Current Events > Kids these days don't know how computer file folders work

(+) Yeah! (+)

ToadallyAwesome posted...

Computers are fucking literal and dumb in how they think. They respond to the user.

It's probably been thirty years since anyone's bothered to teach the "garbage in, garbage out" concept.

Questionmarktarius posted...

It's probably been thirty years since anyone's bothered to teach the "garbage in, garbage out" concept.

Its actually a concept I have had to teach people while in IT. Not in a bad way but people honestly dont know basic computer stuff. Like basic basic. We live in an increasingly computed world while providing outdated computer literacy

---

This is just weird.

Whether you save everything to desktop or whatever default folder its not going to take more than 2 minutes to find unless you have like a hundred items per folder and/or everything is named the same.

How do these kids find shit they saved in any program? This seems like a five minute lesson if its even necessary. I'm 28 now and understood this 20 fucking years ago

---

spanky1 posted...

Okay just making sure. We had them too as a kid but times change.

The point is that we're taking teenagers who cannot understand how to write a simple email

The world be fucked

So what's gonna happen when these people enter the workforce?
Are there any professions that use computers but not the traditional filing system?
How would that even work? Even if something is quicksaved to the cloud while in progress, at some point when it's finished it needs to go to its permanent home in the project file. Even if that is saved on the cloud, it is still organized like a traditional file structure.


---

I don't know why everyone's savaging the next generation over this. They were raised on touch screens and cloud software, this shouldn't be much or a surprise to anyone

---

This is so weird, I think I've seen a version of this myself.

I worked in a lawfirm and as a Paralegal, working towards become a solicitor at the time, I had younger paralegals who would constantly come to me for the most basic things on their computers. I'm talking people in the early 20's. Some of them didn't know where the sound settings were, some of the didn't know what a control panel was. Some of them didn't even know how to use Excel or Powerpoint.

There was one girl who had no idea how to connect the printer to her computer. It got so mind boggling me and my colleague didn't even know what to say at the time.

Young people are getting dumber at technology? Or has basic technologies like phones or tablets dumbed them down? Even my mum knows more than some of these younger adults.

---

I'm not sure what to make of this but it's curious. And what happened in 2017 to bring this about? Or was it 2013?

---

itachi15243 posted...

I'm 28 now and understood this 20 fucking years ago

You're right on the precipice. Another five years or so, and you'd be poking at a monitor expecting something to happen.

Thanks, Google!

---

ToadallyAwesome posted...

Its actually a concept I have had to teach people while in IT. Not in a bad way but people honestly dont know basic computer stuff. Like basic basic. We live in an increasingly computed world while providing outdated computer literacy

+1


---

SpiritSephiroth posted...

This is so weird, I think I've seen a version of this myself.

I worked in a lawfirm and as a Paralegal, working towards become a solicitor at the time, I had younger paralegals who would constantly come to me for the most basic things on their computers. I'm talking people in the early 20's. Some of them didn't know where the sound settings were, some of the didn't know what a control panel was. Some of them didn't even know how to use Excel or Powerpoint.

There was one girl who had no idea how to connect the printer to her computer. It got so mind boggling me and my colleague didn't even know what to say at the time.

Young people are getting dumber at technology? Or has basic technologies like phones or tablets dumbed them down? Even my mum knows more than some of these younger adults.

Easier to use tech dumbed them down. The tech they grew up on is simpler than this stuff. It's like how I dont know ow how to use an abacus, because I grew up with calculators.
---

Questionmarktarius posted...

You're right on the precipice. Another five years or so, and you'd be poking at a monitor expecting something to happen.

I still don't understand this.

My little sister is 22 and she learned this by the same age as I did. Do kids not use desktops or laptops in school anymore or something?

---

ThyCorndog posted...

I taught a college computer lab course and one of the students on the first day tried to move something on the PC monitor with her finger

Not really about file folders but it seemed related

Sadder still is little kids trying to swipe across books

---

Hilarious

That's really weird. I didn't even need someone to tell me how they worked. I just figured it out when I first got a computer back in the late 90s

So just like my boomer boss

---

A lot of stuff about software I learned on my own. That F1 button does wonders.

You have to understand two things
A lot of kids skipped the computer generation and some just got used to shit like tablets or phones where there is no errors to be investigated etc. just 'whoops didn't work lolz'
Windows computers are getting more and more fucking confusing to use
Macs as expensive as they are are usually much easier. If you find a tutorial for something it usually will work 9/10 times across most OS updates. The M1 chip and 64 bit only apps aside

Compare that to Windows 10 and its updates. Wanna disable auto brightness? It might be in settings or in power settings that is only in control panel or right clickign the battery icon. Depends on the version. Sometimes it's removed and you have to use a registry edit or hope there's 3rd party software to do it

Even then you have literally a fuckton of shit to choose from. Want anti virus? What one. Wanna watch something not in your region on netflix? Get a vpn! What's a vpn? Oh this one is free. Hey wait why the fuck am I being spammed that I have a virus? I'll just deal with it.

itachi15243 posted...

