There is always a bad feeling when some diagnostic feature of a computer tells you something terrible has happened , and it asks what we want to do about it.

First, we don't know what the #%@ it did, second we don't know what the error message is trying to say, and third we are scared *#@%& that what ever we do will blow up our computer!

So we sit there in a nervous funk with a sinking feeling in our gut and wish it had not happened, whatever it is. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'll bet you have had those same feelings a few times too. I think a page in the handbook of computing should have been devoted to that subject just to ease our mind.

When a message says, "an unexpected error has occurred in c123456 at b654321. It can be exploiting your c98765, do you want to repair or delete? If you say repair, it usually whirrs and grinds for a while then a nice little note pops on saying, Sorry, unable to repair!, what do you want to do now?

You sit there wondering what is happening in this little part of your world and what should you do. So, finally, in a nervous sweat, you timidly press the DELETE key, hoping that pressing it gently will minimize the damage it may be doing.

Then a note comes on asking,

"ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THAT?"

[Why ask me, I'm just along for the ride, I'm at your mercy !]

At that moment in time, you may wish you had taken up roller skating, crocheting, or maybe dog training as your hobby instead of computing.

If you have never had some or all of those feelings, you haven't been computing properly, you've just been "Email Swapping!"

Someday I may even tell you the joys of defragging a computer. grins

Author: R. Gruner

İApril 01, 2004