To be surprised a woman in her 30s can't use a computer?

[ZenGardener]

I'm on the PTA at DS's pre-school. A woman was asked to be secretary so she would write up meeting minutes and make notices. She says she cannot use a computer so it has been agreed that she will write everything by hand.

I was shocked by this. She can email from her phone so surely typing a document isn't that hard? I really wanted to suggest that she use this as an opportunity to learn but obviously didn't.

She's a nice, normal, middle-class woman in her mid-thirties (I guess).

I just was utterly bewildered by it. Is it common? Perhaps it is? I just can't think of anyone who can't use a computer. It's so easy.

Does she actually mean she can't use a computer?

She might not have one at home and might be embarrassed to say it.

I bought my first PC in 1995 when I was at Uni, we were all given a basic course in how use the uni Mac's as well. They also had a lot of windows PC's by the time I left.

Before that, I had used a good ol' ZX Spectrum, and did computer studies at school for GCSE (1989-91) but that was using some sort of BBC basic type computer and was more about programs!

I can remember being completely baffled at first by a PC though, especially the mouse! No one explained the left/right button importance and I couldn't get the bloody thing to work

I have used a PC on a daily basis now for about 18 years, and I am 39 in few weeks!

I'm 35, went to a good London school and didn't use them until sixth form and that was only two for the whole sixth form group.

I taught myself at university and still rely on dh for spreadsheets etc.

I'm 44 and used computers at university, for analysing sociology statistics etc.
I also had my own laptop in my room and wrote and printed my dissertation on it.
TBH, I think the pta should be looking at encouraging her to do a basic ICT skills course, lots of places provide them for free, including local libraries via the Learn My Way scheme.

I suspect my sister can't. She works as a beauty therapist and doesn't need one at work. She emails occasionally on her phone or iPad but I doubt she has ever heard of a word document or excel.

I think the pta should be looking at encouraging her to do a basic ICT skills course

Yes, I'd agree with that.

My dad is 81 and my mum 77 they are both very competent at computers. I am 51 everything I do is on computer. Hand written stuff is awful. What a waste of paper.

I am fourty I remmember my primary school,getting a computer when I was in junior four the usecof the phrase junior four rather than year six shows how long ago it was we never bothered with them at secondary school I left in 1990 and when I did my diploma nurse training from 1993-1996 we could hand in hand written essays although my last couple were typed up on a word processor.Obviously since the NHS has become increasingly reliant on computers all nursing notes etc now have to be done on them I have had to learn but I can see how it is quite possible for people of around my age not to.

I'm 26 and I can get by because I did an ICT GCSE, most didn't tho and there was only one classroom of computers for the school (a technology college).

My partner is 28 and can't do much past the basics, we don't have a computer and it can take a while to get back in the swing on the odd occasion I have to use one

I'm 51 and used computers at Uni in 1981. You could do O level computing then but it was very very basic.

I'm 36 and don't know how they work, or anything technical, really, but, I know how to surf and email.

I don't think you can assume that because someone uses a smartphone that you can send an email. I don't know the statistics but I'd be surprised if sending emails features high on the list of smartphone uses.

Young people ime don't communicate via email.

I'm surprised at so many posters in their 30s who didn't use computers at school/uni. I'm at the wrong end of my 40s and have used a computer on a daily basis for nearly 30 years.

Astonishingly I only got my own computer about five years ago i was never bothered before that and I hated all the IT courses at work as they were always really fast and they assumed you had some knowledge I know a lot of people my age and over really struggle and are one finger typists myself included I have a tablet now and know the basics but I am certainly no expert.

I'd be surprised if sending emails features high on the list of smartphone uses.

It's high on mine, and I suspect it would be quite high for anyone who has a work-issued one.

I am a woman of 46. I grew up with only the top group in maths being able to use the one computer in school for an hour a week and I was not in that top group.

I could easily write up notices and meeting minutes. I can even make Powerpoint presentations and make words come in and out.

I too am surprised.

YANBU!

There was a PC running Windows 3.1 on my desk when I started work in 1993. I had no idea how to make it go.

It's rubbish because although both are computing devices the way you interact with a smart phone and with a computer are totally different. Thus so many websites also having mobile websites.

It's also rubbish because of the number of people I meet through work who are completely fluent on their phone at doing what they need to do, but who have to basically start from scratch in what we would regard as traditional IT literacies.

Like anything else, if you know how to do it, it's easy to do and it's easy to poo poo others as just not trying hard enough.

I am 45, and I have been using computers for a long time, certainly since teenage days (even if it was a ZX81 at first). I didn't go to university.

I am also chair of a PTA, and would be encouraging this woman to take a basic course in using a pc, or encouraging her to relinquish the role of secretary to someone who can use a pc. This is because of the time taken to produce the minutes, copy the minutes, deliver them to all committee members, etc.

I am very computer literate but I can't type. In the 70s typing was only taught at school to girls who weren't going to university. I use a computer at work but if anything is more than a few lines long I dictate it to a secretary. Typing is a waste of my skills and time.

I was born in 81. I used computers all through school and all essays had to be typed at university. How can she not know?

Nope, its really very similar if you make a little effort. And really not that different at all.

That's the point though Ebearhug I only really use emails at work I rarely use them at home in fact the only time I have used them have been in connection with work somehow.

Caitlin17 Your point is fine, for some people typing would be a waste of their time, depending on their role.

But in OP's case, the lack of typing skills could directly impinge on the efficient working of the PTA. TBH, who is to say the woman's handwriting would be legible to everyone on the committee? The minutes and notes need to be clear and legible to anyone. Being able to type goes a long way to achieving that.