About three-quarters of respondents to this week's survey rate their own Internet skills as at least adequate to their own needs. We urge all of these folks, especially the experts, to try to look with kindness upon the beginners and those who feel they really don't know what they're doing yet. Some people take to the Internet as naturally as they do to breathing; for others, computers and life online remain a mystery.
The results:
Q: How do you rate your own skills at using the Internet?
- I'm an expert - 418 (9%)
- Better than most - 895 (20%)
- Intermediate - 726 (16%)
- Adequate for my needs - 1,306 (29%)
- I'm a beginner - 721 (16%)
- I need help! - 366 (8%)
Your comments:
"I am delighted with the power and range of the web and I can usually find what I need fairly quickly. But I am annoyed with whiz-bang multimedia special effects sites which obscure actual, useful, take-home CONTENT and obviously were designed to please CEOs and IT-folk who possess intranet lines and the most-current software. I often just click off the site before waiting to learn what exotica needs to be downloaded to view its wonders. After you've seen the zippy site once, who cares? But perhaps I am being hopelessly linear and content-oriented." J.P.S., Lyme
"My mother is the one that comes to me and asks how to use the Internet, and I'm 16. Basic concepts such as checking email and doing a web search go right over her head at times. Ironically though, she is nothing short of an expert when it comes to online shopping and online bidding (funny how that works) and does not need any assistance from me :)" Andrea, North Haven
"I think most sites have made any type of search foolproof, pretty much ... they usually always link you to sites where you can obtain more information (about) what you're searching for. It has come a long way ... or have I?" Anonymous, Milford
"Using the Internet is easy as anything. Anyone who can't even search and find really has problems." Lucy Goosey, Mansfield
"It seems to me, that whenever I go to look for something, such as sheets for my bed or an article to help my daughter with homework, there is no such thing." T.M., Colchester
"I know enought for my needs, but that requires me to know more than others. What should I anwser?" J.G., Storrs
"I think I would rate my skills as adequate for my needs because I don't do complicated things. When I'm online, I make my way around and usually don't have trouble." Anonymous, Bozrah
Previous survey results are available.
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