Certain genetic traits are inherited, and others skip a generation. Both of my grandfathers were completely bald. And although I am headed in that direction fairly rapidly, my 70 year father has still an impressive stock of black hair intact. Another of my dad’s characteristics which I lack concerns reading manuals and following written directions.
As I scout around my office for a few computer-related manuals, here is what I can easily locate: my modest original Mac and System 7.5 booklets, and the comparably- sized instructions for ClarisWorks and Claris Organizer; the substantial Quicken user’s guide; and the genuine heavyweights, the user guides for Microsoft Word and Excel. Some of the books’ pages have been studied hundreds of times, while others have never received eye contact. Even so, I consider myself a diligent participant in the ritual of conscientiously attempting to figure out what the software developers and manual authors intended me to learn by RTFM (reading the friendly manual).
This term, RTFM, may have its origins in some esoteric linguistic cult, but for me it looms as an ominous storm cloud, hanging over my monitor and mouse. I feel as if a substantial quantity of my life has been spent deciphering directions which are invariably incomplete, inaccurate, incoherent, or all three. I was never a whiz at electronics, and always stumbled through a dozen mazes before assembling any do-it-myself items satisfactorily. Still, I really do read directions before I begin, and I honestly do what they tell me to do.
In the June issue of AMUG (Arizona Macintosh Users Group) NEWS, editor Lea Bromley writes:
Many software packages being sold today have limited manuals. Computer users have
traditionally prided themselves in being able to learn the software and leave the
manuals shrink wrapped. They say that if that cannot be done, the software is not
well written.
Well, that may be so, but there are a lot of computer users out there who still need
the comfort of being able to look for answers in a manual or book. I also believe that
to truly master an application, one must dig into the manuals, texts, and magazines
to find all the little nuggets of information.
Well stated, Lea. Back to my dad: he prides himself on never reading his computer manuals, and on learning by a blend of error-and-error and screaming for help. At first these screams were heard loudest on AOL, where another fellow (read: willing stooge?) and I received countless daily appeals to solve the most basic dilemmas. My father is now proud to have a 13 year old super-kid who makes house calls and somehow manages to get dad’s non-Mac to jump on demand. (See my future article, “Get A Guru,” for an elaboration on this method of learning.)
My position is quite different. Unlike many of you, I calmly sit down with the manual for a couple of introductory readings before attacking any new hardware or application. I am not a saint, however, and definitely stop short of comprehensive knowledge, especially when I can accomplish all I need with minimum of study, such as with Quicken or Excel.
In real life I am a photography instructor. A major portion of my teaching involves helping new (and not-so-new) adult photographers learn how to use their equipment, regardless of how recently they acquired it. I send the students preliminary letters, advising them in large CAPITAL letters to bring their instructions, realizing that many of the participants have never read the manuals. Photography is a fairly predictable blend of technical and creative skills, and it is almost impossible to be creative without first understanding the craft. I receive many hearty “Thank you!” notes from intelligent photographers who are more confident in their camera-work simply by learning how to do what they paid the manufacturer for when they purchased their equipment.
Computers are, in my humble opinion, roughly a hundred times more complicated/ sophisticated/challenging/unpredictable than are cameras, because software is so tremendously powerful and variable in its use and application. The “software” of photography is film, which is meant to be consistent from one user to the next. Computer applications, in contrast, are designed to be utilized in individualistic, idiosyncratic ways by each of us.
I am vexed by the recent tendency of new software (especially ClarisWorks) to arrive with an ultra-slim, bare-bones manual, since the majority of the instructions are only available as on-line help, while I am actually using the application. Being a book reader and a page turner, this exclusive on-line help drives me nuts with frustration. I understand the reasons for the change: since most people don’t bother with the books anyway, printing costs are vastly reduced; and when you do need the help most, it is “instantly” available. (I won’t comment on the lag time between beginning to locate on-line help and actually implementing it. Try it for yourself.)
Many Mac enthusiasts are quite satisfied to guess or crawl their way through new applications, relying upon the manuals only as a last resort. This practice makes me wonder why comprehensive instructions are provided at all. Perhaps software companies should include a mere four-page outline with the diskettes, locate all the help files on-line, and offer the books as an after market option. Aargh! I’m trembling at the thought.
In Tidbits #275, William Murphy writes:
**RTFM** -- Coming from me this is odd advice, but I **strongly** recommend
you read the manual. I used [the application] for a month without reading the manual
and I found most of its features, but not all. The manual is an easy read and will allow
you to get the most out of the product in the shortest time.
I have heard rumors that Mac users like their computing to be both productive and fast. Hey, why not read the manuals?
The term RTFM appears in the address of the Usenet FAQ (frequently asked questions) archives, which can be located by subject directories at the FTP site: rtfm.mit.edu. In this case, I suppose the acronym stands for “Read the FAQs, man (or woman).” Most of the time, however, when you are advised to RTFM, you can take it from me that you are being strongly advised to “Read the forgotten manual.”
Or something decidedly less polite.
 
John Nemerovski's monthly column explores the trends, psychology, and emerging culture of the ' digital renaissance' and how we are all adapting to this "Brave New World". John looks forward to feedback at johnemer@aztec.asu.edu.
