I don't know about you but my mom is not the most computer-wise person. And I don't know if she doesn't want to know doesn't care about the concept of a router. In a recent post I stated that I was having problems with using xp while connected to Ethernet to the router I was about to go and change the network setting when she came and started to go on how the router was causing problems and that she didn't want it to be hooked up to the computer. I tried to explain it to her but trying to explain anything to her and my sister about computers and computer related things is like trying to teach sign language to a snake, it just does not work. So I ask you, how would you explain the concept of routers so someone that knows nothing or very little about computers or hardware?

It depends what exactly they want to know. If it's the basic workings then it's kinda like asking a traffic warden for directions and then going where he tells you to reach your destination. That's all a router does at a basic level.

Just say 'you need that for the internet; it's what connects it to the internet' (even if it isn't a modem-router, it does connect the computer to it)

Just do like I do, no white box, no Facebook. That simple. Now my brother I get in trouble for screaming at him after explaining for the 12th time how to set the stereo to computer sound (how hard can it be to remember to press the "tape\VCR2" button) and then in trouble for screaming that you connect the camera, turn it on, and copy everything form the G drive!!! This was after he called 3 times to ask how he does it and told him the first 2 times then told him to google it the 3rd time.

you don't have to teach details of it

this is what I did for my mother (in past):

1. explained very basic what router is and what it does
2. made a detailed guide in Word 2003/Paint, how to connect to router via PC, how to set internet settings, and how to connect it
3. printed those 5 pages out, and handed it to her

job done

I speak for myself but I'm sure many of us have been in your position. When I was in middle school age I was laughed at by my parents and called "computer man" as a joke. So I understand how frustrating it could be. But as I got older I earned their respect as a tech go to guy of the family by simply being honest about what you know, why you're trying to do, and how you'll do it. Explain in the simplest terms what is happening as u do it in quick short sentences to keep their attention, since people like that ether don't care or don't want to feel dumb. Take your time mate, eventually they'll see you know what you're talking bout.

A lot of the time when it comes to the modem/router, I simply show the person concerned this video and say that the exact same thing will happen to them.

On a router, this guy goes "Why can't I just put a splitter on like a phone line?" then doesn't care to hear an explanation, and this goes on around in circles for about five minutes. Then he says "Well, you're the expert."

You just can't win all of them.

That's the problem with IT, everyone who doesn't know anything thinks that they know best simply because they USE a computer or they put a splitter on a phone line two years ago. It creates this false sense of understanding of how the technology actually works. Practically everyone falls in to this category. Everyone KNOWS one thing or another but they don't know why. That they don't know why is never something they consider. They just know that it's common sense.

If you can manage to find sweeping blanket statements for every possible situation you run into; ones that don't involve any technical explanation at all and aren't necessarily false, but that don't actually explain anything technical, you'll be fine. Save the technical information for when people start acting rude. When you start explaining things that people don't understand it will either make them feel stupid and shut up or bore them to the point of leaving you alone.

From experience, I can tell you that a career in IT is for the most part a career where you don't get any respect, except mostly from other people who actually understand what you're doing or have careers in other service fields, these people tend to be few and far between. If you can't be the bigger man and continue to treat everyone you meet with respect and go into things expecting people to be nice, you aren't suited to the industry, as you'll be perpetuating the negative stereotypical view of IT people.

Don't get me wrong, some people are [censored] and don't deserve to be treated with respect. Just make sure you stay professional.

My mom actually LIKES Vista. COME ON, VISTA!?

But you don't need your mom to explain to, go see Microsoft Answers. They think that Firefox uses Direct2D when it doesn't. (Search "ie9 xp")

I once got a call from someone: he was panicing because the internet was broken and he asked me to come immediately.
The problem? He accidently deleted the IE icon from his desktop

that is hilarious

"Oops I broke the internets."

I Grandpa likes Vista. Yet he has all these problems with it. He just thinks its computers in general. I have told him again and again to upgrade to Windows 7 but he doesn't believe it will make anything better. So I just don't try to explain it. Because nobody ever understands. And then I get told to shut up about computers and told I don't know anything. While they let idiots run the computer that runs the projector at church. While we sit there waiting while they figure out how to press the play button (I am not kidding). Just don't try to explain it and get ready to laugh inside a lot at people when they try to use computers or talk about computers.

Some people erroneously believed (and most likely still do) that the monitor and/or the keyboard was/were the computer, possibly because of the monitor and keyboard being the most used external peripherals on a computer to this day, but also because of certain systems, such as Commodore 64s and Apple IIs, where the keyboard and the system unit were part of the same unit, and even many systems from Apple's Macintosh line, along with similar systems, where the monitor and the system unit were part of the same unit.

Infact, on Computer Stupidities, there was one story about how a school (if I remember correctly, it was a school, or some other similar type of organization) apparently purchased the monitors and keyboards, but no system units, with the person of whom added the story there remarking about how they apparently had only seen such systems as Apple IIs and Commodore 64s were the keyboard and the system unit were part of the same unit, not to mention that there was another story where a person tried to open what he believed was his computer, only to find many different components, almost none of which are found in any system unit, when in reality, he had obviously opened his monitor.

Ah, my sister doesn't know anything about computers yet she says I don't.
All she learnt is:
- Using Windows 7
- Piracy
- Not to use IE
- That's pretty much it.

She hates Apple and Alienware too. So I say:
"Then why do you have an iPod?"