IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT!!!

[TAR HEEL]

....something for all you people out there who grew up on computers and cell-phones to consider.Believe it or not, there are many folks out there like myself who weren't born with a ''mouse'' in their hand.Just when I think I have a certain ''procedure'' figured out, it changes.I realize this site is expanding rapidly and SOME changes are always needed. I'm not directing this at Ian(or anyone specifically) cause I think he does a good job.But I know I'm not the only person that is stumbling around on the computer....something to consider. I'm sure there will be some '' intellectual'' replys to this, which usually take about 5 paragraphs to say something that could be said in 5 sentences, and I will read them all. I'm headed OUTSIDE, be back on around sundown.

[Manda Lea]

Hi TAR HEEL,

This is only my second post on this site, so I'll try not to dig myself in a hole less that 24 hours in to my membership here. :)

Your post is understandable. I've plenty of people in my life who, as you say, "weren't born with a mouse in their hand." At 27, I guess you could say I was. I get calls from many members of my family asking how to do this or that. I'm glad to be able to help them.

This site seems to be quite friendly, and I'm sure fellow members who are more tech-savvy than others are more than happy to help out, and would probably be glad to return the favor- it seems that you are a source of knowledge here as well.

As far as site changes go, I've built and worked for websites for a couple years. Sometimes, the "broken" aspect might be solely on the back end, for the moderator and owners, not something visible to users and might require a front and back end change to fix.

Darn! Only 4 paragraphs! ;) Ah, now it's 5.

Much respect
-Manda

[Joy Williams]

well, at 47 I wasn't born with a mouse in my hand, but I can do this fairly well. I did actually have an atari 800 back in the day. ;) My husband was writing about home computers before there were PCs and actually had a punch card computer. So I'm OOOOOOLD on the computers.

:)

[Snowshiva]

I had an atari 800 XL :D 5 1/4" floppy drive and cartridge slot. That machine's got a lot to explain for!
Not relevant to the thread but I just got so much love for my old atari.

[Joy Williams]

Tar Heel, what are you referring to. Is there something I could help you with? I pretty much understand how this board works, I think.

[Snowshiva]

Doesn't this site rely on ning for its structure and user interface? Im not sure how much can be changed and how much front end stuff gets set by the underlying global ning code.

Hey Tar Heel don't worry to much about stumbling around your computer, the fact you have the aptitude to actually have a go means a great deal to your understanding of the internet. I'm (un)lucky enough to be an IT manager working for the UK gov in education, I am stunned that I still get people in positions of authority who proudly proclaim to me that they have never sent an email in their life and don't see the internet and computers as anything more than a gimmick.

[Shawna]

I learned about computers by taking some classes in college (ages and ages ago, and what I learned back then isn't even relevant today)....hubby then learned from me, he was clueless about computers when we met----he was a basic Marine infantryman and now he's a telecommunications officer in the Marines (he designs and builds computer networks)...so you never know where a little knowledge might lead!! But he's always attending classes to keep current because, as you say, things change pretty quickly in the tech world.

If you have time and access, your local community college might have some low cost/free classes that could help you.

[Joel LeGrand]

I love "Kitchen Gardeners" I have learned a lot about gardening in the last 8 weeks, but I have learned even more about computers. Thanks for the help.

[Ian]

Hi Tar Heel,

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Snowshiva is right and the site does rely on NING for it's operation. Most of the changes that happen are created by them, either because they have a problem with how a piece of code works in their environment or because another community has an issue which needs a global change to fix.

Actually, the changes I make are all fairly minor, being more to do with whether things exist or not, or what words are used, rather than to do with how things work.

So apologies for all the changes but there is little we can do about it

If you need any help then please just let me know and I'll do what I can. You'll often get a faster response by emailing me (send a message) rather than just leaving a comment on my comment wall.

And finally, don't forget, we all began by stumbling around on a computer.. and, as Snowshiva said, at least you are in there, stumbling around.

Ian