Comp. Classes that insult your intelligence.

[Zero]

I'm so lucky as to be a college student right now. {I mean that sarcastically. I hate going to school.}

I noticed a few people here use a Linux OS. Linux has recently become my main OS system. I use to use Vista as my main OS, because it came on my laptop. I actually kept that POS OS running for over a year. Then an update killed it. I'm starting to get use to using Linux. It's somewhat a pain, because Linux isn't as uniform or easy to use. I'm still thinking of returning to a windows computer, or at least having one for (for gaming purposes). Otherwise most of the programs I use I can also use in Linux. I already use OpenOffice and firefox. That's most of what I've been using (aside from games).

It's kind of strange to be using Linux, because the people around me seem to think that's quite amazing. Even people who help with tec stuff on my campus and all... They don't know crap about Linux.

Anyway, for the minor I want to pursue I have to take the dreaded basic computing class. They teach elementary kids this class. It's so pathetic. Just having to enroll in it makes you feel like a moron (then they treat you like one). It's a requirement though.

I can't believe I'm paying to be treated like a moron who's never used a computer before. It's embarrassing and about kills me to be in this class. It gets even worse. There's a "pretest" you can do before the unit, if you pass with an 85% you don't have to do the unit. I looked over the material and figured I'd pass it. It looked really easy, but I only got an 80.

I was so angry I gave myself a headache. I'm still pissed off. I want to drop the class, as a matter of fact, I want to scream fuck you to the whole stupid school. I don't know why I bother with computers and not explosives.

I thought the questions were easy. I don't know what I missed. The system is one of those god-awful CT-like set ups that make it hellishly impossible to see what you missed and all. It's actually called myitlab and it's a bigger scam than a pyramid scheme.

I wanted to access the test again to see if I could view the results somewhere, but the software only works with Windows and Internet Explorer (I've tried using wine and the whole ten yards. I guess it's kind of a pain to get E7 to work on Ubuntu). Is this a course MS pays colleges to force people to go through?

Okay, there isn't a discussion, well, if you can't make one out of what I wrote. I'm ranting about this stupid class, because I don't think I've been so enraged by a class before... I think the only thing that made me as angry was how disgusting the bathrooms got at my dorm when the janitors went on leave for two weeks.

If you need a discussion spoon:
-Stupid Classes
-The Basic Computing Class: Learn to use Windows XP and Office (Did you have to experience anything so horrible?)
-Schools you pay to treat you like sh-t.
-Can't believe you didn't pass that stupid test. It would be easier to commit suicide than face the embarrassment of showing up. (I was the only person who brought a computer to the first Lecture. It's embarrassing. I figured everyone would bring a laptop to a computing class, but no...)
-Want to die like an honorable Samuri by Seppuku and not face the humiliation. (Looking for assistance.)
-Linux vs Windows XP
-Compatibility issues.
-Any links in regards to explosives, particularly dynamite...

 

[walfin]

OMG. A linux user forced to use windows.

I feel your pain.

Just do it and pretend to pay attention but do other stuff (maybe if you start surfing INTPf they'll think you're at the advanced level already ). You have to do it anyway.

And no links to explosives for you, naughty naughty.

 

[Cogwulf]

I tried using Linux once, it's brilliant for basic tasks like browsing the internet or using office programs, but to do something like install the drivers for a printer or a wireless connection you need to be an expert computer programmer

When I use windows, for all it's bugs and issues, I can be certain that 95% of the time I can just click a few buttons, wait for a minute, and then start using the program I just installed, and that other 5% of the time the source of the problem is usually easy enough to find, it could be something like an outdated version of a driver or an incompatible plugin causing the problem. When something in Linux doesn't work, it could mean spending hours trying to work out if you set the wrong installation path for a compiler

 

[Artifice Orisit]

I can't believe I'm paying to be treated like a moron who's never used a computer before. It's embarrassing and about kills me to be in this class. It gets even worse. There's a "pretest" you can do before the unit, if you pass with an 85% you don't have to do the unit. I looked over the material and figured I'd pass it. It looked really easy, but I only got an 80.

You made my day
Not that I have anyting against Linux users, I'm just an asswhole.

 

[Beat Mango]

Life insults my intelligence.

 

[Latro]

I had a somewhat similar albeit not quite so egregious experience in my first year. I took IB chemistry HL (a two year course) in high school. I got a 6 (out of 7); no one got a 7 that year at my school. For some reason this qualified me for credit for general chemistry I and not general chemistry II (a 7 wouldn't have qualified me for gen chem II either). So I signed up for general chemistry II my first semester, a little frustrated that the AP chem students (who only took a one year course) got both semesters.

