Seriously folks, as many of you know, if you have a parent or other family member that’s having a hard time learning the basics of using a computer like dragging-and-dropping, double clicking, opening applications, etc., get a game in front of them, preferably of the Solitaire, Mine Sweeper, Peggle or Bejeweled variety. They’ll be clicking away in no time, guaranteed!
That is so true. Parents.
My dad’s quite fond of bridge. Any sort of solitaire for my mum. And my cousin has resorted to sabotaging my aunt’s Wii Sports bowling scores because they’re too much higher than his.
ha! i love that your cousin is sabotaging your aunt’s scores, Mandraco. that’s where it gets dangerous: when your parents get better than you. 🙂
Haha! Love it. Jeffbot totally explained things the same way I do with my step mom. Loving the first panel and how the focal point is the computer screen, the sound effects 3rd panel, and the facial expressions in the last panel. Again, good times!
hey, whatever it takes to explain things to parents is valid, Spanky!
Ooooooh, this hit so close to the truth XD My whole family thought that my dad would forever be beyond computers (he would say the same thing as Mombot – aka the “this is so frustrating” line in all its variety) and then, ALAS! One of my brothers thought about the puzzle video games and after that it was just explaining things with the way he played and Dad has been integrated to the computer era. XD
Wonderful art, jef, as usual 😉 Hey! Remember to let us know how the audition went, okay? Have a nice weekend and thanks for sharing your art with your rabid fans!
my mom just bought my dad a laptop for his birthday, Sonitan, so i got him a casino game for him to learn how to use the computer playing poker and blackjack. unfortunately, so far he only seems to use it when i’m around to show him how to turn it on, load the program and play the game. :-/
about the audition – it went really well, but i didn’t get the part, unfortunately. since there seems to be interest from you guys, and since right now’s a good time to start since i’m agentless, i’m going to try and keep you guys up to date on how future auditions and acting projects go by posting news on my blog semi-regularly.
Great art! I can soo relate to the story. I love the expression on jefbot’s face at the end.
thanks, Milas. i’m glad you liked the art and could relate!
BEST COMIC EVER! This is so my mom too!!! Fantastic Jefbot 🙂
ha! i’m happy you liked this one so much, JP!
You need to write a book. SERIOUSLY!
wow, Shari – thanks! writing a book is on my life’s “to do” list, definitely. glad to know if i write one, i’ll have at least one reader! 🙂
I learn so much from video games. I can’t tell you how many times double jumping has saved me in my everyday life.
I remember teaching my father the basics of computers, he was my arch enemy for about a month and a half. After that he was as docile as a sleeping kitten.
Also, Mombot is so adorable!
glad you think mombot’s adorable, Foxmouse! she’s the same in real life, too. 🙂 and yes, double jumping can be helpful at times, but you should try throwing fire balls and butt stomping if you want to learn something really useful.
i celebrate the triumphant return of MOMBOT! and i only wish that teaching our parents how to use a computer was this easy. great strip!
glad you liked mombot’s return, gcw! i know she’s a favorite of yours.
I’ve figured out MomBots problem! she’s using VISTA!
ha! yes, jh3, she’s using Vista. not sure if that’s holding her back at all, but funny you picked up on that detail. 🙂
That is sooooo true! You just have to explain tasks in rules people can “hear…”
Love the contrast of color from frame to computer screen! Excellent as always Jefbot!
thanks, dude!
Too true…Hoyle Card Games made my mom literate.
ooh, i might have to check that one out for my dad, estiveo. he likes the card games.
I do phone support/tech support for Realtors… I wonder if this analogy will work for them too? This might make my life easier in some way…
give it a try, Shay – for realtors i suggest you recommend SimCity or SimTower. 😉
I think the only ones in the family that don’t have a modicum of competence with computers in my family are my grand mother and father. I’m not even sure if they’d get it if I used game terms, sadly.
you might be surprised, Eptha! virtual bridge, mah jong or chess might be just the motivation they need.
It’s true! Since JefBot introduced me to Bejeweled and Freecell, I have conscientiously “studied” every day! 🙂
are your peggle “studies” over for now, Mombot? cuz i hear the sequel’s pretty good…
Now, if we could figure out a way to make Folding@Home a game, some 12 old child could cure cancer.
no kidding, dude!
You wanna know the odd and wonderful thing about this? That is EXACTLY the reason Windows originally put Solitaire in there. Yep, they knew that people would get the drag and drop faster with a game so they included a game that used it so people would get used to the idea. The funny thing is they started doing this way back in 3.0 and thus people have forgotten why they originally put it in there. They just expect it to be there now. So in a way Jef you have rediscovered the original intent of Solitaire!
cool, Ploute! thanks for the background on that. now, just don’t tell my mom or dad! 😉
In my own case, my mom was the Master and I was the padawan. (This was during the “ancient” Commodore 64 and early Macintosh days.) These days, the student has far surpassed the Master… *heavy mechanically-assisted breathing*
that’s cool, reynard61 – my mom was the master at tetris back in the day, but now she’s the padawan learner. heheh. although she may tell you otherwise. 😉 and i was around during those “ancient” c64 days, too – some of my favorite days for gaming ever!
Great way to explain things JefBot. XD
it works, DaughterJudy!
this is just like mom too!
yep! 🙂
I <3 Mombot so much. She is the definition of cuteness!!! Great job, bot. This is so well done from the set up to the punchline to the facial expressions and the awesome colors. You’re a regular mixed race van Gogh. Just don’t cut off any body parts. 😉
thanks, man. as a rule, i try and keep all body parts intact. 🙂
Haha xD Oh and I finally won 100 games of solitaire outta playing like 800+ games xDD
my mom (and my sister laura, actually) could show you a thing or two on solitaire, Natalie. they’re serious champs! 🙂
Hysterical!
thanks, Tomix! good to see ya.
I’ve missed reading these.
Keep up the awesome work!
This just doesn’t get old. Everyone can relate to this one, although not funny in real life.
I can relate! But, really a young mom being this dumb? How about a grandma, someone that has gray in her hair!! Love the thought – the young are always educating me at wii, or the 3g network, facebook, tweeting, or just itunes!
Actually, Solitaire was originally built into Windows specifically to help people learn how to manipulate a graphical interface. It was *made* as a tutorial in clicking, double-clicking, dragging-and-dropping, etc. They used a familiar card game to make it less intimidating to the mass market they were trying (and succeeded tremendously) to reach…..
never mind…Ploute beat me there