DEAR ABBY: Tomorrow I'll be celebrating my 64th birthday, and even though I have read your column faithfully for many years, I never thought I would be writing you for advice. This is the dilemma:
I am computer literate, while my wife of 45 years has been somewhat apprehensive about attempting to learn computer basics. Our grandson is 14 and would very much like to have a computer. My wife is adamantly opposed to it at this time. She says that when he graduates from high school, she will contemplate getting him one. I say by that time our grandson would have lost valuable time and the opportunities that come from having knowledge of the computer. There are many youngsters who, upon completion of high school, are forced to go to work. Consequently, their formal education is set aside until later, or perhaps never.
My wish would be for our grandson to continue his formal education after graduating from high school. However, in the event that he does not, I think we should get him a computer NOW, so that he could gain the necessary knowledge to compete in the labor market. As you well know, almost every workplace now requires employees to have at least some knowledge of computers.
Whatever your answer is, I will honor it. If it is contrary to my thinking, I'll never again mention it to my wife. However, if you agree with me, please try to convince my wife that we are doing a disservice to our grandson by not getting him a computer now. Thank you. -- MANNY IN LAS VEGAS
DEAR MANNY: I agree with you. Computer proficiency is a skill that students need today. Colleges, as well as employers, expect applicants to be computer literate. If your wife doubts this, she should place a call to some of the local high schools and inquire. Perhaps that will reassure her.