This week, I have learned a lot about the importance of semi-colons

[cosmolinguist]

As Sarah and I were walking to class today, we met a girl who called to us, "Are you ready for this midterm?"

"Oh, we're excited," I said. She walked with us and seemed encouraged to find out that she is not the only person who dislikes this class. Everyone hates this class. We sit around before our insturctor shows up and complain about how dumb and/or confusing it is.

This time, I heard this girl talk to someone else about how they did not understand our Jeroo assignment. Knowing I had to finish mine, I offered to help them with theirs (it isn't a totally selfless offer; I know that I have a better chance of being motivated to do it myself if other people are involved). We plan to meet at 4:30.

I show up, dink around on the computer, and start trying to do my assignment. The files I need are saved on the school's server, and I can't get the stupid ftp program to work. It won't let me sign in; I think it thinks there's something wrong with my password. The girl shows up and I show her how to transfer her files from the server to her computer. She finds this extremely cool. I think it's just never seemed this simple to her before, and to learn that it is can be amazing. I know; that's happened to me before.

She's a nice girl, but I wonder if we aren't speaking different languages.
Me: Yes, you need that file. It's the source code.
Her: The what?
Me: Oh. Sorry, I mean ... this [pointing to the relevant part of her computer screen].
Her: Oh!

Me: You forgot your semi-colon at the end of that line, there.
Her [looks]: Oh! Thanks. [goes back to fix it] You know all this?
Me: Uh ...

Me [at my own computer again]: Why don't you work? Stupid Windows!
Her [laughs]: You don't like Windows?
Me: No! I don't use it; I've gotten spoiled.
Her: What, do you like Macs then?
Me: Well, I don't know much about Macs. I ... I have this operating system that most people seem not to have heard of, actually.

Later, I was trying to explain to her that "hackers" aren't really people who make viruses and stuff (we're in the same group for presentations we have to give later in the semester, and our topic is hackers). She just laughed at me. Later:

Her: My roommate's brother uses Linux, and he says that's what hackers use.
Me [laughs]: Well ... I suppose many of them do.
Her: You're laughing like you know something about this.
Me: Yeah, I use Linux.

I don't think she thinks I'm a "hacker," but I do think she thinks I'm weird. Yet still nice enough to help her with her homework.

Comments

[kwakhed.livejournal.com]

"Me [at my own computer again]: Why don't you work? Stupid Windows!
Her [laughs]: You don't like Windows?
Me: No! I don't use it; I've gotten spoiled."

do you feel that? i'm giving you a hug for that exchange...
:-)

Awww :-)

[cosmolinguist]

Considering how much certain other people (namely my illustrious roommate) tease me about my apparent feelings of Linux superiority, it's nice to get a better reaction for it from somebody else.

[photomoviegeek.livejournal.com]

I love linux & hate winblows too...altho since upgrading my mobo & chip, the whole system's been unreliable; I think it may be a too-weak power supply. Incidentally, I'd like to start a West central MN Linux User's Group, since UMM & ATC are so close...

[cosmolinguist]

I have a power supply that's actually more than I need for this computer, but it was all that was available to be purchased when this computer was being assembled. Which is okay; I ended up getting a better motherboard and porcessor than was originally planned, and I still have more power than I need ... but someday it might be useful!

I dig the idea of a Linux users' group in the area, though I am about the dumbest Linux user on the planet. Seriously.

Mac OS X

[parakleta.livejournal.com]

In my experience, Mac OS X is roughly all the good bits of linux, without any of the bad bits. :)

But it is a bit more expensive than a home grown computer and os. I would suggest if you ever decide to buy a computer you give them some serious thought. You wont be disappointed.

Re: Mac OS X

[cosmolinguist]

I've only used Macs when the opportunity presents itself, at school. The interface isn't quite what I'm used to, but I think I'd rather deal with mice that don't have right-click buttons than deal with Windows these days (I have been spoiled!). I think if I had one, I could figure it out and be all groovy and cool. But I don't know when I'd be rich enough to have that opportunity, unless a computer falls out of the sky, or something. This computer, and the one I used before it, are collections of computer parts my geeky boyfriend isn't using at the moment, which means they're free and I have fairly helpful tech support. Woohoo! But, I think if I were to actually buy a computer, it might indeed be a Mac. Still, that's around #4,367,802 on my list of things to worry about at this point. :-)