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WAN
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Should I?
#21739301 - 05/29/15 11:37 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Hello. There is a computer recycling depot in my city. I have been thinking about volunteering there but I am not too sure whether I really should. So I will ask the shroomery and see if I can get some advice.
1. The reason I want to volunteer there is so that they can teach me about computers. I feel kind of bad though because I am not doing it to give back to the community or to help them out. So do you think I should still volunteer?
2. I am 35. Do you think I am too old to be learning about computers? Be honest.
3. When I was in school, I sucked at math big time. Given this, do you think I might still have a chance of mastering computers? I think that one needs to be good at math in order to do well with computers.
Thanks.
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Shroomslip
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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21739330 - 05/29/15 11:47 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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First and foremost I don't think you're going to learn anything really by recycling computers. Unless I have the wrong idea, all you're going to be doing is dismantling them. There is no learning required for that, like at all. If you know how to operate a screw driver and pull out wire connectors, that's pretty much all there is to it. Learning about the components comes from building them up. For someone just starting out in building/upgrading, they have to do a lot of reading to understand what it is they're doing. All that reading trying to understand it, is where you actually learn about the components like their functions, limits, what really needs to be high end and what you can easily just scrape by on bare minimum.
No one is ever too old to learn about anything. It requires nothing more than open mind and a willingness to keep pushing forward despite set backs. I feel like people who say they're too old to learn something are simply using their age as an excuse to give up.
Math has almost exactly 0 to do with computer on the hardware side. It might be used a bit in the software, but if you can understand programming, there is literally 0 reason you should have trouble with the hardware side of things.
Computers seem complex but they are quite honestly one of the simplest machines we use on a day to day basis. A computer is just a mixture of a few basic components. As they exist today, you basically can't screw up and put the wrong thing in the wrong place. Everything is tab a into slot a and tab b into slot b. You cannot put the motherboard PSU harness into the video card slot. You cannot plug the CPU fan into the SATA slot.
As far as hardware is concerned, the worst you can really do is put a massive beast of a GPU (video card) in and get a bare minimum PSU (power supply) and then under heavy graphic loads you'll experience problems when the card is requiring more power than your PSU is capable of putting out. It's a simple fix, buy a better PSU.
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With my face against the floor I can’t see who knocked me out of the way. I don’t want to get back up but I have to so it might as well be today. Nothing appeals to me no one feels like me, I’m too busy being calm to disappear. I’m in no shape to be alone contrary to the shit that you might hear. You can't wake up, this is not a dream. You're part of a machine, you are not a human being With your face all made up, living on a screen. Low on self esteem, so you run on gasoline
Edited by Shroomslip (05/29/15 11:49 PM)
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twighead
mͯó



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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21739333 - 05/29/15 11:47 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Do it!
My friend works at a place like that and really loves it, its a neat ass place if you're interested in electronics of all types - and you'll definitely learn a lot quickly.
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WAN
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Quote:
Shroomslip said: First and foremost I don't think you're going to learn anything really by recycling computers. Unless I have the wrong idea, all you're going to be doing is dismantling them. There is no learning required for that, like at all. If you know how to operate a screw driver and pull out wire connectors, that's pretty much all there is to it. Learning about the components comes from building them up. For someone just starting out in building/upgrading, they have to do a lot of reading to understand what it is they're doing. All that reading trying to understand it, is where you actually learn about the components like their functions, limits, what really needs to be high end and what you can easily just scrape by on bare minimum.
No one is ever too old to learn about anything. It requires nothing more than open mind and a willingness to keep pushing forward despite set backs. I feel like people who say they're too old to learn something are simply using their age as an excuse to give up.
Math has almost exactly 0 to do with computer on the hardware side. It might be used a bit in the software, but if you can understand programming, there is literally 0 reason you should have trouble with the hardware side of things.
Computers seem complex but they are quite honestly one of the simplest machines we use on a day to day basis. A computer is just a mixture of a few basic components. As they exist today, you basically can't screw up and put the wrong thing in the wrong place. Everything is tab a into slot a and tab b into slot b. You cannot put the motherboard PSU harness into the video card slot. You cannot plug the CPU fan into the SATA slot.
As far as hardware is concerned, the worst you can really do is put a massive beast of a GPU (video card) in and get a bare minimum PSU (power supply) and then under heavy graphic loads you'll experience problems when the card is requiring more power than your PSU is capable of putting out. It's a simple fix, buy a better PSU.
Awesome post, dude. Thanks for putting in the thought to write out such a detailed post for me.
Thanks for the person just above this post, too.
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teamkiller
ghetto drama whore



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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21739550 - 05/30/15 01:34 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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what are you trying to learn about computers?
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Bitter Cactus
reformed bad boy



