To think its unusual for someone middle aged to have no mobile & no home internet

[JedRambosteen]

Someone I know professionally who is in a senior role, so not an income issue. I'm trying to work out if he's a raging Luddite or a wrong 'un. It's the only two explanations I can come up with. For context, we are in an urban area with excellent mobile phone coverage and lots of broadband options. Basically, the scenario does not compute. Why would anyone be so unconnected in this day and age?

Because they don't want to contacted by the world selling them shit and receiving spam all the time?

Surely if you want to get in touch with them you could call their home phone or go round?

Sounds like a classy person to me.

Perhaps because they want to be? Why is there an imperative to be connected at all times? We hired a holiday cottage in a small village in Devon in June with no mobile reception at all. The world didn't end.

There are continual raised eyebrows at our small TV. I don't want a massive flat screen dominating my wall.....and I read and sew more than I watch TV anyway.

connected to what though? strangers on chat pages? News he could read in a paper? Online shopping when he could actually just go out & shop?

People waste hours online adding no value to their life when they could be out in the real world.

I have a friend who actually works in an IT based role but refused to use a mobile or internet at home - he believes in old fashioned communication.

Having spent two hours in tears today over an IT problem at work I think I agree with him .

There is a life beyond social media (and yes I know I am using Mumsnet ).

Presumably this professional person has internet access and a work mobile so feels he is connected enough? Maybe he just doesn't want to be bothered by non-essential calls and spam emails when he is at home? Maybe he is lying to you because you are one of the people he is trying to avoid?!

It is unusual but each to their own I suppose.

What's classed as middle aged? Being youngish I have grown up with the internet but if I hadn't maybe I wouldn't be so bothered.

GFIL doesn't have Internet or a computer and he only turns his mobile phone on if he wants to call someone.

I guess our life is different, in that our evenings & weekends are rammed with kids parties, family stuff etc and I couldn't cope without online food, clothes & gift shopping - plus catching up on news & telly as and when. I suppose its easier to make time to shop in the real world & similar if you have fewer demands on your time. We only grocery shop in actual shops when we are on holiday these days.

Depends how you choose to spend your time - we all have 24 hours in the day - are you really doing 'family stuff' all the time - personally I love to escape the family by going shopping, I actually find drifting around a supermarket quite relaxing . I very rarely buy anything on line.

It's possible to shop in actual real life shops very occasionally, you know . It doesn't have to consume your every waking moment.
Maybe he shops monthly and has a large freezer?
All your stated reasons for the necessity of being "connected" are ridiculously puerile.

I am 41, we have had internet for years but I only got a mobile a couple of years ago and to be honest I still struggle with the mobile aspect of it- the phone is more likely to be on the side in the kitchen than wherever I am. My view was always that if I am at home I am free to talk, if I'm out I'm probably busy and not free to talk! I have only been persuaded to have one because dd is getting older and more independent and might need to get in touch with me.

This is my husbands dream.

I won't be telling him about this, I don't want him to get any ideas.

But seriously, I think it's actually quite cool (for other people, mind, I wouldn't want to live without the internet).

We might all have to though, when the zombie apocalypse hits.....

Their choice and not weird at all. Not really any reason to query it.

Thinking back, I only got a decent mobile when I went back to work after mat leave, as I needed to be contactable for nursery. Up til then I was on PAYG with a crap old Erikson that only stored 10 numbers. I was a late convert.

By the way, I'm loving all the bosom-hoisting in AIBU.

What age is middle age?

I am one of the few people left in the world who doesn't have a smart phone. It is wonderful.

I do hope where have the Internet at home :)

However that should have said!

Late 40s to early 50s?

I don't even know if my mobile is a smart phone or not? How do you know - obviously I am not smart enough. .

Does that constitute bosom hoisting? Even more .

I'm clearly over the hill as good as dead in my late 50s.

Can you access the internet on your phone, Ragwort? If yes = smartphone. If not = thickphone.

I'm 43 and only have a thickphone although I do have internet access at home and and work. However, my idea of a good weekend is to head off in our campervan with a good book. Maybe have the radio on a little. No screens, no hassle, just relax. Lovely.

I do find it odd. Regardless of the professional contrarians of AIBU, I find the Internet pretty much irreplaceable. My DPILs don't have it and whenever they come down there's always a list of things for me to do for them online.

This week online I've ordered food, set up a wishlist for my DD's birthday with Amazon to make it easier for my elderly parents to buy her a present, booked cinema tickets, researched birthday party venues, ordered parking permits, bought insurance, checked swimming timetables, worked out which branch of the library has the book I want to read, downloaded The Periodic Table, Sweeney Todd and Blithe Spirirt to listen to on my commute, triaged my work emails, and done a shedload of admin for a local charity. Much of it could have been done on foot or by phone but by no means all and it would have taken a long time.

I use the internet for a lot of things but don't have a TV. This makes us very odd according to many people I know!

Totally get that, witsender - I have an ancient 'large backed' telly which attracts mirth but I never have it on. I'd rather read or be online.