• HugeNerd@lemmy.ca
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          I tried to get into the whole Arduino thing as a Gen Xer. I couldn’t believe the complexity and back story you need to know before getting started. Totally baffled by the whole thing. Just give me a processor, some memory and a serial port. Why do I need an IDE, drivers, a bootloader, fifteen different kinds of whatevers I don’t understand, yes, I am burned out, where are the Doritos?

          • Ignotum@lemmy.world
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            You can just install and invoke the compiler directly, and you only need a driver if you’re on windows and using the bootloader to program it, and you don’t need a bootloader if you have an ISP (programmer) so you can flash it directly, and you don’t need anything else though one of the main reason people use Arduino is for the libraries

            • HugeNerd@lemmy.ca
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              I just wanted to generate a simple pulse from a switch press. Needless to say since I needed a breadboard anyway, I just popped in a 74LS123 with a resistor and a capacitor. I couldn’t even begin to understand what I needed to get that pulse from an Arduino. And I used to program PICs bare metal. It’s like the complexity traded places. On the PIC, the tools and process are dead simple. But writing the code for the little monsters required understanding every opcode and peripheral and how they interact. It looks like on the Arduino, I can just type sleep(5000) but to set up the whole thing to get there is where the complexity lies.

              • Ignotum@lemmy.world
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                If you buy an arduino dev board it’ll come with the bootloader already installed, so you just install the ide, install the driver if you’:re usingc windows, plug in the board, press upload and you’re done?

        • Jesus@lemmy.world
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          They’re too tired for that too. They’re more of a “blow in the hole and jiggle it” people.

  • da_cow (she/her)@feddit.org
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    There are some parts of Gen Z that can actually tear stuff apart and actually fix systems, but those are the nerds (which also includes me) that care enough to actually learn stuff. The majority is quite tech illiterate

    • Localhorst86@feddit.org
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      Millenial here, its actually the same for us. Most millenials dont actually know how to fix a computer, either.

  • Annoyed_🦀 @lemmy.zip
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    Let’s be fair, we millennial know how to fix stuff because stuff still can be fixed. We can glance back one generation away and learn about how stuff work back then, and also learn how to fix those stuff. Nowadays stuff aren’t meant to be fixed, (late) gen z doesn’t have thing to start tearing apart and learn about the inner working of stuff, because it’s all glued/snapped together, with the culture being once broke just toss.

  • Octavio@lemmy.world
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    Good damn it they forgot about us again. This is exactly why they call us Generation X!

  • PalmTreeIsBestTree@lemmy.world
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    Not all of Gen Z are tech illiterate. Some of us used computers before iPads and smartphones. I used Windows XP and 7 long before I ever got a smartphone.

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    Well I don’t know… I worked with boomers who first built out the internet in my country. Now they mostly retired, but the Gen-Xers who remain are also incredible.

    My dad who’s also a boomer and an anesthesiologist got admin rights at the hospital he worked at because he helped everyone around with their computer troubles and the tech support trusted him and were happy he reduced their ticket load.

    Maybe you guys just know the wrong people.

  • TheObviousSolution@lemmy.ca
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    Just ask an AI to fix it.

    YOUR COMPUTER NEEDS AN RTX 5090 SUPER RUNNING THE SKYNET CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICE TO WORK PROPERLY.

    Easy

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      There are people out there who would happily give AI all the power in the world to turn their skulls into a highway or a scammer access to their entire bank account just so they don’t have to read out an error and google it for themselves out of fear of technology or even speaking to anyone about technology.

      Sort of like those people who would rather drive their car off of a cliff rather than ever hear words from a mechanic or check their own oil.

    • gnufuu@infosec.pub
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      And when it arrives it turns out you need a new computer as well. Also it’s lacking some features you need, and it has some new features nobody asked for. Also fixing it became much harder and doing so can get you to jail.

  • daggermoon@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    But I’m Generation Z and I have to update my mom’s Linux Mint laptop because she can’t pay attention when I show her.

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    I’m actually, genuinely shocked by the ageism in such debates every single time. There’s no such thing as age-based incompetence, TBH. There are sound people for every field available everywhere. Why do we have to assume this? Every generation has at least a few people who are competent in their field, even in computing. It’s more important that the literate of us unite to end illiteracy and stop injustice being done in the name of technology. This, honestly, is just making fun of each other, for apparently no sound reason. And I’m talking about the comments, not the meme. I might, or not, get some sour disagreements, or straight-up very bitter replies for arguing even this, …and again, I ask: Do we reeaaally have to do this?

    Technology too has a supposed duty of bringing people together…!

    • NιƙƙιDιɱҽʂ@lemmy.world
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      For gen X and older, computers were more niche. They were more difficult to use and mostly reserved to enthusiasts. For gen Z and younger, computers were always just there, and they’d become a lot simpler, a lot more plug n play, and resources to fix them became cheaper and more accessible. Millennials were in just the right environment where computer use became mainstream, but computer software was less developed and user friendly and they frequently had to learn to fix problems themselves.

