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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To find people who refuse to embrace technology irritating?

378 replies

Sophiehoney · 08/06/2026 16:37

I don't mean people who genuinely struggle

I am irritated with people who absolutely refuse to even try.
I am sure a lot of the time they do it on purpose. They use the whole "I don't do technology" thing as a personality trait, to be quirky and "not like all you young people" when simply being a bit older is not a reason in itself, as Mumsnet proves!!

People at my work are moaning like hell because the system of filling in patients notes at the end of the shift in a book with a pen has been replaced by handheld devices (basically phones) that are more secure and can be completed on the go. They are so simple but some people are refusing to learn so others are filling their notes in for them.

A lady at the doctor's today point blank refused to even try to sign herself in on the machine. It was literally just a case of pressing a button and then filling in a form with her name and DOB using a keyboard. She declared proudly "I'm not doing this, I don't do technology, I don't even have a mobile phone!" And made he poor stressed receptionist with a line of people waiting come out and do it for her.

My mum will pop round a million times a week with "something she needs me to on her iPad" and it's usually just something trivial like reading an email and sending a one line reply that I know she is capable of. I've stated getting my 13 year old to do and she pays him £1 every time so every cloud 🤷

But these people do irritate me when they expect others to pick up their slack by refusing to try.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Noshadowsinthedarkness · 08/06/2026 16:49

I actually think people should have the option at the Drs and I say that as someone who always uses the screen. There are lots of reasons someone might be hesitant to use it that you can’t see.

The work example is daft and like it or lump it, it’s part of work life now!

ThejoyofNC · 08/06/2026 16:47

The woman in your GP example was just being pathetic.

My GP moved to an online system which works so, so much better than queuing on the phone at 8am. They had an unbelievable amount of pushback with perfectly capable people, flat out refusing to even try it.

Wishmyhousewasbigger · 08/06/2026 16:42

I'm 78 and Ive been using tech fo years, as has DH, 88. We both struggle with some aspects, but manage quite well on the whole, apart from printers which are the work of the devil! I don't have much patience with people like your colleague.