel, and good humor makes her my number one choice in website design. If you want the best, most conscientious, professional person designing your website without breaking the bank, then contact Rosemary.”
Click here to visit Rosemary’s classy website – https://rosemarymiller.com/
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My biggest complaint — as soon as I learn how to do something correctly — elves come in and change the technology overnight.
Yes! Are the people who change the computer programs to make things easier, the same people who work the night shift at the grocery store? They grocery store crews supposedly move the merchandise around to make it easier for the shoppers to find.
Great
Thank you!
Hilarious! Me too!
I can relate. I am very comfortable with the basics and can sometimes figure out nuances, but I sometimes bumble along with work-arounds for quite some time. –Linda
Linda, thanks for the comment. Sounds like we’re in the same boat. Jim
Jim,
I couldn’t stop laughing while reading your testimonial for Rosemary. I totally identify with the frustrations you experience, and your writing talent expressed exactly how I feel. Well done, my friend.
Steve, thanks for your comment. Do you carry a dictionary with you or have you learned the language? Jim
Jim and Rosemary, what a pleasure to see your names in the same blog. Rosemary is my first computer mentor. She taught me (and others) how to create and write blog posts over 10 years ago. Nearly 400 posts later, I say thank you Rosemary.
Jim, I empathize with you completely. Techie talk is like learning a foreign language. Good luck.
Thank you Rosemary for being there for people like Jim and Letty.
Letty, how nice to hear from you. We’ve created many blog posts thanks to Rosemary. Keep on postin’.