How many times have you heard the essential response, "It's intuitive?"
While the speaker may not intend condescention-it's just another way of saying, "I'm smart, and you just don't get it."
That may be an accurate conclusion, but come on. There aren't that many geniuses running loose and some may find this comment disturbing or-God forbid-"politically incorrect."
Local computer club meetings offer the perfect agenda for geeks, vying for alpha status, to use this phrase often. While it's probably lost when directed at fellow geeks, this word causes deep anxiety for the rest of us who are just trying to figure out what Window's something or other is all about.
When one of us neophytes hears the word intuitive during any how-to discussions on computers, most of us long to matriculate to a sandbox class.
Do you know what I mean?
How can anything having to do with computers be intuitive when, for instance, there are at least eight technical terms that mean, "get rid of it?"
You don't believe me?
Can you distinguish the following commands: Uninstall, disable, deactivate, remove, empty, export, dump, and of course everyone's default term-delete. If you hit one these get rid of it commands with indifference to the others, you may lose a hard drive, or your Mama's will.
Are you playing Russian Roulette with your precious creations, or are you just exercising your God-given right to be impulsively intuitive? Only you can judge.
However, as a wannabe geek (in questionable standing), when I hear the word "intuitive" an initial wave of desperation comes over me causing doubts about things I wanted to believe were intuitive-like turning the computer "OFF" by compressing the "ON" button. So, be warned, whenever I hear the word "intuitive, I will interrupt the proceedings and announce, as a born New Yorker might, "intuitive-inschmooitive,"
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Copyright © 2005, Robert D. Harrell, all rights reserved
To contact Robert Harrell, Email Robert at harrell@zeecon.com
Horseshoe Bay, Texas
Picture from June, 2003
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Robert Harrell was born in the early 1930's. An avid sailor and golfer, he lives in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.
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