Do kids not use desktops or laptops in school anymore or something?

There's a big difference between 'learning computers' and 'learning how a laptop/desktop functions slightly different to a tablet/phone'

Like at the start of every fucking term we spend about 3-4 hours over two weeks with all the kids going through shit like 'here's how you get your homework, how to email, the most basic security etc.
Like I still have kids stop me and say 'uh... sir my homework isn't showing up'. No shit stupidfuck it's cause you're trying to get into fucking [email protected] instead of the fucking school email.
These aren't even young kids. They're like 16/17/18.

Kids these days don't even know how to fuck with ExamGuard.

Ehh to be honest
I hate using a pc
I just use a phone

---

In all fairness, the goals of operating systems always were to become evermore

1 transparent
2 idiot proof

Good or bad, we've made advancements in the first.
As for the second, there seems to be a force of nature called PEBKAC that continues to undermine any significant progress there.

---

At least they don't double click everything like old people do though.
---

spanky1 posted...

At least they don't double click everything like old people do though.

oh no they just don't understand what the fuck double click means
'so open that icon that says chrome'
*left clicks*
'n-no you have to open it so double click'
*left clicks again*
'...Like two clicks fast'
*left clicks then right clicks*

I've been noticing recently that a lot of young people don't know how to take screenshots. If they're asking for help with something on their pc, they take a photo of the monitor with their phone.

---

nothanks1 posted...

You have to understand two things
A lot of kids skipped the computer generation and some just got used to shit like tablets or phones where there is no errors to be investigated etc. just 'whoops didn't work lolz'
Windows computers are getting more and more fucking confusing to use
Macs as expensive as they are are usually much easier. If you find a tutorial for something it usually will work 9/10 times across most OS updates. The M1 chip and 64 bit only apps aside

Compare that to Windows 10 and its updates. Wanna disable auto brightness? It might be in settings or in power settings that is only in control panel or right clickign the battery icon. Depends on the version. Sometimes it's removed and you have to use a registry edit or hope there's 3rd party software to do it

Even then you have literally a fuckton of shit to choose from. Want anti virus? What one. Wanna watch something not in your region on netflix? Get a vpn! What's a vpn? Oh this one is free. Hey wait why the fuck am I being spammed that I have a virus? I'll just deal with it.

Those things are slightly more complex than the ones stated in the article. Basic files and folders aren't even problems to be solved lol

---

Powdered_Toast posted...

I've been noticing recently that a lot of young people don't know how to take screenshots.

that "PrtScn" button isn't quite obvious, and it's usually over with the "mystery" buttons anyway.

That's another thing. Shortcut keys. Those things aren't really taught.

Derwood posted...

I have a 51 year old colleague at work whose desktop has like 75 folders on it. It makes me want to scream

At least they have folders. I have teachers with so many documents on the Desktop that the very first icon at the top left is actually many icons piled on top of each other (the icons that didn't fit in the screen).

---

SpiritSephiroth posted...

Those things are slightly more complex than the ones stated in the article. Basic files and folders aren't even problems to be solved lol

They actually are
Adults have shitty desktops and organization skills too

nothanks1 posted...

There's a big difference between 'learning computers' and 'learning how a laptop/desktop functions slightly different to a tablet/phone'

Like at the start of every fucking term we spend about 3-4 hours over two weeks with all the kids going through shit like 'here's how you get your homework, how to email, the most basic security etc.
Like I still have kids stop me and say 'uh... sir my homework isn't showing up'. No shit stupidfuck it's cause you're trying to get into fucking [email protected] instead of the fucking school email.
These aren't even young kids. They're like 16/17/18.

I feel like learning computers should always include windows. At least like two days to a week by middle school or even high school going over folders, email, security, and general information. Maybe included in a typing class or something. I can't imagine making it to that age and not understanding email.

---

Laserion posted...

I have teachers with so many documents on the Desktop that the very first icon at the top left is actually many icons piled on top of each other

I'm getting close to that on my work computer, but it's project transients I haven't deleted yet, instead of shortcuts to every damn thing and fucktons of web links.

itachi15243 posted...

I feel like learning computers should always include windows. At least like two days to a week by middle school or even high school going over folders, email, security, and general information. Maybe included in a typing class or something. I can't imagine making it to that age and not understanding email.

But grade schools don't have a need for it
We do about 4 classes of 'computers' at the start of every term just getting them fucking logged onto their email and understanding the concepts of it.

nothanks1 posted...

But grade schools don't have a need for it
We do about 4 classes of 'computers' at the start of every term just getting them fucking logged onto their email and understanding the concepts of it.

