We like to complain about technology -- does it make us stupid?

We like to complain about the obvious.  For a long time (I am embarrassed to say how long), I complained that my devices ran out of charge before the day was done. Every day I railed about the incompetence of the company that would create such a thing – a smartphone that couldn’t last the full day. Finally, idly, I glanced at a blog that advised on how to extend the device’s daily charging life by shutting down apps and features we don’t use. Duh.  You might then notice that there are at least a gazillion sites that offer advice on preserving daily battery life. And the advice is not all the same!

We also like to complain about missing functionality.  Why doesn’t this app do what I want it to do? This seems to be especially appealing with Microsoft tools for writing. Here the user ignorance problem (and complaining) is far more extreme.  Did we take training courses on using these products?   Did we upgrade to a version that was recommended by other users?  Ending the complaint with ‘maybe it’s just me’ is the best.  Actually it often is ‘just you’.

Public complaining appears to be very satisfying, if humiliating.  Maybe people are lonely and want to reach out – on a forum, Reddit, NextDoor, or whatever.  Apparently they are not humiliated to be told (publicly) the obvious answers to their problems.  NextDoor is particularly entertaining in this regard – easily searched but for some, it is apparently a rule to never search before cursing while asking the question. And the correct answers are provided quickly by people who also seem to have a lot of time on their hands.

From the ridiculous to the sublime – tech discussions. Complaining about trash collection is a local hobby. Getting answers from a tech community to solve coding problems – that can be a forum that helps people get work done.  Like the PCHelp Forum, Tom’s Hardware Forum, AndroidCentral Forum, MacRumors troubleshooting tips forum, and so much more.  The old saying The Internet Changes Everything is true, along with exposing the lazy and industrious. Seek (first) and ye shall find.