To think a grown woman....

[ToTheMax0]

Should be able to know how to operate a dishwasher?
New colleague didn't know how to do it. She stacked it correctly but was then standing around looking stumped. I had to intervene and help.
She is 41!

Stacking a dishwasher is common sense, and she had done that. Switching it on can be different with every model, I inherited one with no instructions, there are 3 different buttons/actions to make it start, it took me a while to work out what to do. Also the detergent input method can be different for different models. So be nice, not critical and bitchy!

32 and never had or used a dishwasher so wouldn't have the foggiest idea how to use one, and that includes "stacking properly". Would rather clean the dishes myself so I know they are actually clean. Think you're being a bit of dick, if she didn't know how to work a door or light switch I'd be a bit miffed, but an appliance that not everyone has? So what.

I'm 34 and have never had one so might have done the same
I'm not saying I wouldn't have had a guess but tbh I'm not sure where to put the tablets etc

As pps have said even with things like microwaves, washing machines that I do use regularly, it can sometimes take a few seconds to work out how to use a new one if there are different settings

Have you never been given help for anything that others might find obvious?

I'm 39 never been privileged enough to live anywhere with a dishwasher in my life so I wouldn't know how to operate one either. You sound mean

@ShowUs

The average dishwasher uses 9l of water to rinse/wash/rinse.
I live alone, so only use my dishwasher 2/3 times a week, unless I have visitors. This makes it much more efficient than hand washing a couple of times a day.
If you hand wash with hot water, whether heated by gas or electricity, that apparently uses more energy. I think the test results are easily available online.

I definitely think dishwashers are more hygienic anyway!

Each to their own, however. Most people now use an automatic washing machine and probably wonder how it was possible to manage with just a wash tub and mangle years ago. Or use an electric lawnmower rather than the push-pull type. Or use a vacuum cleaner rather than a broom. It takes away some of the drudgery of life, enabling us to go out to work more/spend time on enjoyable things.

I didn't own a dishwasher until I was 45. I knew how to stack one as I had helped stack dishwashers at other peoples homes. I wasn't sure though how to add the tablet and switch it on necessarily. I don't think it is weird at all. Same with everything in life - unless you do it regularly you forget how things work. To be honest, if she saw you wash up manually she may have raised her own eyebrows about how you do stuff as well.

I can think of lots of situations where I have had to interact with dishwashers outside my own house. So bizarre to me that those on this thread have got into their 40s without ever touching one.

We have one in the office and I can use it as I've been shown how. Thankfully my colleagues aren't arseholes. I can't think of any other situations where I've 'interacted' with a dishwasher though. Holiday lets? Maybe but I wouldn't bother with it when there's only 2 of us.

Wow. Only 44% of UK homes have a dishwasher - why on earth should someone be expected to know how to use one?

I've never had a dishwasher. I have managed to use them in holiday accommodation but would probably ask someone else to help at work if they were around.

94% of people disagree with you. I don’t work in a restaurant, have only had a few holiday lets and they’ve never had a dishwasher, I don’t have a MIL, etc.

Am pretty sure people are doing ok without having used a dishwasher!

I have never had or used a dishwasher so although I'm confident I could figure it out reasonably quickly I think it's normal to take a step back for a second just the figure it out.

When I visit other people I have no intention of asking if I can use their dishwasher, my work doesn't have one, my last one did have one in their cafe but I worked in the office so had no intentions of using it and I haven't got one.

So chill out, it doesn't make you a lower form of life because you are not surrounded daily by dishwashers.

^This

I’ve never used one or had one. We never had one growing up, neither did my grand parents.

I've never owned nor used a dishwasher either, so wouldn't have a clue although I could probably work it out eventually. But nowadays things come with such overcomplicated dials and buttons (washing machines are particularly guilty of this) that it's not always a matter of fill it up and press the 'go' button.

On the other hand though, I can work my Induction hob, which flumoxes my (adult) children every time.

It's nothing to do with age or how 'grown up' we are, it's what we're used to.

What a bizarre thread.

I wouldn't know how to use a dishwasher either. Never had one and don't have any friends who have one.

I never used one until I was 43, when we bought our first dishwasher. Not knowing how to use something isn't weird if you've never actually used one! I think it's different to a washing machine, where it'd be unusual not to have one, but it's not that unusual to have never owned a dishwasher.

But almost every washing machine is different, is my point. I have quite an old one which has fairly simple settings. Some of the newer ones with multiple different settings (just why? I want to wash at either 30,40 or 60, and spin until nearly dry, I don't need to have my clothes slightly less clean or very wet, if I do I shall just wash by hand) are almost impossible to fathom out when you are used to leaving your own on its 'usual' setting and just pressing GO.

I'm sure there are some things she could do which you wouldn't have a clue about. Stop thinking you are superior just because you can use a dishwasher and she can't. It doesn't make you a superhero.

Re the actual thread, imagine a grown woman being so thoughtless to a new colleague, that she begrudged giving her a few minutes to show her how the dishwasher worked.

I completely agree

Never had a dishwasher until I was in my 30s so I wouldn’t have had a clue before then either.

Well, quite. As talents go, it's a fairly puny claim to fame.

I had to intervene and help.

So noble of you OP.

While you were in critical mode, did you assess her skills in the job she was hired for, or are you only going to obsess about her perceived housekeeping knowledge?

Aaaaw. Meanies. I designed a lycra outfit & everything.