When I got my textbook, I opened it and found I knew about 95% of it. I'd gone over all the actual topics of the course, the only things I had not learned were a few equations. (Those equations were then all gone over again in quantitative analysis, which was basically a review of the math from general chemistry II with a little extra stuff added in). I still kinda wish I had tested out somehow instead of staying there; if I had I'd already be done with organic chem and be going into physical chem.

On the upside, it acclimated me to the teaching style of college chemistry professors.

 

[Kidege]

If you need a discussion spoon:
-Stupid Classes
-The Basic Computing Class: Learn to use Windows XP and Office (Did you have to experience anything so horrible?)
-Schools you pay to treat you like sh-t.
.

I went through a "technical degree" in comp. that consisted mainly of point and click lessons. It wasn't expensive and point and clicking was moderately useful. Particularly to pass the test to avoid taking remedial comp. in college. Many people who knew how to use a computer didn't pass it, because it had a really strict time limit. My college did have an agreement with MS.

Think about it this way: you can doodle in class all you want.

Edit:

Oh, and those point and click lessons? They were in Windows 95.

 

[fullerene]

We had a similar type class... but to be honest, I didn't find it that bad. Our school is heavy into computers, so the "basic computing" class taught how to use Dreamweaver for basic web site design, simple command-line (cp, mv, mkdir, rm)/ssh stuff, etc. It was still boring and not very useful, and a pass/fail course, but also a complete waste of time.

If it's any consolation: at least, for boring, shitty classes taught on a computer, you can usually browse the internet and do other stuff while the teacher is droning on. I can't really share your complaints, because I'm actually in a real Unix class, in the comp. sci. department, now, and enjoying it a lot. The memory of that basic, awful class is now 2 years old.

oh, yeah. About Internet Explorer. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1097080

most problems on ubuntu are already solved on their forums somewhere.

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

In my day, computer classes involved learning how to use one of these machines:

Color me unsympathetic to your plight

 

[Ulysses]

The Video Professor taught me how to type things in Microsoft Word and then print them using an electronic printer machine.

 

[Ermine]

I had to take a similar class, IT Essentials, my senior year. The class was meant for 10th graders, but I had to take it later since I moved into that school system a year earlier from a school that didn't require a computer class. That in itself was frustrating.

It was also really frustrating how all we did was familiarize ourselves with Office 2007. I previously hadn't worked with the new version much, but I could have figured out everything I was assigned easily on my own. The only useful thing we did all semester was learn how to do basic stuff on Dreamweaver. It was extremely boring. It was also one of those classes where no matter how hard you work, you can't get ahead. Every single unit, I had to wait for everyone else at least a whole class period.

What was even more maddening was that I actually had to work to get an A in that class. The tasks themselves were really easy, but I kept missing a few details that didn't actually matter which took away points.

On top of that, just about everything about my teacher irked me for some reason or other.

 

[Zero]

walfin,
I acknowledge your post.
I just learned empathy.
No explosive hu?

Cogwulf,
Oh yes, Linux means you want to spend more time with your computer than anyone or anything else, because it takes a lot of work to get the patch quilt to work together. Especially when crossing over... I have a Canon printer I can't use...

Cognisant,
Congratulations, you're an asshole...And you Posted about it... What else does that make you?

Banana,
. . . .

Latro,
I guess that's kind of comparable.
School feels like a waste of time, because they don't really build on your knowledge, they don't really care one bit about it as it were. They either care about changing your opinion or making you redo everything. I'm somewhat demanding when it comes to school, because I homeschooled for a while and then went to a small community college.

Kidege,
You know that makes me want to say screw it all the more. I guess Windows 7 is next. Yay, maybe it won't suck. I would really like it if Windows 7 doesn't kill itself with it's own updates. The reason I lost vista was because of some update that interfered with some kind of bus. I think the error was on csys and then I found stupid advice online that had people deleting configure files.

I've definitely learned my lesson about messing with config files. I messed up my graphics/Linux messing around with xorg.conf.

cryptonia,
Right now I can only seem to get e6 to work. I wouldn't normally need it and it seems that there's a component that is downloaded for the site to be of use. It's a pain, but it's made to only work with Windows.

You're lucky, we get to learn Word and Excel. . . .

Inappropriate Behavior,
That's an abacus. We used those in middle school math (for part of a unit) and ours was structured in 1s, 5s, 10s, 100s, etc... I'm not sure that they're all like that. I think we probably played with those in elementary too, but as toys.

You're lucky, an abacus is one cheap "computer machine". [You can probably get abacus as an apt....]

*Claps for Ulysses*
I wish I had a working printer machine.

