| I used to work for a psychic hotline and | | | | Computers have gotten so cheap that some PC |
| techies did call me, believe it or not. | | | | owners can barely read and write. They think |
| | | | they bought a magic box. Other users could |
| Most techies don't call psychic hotlines, but | | | | pass the A+ exam themselves. |
| it's obvious they still believe in ESP. They | | | | |
| believe that the non-techies learn technical | | | | That makes it necessary for you to actually |
| knowledge just by contacting a techie, even | | | | listen to the other person, gauge their level |
| though the techie does not actually explain | | | | of understanding and word your questions and |
| anything. | | | | answers to their level. |
| | | | |
| The techie thinks they just have to mumble | | | | If you don't nail it right away, you must |
| something, and the non-techie of course | | | | decide whether you failed to fully |
| understands it. | | | | communicate because you skipped over details |
| | | | you know so well you take them for granted |
| Because the techie themself understands what | | | | and forget that that others don't know them, |
| they mean to say. | | | | or you failed to get to the point. |
| | | | |
| What is that but a practicing belief (an | | | | That is, you use your increasing |
| unconscious assumption) in thought | | | | understanding of their level of thinking to |
| transferance? | | | | modify the words you use to ask questions of |
| | | | them and then solve their problem. |
| That must explain why so many techies do not | | | | |
| feel they have to explain technical problems | | | | I understand it's frustrating. But you know |
| and solutions to non-techies using mere | | | | that if you want to query a database for some |
| spoken or written words. | | | | information, you must use the proper SQL |
| | | | commands in the proper format -- or you don't |
| It's as though you went to a doctor and after | | | | get an answer. If you want to add data to a |
| they checked you over, they mumbled some | | | | database, there are standardized fields you |
| Latin and then expected you to understand | | | | must use -- or it won't accept the new |
| that meant you had a viral infection, and | | | | records. |
| what you should do about it. | | | | |
| | | | People are the same, just infinitely more |
| It will greatly help your career if you do | | | | complicated. |
| actually learn how to speak and write clearly | | | | |
| -- in a way that the rest of us who don't | | | | You want to learn something from them, ask in |
| have Computer Science degrees or MCSE | | | | a way they will respond to. You want to tell |
| certifications will understand. | | | | them something, do it in a format they |
| | | | comprehend and respond to. |
| I realize that we can be frustrating. | | | | |