      Every individual will clearly have their own unique experience and not everyone will fall into these buckets, but it’s these factors that lead to millennials likely having higher tech skills than average compared to those older and younger than them.

      That’s it. It’s not ageism. It is absolutely generalizing, but mostly, it’s social commentary in the form of a joke.

      • Bennyboybumberchums@lemmy.world
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        What in the utter fuck is this dog shit take??? lol. Dude, Boomers INVENTED fucking computers. GenX, grow up along side them. We pretty all had a vic 20, Commadore 64, or Spectrum 48k/128k, or Amstrad CPC464. And later on an amiga, or an ST. The list is fucking endless, and thats before you get to to the Apple II, the trs80 and Commadore PET and later 386 PCs.

        We grew up with ham radios, VCRs, TVs that only played games on one channel. We had Nintendo and Sega battling it out in the 80s, then Sony, nintendo, panasonic, Sega, NEC, SNK, Philips, Atari, Casio(who created a console exclusively for girls for some reason), Bandi, apple, and fuck knows how many others battling in the 90s. The idea that all these things were invented by/or used by boomer and genx, and you can sit there thinking we dont know how to use shit… We’re the fucking figure it out generation, son. If something broke, we had to learn to fix it ourselves. And without youtube videos and FAQs to hold our hands.

        Millennials, absolute kings of the terrible takes and pulling information out of their arse.

        • NιƙƙιDιɱҽʂ@lemmy.world
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          You’re clearly an enthusiast and are one of the exceptions I spoke of. Calm down and think critically, please… Most people did not have Spectrums, Commodores, ham radios, etc. Enthusiasts like you absolutely did, and yes, you knew your shit if you did.

          These days everyone has advanced electronic devices. Eveeeeryone.

          You really came out swinging for no reason there, eh?

          • Brahvim Bhaktvatsal@lemmy.kde.social
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            ^^^ I love this human. ^^^
            Not only did they post a nice answer towards my comment, they’re actually settling what could turn into an internet argument from the get go!

            • NιƙƙιDιɱҽʂ@lemmy.world
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              Awe shucks! 🤭

              I dunno, I’ve spent enough time in online communities that I’d rather not start fights over things that can simply be talked through. I’m happy to hear Bennyboy’s response too if they still disagree with me and believe me to be mistaken, but there’s certainly no reason for hostility!

            • cuerdo@lemmy.world
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              Another vote for that human, some people (others) make internet feel like working in retail…

          • Bennyboybumberchums@lemmy.world
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            Not an enthusiast. Im the average. And you calm down, or send you to bed without any supper!!!

            And as for “coming out swinging”, youre god damn right. Cos you people are either ignoring us, or just making up dog shit about us. And now youre giving the shocked Pikachu face, cos someone got sick of the bullshit lies? Dude… I guess that another thing your generation love to do. Make it look like the bullied person standing up for themself is the asshole. Fuck, how you lot love to do that.

            • Electricd@lemmybefree.net
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              When you always assume bad intent, don’t be surprised people treat you as shit

              By generalizing a generation, you’re doing the exact same thing you’re accusing people of doing, I hope you realize this

              • Bennyboybumberchums@lemmy.world
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                No shit, sherlock. Did you figure that out all by yourself, or did you have break out a special magical box of crayons to help?

                I mean, I couldnt have made any more obvious if Id written it in pink glittery neon shit.

            • NιƙƙιDιɱҽʂ@lemmy.world
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              I’m not at all giving a shocked Pikachu face in reaction to your comment, if you believe otherwise, you’re misreading my intent. I’m also not talking down towards you as a person, doubting your skills, or bullying you. Based on your responses here, I believe you to be a very tech inclined person and are probably highly skilled. A lot of us here on Lemmy fall into that category regardless of age.

              What I am saying is that you came into this conversation unnecessarily hot and that your view is likely skewed because you yourself are a tech enthusiast. You come from and are a product of tech, and as such may not realize the lack of tech abilities of those outside of your bubble.

              I’m also not saying that Boomers/Gen X have to be bad with tech, or even that all Millennials are. My main point is to highlight median household exposure over different generations leading to memes such as this. For example, in the U.S., only ~8% of households had a computer in 1984 and ~15% in 1989; the UK was ~9% in 1984 and ~17% by 1988 (Source on Census.gov, page 6). PCs didn’t become mainstream at home until the mid to late '90s. By then, late Gen X/Millennials were the teens/20-somethings doing the hands-on fixes, which is why the “Millennial IT support” meme resonates. Skip to kids nowadays growing up on iPhones and tablets and other out of the box easy to use devices that Just WorkTM, they didn’t get the same experience learning to fix shit themselves like the older or middle generations had.

