Community Chat

[RedTop]

I totally get it; heard this same outlook from my 80 year old Mom last year. Best wishes to you Ford.

[Catitude]

There are many ways to keep young and just because someone isn't on Twitter or sporting the latest iPhone, doesn't mean they are going to dry up and wither away.

Exercising your mind through reading, doing crosswords, physical exercise, social activities is beneficial as well. You can still have a pre-paid cellphone from the drugstore with no bells and whistles and be current. There's so much more to being modern than having a fast computer and a twitter account.

And I don't believe the story about the two 100 yr. old being thoroughly savvy with all the new technology.

[Catitude]

I also wanted to add that many younger people who think they are so current because they are up on the latest tech stuff, have no idea about current events, or who is running for political office, or what the Dow did today, and have very little knowledge of the world around them. Not saying all but I believe if one had to poll the many people on line at the apple store on the day the new iPhone was released, probably several could barely carry on an intelligent and worldly conversation. They may know what songs are in the top 10, and will tell you who the hottest stars are in Hollywood or they are keeping up with the Kardashians (you can tell just by reading the lame comments on Facebook written on Kimye's page) I am sure they are not well rounded or all that current otherwise.

[hckynut]

On 11/3/2014 Ford1224 said:

I'm at that point. After some discussions in the Electronics forum and elsewhere, I have realized that at my advanced age of 76 . . . I just don't want to change anymore. I want to be comfortable and not challenged by foolish new inventions that mean nothing to me. That doesn't mean I have decided to be dumb and backward, there are some new things in 2014 that I like. But if I don't like something, I am not going to go crazy trying to "keep up."

All of my life I have loved challenge. The computer age was fascinating to me, I loved learning all of it and making it my profession since 1980 to when I retired in 2004. But I am done with that now. I need "familiar" and less stress in my life. I want to enjoy what I know. I want peace more than anything in every way. Just let me be.

I mean this in all ways . . . this world has gotten beyond me now. I have realized that and I welcome it. I never thought I would live to say this, but for some reason I have and I'm surprised at myself, but I accept it.

I have fought many battles, but I am done with that now. I feel like a worn out soldier.

Hi Ford1224,

E.T.A. Forgot to say that I am 75 years old.

While I certainly understand what you have said here, I happen to be one that loves the new technologies(except for those ridiculous things called cell phones). Has been among my top interests before I was even old enough to drive.

Realizing there are some things(like not being able to talk with real people when calling a business)that are pretty much forced on us, most of these technologies are what I see as "optional" to those that want to take a swing at them.

Even though this is one of my top interests, I have never felt I "needed to keep up with it or anything else". I picked what I wanted when it came to technologies, especially in the audio/video world. The only reason I even got our first computer was because my wife wante one.

I didn't even use it other than to print the stats of my hockey league, and that was after my wife showed me a 100 times how to do this simple task. What got me going on computers was this.

Raced cars for many years and that was also one of my top personal interests. My type of racing was the 1320' type called Drag Racing. Loved to watch stock cars and went to many of those races after being at a Drag Strip all day in the hot sun. Then off to work for my Midnight to 8am job.

Anyways, back to the computer. I read where a computer game called "Nascar 1" was out and it was on the old floppy disc format. I bought the game and then I sat down on the computer to learn how to install it and race with it. This was over a period of months, not days, and I am talking all night at times. I had since retired by this time so time was pretty open for me to learn my new toy.

The game was complicated as was using a computer that then used the DOS system. I torn things apart/reinstalled the operating system enough times to almost be able to do it with my eyes closed. Each day I learned more and more, some with the help of people online that also loved this racing game. It got to the point where I was helping others learn this game with such things as "adding new race tracks/putting special car numbers/how to change the calendar to different Nascar Race Tracks.

Anyways the Racing online sites took a vote asking those that visited these websites who they thought was the most helpful to them to learn this "Racing Simulating Game", and up came the name "hckynut". I was named the "Man of the Year" by those from many websites for taking all the hours I did, both online and via e-mail to help them figure out this game. I realized the work it took me to learn most of it by my lonesome and I wanted to "pay it forward" as not too many during those times wanted to spend hours helping "rookie racers".

I even had 1 fellow racer call me from Georgia so could explain how to set up his computer and add things to the newer "Nascar Racing Simulator Games", which now were on CD's, no longer a floppy disc.

On my last job before retiring I was pretty much forced to take this job as the one I had previously was eliminated. The company gave us that held those jobs little choice as to what jobs we had to take. At that point I knew I was going to retire as soon as I had 33 years with the company.

Some of my friends would stop by and ask "you learning anything new"? My response was always "with this job I am happy if I remember what I knew yesterday". Needless to say, I hated this job and because I had more seniority with the company, my co-workers were not the least bit interested in making it easier to learn a complicated/computerized job any easier for me than was necessary for them.

Then the company offered a "buyout" and I couldn't get out of there quick enough.

Now Ford1224, you just knew I was going to tell you story didn't you? Always remember, if I can help you with anything electronic or anything concerning health or fitness issues? I have several doctors that I can ask and will always try to get you an answer from them.

Take care now and this is really:

THE END

[RainCityGirl]

On 11/3/2014 Ford1224 said:

On 11/3/2014 RainCityGirl said:

You know, Ford, I had no idea you are 76. You appear to be a modern thinker in many ways and certainly youthful. However, at your age, you've earned the privilege of accepting or rejecting the world as it now exists. My dad was an innovative, inquisitive, lifelong learner. In his 70's he was teaching himself two different computer programming languages and was an avid member of H.A.M. radio with contacts all over the world. However, he got to the point where many things in the world no longer made sense to him, and he would get so disgruntled and upset over it. He died in 1995, long before 9/11, Monica Lewinsky, the Iraq/Afghanistan debacles, social media, multiple school shootings, etc. Thank God, he didn't have to witness those and many others. He would have been devastated.

