So my suspicion is that some of the people you mention feel that they’re already hopelessly behind, and something new will be forced on them next week, so they’re just going to stand pat. I have worked at companies where I’ve been chastised for not doing things the right, new way, because I didn’t read the email, because I didn’t have time to, because I had work to do. It can be frustrating.

Another source of difficulty for me is that there are many savvy people who take up the new technology so quickly that I have trouble finding useful “for dummies” information about it so I can learn at my slower pace. Right now, I’m thinking about RSS, which I know I need to learn about, but which is so much part of the wallpaper already that I’ve had trouble getting it explained to me from the absolute first step.

As complexity grows (and it will) the work of simplifying must keep pace with it (and it doesn’t always). I agree that someday soon there won’t be any “normal” computer users, unless we’re all normal. For now, those who want to use technology to be more productive will be caught between trekking up the learning curve and just getting their work done.

Interesting article, I just wrote a painfully long tirade on the subject of being an elitist on my site the other day. I won’t re-hash all of that here, but I would like to make a summary point.

The fact is that, for the most part, it is a smallish percentage of the affluent parts of the world that have gained access to computer technology. The vast majority of people that have yet to find their way here are the people that are going to need the most help, because they don’t have the same resources as those of us that are already here.

I know this is different than talking to someone in your office that ‘just doesn’t get it’, but when we start talking about a ‘technology elite’ we are starting down a slippery slope. We all leave a trail in our travels, and others yet to come are going to decide whether or not they are going to be able to carve a niche for themselves using this technology by trying to negotiate there way through this trail.

We need to make sure we offer them help, regardless of how ‘clueless’ they are. It’s going to be really important, for all of us.

There is nothing more annoying then being told I am withholding information or I understand the computer because I am a “geek” and they are not. These are also the same people who refuse to take the time and learn the basics. I had one user who, after 11 years, still found it necessary to close one program to open another - no matter how much I tried to train and teach this person they flatly refused to learn anything.

I found the most of the users were just plain lazy. Their thinking was – why bother to learn the computer if I can just call the support sap and they will come running every time to help me or fix what I broke?

Well, I guess on a good note as long as these types of users exist I will always have work – though I will probably run out of patience before I run out of work!