While I love books, there is one type I loathe: instruction manuals, particularly those having to do with electronics or all things mechanical. I particularly loathe manuals with charts and diagrams. I tend to read a graph horizontally when I should be reading it vertically or vice versa… whichever way is wrong. If “wrong” was a talent, I’d be a star on Broadway.
I’ve been struggling with my new website for a few weeks. The problems I’ve encountered have been many. So why do people keep telling me the new system “is so easy.”
It’s never easy to learn a new skill. The brain, aware it’s about to be challenged, orders an adrenalin rush that blurs vision, muffles sound and make the palms go sweaty.
Of course, that’s where the manuals kick in, right? Wrong. Here’s a little instruction I tripped over the other day. “Just drag and drop your picture on to the computer screen.” Fine. But where do I find the picture? How do I drag it once I find it and where should I drop it? Maybe on the head of the guy who wrote the manual?
It’s not New Years , but I’ve making a new resolution, anyway. I’m not buying any more manuals. The only thing they teach me is how to swear.
(Courtesy of avg2a)
