how to mess around with computers?

[eternalworm2008]

I want to be good with computers, whatever that means. not only in a software perspective (which im currently failing, which has lead to people calling me a larper, i think this could be true) but also in hardware. i want to be able to open up a pc or laptop and understand what im looking at and what i can do with it. i dont know what this hobby is called so i dont know where to look. i want to be lain!

[ThunderPerfectWitchcraft]

The traditional way of learning a bit about hardware is to build a computer yourself. I'd recommend to wait till you need a new computer anyway for various reasons, including costs and environmental considerations. There are good tutorials, forums and websites available for this question; https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/wiki/index/ might be a good start.

If you want to learn about software, try to learn a programming language; a scripting language is a good start, and a easy language (like Pascal) might be a good entry, but things like C/C++ will have the most benefit and will offer the deepest insight in regards of learning. I also recommend using Linux (preferably not one of the Distributions focused on user-friendliness, but something like Debian/Slackware/Arch, if you really want to learn), as it does not try to hide its mechanics from the user.

[ocean]

It's hard to give you much advice with any real direction, because learning about computers is such a general concept. I think you've already completed the hardest step of your journey by simply desiring to learn more. You can learn a lot about hardware from youtube. Theres a ton of youtube channels in the vein of Linus Tech Tips that will entertain you and also teach you lots of important hardware concepts. Software is a little more tricky. Keep up your learning on CSS and HTML!

[fsr]

I want to be good with computers, whatever that means. not only in a software perspective (which im currently failing, which has lead to people calling me a larper, i think this could be true) but also in hardware[...] i want to be lain!

Please ignore anyone dismissing your sincere interest as "larping". Including yourself, if you're dismissing it on such terms.

You've come to the right forum to learn about this stuff. Not that you should ever give up on this if the forum were to disappear tomorrow, keep learning whatever interests you.

And I will add that Youtube is an amazing resource. But as you already pointed out, if you don't know what you're even looking for, that can make things difficult. You've stated frustration in a lack of people talking to you about computers. I'll just say again, you've come to the right forum.

It's hard to give you much advice with any real direction, because learning about computers is such a general concept. I think you've already completed the hardest step of your journey by simply desiring to learn more.

I agree, but I'm taking a crack at this anyway. My profile has SLIGHTLY more information there, but you won't find anything that's much more of a teaser and I really do mean it when I say "slightly".

It was a busy Monday for sure.