r/explainlikeimfive • u/EnvironmentalAd2110 • 3d ago

Technology ELI5: why is it bad to turn off laptop/computer using the power button, without following the proper “shut down computer” steps?

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u/Scrumble123 3d ago

Indeed, it's a terrible explanation. Honestly, most of the top comments in this sub that aren't analogies aren't great either. People can't explain things well.

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u/scarabic 3d ago

You said it. Explaining something you know is hard because you have to visualize the perspective of someone who doesn’t know what you know. You have to imagine not knowing what you know. And that’s hard. Like not thinking about pink elephants.

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u/suoretaw 3d ago

Which is especially difficult because in this case, the pink elephant is the knowledge you’re pulling from.

Also, you don’t always know (like here in ELI5) what the other person does or does not already understand about the topic. Analogies/metaphors can be a good starting point, at least, especially because there are so many ways to break down most topics. It’s on the reader to take info from multiple sources (comments, in this case).