But for every person smitten with the power of the PC, there's another person cowering. As a stark counterpoint to the enthusiasts who think personal computers are liberating, there are significant numbers who find them oppressive. But the pressure to be computer literate is enormous. In the office, you might be passed up for a promotion if you can't master how to handle formulas in a spreadsheet. In school, it can take you longer to do your homework if you can't access the Internet or use a word-processing program.
Fear can be a formidable foe.
Some time ago, when a company I was working for outfitted all the employees in our department with brand new Macintoshes, I tried to help a co-worker get up to speed with his new machine. We had all been through a training program, but he still preferred to have the department secretary type out his handwritten notes than to use the computer himself. The very act of sitting in front of the computer made him uncomfortable. When I showed him how to open and save a file, and had him do the same, sweat beaded up on his brow. Eventually, for his inability to adjust to his altered work environment and for other reasons, he was let go.