Ermine,
I think that's pretty much the same frustration I'm facing with this class, or I anticipate. It seems like the people who teach these classes can't teach anything else. They say people who cannot do, teach and people who cannot teach teach gym... or computer basics on Office 07. It's 09 for godsake and I don't even use MS Office. I use Open Office and I think I'll try Abi word.

I guess I could learn more about the hardware, because I'm pretty sure the questions about the CPU I got confused about. I forgot it meant Processor for one and I thought it was a User. -_-;;

 

[Adamastor]

The Basic Computing Class: Learn to use Windows XP and Office (Did you have to experience anything so horrible?)

Yes, I did the first year of my tech school got the following subjects:

- Computer Systems (Historical concepts, a bit of physics etc. Interesting it was important to solidify my fundamentals)

- Informatics (All about Office, Excel, Access and all this MS crap. A waste of my time, though I learned some FEW useful things and apparently it is handy when looking for a job).

- Logic of programming (I thought this was a waste of time. Nonetheless I got a zero twice on the first bimester. Well, I got what I deserved I was too arrogant to pay attention to simple rules like "It's forbidden to read a file twice" etc. Needless to say It was frustating and embarassing; later on with a humble attitude I fixed the problem).
​

About linux?
I am using windowsXP right now and I don't remember why since I am gaming less and less these days.

My laptop has openSuSe 11.1 and I got a liveCD of backtrack, because it is like a swiss army knife for security (lots of scanners, infos, etc).

I am much more at ease on unix-like systems, I enjoy the sense of freedom and I enjoy developing ("useless") things like macros, sight-reading source codes, customizing the system appereances and its behaviour (i.e building my own fortress).

Compatibility issues

I used wine to play some games like wc3 and CS, but besides games I never got any compatibility issues.

Most of the time, I would look for an alternative program if I had to do something on linux that I did on windows, IF the program itself was not cross-platform. EXM: Photoshop, I like gimp, inkscape, etc, and from what I have heard I will be fine with it for a long time.

Watching movies and listening mp3 on linux is not a problem anymore.

Programming IDEs, compilers, etc, are abundant on linux.

So, no problems at all.

, it's brilliant for basic tasks like browsing the internet or using office programs, but to do something like install the drivers for a printer or a wireless connection you need to be an expert computer programmer

I disagree. Installing drivers as little to do with programming (I mean, you're not supposed to develop your own driver, this would be horrible!). In fact there are distributions that focus on friendly user interface and developed wizards that helps the user to install drivers, programs and such.

Plus, if you have a problem with something the chance that someone has already solved that problem if really high (like cryptonia said).

 

[Kidege]

It seems like the people who teach these classes can't teach anything else. They say people who cannot do, teach and people who cannot teach teach gym... or computer basics on Office 07.

Don't respect any teacher who can't teach to read, count and add, and a specific discipline from the basics to the specialty, to a child and an adult. And don't respect any teacher who can't teach you how to be a better person.

(Quintilian did say that every teacher had to work in every level, at least once)

/thread derailment

 

[Vrecknidj]

Okay, there isn't a discussion, well, if you can't make one out of what I wrote. I'm ranting about this stupid class, because I don't think I've been so enraged by a class before... I think the only thing that made me as angry was how disgusting the bathrooms got at my dorm when the janitors went on leave for two weeks.

You didn't ask for advice, and I wouldn't have either if I were posting a rant. Still, here's some unsolicited advice...



Suck it up. I don't mean that in a mean way at all. Just show up, take the class, figure out how to get an A even if it means doing things you'd rather not do, and move on.

WAAAY back in 1989 when I was a senior in college, I finally got around to taking the required computer course that I was supposed to have taken as a freshman. (Yep, 20 years ago universities had the same crappy requirements, only the courses were even worse because they were still teaching DOS.) Anyway, I brought homework from other classes to work on during class, or I wrote letters to my wife, or I made shopping lists, or whatever I could think of to pass the time. I already knew all the material--I think I ended up with a 115% or something in the class because there were extra credit assignments. I just did all the homework and aced all the tests. It was terribly easy, it was an insult to my intelligence, so I capitalized on it.

Dave

 

[Zero]

Adamastor,
There are definitely qualities of the Linux OS I enjoy, but most of my programs and games are already for windows. I'm somewhat wary about Linux systems, because so much can be customized by the user and is. I mean it really comes off experimental sometimes. I had to rewrite something today to get my computer working again (my HDD is f'ed up and I know it). There are kinks. There are kinks in any OS or computer, but Windows does have to perform for their large customer base.
I know not to try to develop my own drivers. I've already killed my computer a few times.... Currently there isn't a driver for the cannon printer I happen to have. (It does work with my bro's HP though and I have an old HP I could use).
I've gotten it to pretty much do everything else I need (I can watch shows, surf the web, play flash games and write in Japanese).

