Ageing and Fear of Technology! (coverage, trouble, wife, smart)
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My mom, at 87, was more computer 'savvy' than I am. But she got a head start via my dad. Back in the early 80s my dad took some kind of computer course and part of the program was building a Commodore 64 computer. My mom learned along with Dad. Even so technology has changed so much that she had to learn new things along the way too. She Skyped regularly with family in Australia. If it weren't for my brother...my computer guru!...I'd have more problems that I do.
I have a 'smart phone'. It's in a drawer. I hate the thing! It does things I don't want it to, won't do things I DO want it to, freezes up regularly and have to remove/replace the battery often and I don't really NEED all the apps on it. Since I use it with Straight Talk I just don't buy time anymore but can if I decide to take a road trip, etc.. I'll be going back to a plain ol' 'dumb' flip phone though. All I need a cell phone for is to make/take calls...period. Don't text, don't need to check Facebook all day long, etc.. I totally understand people who are a 180 from me though and to each their own.
I am more open to technology now and that was not always the case; in fact, when they tried to make me use a mouse at work, I refused and just wanted to do it the old-fashioned way, using the arrows, but once I started to use a mouse (took some time, if you can believe that!) it made a world of difference. I will never be a techno person, but I do enjoy the fun side of technology, just not when things go wrong and then I have a big headache from it all. I am still surprised how older people who did not grow up or have any experience with computers can embrace technology the way they have. Just like your parents, they were born too soon and if they were born a little later they could have been working at startups or Google, Yahoo, etc. I sometimes wonder about which historical figures could have been "Techies" if they were just born a little later.
I'll be going back to a plain ol' 'dumb' flip phone though. All I need a cell phone for is to make/take calls...period. Don't text, don't need to check Facebook all day long, etc.. I totally understand people who are a 180 from me though and to each their own.
A friend told me flip phones will be phased out in 2016. I got a new one last fall and hope it will last a while. I don't see any need to be constantly connected to the Internet on a mobile device, esp. being retired and at home more.
I am more open to technology now and that was not always the case; in fact, when they tried to make me use a mouse at work, I refused and just wanted to do it the old-fashioned way, using the arrows, but once I started to use a mouse (took some time, if you can believe that!) it made a world of difference. I will never be a techno person, but I do enjoy the fun side of technology, just not when things go wrong and then I have a big headache from it all. I am still surprised how older people who did not grow up or have any experience with computers can embrace technology the way they have. Just like your parents, they were born too soon and if they were born a little later they could have been working at startups or Google, Yahoo, etc. I sometimes wonder about which historical figures could have been "Techies" if they were just born a little later.
You'd probably blow away anyone under 35 in terms of your speed on a computer. I bet you know the control and function keys / shortcuts very well, having operated in the pre-mouse era.
You'd probably blow away anyone under 35 in terms of your speed on a computer. I bet you know the control and function keys / shortcuts very well, having operated in the pre-mouse era.
You reminded me of when I was really good with the short cuts and function keys and that I never even had to use a chart, but since accepting the mouse and using it ever since, I have forgotten most of them - I still, at times, can impress those whippersnappers
You reminded me of when I was really good with the short cuts and function keys and that I never even had to use a chart, but since accepting the mouse and using it ever since, I have forgotten most of them - I still, at times, can impress those whippersnappers
On that note, just yesterday I was comparing notes with my 8o-year-old mother regarding the minor fine points of rebuilding / tweaking an older HP desktop in order to avoid having to go buy a new system. She has it completely dialed in. I sometimes fear what will happen when all the old techies are gone.
I know some people like this. One woman told me she was afraid to get on the internet because she worried she would be addicted to it. I guess that makes sense, but she watches TV all day so I didn't really see the difference. I told her about Netflix and how you can watch whenever you want without commercials for $8 a month. I got the deer in headlights look too. LOL
They do spend a lot of time on the phone and that would drive me nuts. I would much rather send a quick email or whatever than sit on hold waiting for a customer service rep. When you don't have the internet, bill paying and things like that are a real pain. I am too spoiled now to go back to that. On the other hand, I know people the same age who are on Facebook all day, so I would say embracing technology is more a matter of personal preference than aging.
I agree with the poster who thought the disabled cousin might be going out to do errands as a way to get out of the house and be around people. I am not disabled, but I work from home a lot and I need to get out of the house and go somewhere once in a while too. Sometimes I go to the library on my lunch break. I have a kindle and read online but I also like to read old-fashioned books. You can take them to the pool or the beach and read them in the bright sun.
I imagine if you talk her into trying, she'll never get off Netflix. Just imagine the amount of classic tv you can watch
I do like talking on the phone, but to friends. I HATE having to call someone since their online payment system didn't work and have to listen to that push this for this. And especially if they make it hard to reach a human. Pretty much, if I can pay it or get the info I want quickly online I'm all for it. Of course, noting my number of posts, its kinda clear I spend a lot of time online.
Actually online has vastly expanded the possibilities for those of us who like to hold a good hardback book in our hands. Amazon supports a LOT of used book stores who sell through it or other online sites. A friend of mine has a used book store which keeps in business because such a big amount of sales are online. But you can go online and find those esoteric books you remember which are very hard to locate.
On that note, just yesterday I was comparing notes with my 8o-year-old mother regarding the minor fine points of rebuilding / tweaking an older HP desktop in order to avoid having to go buy a new system. She has it completely dialed in. I sometimes fear what will happen when all the old techies are gone.
In the tech world, anyone over 30 is considered "elderly" and that is a shame because so many people have so much to offer in the way of experience and knowledge and they don't get a chance to share it just because of a number
I'm 68 and most of the folks that I know close to my age do not own a computer and they pay all their bills by mail. I too don't understand why they are not computer savvy. I was required to use a computer and the internet on my job and
some of these folks didn't. Personally I think they don't realize what they are missing out on. The convenience and
the entertainment. Being online saves me a lot of money too by finding deals and coupons. Some folks are afraid
they will get ripped off.
I'm 68 and most of the folks that I know close to my age do not own a computer and they pay all their bills by mail. I too don't understand why they are not computer savvy. I was required to use a computer and the internet on my job and
some of these folks didn't. Personally I think they don't realize what they are missing out on. The convenience and
the entertainment. Being online saves me a lot of money too by finding deals and coupons. Some folks are afraid
they will get ripped off.
Maybe it's regional but I don't know anyone who isn't on the internet. If you're not connected you're missing a lot--doctors appointment reminders, library notifications, online banking, coupons. Wait--I do know one person. She has had brain surgery so she just can't learn computers. She is in her mid-70s. But she calls me all the time asking me to look things up on the computer. These days I don't see how anyone can get along without it.
For most folks it isn't a fear of technology but rather not seeing enough value to learn it. I'm only in my 50's and would much rather text than call someone...and rather handle business online than call or in person. I always research purchases online and then make most of them online to get the best price and avoid the hassle of store. I pay 99% of my bills online and use a tablet, laptop, and smartphone in addition to work laptop - I'm probably online or doing SOMETHING on the computer 12 hours a day!
But I really dislike facebook (too competitive and trivial) and I just don't get the excitement/purpose of Twitter, and I have no idea or interest in Pinterest (!) or Instagram. That stuff seems like a major waste of time...so I'm not afraid, just have better things to do. I also never play video games...another waste, to me anyway.
We all make our choices of what to do with our limited time.
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