A source of constant frustration...

One of the things that i have to deal with on a daily basis has kind of reached a critical mass with me.

I can't stand people who do not want to learn new things.

I freely admit that I am a bit more "techy" than most of the people I work with.  I routinely scan tech blogs like Gizmodo and TechCrunch to keep up with the newest things, things that won't even come out for years that get me excited.  Having said that, there are many things out there that would make people's lives so much easier, but their aversion to learning new things keeps those awesome tools out of their hands.

I am routinely frustrated with my co-workers fear of learning Google Docs.  Google docs makes my life easier in so many ways, but I am constantly bumping into roadblocks because people just don't want to learn anything new.  We are still content with sending 10 different copies of spreadsheets, documents and emails back and forth, day in and day out, until no one knows what copy is current and we all get frustrated...easily solved by switching to Google Docs.

Even small things, such as using Excel to build a spreadsheet instead of embedding a table into Word (gah) fall well short of the people I have to work with on a daily basis.  I regularly have people approach me at work to ask them how to do the SIMPLEST things in Excel.  I never mind helping them, but people just don't actively search for ways to do things that will make their lives easier!  Very few people out there actually say to themselves, "There has GOT to be a better way to do this!" and go out and find the answer to that riddle.

I realize that getting people to change might be the most difficult thing on Earth besides being a Cubs' fan.  It just baffles me that people don't want to improve.  The whole "give a man a fish" story is amazing, because it really seems like most people don't want to learn how to fish.  They just want someone to give them the same old fish every day until they die.  I can't do that...I need to grow, and I wish those around me shared the same goal.

A few other pet peeves in this mindset:

• People who still click the "To" button when composing an email in Outlook.  Just type the effing name!!!
• People who are amazed when you show them "Alt-Tab".  This feature has been around since Windows 95.  Learn it.
• Hand-written handouts.  Seriously?  Have you even heard of a typewriter?