When others try to use your home stereo

[mighty mint]

When I put out the money for my system I really wanted to have an open policy for those who may want to use the theatre when my wife and I were away. Who knew that people could be so incompetent. The first time this became clear was when my in-laws were visiting one weekend that my wife and I had an evening commitment. When we returned home, they were picking up stations with my tv that I never knew existed and all the system settings were trashed. they ended up just watching what the TV could pull in with sound coming through the TV speaker. So.....
I made up a directions sheet with clear step-by-step instructions. I even color dotted my remotes and stereo components and added color dots on the instructions for easy reference. I have my system set up so that all they have to do is turn on the system, load a DVD in, and press play. Adjust the volume and voila! instant theatre heaven. But...no...this past weekend that was far too complex for my brother-in-law and sister. I just don't get it.
Don't get me wrong, they did end up getting the theatre to work and I love letting others use it. I just don't understand why it is so hard for others to "get it." It literally is set up so that it is that easy to use. Do any of you have the same thing or do you just not let anyone else play with your toys?
I figure that a number of things happen when I allow others to use the system.
1) they get a little more comfortable and educated each time.
2) I can share with others what I have been blessed with.
3) hopefully they develope their own passion for home theatre.
4) The more it gets used, the more it pays for itself.

Well, now I know my system settings inside and out and it really doesn't matter what they do because I can reconfigure it in seconds but still. Here is the question...
If there are more than 2 remotes gathered in one place, do they send out a stupid beam to those unfamiliar with the way of the stereo?

[Pyrosecht]

You forget that the average person let's the cable guy set up their cable box because "it's too complex."

Once upon a time in college, I went to work one day and while I was gone the cable guy came by. My roomate, Justin, was complaining that my system was causing problems because the cable guy said it wouldn't work with cable. Thus, he allowed the cable guy to hook it up the "right" way. Needless to say when I got home it was totally fucked (nothing was connected to the receiver because the TV had better sound according to the cable guy) but my roomate was tickled pink because it was finally set up the right way. I then proceeded to undue the damage while informing my roomate that the cable guy is a fool and he was a bigger one for listening to him. When I finished he said it was the same. I then turned on the receiver and he said "oh... that is better."

Or perhaps you will enjoy a tale from the dorms.

One of my roomates named Jeff kept complaining that his morning cartoons weren't coming in clear. He didn't understand why because he had an antennae but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't improve the picture. I proceeded to explain that the antennae had to be connected to the TV through the coax port on the back not just sitting on top. I then got him a very good picture and went back to bed because that was enough learning for one day. The next morning I got the same complaint and found the antennae disconnected and sitting on top of the TV. I again explained it to him, but he protested saying that the antennae won't work if you can't see it. Again I hooked it up right and went back to bed and told him to leave it alone. On the third morning he knocked on my door again complaining of a bad picture. I punched him in the face and went back to bed.

These stories are completely and totally true. I haven't embelished or exaggerated anything. This is the mentality you are fighting against. Some people are just too simple to figure these things out. It's how it is.

[Prancer]

I don't own a house but I will soon (hopefully). If my friends wanted to come over and use my system I have no problem with that. My setup is pretty simple. An amp, DVD player, Equalizer, VCR (whats that?), and the TV.

I did find that when I had some of my friends over for a movie and they were truly taken back by the sound effects, they'd be curious about how it was done. So when I tried to explain to them how the sound was fed through the amp, they totally glaze over. I mean its quite simple but they totally didn't want to listen and dismissively said, its too complicated.

I have one friend, who I am very close with, and he simply does not want to know anything except how to press play, pause, fast forward, rewind, eject, and load. I tried to tell him that he can program a CD player to play the songs in any order and he quickly said no no!!! its too complicated.

Oh well! I guess some people just don't have the desire to know. But all of them are happy and that's good.

[fischerj]

Originally posted by Prancer
I guess some people just don't have the desire to know. But all of them are happy and that's good.

Hey, people still use AOL for accessing the Internet rather than just using a browser. My brother is still amazed whne I send him airport gate maps, subway system maps, etc., for places he's going. "How'd you do that?", but when you try to explain, it's always "no, no; too complicated". Whatever makes them happy.

[mighty mint]

Hey Pyrosecht, I totally went through that with the cable guy the first time I let them hook things up and had to redo everything just because I was green to the stereo and thought , "Well..he IS the 'cable guy' I guess he KNOWS." And we all know what 'thought' done.

[J Greer]

I had the same problems with the cable installer. He/She Comes into my house thinking its some sort of A/V guru. Telling me O'h thats hooked up incorectly. Or runing the line threw your receiver is whats affecting your picture. My favorite line of bullshit that came from their mouth is. You sould get ride of all these "cheap" RCA connections (which are Bettercables & Monster Cables) and connect every thing via coaxial. That way you'll get better picture and sound, because the whole signal is going threw the same line.

[Enzian]

My little brother, 21, goofed up my HT just trying to watch TV. When we got back, he said, "I just wanted to watch the game!"

My son, 5, set it up in front of us in about 3 seconds.

He felt stoopid.

turn on TV.
switch reciever to video1
turn on VCR
use the VCR to change channels
use the reciever remote to adjust volume

[marty]

a friend got a surround sound system so I went over their house to check it out. Heres what I found. At least the center speaker was in the right spot.

.........................center
......................3 ft tv -- 2 ft - sr
rf - 5 feet - lf /....................* |
..........................................* 10 ft
....................................**** sl

the speakers were setup in a half circle shape
rf- right front speaker
lf - left front
sr - surround right
sl - surround left
*** - couch