Community Chat

[minkbunny]

You are not alone, Ford. While I use all the technology at work, at home I am quite content to have little bells and whistles. Basic laptop, LG flip phone 14 years old (buy $15 worth of prepaid minutes every 60 days, they keep accumulating as I don't talk on the phone ten minutes a month), listen to my Sony Walkman - FM radio - while I exercise. Don't Facebook or any of the other social media things.

Some enjoy all of this - to me it would be like working 24 hours a day if I had to constantly update or read or add or whatever to some site, text, check my texts, etc. etc. etc. etc.

Give me a hot bubble bath, a good book and a glass of wine. I'm happy.

I think some have to constantly keep up and say they are on top of the latest and greatest so they don't have to feel that they are falling behind, they are old, they are not "with it".

You are more "with it" than you know.

ETA, My husband uses less technology than I do yet I would guarantee that quizzed on the news or events of the day - we both would be more than well informed.

[DoneTryin]

On 11/3/2014 GoodStuff said:

I'm with you dear. My husband bought me a smart phone, and it's all I can manage to make a phone call on the thing. It's smarter than I am. No new gadgets for me.

LOL! Me too!

[bikerbabe]

To be honest, when I felt that what I was clinically depressed. I'm not talking about gadgets but life in general.

[Mominohio]

I fully understand where you are coming from. My mom is 78 and feels (and has for quite some time) the exact same way. And while in my early 50's, I too, have some sense of the same feelings myself.

Especially when it comes to the personal technologies, I just never have gotten on board. I find it ridiculous to try to visit with people who are blipping and beeping and have their nose buried in a i pod, or a phone. People's entire lives are revolving around things that didn't even exist 20 years ago, and I'm both disgusted with it much of the time, and have some sense of pride that I never succumbed to the level of idiocy that much of it has become.

And I do think that for many of us, the older we get, the simpler we want most anything to be, relationships, housework, or life in general. You are so not alone.

[RainCityGirl]

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.

PS: I don't text, carry my cell phone with me at all times, no longer belong to Facebook, and do not skype. I am into IPads and computers where a lot of time is wasted. That's my big vice. I am content to leave it as it is now. I know my way around tech, but some of the new things do not interest me.

[SoX]

On 11/3/2014 VCamp2748 said:

I hear that completely! Over the past 3 years, I've purchased 3 cell phones, each upgraded from the last, because I thought I "should" be texting, using apps, listening to music, & surfing the web on my phone. The fact of the matter is, I really don't want to! I only have a cell phone in the first place because I wanted it in case of an emergency, such as car trouble, or electricity out which disables my landline.

I also started a FB page, because I thought I "should." I don't really know how to use it, & don't really want to, either. At least not right now. Maybe after I retire I'll be willing to spend more time learning how to use it.

Over the past 30 years, I've enjoyed the conveniences of technology, but as of today, I'm sick, sick, sick of email. It's just as bad as junk mail but at least easier to get rid of. The "Delete" key is a wonderful thing.

I think there does come a point when we are entitled to just be comfortable with where we are in life & not worry about trying to keep up with every thing new under the sun.

I just love your post ... and I completely agree with it! (I've never started a FaceBook page, and I just don't want to, either.)

[LilacTree]

On 11/3/2014 tansy said:

How far does dropping out extend, Ford? To following the news as well? i've noticed my husband slowing down on wanting the newest electronic technology over the last few years. Both of us get cranky with our low-key cellphones:/

I still keep up with what's going on. I no longer care about politics as I used to and won't go into why because I don't want to change the tenor of this thread (or be booted off, LOL). I will always have opinions on current events and I may post them sometimes and sometimes not. I'm not going to turn my brain off, I'm just not interested in being the brightest bulb in the box anymore, I guess.

I had an old flip phone for years until last year when it died. My daughter then picked out a new cell phone for me that has a little keyboard on it. All I've ever done on a cell phone is use it for emergencies and text when I have to. I conduct phone conversations on my landline next to my bed, and I write emails when the text is longer than two lines.

I don't own anything that I have to "touch." I have my new (old) computer with Windows 7 on it and am happy as a lark. I hope it lasts forever.

I still have challenges ahead and have to try and preserve my energy for them. They all involve my kids, as usual.

Someone said it might be depression. I don't think so, but I won't argue it.

[dooBdoo]

On 11/3/2014 bikerbabe said: To be honest, when I felt that what I was clinically depressed. I'm not talking about gadgets but life in general.

I wanted to quote your post, bikerbabe, because I think it's important. I resonate with it because I have a problem with severe depression -- and the feeling that I don't want any more change, I don't want to defend my position, I'm tired and just want peace and quiet ... these things sometimes translate into the entrance of another dark, dangerous cavern. I know on these forums it becomes a chore to post because we have to be braced for those who are always ready to attack, to ridicule, to analyze and pick apart every word.

(((Ford))) I hope you're well, and hope you're just feeling the need for a modicum of peace in a fast-paced, turbulent world which seems to be filled with nothing but bad news.

[Bird mama]

Ford I am 52 years old. I married a man 18 years my senior that could not understand why I didn't want an Ipod or a digital camera. He used to look at me like I grew horns or something. I finally cracked and bought a digital camera after he passed only because it was getting too hard to find people who developed 35 mm film. Seriously - they were sending it out to Minnesota for God's sake.

I think I have always been slow about those things. I worked 20 years before I signed up for a checking account - money orders worked for me. I have a cell phone (flip phone) that I suppose I could use for texting, but I'd rather hear someone's voice.

Some things I like to be on the cutting edge of - others, not so much.

[Lion]

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 parents sound like your dad.

They don't like what they see happening and both have said they're glad they won't be around to see things get worse.

Both of them are OK with who they are and aren't afraid to express it. Anyone who doesn't like it? Well....