Intimidated by Computers?
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I certainly am!
But I don’t know the reasons for my apprehension. I’ve never had any difficulty with computers in the past. Still…there’s that nagging doubt in the back of my mind saying, “Yehhhhhh, something is going to go wrong. Then whatcha gonna do? You don’t possess the skills to troubleshoot.”
My insecurity whispered in the Devil’s own voice, “Tech people speak a different language. You will never understand their instructions if you have to call a helpline.”
“In other words,” says Ms. Snarky inside my head, “You are entirely inept.”
I have been on edge because the spiffy new laptop I ordered to replace my aging Dell arrived 10 days ago. I was frozen in fear at the thought of setting it up, following instructions and remembering passwords. Due to an utter lack of courage, I tucked the new machine ever-so-gently into a corner of my bedroom where it would be safe. My intention was good. I planned to set it up the next morning after coffee. Ten days later, and the setup has not been attempted.
For 10 sleepless nights, I endured mental images of DOS screens passing before me and code writing itself. Runaway script — wild and completely out of my control.
The anxiety had me sweating bullets. My mind was riddled with confusing, soul-crushing techy words I just knew I was going to see; boot error, corrupt file, registry failure and the like. Mornings found me in a state of panic—perspiration on my brow and upper lip. When would I find the grit to get this new machine up and running so I could finally relax and make use of it?
The “State of Denial” isn’t such a bad place to visit — occasionally.
I’d just dropped over a grand$$$$ on a new laptop that was serving the sole purpose of decorating a corner of my bedroom. I was afraid to fail at setting it up, so I let that shiny little beauty live there in the corner where it got no love and no attention.
