DH has been using a calculator to add things recorded in Excel

[RokaandRoll]

AIBU to think this is absolutely astonishing?

I found out because we were doing a new budget spreadsheet and he read out what we spend on different things each month while I recorded each item in Excel. He then asked me to read the amounts back to him so he could add them up. I was like WHAT??? I'll just add a formula in Excel. He said "really, you can do that?" I asked him what he thought Excel was for, and he said he didn't know as no one had taught him.

Have you ever found out someone was doing something in a completely bizarre and illogical way on a similar level as this? DH is in his 50s and is a quite intelligent person (or so I thought). He has used Excel in his job although obviously not extensively. AIBU to be completely shocked?

'Meaning "calculating machine" (of any type) is from 1897'

Why do you keep doing this to yourself?

So a robber is a machine that robs?
A poker is a machine that pokes?
A hairdresser is a machine that dresses hair?

Don’t be daft.

Mid noughties I worked for a company where the director wanted a new website but didn't like using the internet. We designed a website but I had to print it out and lay the sheets on her desk so she wouldn't have to look at a computer screen.

Machine, device, or person, yes. That is what the "er" suffix does, in English. (Not to be confused with the comparative "er" suffix".

Compare: boiler, dryer, etc. Machines that boil water or dry clothes.

I don't think you want to be convinced though, in spite of others upthread backing me up bravely with dictionary quotes lol (thanks guys).

IMO, age 57, worked in corporate since 19, your Excel ability matches your job role. Mine is adequate because I needed an acceptable knowledge to do my job. Had I needed a more advanced knowledge I would have learned and enhanced as I went along. As it was, I learned what I needed, any more knowledge and i would have forgotten it through lack of use.

YABU - some roles may not require extensive use of Excel...

So neither “adding” nor “literally” are correct, and you also have to ignore the PP that posted about wartime women who did calculations being known as “computers”.

I'm certain you entered this thread with a valid point to make. But dear me here we are.

That person was agreeing with me...!

"Yeab, don’t worry, the word “computer” doesn’t mean “adding machine”. That’s just something PP made up. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

Pre-1890's the word "computer" referred to a person who was able to do the adding-up - for example a clerk at a grocery store or in a bank or a trading company.

Post-1890's the word has also been used to refer to the machines that have been developed over time to do the "adding-up" - i.e. the computation of sums.

"Computer" quite literally does mean "adding machine" in the latter sense - as any etymology dictionary will confirm.

Lots of jobs don’t need it at all

those women and women working for NASA and more where computers, Rachel Riley and Carol Vorderman are Computers... I have zero idea what you are struggling to grasp here. You are attempting to argue semantics on words but the fact is those words are being used correctly so you just look a bit silly.

Seems like its time to put the shovel down.

Are they a lawyer? I have a friend who is one and he does batshit stuff like this. Owns a small fortune on zero IT skills.

@meganorks mind blown..... the jumping between two documents thing

A bit like the numpties posting on Facebook saying they don't have the internet!!

It is true actually that there is this assumption that you just know how to use Word, Excel etc. We use it at work, luckily for me I use it in a very basic sense as I don't know much about it at all. Can do a very basic formula but that's about it.

If they don't use excel they wouldn't know that. Would they?

I am pretty competent with excel, as I use it at work all day, but I am not sneery towards people who aren't familiar with it.

Concat, concatenate or '&' ?
Apparently, the folks at Microsoft don't have to learn Excel before they're let loose designing the next version.

It was one of the 2 parts of the ICT GCSE which was mandatory. The first part was building a complete database using Excel, that made up 60% of the coursework.

But none of my adult dc did IT GCSE, so it doesn't necessarily mean 'if you were born after {whatever} year you know how to use Excel and everything it can do.

They all know what it is and that it exists, but never really used it since that lesson. Just like I learned some Latin at school, and some chemistry, and some trigonometry but haven't used them in the 40 years plus since I left school so wouldn't know how to use them now.

If you need it for your job (or hobby I suppose), then you will have picked it up. If you don't, then there is no reason why you necessarily would.

I know all sorts of things that I need for my work, but I wouldn't expect other people who don't do my job to know them, and certainly wouldn't mock anyone for not knowing those things that they don't need for their job.

I think people are missing the point of the thread!

if someone is competent enough to open excel and start typing in numbers, surely it’s not a stretch for them to know how to highlight a column and see in the bottom right there is a total or do a simple SUM. You can do it by accident!

Nobody taught us how to use the internet, e.g use a search engine, open an account on mumsnet and make a post etc etc. but we all managed.

There is a level of missed critical thinking if you think something like excel is just square paper but digitalised!

But in a light hearted way, like not knowing how the vacuum cleaner needs emptying or that the iron needs water to produce steam (not looking at DH at all…)

LTB

But not everyone finds it as intuitive as you do.

I use excel all the time so I know how to google a solution to something I want to achieve, but if you are really unfamiliar with it you just wouldn't know what it is capable of.

It is like giving someone some eggs, sugar, flour and butter and telling them to bake a cake with no recipe. I bake and can make a cake with no recipe, but I don't expect someone who never bakes to know.

Erm no, not everyone works on computers so often an addition to use excel after an interactive day and just using it to type up notes and data. Sorry but some of us are involved with face to face sectors, like teaching, police, NHS, so we are dealing with people and adding info digitally is during a break, if lucky, or after work. You are being judgemental.

I like the analyse function. Does everything for you 😊

If they were tasked with baking a cake on a desk next to a computer with Google, I'd reasonably expect them to look it up.