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?

🥇

How is it laziness to not know the ins and outs a programme you barely use? You taught yourself because you needed to know it when you were younger. OPs husband now knows because he needed to use it at this age

Yanbu. It's the easiest thing to type into Google "how do you add up a column in Excel" or similar. Unless he couldn't even imagine that the function exists at all, in which case - has he never used a computer before in his life?

I must admit I'd be pretty judgy about this. I'm not in a particularly computer-heavy job (school teacher) and I'm commonly considered the tech-hating Luddite of the team, but even I can do a basic formula like adding or averaging, and have been able to since doing science homework at school. I can now even do a Vlookup if I really have to (say, to allocate grades to test marks), I just have to Google it each time to remind me how it works.

Excel is pretty instinctive and user friendly for the basic functions.

But if you don't actually know that functionality exists, you might never think to ask the question!

It's when people don't want to save themselves time, I can't get on board with that mindset. Takes, say, 30sec to look up how to do it and then do it (one button to click, the sigma). Takes several minutes to punch in numbers manually into a calculator, plus the very likely possibility of pressing the wrong button.

It's a defeatist mindset that says "no point trying to learn how to do it, it'll be too hard for me, I'll do it the long and unreliable way that I've always known". For me, that's very unattractive.

The word computer literally means Adding Machine. I've even less respect for someone who doesn't have the imagination to realise that a computer can add up numbers for you...! Rather than someone who's afraid to try the method

But it's pretty difficult to miss all the menus, drop down lists, "buttons" in the top menu bars. There surely is an element of wondering what they do, and there must be an assumption that a spreadsheet must do something as simple as adding up a column of figures. Surely people didn't think that there was no other functionality other than putting numbers in pretty columns? After all, multi million and multi billion pound companies run their figures on spreadsheets and they don't have a small army of people in offices adding numbers with calculators!

Jesus, that's really judgemental. And presumptuous. I didn't know the word computer literally means adding machine. So what! I can use one, I can learn to do stuff on one. There's also plenty I haven't learned yet. And plenty I'll probably never learn. Doesn't make me thick or lazy.

Well yes, I opened with that - I'm judging op's dh, yes. I couldn't be attracted to a man with so little intellectual curiosity.

I wasn't talking about you.

You need 2 screens for that kind of thing, it's a lot faster.

And I wasn't calling him lazy. Lazy! He's spending orders of magnitude more time than he needs to, on this basic task.

It's like if someone (without learning difficulties) has a washing machine, doesn't know what the buttons do, so washes all their clothes by hand, taking hours. That's not lazy

I’ve always used a calculator as well as the formula in case something hadn’t highlighted or something. Hate excel!!

The word computer is literally "compute" with an "r" at the end! But yes, people do have different ways of thinking and that's a good thing. DH writes novels as a hobby and had had 2 of them published - something I couldnt do in a million years. He's honestly very intelligent (and I would think his Word skills are better than mine 😂). But he's not a very practical person and this just came as a big surprise to me - a funny, lighthearted one but still a big surprise.

I don't think adding up a few figures on a calculator now and again is 'orders of magnitude' 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

and have been able to since doing science homework at school

Considering the OPs husband is not of an age where he would have done his homework on a computer I don't think you can compare

I really wish that schools would teach the basics of spreadsheets as part of IT or Maths lessons, it would be far more useful.

They used to, I’m 40 and learned the basics i.e. sum formula and a few other things when I was at school. Probably only 1 lesson but it at least meant I knew that the functions existed.

Kids at school. Caps lock... Capital letter... Caps lock.. carry on typing. Use the shift button!

I think it's not the nit knowing how to do something. If he had got a pen and paper and added them all up then fine, that makes sense.

But to go to the effort of adding it into a spreadsheet and then adding it up is a bit like lining all your documents up on a photocopier because it's a handy stacking table and then copying them out by hand.

It's not a laugh at someone for not knowing, it's a chuckle at the getting half way.

Can't fully explain it but I think it's kind of adorable.

Someone so determined to do something even if it's a long and unnecessarily complicated way.

I very rarely use excel, it would be quicker for me to whip out a calculator and add up figures than to Google, read instructions and then add the formula. It's not like I would even remember how to do it the next time as its so rare I use it 😂

I'm not hurting anyone, though apparently I lack intellectual curiosity 😆

Orders of magnitude means like 10x, 100x. Yes it really is that much longer to punch numbers into a calculator (often twice, to double check) vs clicking one button. 3sec vs 5min.

I'm assuming it's more than 10 or so numbers, otherwise why have a spreadsheet in the first place

But if you don't actually know it has all that functionality, you might not think to ask! You don't know the question! I really don't think that equates to a lack of intellectual curiosity. Poor chap. He could have a multitude of other talents.

Thank you! I actually agree with you. He's an extremely determined person even if not the most practical.

I'm quite good at excel and use formulas all the time, however I didn't know this either 😳

Don't try to explain maths to someone using that many emojis. You'll just do yourself a mischief.

It’s not like auto sum is some obscure function, it’s the absolute basic of what Excel is for. It’s like not knowing you can type a paragraph in word. I get that someone who’s never used it won’t know what it’s for, but OPs husband had worked with it before.