How to Help Someone Use a Computer

I think one of the best rules to tell yourself is "people might be afraid you are going to blame them for the problem." This really hit home because many people are intimidated by technology which in turn makes them self-conscious. If they are afraid you might blame them, they will probably be afraid to ask you for help.
A follow-up with this question is the rule on page 2 regarding placing the blame. The rule states that no matter what always blame the computer, even if you have to show off your ability to "criticize" bad design. This information can be used for any particular software application or source of technology. This would be helpful when teaching students how and when to use e-books because it would encourage them to take risks in order to succeed.