You also don't have a need for teaching history. The point is to make well rounded individuals which includes how pcs work. Especially because most people on a pragmatic level will need to know that later n life much more than who found Iceland.

---

I save everything on my desktop. I do clean it before it gets totally filled, though, and if I have several files for the same job/client, I do put them into a folder.

Other than that, it's easier to just have all of my recent work right in front of me.

---

You cant assume tech literacy just because some dumb kid grew up using tik tok and watching Minecraft YouTubers instead of TV. Zoomers are just as trash at using computers as boomers are

Shamino posted...

You also don't have a need for teaching history. The point is to make well rounded individuals which includes how pcs work. Especially because most people on a pragmatic level will need to know that later n life much more than who found Iceland.

The point I'm making is that grade school is pretty much heavily involved with parents. Like a teacher will communicate 99% of the time with the parent.
It's not like high school here in Ireland (age 12-18) where you have more independant study and stuff. Grade school is rarely shit outside of very defined homework already pre-approved months in advance from a selection.

People keep talking about how smartphones are so convenient and simplified and I get what they're saying, it's not really wrong, but I also feel in no way that they're easier. It takes me like three times as long to type something up on a phone for one example. I'm sure zoomers are faster on a phone but that just says more about their lack of keyboard typing skill.

CoorsLight posted...

People keep talking about how smartphones are so convenient and simplified and I get what they're saying, it's not really wrong, but I also feel in no way that they're easier. It takes me like three times as long to type something up on a phone for one example. I'm sure zoomers are faster on a phone but that just says more about their lack of keyboard typing skill.

I hear you there. I have 0 keyboard typing skill, I never even learned home row (Though I type fairly quick and can still type without looking down, at least). I often want to type up a post here on Gamefaqs when browsing on my phone, but wait until I'm on my computer since it's so much faster and easier to type.

---

PatrickMahomes posted...

I don't know why everyone's savaging the next generation over this. They were raised on touch screens and cloud software, this shouldn't be much or a surprise to anyone

Yeah, I can't really criticize them too much since there were a lot of things from before I started using computers (the mid 90s) that I didn't have a clue about. I had no idea what a "newsgroup" was, how to use the command line (although I learned later for programming), etc. That's not counting other common technologies from just before my time.

If you grow up not needing to know something (e.g. not needing to manage a file system if you just use smartphone apps), it's not a great surprise that you'll get confused when presented with a situation that requires said knowledge.

For people doing a computing course or similar, I would still expect them to be a bit more computer literate than that though.

Questionmarktarius posted...

that "PrtScn" button isn't quite obvious, and it's usually over with the "mystery" buttons anyway.

Hell, I grew up on all this stuff but didn't learn about the Snipping Tool until about a year ago, wish I'd known about that one sooner.
---

Honey our daughter needs to learn how to use folders. This gaming PC will pay for itself.

---

luigi13579 posted...

Yeah, I can't really criticize them too much since there were a lot of things from before I started using computers (the mid 90s) that I didn't have a clue about. I had no idea what a "newsgroup" was, how to use the command line (although I learned later for programming), etc. That's not counting other common technologies from just before my time.

If you grow up not needing to know something (e.g. not needing to manage a file system if you just use smartphone apps), it's not a great surprise that you'll get confused when presented with a situation that requires said knowledge.

For people doing a computing course or similar, I would still expect them to be a bit more computer literate than that though.

There's a difference between knowing the command line, vs windows, and what we have today, and file structures.
File structures are still in use today in pretty much the same way as first used on an IBM XT, the only difference is adding the graphical folder, vs the command line which isn't used at all unless you are a hardcore user or in IT. Every single program uses files and folders in a uniform way. Not understanding the command line won't really affect your life once in the real world, but not understanding files and fiolders certainly can.
Heck, as pointed out already, even the PS, and Xbox use folders to keep games organized. And folders are a requested feature for the Switch.

---

Kids still need to use computers to type just about any written assignment/report they have to do past elementary school. No one is handwriting a book report in high school. So how do they get through all their assignments without learning that files are stored in directories? They just save their Word file to whatever default directory and then open it back up from the recent files list?

---

radical rhino posted...

Kids still need to use computers to type just about any written assignment/report they have to do past elementary school. No one is handwriting a book report in high school. So how do they get through all their assignments without learning that files are stored in directories? They just save their Word file to whatever default directory and then open it back up from the recent files list?

Its all chromebooks now that automatically save their files in google drive. Gone are the days of knowing you need to save your document to your home drive on the network, or even knowing you need to save any file at all. Then they get hired to companies with the assumption they are tech literate because they are a zoomer, and end up wasting the sysadmins time because they dont want to talk with the help desk and dont know how to use a computer

I simply don't understand preferring to do ANYTHING on a phone over a laptop or PC.

I mean, imagine watching an action movie on a 5" screen. WTF?