Hard off vs soft off

Hello guys and gals.

I'm here to find out how many people actually close down there computers normaly. I have always held down the power button for 10 seconds and let it shut off, I always figure that if I had any problems myself could just correct them. When Im at other peoples computers who always turn them off by shutting down windows and wait until the machines shuts down normaly, they sometimes give me a negative or worried look when the computer is turned off my usual way.. Now Personaly I have never had a problem arise from my machine when I do this in the last 3 years so I assume nothing could happen or if anything does I have the knowledge to correct the mistakes.

So how do you guys do it?

But I have had no problems in years... everything works just as the day i bought it. havent fried anything or lost any infomation from shutting down this way... windows doesnt even want to check the disks anymore. I get the "windows didnt turn off properly" display a few times, start up normaly and everything is back to working the way it is.

I don't think it's luck that nothing has happened to my machine that maybe too many people are paranoid about damaging computers. same thing about viruses as well, I have a firewall but not an anti-virus, I think the less informed people need these anti virus software that costs alot but personaly the only time your attacked these days is if you keep clicking ok and accept dodgy emails, websites and other files that you shouldnt be sayings yes too.

I know what your thinking that im an idiot but I do actually like my computer and take it apart /clean it out once a month..

But I have had no problems in years... everything works just as the day i bought it. havent fried anything or lost any infomation from shutting down this way... windows doesnt even want to check the disks anymore. I get the "windows didnt turn off properly" display a few times, start up normaly and everything is back to working the way it is.

I don't think it's luck that nothing has happened to my machine that maybe too many people are paranoid about damaging computers. same thing about viruses as well, I have a firewall but not an anti-virus, I think the less informed people need these anti virus software that costs alot but personaly the only time your attacked these days is if you keep clicking ok and accept dodgy emails, websites and other files that you shouldnt be sayings yes too.

I know what your thinking that im an idiot but I do actually like my computer and take it apart /clean it out once a month..