Computer Conversations

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Conversation 1: I really think everyone should do a computing course. After all, computers are such an important part of life. If you don't understand how a computer works, you can't do anything. I totally disagree. These days you can use a computer without understanding anything about how it works. They're so easy to use, until they go wrong. And you pay somebody to fix it, don't you?

Conversation 2: I'm not really into computer games, are you? Not really. I mean, they're all aimed at men, aren't they? They're all about sport, or cars, or fighting. Lots of them are so violent. I couldn't agree more. Most women just can't see the appeal of these games. Maybe it's because most software engineers are men, so they just design games for other men. Yes, maybe.

Conversation 3: My son has just finished a course in computing at university. Really? That's useful. Yes, he's always been into computers. I don't understand them myself. I'd love to know more about them, though. Why don't you do a course? I'm sixty years old. That's too old. Young people don't find it hard to understand computers because they've grown up with them. It's different for people from my generation. That's how I see it, too. We use our computer at home for emails, but I don't really understand the internet the way my daughter does.

Conversation 4: What did you do at the weekend? I went for a bike ride on Sunday, 30 kilometers. With Martin? No, he stayed at home. He said he wanted to watch some music festival online. What, all day? Yes, it's amazing. He can sit in front of a computer screen for hours. I just get bored. I need fresh air, exercise. That's why you're fit and Martin is fat. I know, using computers all the time can make you really unhealthy, can't they? I think you're absolutely right. People used to do a lot more physical exercise before computers were around.

Conversation 5: Did you hear about Louise? She had her identity stolen. Really? What happened? Somebody got all her credit card details and used them to buy loads of stuff online. She didn't know anything about it until she got her credit card bill. 8,000 pounds? That's terrible. She didn't have to pay, did she? In the end, no. But it took her ages to persuade the credit card company that she really hadn't bought all those things. It was all very stressful for her. That's why I never buy anything online. It just isn't safe. That's not the way I look at it. I reckon it's fine if you only use a few familiar websites.

Conversation 6: I've booked my holiday. Really? Where are you going? We're going to Canada, then the USA. Booked it all online. Life is so much easier now we have the internet. Do you think so? I take the opposite view. In the past you used to be able to speak to a real person when you wanted to book a holiday. You could get advice, information, suggestions. Now you have to do it all yourself. There's lots of advice and information on the internet. Yes, but is it reliable? You never know who wrote it, do you?