              To reiterate, none of this says older folks, nor younger, can’t be great at tech, just that cohort exposure and the kind of tech we grew up with differ and has had it’s influences on the whole of generational groups, while not defining every individual within those groups.

              If you still feel attacked at this point, that’s 100% on you and I don’t know what else to say.

              • Bennyboybumberchums@lemmy.world
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                “Im not talking down to you” then proceeds to talk down to me… What a prick.

                Im not in any “bubble”, cunty chops. But you might be. Once again, not an enthusiast. Is there another language I can say that in? And my experiences, the ones I was talking to you about, were from the 80s and 90s. EVERYONE had some form of computer, like I said. If theres GenX around today that dont know about them so much that they need to annoy their genz kids, they are the fucking minority.

                As for feeling attacked, no. You misunderstood. Im utterly fucking sick of wee dicks, spouting generational war bullshit. You know, like you dweeby little millennials pricks that cant even get a fucking girl to touch you without an app.

                • NιƙƙιDιɱҽʂ@lemmy.world
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                  proceeds to talk down to me

                  I wasn’t talking down to you, I was explaining my perspective backed up with facts you clearly did not look at. I’d ask if you could point out where you feel I’d done so, but as you can see later in my comment, I no longer care.

                  EVERYONE had some form of computer

                  This is statistically impossible as you can see from the source that I provided from the US Census Bureau.

                  What a prick. … cunty chops … you dweeby little millennials pricks

                  Name calling. Nice, dude. For your age, I’d expect you to be more mature. I’ll just be reporting, blocking you, and moving on. I tried to have a cordial conversation with you, but you are clearly not capable of doing so. Have a nice day, and a nice life.

        • miasmati@lemmings.world
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          We’re the fucking figure it out generation, son.

          You’re the throw it out the window and buy a new one materialist generation, gramps.

    • Doomsider@lemmy.world
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      Ageism has been around long time

      "In all things I yearn for the past. Modern fashions seem to keep on growing more and more debased. I find that even among the splendid pieces of furniture built by our master cabinetmakers, those in the old forms are the most pleasing.

      And as for writing letters, surviving scraps from the past reveal how superb the phrasing used to be. The ordinary spoken language has also steadily coarsened. People used to say “raise the carriage shafts” or “trim the lamp wick,” but people today say “raise it” or “trim it.” When they should say, “Let the men of the palace staff stand forth!” they say, “Torches! Let’s have some light!” Instead of calling the place where the lectures on the Sutra of the Golden Light are delivered before the emperor “the Hall of the Imperial Lecture,” they shorten it to “the Lecture Hall,” a deplorable corruption, an old gentleman complained."

      Tsurezuregusa (Essays in Idleness), Yoshida Kenkō 1330 - 1332 AD

  • DJKJuicy@sh.itjust.works
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    The difference between Gen X and Millennials is that at around age 35 (circa 2009) I started telling people, who were almost always friends of friends who wouldn’t actually hang out with me normally, that I charge $100 an hour. Millennials still do it for free…

  • DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works
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    My parents are Gen X, me and my older brother are Gen Z.

    Parents keep asking, nay, DEMANDING, for us to fix their shit. Then i proceeded to have a fight with my brother about who’s responsibility is it to fix it.

    Parent’s don’t know how to use a tax filing website 🤦‍♂️ (Tbf, they don’t know how to fill out paper forms either).

    The first time we’ve ever touched a real computer with internet access was around 2010, before that, we were in mainland China and we had no internet (either too expensive, or unavailable as a service in the areas we lived in, not sure which, or my parents are just being cheap)

  • Goldholz @lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    Am i a rare GenZ or do i just hang around with unicorns because we are all active in IT. Me programming nog hardware but still

    • Jason2357@lemmy.ca
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      You are rare and these stereotypes are mostly false. Most people in every generation can’t fix a computer. Maybe the only slight echo of truth is that during the millennial childhood and youth, at least in terms of raw numbers, home computers peaked as the main “tech” children were exposed to, so there might be a little more people who are not professionals, but have some extra comfort with them. Still, that’s a stretch.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      This is the “Nobody who isn’t a Boomer knows how to fix a car” tier meme material. Just a tired lie that keeps getting recycled as a meme because it’s clickbait for the snobs.

    • RBWells@lemmy.world
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      Yeah I am GenX, and it’s me & the kid who is GenZ are tech support in my family, she is by far my most technologically adept offspring. One millennial kid is hopeless, says “technology hates me”, the other just a low-technology sort of person, but fine with computer for work. And the youngest expects everything to just work, which seems to work out for them. Husband is culturally a boomer, LOL but also just expects everything to work, but it doesn’t work out as well for him.

      Only the GenZ one likes to mess with the computer and likes to know how to fix problems, and she is our pirate as well, the mistress of forbidden content - if something is not on the streaming she can often find it for us.