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i think he wants to learn how to recycle computers?
-------------------- Taking acid and thinking you are a better man is a lot different then actually becoming a better man.
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stratocast
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Everything is a learning experience. Don't feel bad about not being completely altruistic. Sounds like you can give through volunteering and get something out of it. This is positive on both ends. Squash your fears and do it. Its not like you are locked into it forever. If it doesn't work out you can stop. You are not too old to learn new things.
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Edited by stratocast (05/30/15 08:09 AM)
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WAN
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First, thanks to all who replied in this thread of mine.
Quote:
stratocast said: Everything is a learning experience. Don't feel bad about not being completely altruistic. Sounds like you can give through volunteering and get something out of it. This is positive on both ends. Squash your fears and do it. Its not like you are locked into it forever. If it doesn't work out you can stop. You are not too old to learn new things.
The bolded part made me feel much better, thanks.
Now, as to the place that I am thinking about volunteering for. You can see their site here: www.freegeekvancouver.org You can see what it is that they do, and things like that. It's true that they basically take computers that people have no use for, and then take them apart and recycle them in an environmentally friendly way, so as to not pollute the earth. I believe that they also install some sort of soft ware, like operating systems maybe, in the computers that can be salvaged. They then sell these in this little shop that they have ( I went to their depot a few times).
I think that it is true there might not be much for me to learn in terms of just taking apart computers however the staff there are all computer geniuses and I think that if I ask them to teach me about certain aspects of computer (maybe website-building or trouble-shooting PCs) they won't say no.
Edited by WAN (06/01/15 10:49 AM)
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psi
TOAST N' JAM


Registered: 09/05/99
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Quote:
Shroomslip said: As far as hardware is concerned, the worst you can really do is put a massive beast of a GPU (video card) in and get a bare minimum PSU (power supply) and then under heavy graphic loads you'll experience problems when the card is requiring more power than your PSU is capable of putting out. It's a simple fix, buy a better PSU.
Or maybe a fire, if the PSU is shitty enough.
I say go for it OP, see what you can learn. Might not be the ideal setting for for learning about all computer-related topics you might be interested in, but you'll probably meet some cool people.
And 35 is definitely not too old to learn some new shit. It's not like you're going senile.
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ModestMouse
IM WALKIN ON SUNSHINE


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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21748027 - 06/01/15 11:27 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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You can learn at any age. math isn't as critical as problem solving skills. though the two are usually interconnected.
What's your end goal?
-------------------- Anyone got a lowpass filter in this biiiiash?
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Beanhead
IS IRONIC PARADOX


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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21748032 - 06/01/15 11:30 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
WAN said: Hello. There is a computer recycling depot in my city. I have been thinking about volunteering there but I am not too sure whether I really should. So I will ask the shroomery and see if I can get some advice.
1. The reason I want to volunteer there is so that they can teach me about computers. I feel kind of bad though because I am not doing it to give back to the community or to help them out. So do you think I should still volunteer?
2. I am 35. Do you think I am too old to be learning about computers? Be honest.
3. When I was in school, I sucked at math big time. Given this, do you think I might still have a chance of mastering computers? I think that one needs to be good at math in order to do well with computers.
Thanks.
Do it.
Fuck prejudice.
Age not important.
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WAN
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Re: Should I? [Re: psi]
#21748035 - 06/01/15 11:30 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
psi said:
Quote:
Shroomslip said: As far as hardware is concerned, the worst you can really do is put a massive beast of a GPU (video card) in and get a bare minimum PSU (power supply) and then under heavy graphic loads you'll experience problems when the card is requiring more power than your PSU is capable of putting out. It's a simple fix, buy a better PSU.
Or maybe a fire, if the PSU is shitty enough.
I say go for it OP, see what you can learn. Might not be the ideal setting for for learning about all computer-related topics you might be interested in, but you'll probably meet some cool people.
And 35 is definitely not too old to learn some new shit. It's not like you're going senile.
You are quite right, psi. I can definitely meet some new people there. Although, most people there appear quite young (what with computer and technology being younger people's forte), I will be like their grandma, lol
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WAN
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Quote:
ModestMouse said: You can learn at any age. math isn't as critical as problem solving skills. though the two are usually interconnected.
What's your end goal?
Well, I hope to learn some basic stuff with computers. Like for example, sometimes when I type on my laptop, for no reasons at all, a few lines and sometimes even a whole paragraph of texts will get highlighted, and when I type out the next letter, the highlighted part gets deleted. And I didn't even do anything. Little things like this add up to be quite a nuisance for me, and I don't even know what's causing them or how to fix them.
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Beanhead
IS IRONIC PARADOX


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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21748044 - 06/01/15 11:36 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Click any part of the screen so it isn't highlighted anymore.
CTRL + Z
http://www.howtogeek.com/ http://www.codecademy.com/
Edited by Beanhead (06/01/15 11:36 AM)
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psi
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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21748047 - 06/01/15 11:36 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I am only a little younger than you are and I went back to school to do a computer science degree about a year and a half ago. I don't exactly get invited out to any wild parties or anything, but nobody gives me a hard time about my age either.
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Shroomslip
Architekt



