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?

even I can do a basic formula like adding or averaging, and have been able to since doing science homework at school

i am a similar age to the OP's DH and the computers when I was doing homework at school were like the ZX81. It had 1k of memory. You definitely didn't do any sort of homework on them.

Yes, I’ve also met adults who didn’t realise that Excel is one big calculator

Pretty sure photocopying isn't high on the list of skills they are looking for at that level

It's hardly a "hack"

It's the main and most basic function of a spreadsheet.

I can use Excel quite well but I didn't know that alt = totals a column! Thank you!

I taught myself (70 this year!) so know how to do all the formulae off by heart! my best bit though was when i found how to freeze the panes!!!! overjoyed at that!! I actually computerised my hubby's office (much to the horror of the secretary!) and started doing all the accounts and the annual books on excel! they had been done in ledgers previously and I couldnt stand it!!! this was in the late 1990's!!!!!

Format painter is life changing!

Schools DO teach spreadsheets in both primary and lower secondary IT. Unfortunately teenagers don’t use spreadsheets much, having other things to concern them, so it doesn’t stick.

Yeah ok. But I don't really get the general nastiness about him. He didn't know, now he does. My husband would be similar actually, but he has never used excel/worked with computers so could be forgiven for not having a clue. There are things he knows that I wouldn't have the first clue about.

as an added note, my hubby still does not surf the net or do anything on computer! he says that is why he has secretaries! god help him paying online bills when I peg it!

I don't know that one!

Yes, but if you have a lot of columns to add up it’s far quicker to put a SUM formula at the end of the first one & then just drag it across.

That's Rabbit Ears!

Lots of children are taught that way

It's not a 'hack' though, it's the purpose of excel.

Like finding out you can type on word

Um... I did!

I retired 12 years ago, but up till then I taught ICT in primary. I tried to tie it into other curriculum subjects but I taught Years 5&6 spreadsheets and was actually once told that it was really helpful for when they got to secondary

And when using Word/Powerpoint or Publisher for whatever lessons I made sure to teach shortcuts and simplicity. 'No you CAN'T use a different transition on every slide...'

It's a function that he wasn't aware of. It's hardly a mortal sin is it! It's somewhat amusing that he was using excel as merely a bit of paper on a computer, but he knows better now.

One of my favourite tools.

Along with Show/Hide

I’m 52 and like some PP’s here we had computer lessons at school. I started work young using Apple macs and Apricot computer. Then I went to do a secretarial course and we were taught Word Perfect and lotus 123. A few years later MS office came along and I had to teach myself. There are still aspects of it I don’t know, some I’ve used more than others.

I am neither shocked nor surprised. Many folk of his age and above in the workplace have some how managed to avoid learning how to use basic productivity tools (like excel, word, etc) properly and somehow got away with it either by developing ridiculous workarounds like your husband or constantly relying on younger colleagues to do stuff for them. Frustrates me no end I'm afraid.

A couple of years ago I had to work on a project with someone who would manually retype data from one spreadsheet to another and simply refused to adopt any of the methods of directly copying data or indeed whole spreadsheets between workbooks despite me showing them when I spotted it. I ended up doing most of the data manipulation despite it not actually being my job in that project as it was simply quicker. I struggled to understand how this person was able to do the job their were doing with such a limited skillset. I raised it with their manager but nothing was done.

Trust me OP, there will be younger colleagues at your DH's workplace cursing his lack of basic IT skills.

Lotus 123 is old it’s basically a spreadsheet and forerunner to excel.

That's a very common way to tie laces, particularly for anyone who is neurodivergent as there are less 'steps' to deal with.

That's a shit manager too though isn't it. That'd give me the rage altogether, especially having gone out of your way to show them. Grrr!

Most of my work internet use is searching “excel formula for XXXX”,although I have had to go back to using Google now my org. has turned off ChatGPT which is much better for questions like that!

Annoyingly, Excel info just won’t stick in my head so if anyone pulled my Google history they’d think I was thick as shit it had a memory like a goldfish 🤣🤣

@Tiddlywinks63 I'm 61 and have taught it for 10 years. Age is not a factor. Watch some YouTube and you'll master it!

It is just one example among many. Too many for me to believe it is just down to the odd bad manager. I think there is definitely a strong strand of deliberate incompetence when it comes to Office and folk of a certain generation...