Kidege,
I'll keep all that in mind and if I get a chance I'll give them a test.

Vrecknidj,
You sound like my ESTP mom (She told me she had to take it too [or something like it]). But I get what you're saying. Everyone tells me that.

Anyway, I've gone to the Labs, which are the only thing that count... I'm not sure why there's even a lecture... I looked up how the grading was divided and it didn't look like the lecture counted for anything... Well, I passed the Windows OS part, so I won't have to go to that section (unless I want to). In our first Lab we "learned" to take a screenshot and paste it in a word document *laughs*. They told us at least three times that the print screen button Does Not Print the Screen. It says that in the booklet too. Man, it was funny (and terribly stupid). I didn't know you could use CTRL and click with windows to select different files and move them together... Though, um, I still passed that sections...

 

[Jazz]

I tried using Linux once, it's brilliant for basic tasks like browsing the internet or using office programs, but to do something like install the drivers for a printer or a wireless connection you need to be an expert computer programmer

I disagree with your point on the drivers and all. Linux is actually the most compatible OS of all time. The only problem is that when companies release new hardware, they don't release the drivers opened. But given time the community will whip up a fix that will make the device work. But it takes a few years. So as long as your using old hardware, you shouldn't have any issues at all when it comes to drivers. And Linux is so efficient and light, that using old hardware is not necessarily a bad thing.

Linux is not good for use on the web in my opinion. Too many websites rely on closed sourced technologies like flash and silverlight to make it a smooth endeavor. All though If you need to connect to a server via ssh, it's your best friend.

 

[walfin]

Linux is actually the most compatible OS of all time... But given time the community will whip up a fix that will make the device work. But it takes a few years.

First statement and last statement are kind of contradictory (practically speaking), isn't it?

So as long as your using old hardware, you shouldn't have any issues at all when it comes to drivers.

Linux actually works better on old hardware.

Linux was good for use on the web (except now there's silverlight, bloody Microsoft, but even that's gonna have a mono implementation). The problem is that nobody writes really cool games for linux. I'm not talking proof of concept game engines like sauerbraten. I'm talking about a proper game with good storyline and campaign (this is sorely lacking in ALL free software games) and good graphics and all. The drivers are easy enough to load - modprobe. But tell a n00b to open the console and they'll be like

 

[Linada]

Someone somewhere convinced all the 'official' people that microsoft is everything there is to computers.
A job advisor once suggested i do a course like that, after i told them i had half a computing degree.
But then there is also the assumption that you can't do anything on your own initiative. You can get your hand held for anything. Then again it seems that a good deal of the population actually need hand holding. Can't teach themselves to cook, figure out exercises for themselves, or, well, anything that might be categorised under personal growth.
It's either going to drive you mad or make you sad.

 

[Aiss]

Last time I've had this sort of experience was at school when I was 13-15... MS Office, searching the web efficiently, very basic HTML and a bit of JS. Now I'm studying computer science and it isn't too easy. In fact, some of it is pretty hard.

I went from Windows to Linux to OS X. Linux feels great compared to Windows, but every once in a while you've got issues with it, and I don't enjoy dabbling in system's internals, although I know people who do. OS X is a Unix system and more refined than Linux, so that's what I use most of the time. Windows is a flawed design which was only ever patched up, although end-users don't see it (the design, and therefore the flaws). I use Windows 7 when I have to (to run Windows-only software; I refuse to run Wine), and Linux in labs.

Anyway, sorry if I missed something, but what minor are you actually taking, Zero?

 

[Jazz]

First statement and last statement are kind of contradictory (practically speaking), isn't it?

Linux actually works better on old hardware.

Linux was good for use on the web (except now there's silverlight, bloody Microsoft, but even that's gonna have a mono implementation). The problem is that nobody writes really cool games for linux. I'm not talking proof of concept game engines like sauerbraten. I'm talking about a proper game with good storyline and campaign (this is sorely lacking in ALL free software games) and good graphics and all. The drivers are easy enough to load - modprobe. But tell a n00b to open the console and they'll be like

I say Linux is the most compatible OS of all time because there are thousands of devices that support it. Linux has been installed on anything from TV's to microwaves.

I don't care too much for games anymore. I only play puzzle, strategy and sandbox type games anymore, so I don't care for games with a story line; it makes it seem more like work than a game.

Back when I had no friends, I'd argue for linux all the time, I just don't care about it anymore. I usually only boot linux when I have to program. I use windows primarily now only because it has Rhapsody.