# My co-worker did not know how to reboot a computer (things a certain age group should know). **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 2, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104 "2012-01-02T02:02:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CatherineZeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@CatherineZeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatherineZeta)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104/41 "2012-01-04T01:44:04Z")
> [@SeaCanary](#): > > My comment came out harsher than I meant it. Apologies all around. No worries. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104/42 "2012-01-04T01:58:51Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > if you hover the mouse cursor over it it says START. So it does in Windows 7. I like XP, I’m an Old Fart. 🙂 The damn thing should work like a toaster. Turn the dial to brown, throw in the bread, punch the button and wait. But it don’t. It would help if all the apps were made by Microsoft and there were no viruses. But it ain’t that way. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104/43 "2012-01-04T03:58:14Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > if you hover the mouse cursor over it it says START. I had not noticed that. I guess i’m smart enough to click directly on the button, instead of hovering over it trying to work out what the fuck i’m doing. This is not exactly rocket surgery we’re talking about here. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104/44 "2012-01-04T06:36:29Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Depends on how old you are, but “reboot” is only used by the old farts in most computer contexts. It’s like calling something an LPT port or parallel port – the usual term for them (where they do exist) is “Printer port.” Older techies might know the older term, but they are fading away. Your printer isn’t USB? Old fart 😛 Two years ago I went back to college for some grad courses in Computer-Aided Translation (which does not mean “using Babelfish” but “using special text editors which let you see the original and translation at the same time”). We had to turn every damn report and exercise in triplicate; finals had to include a CD hardcopy; it had to be CD, not DVD, as some of the teacher’s computers didn’t have DVD drives. And I had to teach to several of my mid-20s classmates how to tell whether their computer’s “CD player” was CD or DVD, how to tell whether it was a burner or not, and how to use their preinstalled burner. What made my own brain try to give a BSoD was when, after about one hour of going over “burning disks”, one of them said “what a stupid name, Nero! Why would they call their program such a stupid name?” and the rest agreed. One people not getting the pun, I can get, but six? ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104/45 "2012-01-04T11:30:19Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Depends on how old you are, but “reboot” is only used by the old farts in most computer contexts. It’s like calling something an LPT port or parallel port – the usual term for them (where they do exist) is “Printer port.” Older techies might know the older term, but they are fading away. I’m 54, I’m amazed at you young folk thinking printer port is the correct name. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104/46 "2012-01-04T11:48:56Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Which every computer does. Often. Something that Microsoft is totally blind to. the vast majority of system hangs are due to failed hardware or defective drivers. I challenge you to find me a consumer-grade OS which can tolerate that. 'cos neither OS X or Linux can. **ETA:** while I realize it’s still the in thing to bash Microsoft for everything from programs crashing to the fall of the Soviet Union, what you’ve said here is patently false on its own. Microsoft has a [pretty damn good idea of what makes Windows crash,](http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/28/29-of-windows-vista-crashes-caused-by-nvidia-drivers/) and by and large it’s not Windows. “totally blind” indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104/47 "2012-01-04T12:13:18Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Several times a year I’ll get a call from someone that thinks they’ve rebooted when they turn the monitor off and back on. So you mean… Oh shit I’ve been doing it wrong all this time. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104/48 "2012-01-04T12:40:48Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > the vast majority of system hangs are due to failed hardware or defective drivers. I challenge you to find me a consumer-grade OS which can tolerate that. 'cos neither OS X or Linux can. > > **ETA:** while I realize it’s still the in thing to bash Microsoft for everything from programs crashing to the fall of the Soviet Union, what you’ve said here is patently false on its own. Microsoft has a [pretty damn good idea of what makes Windows crash,](http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/28/29-of-windows-vista-crashes-caused-by-nvidia-drivers/) and by and large it’s not Windows. > > “totally blind” indeed. Agree. Not an employee or owner of stock with MicroSoft. I don’t recall any problems with Windows 7 hanging on my now three year old computer. ---
**Author:** ![CatherineZeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@CatherineZeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatherineZeta)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104/49 "2012-01-06T00:26:51Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > What made my own brain try to give a BSoD was when, after about one hour of going over “burning disks”, one of them said “what a stupid name, Nero! Why would they call their program such a stupid name?” and the rest agreed. One people not getting the pun, I can get, but six? That’s funny. I’d be willing to bet the vast majority of people don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104/50 "2012-01-06T00:55:55Z")
> [@CatherineZeta](#): > > That’s funny. I’d be willing to bet the vast majority of people don’t get it. I never connected it, I am ashamed to say. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104/51 "2012-01-06T01:20:45Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > What made my own brain try to give a BSoD was when, after about one hour of going over “burning disks”, one of them said “what a stupid name, Nero! Why would they call their program such a stupid name?” and the rest agreed. One people not getting the pun, I can get, but six? Complaining about youngins not knowing what “reboot” means - REASONABLE Complaining about youngins not knowing a jokey reference to Ancient Roman history (that never actually happened) - UNREASONABLE Thank you. This has been Justin\_Bailey’s “You’re being unreasonable!” response of the day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-did-not-know-how-to-reboot-a-computer-things-a-certain-age-group-should-know/608104.md?page=2)