I hate computers and I hate the Internet. I hate learning about computers, working on computers, relying on computers, and I especially hate how the computer is becoming so central to our society. Maybe if I had higher proficiency ratings or if my brain loaded faster, I could keep up with the little bugger. But I can't, so I'm stuck and I'm peeved.
Why not just troubleshoot my problems away? Ah, if only it were that easy. But let's be real, is it ever that easy? Computer dilemmas rarely are presented in a "A-B-C Easy as 1-2-3" fashion. They are more like open sores that fester and burn. Sometimes you eventually solve them; other times a professional can fix the problem. But what happens most often is what I like to call "the passive approach," where you just ignore the problem and become so used to it that it no longer bothers you.
Why this sudden rage toward something that seems so useful, you ask? (Before reading on, picture me as that friend who said he had a bad day and clearly wanted to talk about it, but when asked if he wanted to talk about it replied that he didn't, only because he want more prompting first.)
This past Tuesday started out magnificently: The weather was crisp, classes were going fine and I had just eaten lunch with a very good friend. I headed back to Clemons for the second time that day to work on the online CPR training I needed to complete before 7 that night. I wasn't 10 minutes into the online program when the page froze. I refreshed the screen and tried again, but there it was again, frozen, like an unpopular Madonna song. Like Madonna, I didn't give up, and I kept trying, but to no avail. I must have tried to load the page more than 10 times, sometimes waiting 20 minutes just in case. I ended up e-mailing two different people and calling the local Red Cross office, but I could not reach anyone because it was 4:50 p.m. and their office closed at 4:30 p.m. Just my luck.
I gave up and decided to go to dinner, then headed to my meeting to explain what had been happened, hoping for a little sympathy. The trainer was exceptionally kind and allowed me and another student to complete the test after taking the class. I found out the reason I had so much trouble was simply because I was using a Mac and the fine print on the program's Web site stated that it could only run sufficiently on PCs.
Training lasted a couple of hours and was extremely beneficial. I love how many diverse programs U.Va. and Madison House offer, many of them for free, and I think it is really amazing that our school provides such services. (I had to add at least one positive thing about U.Va., despite my clouded perception right now.) After leaving the session, I went to Clemons for the third time that day.
I sat down at one of the fourth-floor Dells and waited 10 minutes for it to load and began my online CPR training program. What should have taken 20 minutes took an hour and 20 minutes because the program would freeze or fail to load properly. I think I saw the words "not responding" more than 50 times in that short period. I would quit the Internet browser, open a new browser page, log into MyUVa, check my e-mail, copy my student ID for the intended site, open the site's page, enter my ID and password, and complete two minutes of work only to have to repeat the whole process. I must have logged into WebMail more than 20 times, and that is when I was almost ready to throw the computer across the room.
I finally finished the course and was ready to print the last page as proof of my completion, but wouldn't you know -- the printer next to my computer was down, so I had to locate another printer and go from there. I think that the cherry on top would have been if I didn't have any money in Cav Advantage, thus forcing me to sell my body to the night for a pitiful 16 cents -- if I could have gotten that much.
My day was ruled by chest compressions and individual transgressions, assessment flaws and techno-savvy bylaws, and by the end of it I wanted to take a time machine back to the Paleolithic age. I understand the Internet and computers are essential to life in the modern world, but I cannot help but wonder whether anyone is actually benefiting from the advanced technology. Software cannot replace everything: I would take a dinner with friends or physical contact from a loved one rather than a laptop and a high-speed connection any day.
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