Birthday Answers

[susandennis]

(For my birthday, I asked for Ask Me Anything Questions. I got so many wonderful ones. I'm answering them in entries from here until I get to the end. If you think of something you want to ask, just leave a comment or a note. Deadline is totally not a thing.)

sherlock999 asks:


5. How the heck did you figure out how to link all your gadgets through whatever software you use? This is a mystery to me.

I wish I had a magic bullet answer for you on this one. But, sadly, I do not. For me, the key to most all technical stuff is a combo of want and embarrassment. I am way too embarrassed to admit I cannot do a lot of things so I just learn how to do them. Plus, I'm fascinated by what they can all do for me and get an enormous amount of satisfaction in figuring shit out.

In the olden days it was more difficult but now, there are a million and one books, web pages, videos all with great hints and tips about how to do whatever it is you want to do IF you really want to do it.

But, if you don’t, then just ask somebody to do it for you.

Comments

[adminbear.livejournal.com]

I **LOVE** the last sentence.

[susandennis]

:)

[cinnamontoast.livejournal.com]

Yeppers. Between iFixit and Reddit and the known Interwebs, all of the info is out there if you want to make something work. A handy hint I've learned along the way is attaching .pdf to a search to find a user's manual. For example, "Bissel Handheld Steamer 2*** Series .pdf" — It will come up with the guide in .pdf form and you can download it to your heart's content.

And if you just want someone to do it for you? Call a local computer repair shop FTW.

[sherlock999.livejournal.com]

This last sentence is the perfect answer for someone like me. When my kids were in middle & high school (think 2000s and 2010s), they thought it was hilarious that they knew how to do things with technology that I didn't know. Phones, for example. I'm great with the specific software I have to use professionally, but anything I don't know is a disaster of complications for me. So the kids refused to explain to me how they texted (when that first developed), Snapchatted, Facebooked, etc. Then the Iphones came along, and they laughed more.

Now they're adults and they regret, oh, they sooooo regret not helping me, because I don't understand any of this Smart stuff and I'm way too impatient to learn it now. If they want me to use it, they have to set it up for me!