Nice people thread part 3- Nice as pie

lemonjelly

Great News story by MSE Guy, along with a thread on the DFW board:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/family/2011/02/fee-charging-firms-pounce-on-cab-closures?utm_source=forum&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=box

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/41187062#Comment_41187062

vivatifosi

Evening all,

I worked at the library today and it was another one of those truly frustrating days in which the gaping width of the digital divide was laid bare. I can't say too much in case I reveal where I (sometimes) work - I do move around a bit. However in our IT suite I have to look after a lot of users simultaneously (can be over 20).

You can get some complex helpdesk enquiries, but for the most part a lot of those we get are very basic. A lot of "I've forgotten my card, can you tell me how to log in please"? Or "how do I print this?" And "Can I have a bit more time please?" Can handle these, very easy. But the ones that take forever I'm getting more of, these take far longer. Today - for the first time ever - I had two simultaneously. These are people who for want of a better expression aren't the brightest sparks in the box and who traditionally would work say, stacking shelves in Tesco.

The problem is that the Job Centre does not give sufficient support to these people that they can register for jobs online. They don't get it, can't search the sites, can't work out the forms, don't know how to use a mouse, don't understand the concept of e-mail.... and so on. Well Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda all have their recruitment online. So we have people perfectly capable of doing low paid work, there are jobs online that they can apply for. Good news right? Wrong! They don't know how to do it, so the Job Centre tells these people to come to the library because we can help them. So I'm trying to juggle two of these, simultaneously, while trying to help everyone else because every computer was taken.

It makes me so angry that in the Big Society these people are being left to fall through the cracks.

Sorry, I'll step down off my soapbox now, clean my teeth and get ready for bed:o.

michaels

Before store managers could give unskilled jobs to existing employees mates based on interview, now it is all centralised recruitment and my stepson who has no maths gcse can not get a sniff...this whole emphasis on sending every one to uni doesn't make sense to me - yes in some areas we need to be the best in the world but the other jobs that will remain will be the shelf stacking and hairdressing and caring that can only be done locally and these are the ones that are unglamorous and seem to be forgotten or worse demeaned so that those doing them can no longer feel fulfilled.

I have placed an update elsewhere - blogging is harder than it looks

lostinrates

Feeling for all the nice people having less nice times ATM. I wish there was more to do to help.

michaels

I'm sure everyone knows you are thinking of them which does help - and I suspect some of us post more as an 'Eeyore than a Tigger!

lostinrates wrote: »

Feeling for all the nice people having less nice times ATM. I wish there was more to do to help.

lemonjelly

vivatifosi wrote: »

The problem is that the Job Centre does not give sufficient support to these people that they can register for jobs online. They don't get it, can't search the sites, can't work out the forms, don't know how to use a mouse, don't understand the concept of e-mail.... and so on. Well Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda all have their recruitment online. So we have people perfectly capable of doing low paid work, there are jobs online that they can apply for. Good news right? Wrong! They don't know how to do it, so the Job Centre tells these people to come to the library because we can help them. So I'm trying to juggle two of these, simultaneously, while trying to help everyone else because every computer was taken.

It makes me so angry that in the Big Society these people are being left to fall through the cracks.

And of course we have other agencies (like LA's) closing down libraries, advice centres etc. So where will these people go Viva?

This is what really grinds my gears.

It is like the Insolvency service refusing to print the bankruptcy forms (& the courts service also refusing this).

It's alright having a digital britain, but there is still a major access problem which needs addressing for it to be successful.:mad:

GDB2222

vivatifosi wrote: »

They don't know how to do it, so the Job Centre tells these people to come to the library because we can help them. So I'm trying to juggle two of these, simultaneously, while trying to help everyone else because every computer was taken.

It makes me so angry that in the Big Society these people are being left to fall through the cracks.

To some extent, the Job Centre have got it right. Normally, you sort these people out for them, although you may feel that you are being taken advantage of.

Is there anything to stop you putting up a notice asking for volunteers to help people with job searches? Two afternoons a week, say, on a rota. Isn't that the sort of thing Cameron means by big society, ie people helping each other, making the helpers feel useful, whilst fostering community spirit?

lostinrates

michaels wrote: »

I suspect some of us post more as an 'Eeyore than a Tigger!

If it helps I'm often thinking about you all. (its funny you posted elsewhere cos I was thinking about you yesterday evening). I'm really missing Malcolm and hoping he's alright too.

And treliac. I know she's busy now but hope she's ok.

PasturesNew

Today I am aching in places I didn't know exist. I went out yesterday for "supplies", well a singular supply of one item for my new hobby-!!!-income-stream - stopping off at a beach for some beachcombing... and I hit what they call "paydirt". Unbelievable quantities of what I was after, so I walked the length and breadth of a huge beach for three solid hours, then lugged my "catch" back to the car. Bending, stooping, walking - I'm like a cripple today. Could hardly make it home for tiredness and then fell asleep and slept for hours.

Great, except I'm not ready for this stuff, I've no space for it, no system. But I have it now.

Currently devoting my time full-time to researching my hobby, I do need to find out how to download youtube vids though as I can't watch them online. I need to download them as I find them, so I can watch them at any point (possibly 2-3x) without affecting my limited bandwidth. I've no speakers at the moment so want to find/download them as I find them, so that once I have speakers they're already on my PC to be watched/heard.

PasturesNew

vivatifosi wrote: »

However in our IT suite I have to look after a lot of users simultaneously (can be over 20).

That all sounds posh "IT suite". Our library had a seriously big makeover about 4-5 years ago and went from 2 PCs to 8, in the corner. Hardly a "suite".