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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21748049 - 06/01/15 11:36 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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That sounds like some kind of keyboard shortcut. CRTL+A or Shift + Arrow key.
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With my face against the floor I can’t see who knocked me out of the way. I don’t want to get back up but I have to so it might as well be today. Nothing appeals to me no one feels like me, I’m too busy being calm to disappear. I’m in no shape to be alone contrary to the shit that you might hear. You can't wake up, this is not a dream. You're part of a machine, you are not a human being With your face all made up, living on a screen. Low on self esteem, so you run on gasoline
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Beanhead
IS IRONIC PARADOX


Registered: 10/11/08
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Re: Should I? [Re: psi]
#21748055 - 06/01/15 11:37 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Inviting you would make the party wild
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psi
TOAST N' JAM


Registered: 09/05/99
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Haha. I normally am fairly subdued but if I get hammered I can get pretty wild.
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WAN
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Re: Should I? [Re: psi]
#21749668 - 06/01/15 06:09 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks to all for trying to help. Most likely I will do it (volunteer).
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teamkiller
ghetto drama whore



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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21749676 - 06/01/15 06:12 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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i'm gonna be 32 this year and I only took up programming 2 years ago.
what do you want to learn about computers?
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WAN
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I haven't decided yet. Definitely some website-building. Trouble-shooting common PC problems. Maybe a bit of programming (it seems fun). And finally if my brain can handle it, some network security stuff.
But right now my computer knowledge is so abysmal that I cannot even properly begin to tell you guys what areas I desire to work on. I know too little
Edited by WAN (06/01/15 06:37 PM)
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teamkiller
ghetto drama whore



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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21750991 - 06/01/15 11:28 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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website building is... no bueno. it would be a major commitment i think. trouble shooting PC problems is a maybe, but it kind of just comes from experience.
Programming is for everyone. network security is for failed programmers. If you want like a career or whatever, if i had to do it over i'd do database administration
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Shroomslip
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Trouble shooting PC problems isn't really that hard. Just requires a (second, working) PC, Google and patience. Sometimes what seems like a big problem is really very simple, and that seemingly easy fix problem takes hours of reading and experimenting to figure out. It's really very rare to run into a completely unique problem. Most have been covered and fixed multiple times, but sometimes you have to wade through tons of unanswered posts and nonsense.
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With my face against the floor I can’t see who knocked me out of the way. I don’t want to get back up but I have to so it might as well be today. Nothing appeals to me no one feels like me, I’m too busy being calm to disappear. I’m in no shape to be alone contrary to the shit that you might hear. You can't wake up, this is not a dream. You're part of a machine, you are not a human being With your face all made up, living on a screen. Low on self esteem, so you run on gasoline
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WAN
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Quote:
teamkiller said:
network security is for failed programmers.
How do you figure that?
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Beanhead
IS IRONIC PARADOX


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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21754024 - 06/02/15 06:05 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Network security is badass af
SOMEDAY MY CODE WILL BE SO STRONK CHEATERS GONE CRY
Kali.Linux ftw tho
Edited by Beanhead (06/02/15 06:06 PM)
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Drumdude27
Millennial Hippy



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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21754344 - 06/02/15 07:10 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
teamkiller said:
network security is for failed programmers.
Mind explaining that one?
Op don't forget there is a Science and Tech forum. I could teach you a few things too if you want. Someone said that math isn't very involved, the short answer from me is that it really depends on what we're talking about here.
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Random acts of Shroomery kindness Drumdude27 said: Don't make me get the FemNazis involved guys. 420th post. No regrets. Only joy.
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WAN
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Quote:
Drumdude27 said:
Quote:
teamkiller said:
network security is for failed programmers.
Mind explaining that one?
Op don't forget there is a Science and Tech forum. I could teach you a few things too if you want. Someone said that math isn't very involved, the short answer from me is that it really depends on what we're talking about here.
Thanks for letting me know. I didn't know about the science and tech forum. I will definitely check it out sometime. Thanks for offering to teach me things.
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Drumdude27
Millennial Hippy



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Re: Should I? [Re: WAN]
#21754661 - 06/02/15 08:16 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I don't visit that forum often, it can be pretty dead at times. If you want to get in depth with Pcs just send me a Pm. I went to, and will be going to school for computers. Hope to be a Network Admin or Security Admin
And I troubleshoot them pretty frequently. Troubleshooting can be done without a whole lot of computer knowledge. The idea is to just rule out as much as possible.
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Random acts of Shroomery kindness Drumdude27 said: Don't make me get the FemNazis involved guys. 420th post. No regrets. Only joy.
Edited by Drumdude27 (06/02/15 08:17 PM)
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