Computerphobia

I’m not sure whether the word “computerphobia” has already been coined by someone, but the matter is that it’s the word which came to my mind every time I was asked about my attitude to these electronic machines which according to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary can store, organize, find information, do calculations and control other devices. It’s a mystery, why these “children of technological breakthrough” stirred up oodles of controversial feelings in me. Perhaps, only a couple of visits to the psychoanalyst can solve it. However, the mere fact that I got rid of my computerphobia without any medical help is even a grander mystery than that.

At some time in my past I perceived computers as something vulnerable and breakable, and so, having been a walking disaster, I decided to stay away from them for their own sake. They should have been grateful to me for my kindness, but in fact they were not. I discovered it later, when some force majeure circumstances made me deal with them. I had the impression they sensed my dislike for them, just like dogs do, and as soon as it happened they started to reciprocate this feeling. I have come to be aware of the fact that I was bound to be severely punished for my negative attitude to computers, and I have to confess that they had far more opportunities and functionalities for revenge than I for defense. They either appeared to have not enough memory, making me reboot them twelve times per hour or they refused to deal with the printer, driving me totally insane. Some of my friends knew that there was something wrong between me and computers. It all seemed extremely funny to them, and so they decided to play tricks on me using my PC. For instance, once they put a Scotch tape on my mouse roller so that it just wouldn’t work. I took it for granted as usual, and started surfing the net using only functional buttons. I must confess that it was a suicide. After that story my dislike for computers became even greater. To tell the truth, they nearly succeeded in trying to make me a psycho by persuading me that all my efforts were useless, but at some point in time I came up with an idea how to tame them. I started to demonstrate utter levels of patience and understanding to these artificial creatures, and they finally decided to forgive me. From that moment on we were trying to keep at least relative neutrality in our relationships, which was convenient for both sides.

No longer do I have this nerves-consuming computerphobia. Everything has become much easier than it was before. Nothing more to fear when dealing with computers.

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tags: computerphobia