# Fucking technology, protect me from my own incompetence! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 3, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-technology-protect-me-from-my-own-incompetence/491910 "2009-04-03T20:39:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-technology-protect-me-from-my-own-incompetence/491910/21 "2009-04-05T01:50:57Z")
I have my WP (which I use for my job) set up to do an automatic timed backup every one minute, and to save the last copy of the document in the current folder with the document. So on the far-too-frequent occasions when I screw up and overwrite a document\*\*, I have a backup – which could be from months ago – I can open and restore the original; and if the power goes out or I click “don’t save” or some other event, I lose at most a few paragraphs of typing. And I still hit Ctrl-S constantly, anyway. WP is a very user-friendly program for the forgetful amongst us. That saving the last copy feature is the best feature it’s got, IMO. All it involves is a single checked box under Tools - Settings - Files. And then your last version will always be available to you even if you close the program and don’t touch the file again for weeks. \*\*I’ve gotten so bad about this that I’ve started write-protecting all my form files just to protect me from myself, even with all the other save features available. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Varrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e9a140/32.png) [@Varrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Varrius)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-technology-protect-me-from-my-own-incompetence/491910/22 "2009-04-05T13:41:07Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Well, I guess I _could_ learn a lot about all of these icons and menus if I cared or needed to. But I have no interest in making lists, tables, adding clipart, and all the other wonderful things WP seems to think every user needs right in their face. All I do is write plain, boring text documents one after the other using the same format, font, etc. I use no macros or shortcuts, and am the fastest 2-fingered typist you’ve ever seen. Seriously, typing speed and computer shortcuts are not significant in the performance of my job. And I have no interest in expressing my creativity and individuality through the unique formatting of my work product. Dinsdale, sounds like you should be using notepad or maybe wordpad instead of something that has too many bells and whistles for you. Note that I did NOT call you an idiot. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-technology-protect-me-from-my-own-incompetence/491910/23 "2009-04-06T20:23:57Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > Really? Not around here, anyway. And I know whereof I speak, I think. I’m the word processing manager for a fairly large firm (hundreds of lawyers, offices in a number of cities from coast to coast), and I’ve worked at a number of large law firms. I haven’t seen WP in use at a major firm in ages. I’ll bow to your superior experience on this one. Most of the firms we send proposed documents to seem to use WP, though (as do we). ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-technology-protect-me-from-my-own-incompetence/491910/24 "2009-04-06T20:40:31Z")
Department of Justice uses WP. Not sure whether or not they qualify as a large firm IYO. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-technology-protect-me-from-my-own-incompetence/491910/25 "2009-04-07T01:25:12Z")
Wow, I can’t imagine working all day without a single Ctrl-S. I save obsessively. Back when I had almost finished my dissertation, I not only saved obsessively, but I backed up obsessively. One copy on my hard drive. Another copy on my jump drive. Two copies burnt on disks and stored in separate buildings in case my house and the library both burnt down. And, finally, another copy of each chapter sent as an email attachment to myself in case the whole city was leveled by a tornado. I wasn’t losing that sucker. NO WAY. Anyway… my only recommendation to the OP is to develop Ctrl-S as a nervous twitch, and you’ll never lose anything again. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-technology-protect-me-from-my-own-incompetence/491910/26 "2009-04-07T01:44:27Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > And what the heck is the point of the .docx file format? Why screw around with what’s become the standard? To create a new standard, and tie you even more closely to their control. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-technology-protect-me-from-my-own-incompetence/491910/27 "2009-04-07T07:11:49Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Department of Justice uses WP. > Not sure whether or not they qualify as a large firm IYO. 😛 They don’t. The government is different. One of the court systems around here requires that documents be in WP format for electronic filing. Pain in the neck. They also, until recently, wanted documents on a floppy disk. Good Lord. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-technology-protect-me-from-my-own-incompetence/491910.md?page=1)