My mom died at 49 from smoking. However, she was brilliant until she got sick. She predicted a lot of what's going on now (not the technology, but the social issues). She was an avid reader of history and saw it repeating itself in the future . . . as it is doing.

In some ways, your dad was lucky, wasn't he? I don't feel quite that way about my mom, because she was so young and should have had decades of life ahead of her. We didn't know that much about smoking until the 60s, and she died in 1967 while it was still being debated and denied by the tobacco companies.

Yes, in some ways he was lucky, though he saw two world wars, plus "conflicts" that killed off many of our citizens as well. I sure do wish I could talk to him, though, about the state of the universe now. I guess each generation has the same experiences in a lifetime of events. It's part of that circle of life, but you have to wonder if anybody in this world will ever know complete peace, both personally and nationally.

[Lynnj]

Our local TV station in Seattle had a town hall with teens and their parents from all over the area last night. The purpose was to talk and help understand kids, given the recent shooting and deaths at the area HS last week. I found it interesting when the kids spoke, pleading with their parents to understand technology and use it in the way that they do. Kids felt totally disconnected with their parents, and felt as though their parents couldn't communicate with them in they way that they communicate - using technology as the form of communication. Fact is, we are in a technology era. People born in the last 20 years know no other way of life. The risk in making a decision to stop learning to use new technology enhancements is that you are also making a decision to cut yourself out of life and interactions with others who do not remain at that same level with you.

[Lynnj]

On 11/3/2014 SmittenKitten said:

I also wanted to add that many younger people who think they are so current because they are up on the latest tech stuff, have no idea about current events, or who is running for political office, or what the Dow did today, and have very little knowledge of the world around them. Not saying all but I believe if one had to poll the many people on line at the apple store on the day the new iPhone was released, probably several could barely carry on an intelligent and worldly conversation. They may know what songs are in the top 10, and will tell you who the hottest stars are in Hollywood or they are keeping up with the Kardashians (you can tell just by reading the lame comments on Facebook written on Kimye's page) I am sure they are not well rounded or all that current otherwise.

We really have to stop and understand where kids are today, especially given the technology available to them. To understand them, you would also understand that they don't have a need to carry such information in their head. Because of the way technology plays a part in their life, information like this can be looked up online in a matter of seconds. Kids today have the answer to everything right at their fingertips.

[dmod nj]

On 11/3/2014 Lynnj said: Our local TV station in Seattle had a town hall with teens and their parents from all over the area last night. The purpose was to talk and help understand kids, given the recent shooting and deaths at the area HS last week. I found it interesting when the kids spoke, pleading with their parents to understand technology and use it in the way that they do. Kids felt totally disconnected with their parents, and felt as though their parents couldn't communicate with them in they way that they communicate - using technology as the form of communication. Fact is, we are in a technology era. People born in the last 20 years know no other way of life. The risk in making a decision to stop learning to use new technology enhancements is that you are also making a decision to cut yourself out of life and interactions with others who do not remain at that same level with you.

Great points, Lynn.

I learned to text so I could text with my son.

I learned certain things on the computer so I could interact with my son and nieces/nephews.

Someone special taught me how to use phone for some things when my computer was being fixed.

[Lynnj]

On 11/3/2014 Ford1224 said:

On 11/3/2014 colliegirls said:

My friends and I say that we don't like change because as we get older the change is often not for the better!! Technology is good and also very bad. Still having teens, we see the negative side of all the communication. It is a full time job to supervise everything!!

I agree. There is a huge component of "negative" in all of this new technology. I'm watching it in my grandchildren all the time and it's very upsetting. They can be in a room with us for hours and have absolutely nothing to say because their noses are constantly into their phones, they are not even aware we are there. I don't think my girls are being forceful enough with them in monitoring all that phone usage. But it is no longer my business.

Ever try communicating with your grandchildren on their level? Try using technology to communicate with them....I am sure you will see a positive reaction. I know older people get frustrated because all they see is younger generation heads down looking at whatever piece of technology they have. But we really, really need to better understand...this IS what the younger generation uses to communicate and how it is done. They are not purposely ignoring you, or are being distracted with technology. This IS their way of life.

[Lynnj]

On 11/3/2014 dmod nj said:

On 11/3/2014 Lynnj said: Our local TV station in Seattle had a town hall with teens and their parents from all over the area last night. The purpose was to talk and help understand kids, given the recent shooting and deaths at the area HS last week. I found it interesting when the kids spoke, pleading with their parents to understand technology and use it in the way that they do. Kids felt totally disconnected with their parents, and felt as though their parents couldn't communicate with them in they way that they communicate - using technology as the form of communication. Fact is, we are in a technology era. People born in the last 20 years know no other way of life. The risk in making a decision to stop learning to use new technology enhancements is that you are also making a decision to cut yourself out of life and interactions with others who do not remain at that same level with you.

Great points, Lynn.

I learned to text so I could text with my son.

I learned certain things on the computer so I could interact with my son and nieces/nephews.

Someone special taught me how to use phone for some things when my computer was being fixed.

I am sure that you are so glad to have learned how to use the technology, and I know that you use it to keep up with ongoing interaction with you son. I think you and your son have a much closer relationship, and able to stay connected more often because you stepped up to learn to communicate with him and learned how to use the tools that he does for communication. Kudos to you!