to think that if a man said"I can't drive on motorways" or"I never answer the door if I'm home alone" or "I don' t know where the trip switch is" or "I can't update the operating system on my computer

[seeker]

... or any other basic life skill people would point and laugh?

So why doesn't the same apply to women? Why are women still expected and encouraged to being pathetic, and applauded when they are?

And why are women who aren't often regarded with suspicion?

Unfamiliarity with computers is more likely to be tied to poverty than to age, I agree.

I was disagreeing with a specific statement: "Someone now 55 has been using computers for the majority of their working life."

When people get to over 50+ they will realise that over 50's are quite capable of using a computer, can run marathons, run the country, enrol at university, climb mountains etc etc etc-not only can- but do!
I am over 50 and go running several times a week-I bet there is many a 20ish yr old on here who couldn't get beyond the end of their road without being out of breath!
I open the door alone-how can you possibily avoid it? I hate driving on the motorway-don't mind who knows-but I do it. There is often no alternative. I know where the trip switch is and if DH has a computer problem he asks me-mainly because I have the patience to fiddle around with it.
I think it is just as bad to use age as a cop out as being a woman. (and 50+ isn't old!! You can't use the age card until at least 80 and, as long as I have my health and full faculties, I am determined not to do it then).

Someone now 55 has been using computers for the majority of their working life."

They won't-but they will for a very significant part.

I don't answer the door when I'm home alone.

I have an anxiety disorder.

So shoot me.

Are you putting me in the box of saying "people over 50 are old and can't do stuff"? Because I'm not saying that and I don't think it.

I can see how people 10 years or 20 years younger than me are growing up in a very different world technology-wise, and someone 10 or 20 or 30 years older also will have had different experiences and will think of some things that I regard as normal as being "new". (hence the Douglas Adams quote)

Also about the vast majority of older people (50+) that I know cant even turn a computer on or send a text message there is no way they could update an operating system!

I was referring to this. I suppose it did have older rather than old but a 40yr old is older to a 20yr old and a 20 yr old is older to a 14yrs old-it all depends on your starting point.
There are many 80yr+ people who use the computer.(especially if they have DCs abroad) Someone of 50 who won't use it is missing out-they increasingly need it for everyday life, applying for jobs, times of trains etc etc.

OP, what about when men say things like "I have no idea where the washing machine is" or "I can't even boil an egg"?

There might be a few (equally unevolved) men who would applaud him - but the majority would surely just encourage him to learn.

Which is what I would do in response to a woman saying she couldn't do something.

Yes but can you stuff a poof? That is a time honoured skill that everyone should know about.

I probably could. Depends where.

Trillian. OK. Amongst the computer using and owning community, those who are 50 have been using one for the majority of their working lives.

Obviously, the Over 50s artists, bakewell cherry placers etc might NOT have done, but then, as you say, neither will the UNDER 50s in those jobs.

You made the defining line one of age. I challeneged you definition of age being a factor for over 50s not using a computer.

Im not saying all over 50s are incapable of doing anything. My mum is late 50s but easily pass for late 30s/early 40s, she has always had a good job as has my dad. My mum does most things you wrote on that list exotic its just technology is irrelevant to her. I dont for one minute think 50 year olds would get scared of opening the door my nan is in her 90s and wouldnt be scared of doing that! I have never met any man or woman who was scared of opening a door tbh.

My dad can vaguely do computers but my mum couldnt turn one on (nurse). I know loads of their friends who make decent money who dont either. It wasnt a big thing in the past like it is now.

I feel I would physically die without my netbook, social networking, my mobile etc. I have it with me constantly and my parents and their friends dont get it as they have never seen the need for it I suppose. I just havent ever known anything different since I was at school. I would say internet is more essential than driving for me personally, its probably one below food Driving for me is irrelevant as I have no need for it, and have never need it or seen a point to it. Thats how some older people feel about technology from when they were children.

it's really very easy to live life without opening your front door to univited and unexpected people knocking on it

I also quite often don't answer the phone, just cos I'm an antisocial sod!

I would have thought only a man could stuff a poof.

Yeah I ignore people at the door but I have never been scared of opening it. My nan is in her 90s and still walks round at night in the dark, sometimes midnght or later. Same as I walk home on my own in hot pants/mini skirts in dark at 3/4 in the morning and that wouldnt scare me.

hmmmmm ilovedora27

sounds like you have lived quite an uneventful life tbh

FFS. Fed up of this now. I didn't make a defining line - someone else said that

"Someone now 55 has been using computers for the majority of their working life."

I think this is not true because:
1 - "most of their working life" encompasses a lot of time when computers were rare
2 - plenty of people even now don't use computers in their jobs

you are right trillianastra

merci - what cause the 50 year olds I personally know dont use computers?

I am disagreeing with one statement - and somehow I am apparently prejudiced against the over-50s or calling them old or something.

All I am saying is that computers are quite new.

If you are 50 and have been working since you were 20, then half of that happened before 1996. On average, most of your working life will not have included computers because most jobs did not involve computers at that time.

Anyway, stuffing a pouffe is all very well but can you give a pouffe to your neighbour after it has been shat on and have them say "how lovely, thank you"? :o

That is what I mean trillian. Computers have not been a big thing for many older people so they might not see the point as they coped for years without them. Its not essential to be able to use computers just as it isnt essential to drive on the motorway or whatever.

sorry ilovedora27 no I meant your life sounds quite uneventful cos you're not nervous of walking home alone at 3 in the morning or answering your door to strangers when alone. some of us have led more eventful lives that have taught us that caution is sometimes wiser than regret. nothing wrong with having led a charmed and innocent life, sounds quite nice.

So an "eventful life" is the equivalent of "may you live in interesting times"?

oh while we're still sparring over the computer thing, I work with loads of 20 somethings who are utterly inept at using computers - how they managed that I would love to know!

yeah, sounds better than ''shit with loads of bad stuff happening that's made you dead cynical about the whole world'' dontcha think?

always the optimist