system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why does my computer drastically slow down after a couple years?
gpt
Think of the computer as analogous to a human body:

1. Every time you install something (a program, a game, a toolbar, etc), you are essentially giving it a piece of 'food'. *Unlike* a human body, though, your computer doesn't "burn calories". It just lets the food sit there, and it continues to grow as more and more stuff is installed. You are essentially adding an endless amount of "fat" that is being consumed, and so your computer slowly becomes less and less healthy. Not all programs are bad, but they *do* take up space and memory, both of which are vital.

2. *Uninstalling* software isn't the same thing as "getting rid of it completely". When you un-install something, it leaves behind tiny 'artifacts' that affect the way the computer runs. So even though you *think* you're giving it a good clean, there are lots of nooks and crannies that get left behind.

3. Computers 'age', just like humans. We often leave our computers and other devices running 24/7 - which isn't inherently *bad* - but, the more you use something, the more it starts to wear down. This has a direct impact on its ability to perform.

4. Another big consideration here is *perception*. We live in an amazing age where technology is *doubling* in performance every few years. It's not unusual to **think** that your computer has become a lot slower, simply because everything else around it has become a lot *quicker*.