Get off my lawn you damn kids!

[hobbitt97]

I did internet support when Windows 3.1 was transitioning to Windows 95 (ancient history). The tech calls werem hellish. One of our callers had a 386 (not supported) that she had just bought from (rhymes with Bingermut) for the purpose of getting online (not supported either). She started crying. I didn't blame her.

[telecom_goddess]

I did internet support when Windows 3.1 was transitioning to Windows 95 (ancient history). The tech calls werem hellish. One of our callers had a 386 (not supported) that she had just bought from (rhymes with Bingermut) for the purpose of getting online (not supported either). She started crying. I didn't blame her.

Wow I used to have a 396 with windows 3.1.....how many years ago was that now??

[ShootMePlease]

Well, look at the bright side.....

When we're 100, we'll annoy the shit out of the young'ns because we don't understand all the newfangled gadgets there will be by then.

[telecom_goddess]

Well, look at the bright side.....

When we're 100, we'll annoy the shit out of the young'ns because we don't understand all the newfangled gadgets there will be by then.

says you I plan to know everything!

[Andara Bledin]

says you I plan to know everything!

Oh, you and me both.

I plan to annoy the young'uns by schoolin' 'em.

^-.-^

[protege]

Well, look at the bright side.....

When we're 100, we'll annoy the shit out of the young'ns because we don't understand all the newfangled gadgets there will be by then.

On the other hand, it will be amusing to see the young-uns lose their minds when their technology fails...and they *can't* handle it. It's always amusing as hell to see someone's GPS go down, and they're freaking out because they can't read a map

[Wenchie]

On the other hand, it will be amusing to see the young-uns lose their minds when their technology fails...and they *can't* handle it. It's always amusing as hell to see someone's GPS go down, and they're freaking out because they can't read a map

Yeah, when I was driving to the middle of no where I made sure to print out directions in case my GPS lost signal.

But I know how to read maps too! I just don't have one in my car. But if I needed to I could buy one.

[Andara Bledin]

It's always amusing as hell to see someone's GPS go down, and they're freaking out because they can't read a map

I know a woman... graduated form Berkeley... can't read a freaking map.

^-.-^

[Ben_Who]

When I started working at my current job (1997), I was shocked that there were people in their 50s and 60s who had never turned a computer on, much less used one. By then, I figured computers were as ubiquitous as television.

Since then, I've been around a lot of older people who don't seem to realize that technology continued to advance after they turned 20. I wonder what kind of world I'd be living in if I decided that I was comfortable with the level of technology that existed in 1992 and decided never to change a thing. Cell phone the size of a brick, no internet, and a video game box that ran off cartridges, probably. DVD's? What are those? I watch laserdiscs, dammit!

People think I'm showing ageism when I look askance at a 60-year-old who recoils in horror from anything with a microchip in, but it's sort of the opposite of ageism, I think - these people are telling me that they're too old to learn anything about computers, but my father is a 64 year old Sysadmin who has forgotten more about computers than I will ever imagine. That askance look has less to do with age and more to do with the perception of it.

Love, Who?

[Anakah]

SIXTEEN MINUTES. I was creating a noose out of the phone cord.

For some reason this made me laugh my ass off.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I know a woman... graduated form Berkeley... can't read a freaking map.

^-.-^

Suddenly, the problem comes sharply into focus.

[Ironclad Alibi]

Sadly, people of all ages refuse to learn technology. Most often we hear of the older ones who won't learn and use the newer technologies like computers, cell phones, etc. What we don't hear about too often are the younger ones who refuse to learn and use the older technologies like maps, books, signs, etc. I guess we just lump them all together and call them SCs.

[Geek King]

When we're 100, we'll annoy the shit out of the young'ns because we don't understand all the newfangled gadgets there will be by then.

To hell with that. I swore to myself a long time ago that even if I live to be 120, I'm never going to give up learning new things. I want to be like Gramma Frag, and be online popping the heads of annoying tweenies through the sights of my sniper rifle at 72.

[jedimaster91]

On the other hand, it will be amusing to see the young-uns lose their minds when their technology fails...and they *can't* handle it. It's always amusing as hell to see someone's GPS go down, and they're freaking out because they can't read a map

Shaddup. I'm directionally challenged, ok?

To hell with that. I swore to myself a long time ago that even if I live to be 120, I'm never going to give up learning new things. I want to be like Gramma Frag, and be online popping the heads of annoying tweenies through the sights of my sniper rifle at 72.

Gramma Frag is full of WIN!

[LadyAndreca]

Sadly, people of all ages refuse to learn technology. Most often we hear of the older ones who won't learn and use the newer technologies like computers, cell phones, etc. What we don't hear about too often are the younger ones who refuse to learn and use the older technologies like maps, books, signs, etc. I guess we just lump them all together and call them SCs.

Heh, not only can I read a road map, Mom made damn sure I knew how to read a contour map and apply it to the area we were in at the time. Came in handy when, five minutes after the lesson (which was conducted with the maps spread out on rocks on top of a mountain), our scout troop realized we'd wandered off the trail while discussing the maps... I learned all kinds of awesome things from Mom in Scouts that she'd learned from HER mother in Scouts.

GPSes actually bug me, because a lot of people who are otherwise perfectly capable of navigating suddenly have no idea how to get anywhere without one. I DO find them useful for navigating a strange city, because I can follow directions without worrying about holding up traffic while peering at street signs. On my last trip, it stunned my husband when I cobbled together a route for a 12-hour drive from Mapquest and Google Maps and wrote it down without even bothering to print out the turn-by-turn maps, and declined to borrow the GPS.

Finally, when it comes to old people and computers...my grandfather can kick me around when it comes to programming. I don't know if he's kept up with computer languages since he's retired, but I can't program at all, so he wins there. Both my parents use computers extensively at work, and choose not to at home rather than don't know how to. My FIL, though, sees no reason for computers to exist and only owns one because my MIL, a teacher, needs it for work. My MIL has learned e-mail, and has some concept of the very basics of Word and Powerpoint, but demands one of her sons come over to format every single paper she writes or slideshow she prepares.