My roomate asks me to look up things on the computer for him...

My roommate asks me to look up things on the computer for him, yet when I offer, nicely, to show him how to do it...he shies away. It seems that he's afraid to try anything on a computer...I wonder if it could be his own illness(he has schizophrenia),he's afraid of the Internet,or afraid of somehow breaking or messing up my computer? He knows there is anti-virus software installed, and that I can fix most things on here..could he be afraid of being on the Internet and saying or doing something that could make me lose my account? I ask him what makes him wary of using my PC, he says he doesn't know...I'm just curious why he might be afraid.

Kim it could just be that he's leary of the computer, my hubby won't touch mine and I've even tried to show him sports games
Angie

Could be that, or maybe he had an unpleasant experience with the internet at one point, and web surfing reminds him of it. I had a pretty twisted experience with the internet, and after I was VERY leary of it because of all the associations/triggers.

Just a guess. How well do you know your roomie?

Since he's schizophrenic, could he possibly be worried about someone reading his mind through the computer or tracking him down through the sites he visits? In my job, it's been my experience that a lot of people with that diagnosis have unrealistic fears that government agencies are tracking them and that people can read their minds.

Just a guess on my part.

I agree with all the reasons stated above..... so in the end - Just be a FRIEND (and help him out).

LoVe,
Rhapsody - ((( hugs )))

I can understand him feeling leery about using my computer...I think he knows it's my baby, like how some people are real protective of their cool car, truck, motorcycle...He sees all the 'tweaking', maintenance, installing software, and using it to download music. I think he doesn't want to 'mess everything up' or break it!