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AIBU?

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Original poster

older adults and technology

151 replies

perditaplum · 18/12/2020 17:45

What it is about older adults and technology? When do they change from being able to use technology like setting things up, playing games on things like the playstation and so on to it all being incomprehensible to them and asking younger people to do it for them ? They were younger people once and got asked to do it by older adults then!

OP posts:
ProbablyFault · 18/12/2020 17:52

I think it's round about now for me. I can't quite be bothered learning how to use the Switch, so I just get DS to do it for me on the rare occasions that I play it. It's sheer laziness 😳.

Motnight · 18/12/2020 17:52

Oh goody another ageist thread.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 18/12/2020 17:56

I feel your pain. I made the mistake of recommending Uber Eats to my parents... I spent more time on the phone when they were trying to order than most customer service teams do.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 18/12/2020 17:56

Oh goody another ageist thread.

🙄🙄🙄

Nottherealslimshady · 18/12/2020 17:58

I think it's when their children are old enough to know more than them and they just give up trying. My mum is a year older than my husband. My husband is great with tech. My mum is like HIS parents, who are 30 years older than her. Only relevant connection is adult children.

PetertheWalrus · 18/12/2020 17:59

As a 60-something year old it's because we can't be arsed to figure out how to work new stuff. Life's too short.

SnuggyBuggy · 18/12/2020 17:59

In my experience it correlates with whether they have younger relatives living locally who can come round and solve their problems. My late DGF lived over 100 miles away and just had to get on with it when it came to things like tech. On the other end of the scale I know people with parents who won't even try to do things themselves but immediately summon their kids over.

Leaannb · 18/12/2020 18:01

Tech changes too fast for them to catch up

CounsellorTroi · 18/12/2020 18:02

I'll be 60 next year. I am quite proficient on my laptop and enjoy using my VR headset. Not bad for an old person.

speakout · 18/12/2020 18:03

As an oldie I agree- I can;t be arsed.

I run an online business, have built a website, can easily deal with setting up paypal and gmail etc.
Ask me to set up my mobile phone- I would rather learn my 17 times table.

My DD actively enjoys doing stuff like setting up a mobile phone-

that would give me the same pleasure as cleaning my oven.

speakout · 18/12/2020 18:05

Tech changes too fast for them to catch up

Yeah, because we are really thick.

Samcro · 18/12/2020 18:07

Thats why you have kids. Its only in covid times i have set up thigs like a new i phone, before that ds would just come and do it.

Nanny0gg · 18/12/2020 18:07

@Leaannb

Tech changes too fast for them to catch up
That is such offensive bollocks.

I am more than capable of sorting out and installing the tech in my house! More so than my kids.

Nanny0gg · 18/12/2020 18:08

@PetertheWalrus

As a 60-something year old it's because we can't be arsed to figure out how to work new stuff. Life's too short.
Hope you're being ironic
Original poster
perditaplum · 18/12/2020 18:09

@Motnight

Oh goody another ageist thread.
I'm an older adult too...so not ageist, just what I see around me with people my age - including myself. I used new technology all the time when I was younger but so people my age just say it's too complicated. I remember my parents doing it when I was a teen and now I oftenoccasionally find myself doing it.
OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 18/12/2020 18:10

God, I'm sick of threads like this.

Change older to 'blonde' can we? That offensive at all?

Leaannb · 18/12/2020 18:10

@speakout

Tech changes too fast for them to catch up

Yeah, because we are really thick.

No we aren't really thick. It's just life. Like another poster said she can run her online business, build a web page etc...but setting up her mobile phone settings is beyond her...I can do all that but I jave no earthly idea on how to turn on our TV system in the media room. No freaking clue and always messed it up when turning it on for my daughter. Good thing I don't like watching TV or that would be really annoying and even better that she can now manage it herself. There were several phone calls to the UK so my son could walk me through it until she got there
Shinyletsbebadguys · 18/12/2020 18:10

I don't think it's the case in all older people . My DF was in IT at a high level for a very long time (from remembering the days of punched card computers to literally designing high end operating systems ) and he has recently bought himself a raspberry pi for a fun diversion as although hes a complex programmer the Pi's weren't around so he wants to see what's what.

However my DM has been odd. She was perfectly fine with all kinds if technology's and then randomly decided she was too old (her words not mine) and suddenly started exhibiting this almost affected learned helplessness. She apparently suddenly could not work you tube or order anything online
She practically became a stereotype.

Absolutely no indication of dementia , she had been to a memory clinic for a variety of reasons (quite frankly hypochondria for one). We are extremely well placed to identify likely dementia. Not that.

We ensured she was tested for UTI and diabetes. Nope nothing

She honestly seemed to decide one day it was required over the age of 65 to be crap at technology.

It was somewhat muted when we realised it was affected when dsis and I jointly refused to buy into it and pointed out she wouldn't be able to see as many pictures of GC. Amazingly she suddenly decided she could after all figure out (things she had been doing for years).

So who knows , I was surprised at dm suddenly becoming unable to use technology but maybe there is something generational about it being not for them? Who knows ,it certainly was not ability in any way. I guarantee my DF can out switch anyone younger in ability.

Leaannb · 18/12/2020 18:13

@NannyOgg...Not offensive bbollucks but anecdotal proof by myself and others on this thread. As people get older many are unable to keep up with all the technological advances. Its life.....

Original poster
perditaplum · 18/12/2020 18:15

@Leaannb

Tech changes too fast for them to catch up
I don't think it does TBH, there is plenty of new technology that I use often. I wonder if it's not the technology but a general can't be bothered with it or maybe the advantages aren't enough to be bothered with it. I could learn the cello if I could be bothered but I can't - maybe it's the same with some technology?
OP posts:
speakout · 18/12/2020 18:15

Leaannb

I didn't say setting up a mobile phone was "beyond me", it's just that I find it seriously boring.
And when I have an enthusiastic 20 year old super eager to to it for me, then I am happy for the offer.
I have no doubt that if no help was available I could set up my phone.
As I said I have build a web site, work all day on line, still doesn't float my boat but the motivation for that is ££££££.

TicTacTwo · 18/12/2020 18:16

I'm 43 and can cope fine but I sometimes pretend I'm clueless as an excuse to get my teen son to spend time with me Grin

bilbodog · 18/12/2020 18:17

You seem to be assuming people over 60 were able to do these things when they were young? Most current technology has only been around for 15-20 years so i was early 40s then. When i started working again early 2000s i only had a very basic mobile phone, no internet, google was just starting. Ive managed to keep up fairly well with technology because ive been working in offices and my DH always worked in IT so weve always had a computer/laptop at home. I have friends who have never worked with computers at all and struggle to use phones and internet now as they never had any reason to use things like this. My kids had playstations and nintendos but i wouldn't know how to work one as ive never used one.

WitsEnding · 18/12/2020 18:18

I’m an oldie and a techie. I set up my own stuff as required but ... actually a lot of it is not required by me. I’m not buying into the Internet of Things, and if the DC ever want me to have a Ring doorbell or similar I’ll be playing dumb rather than let them monitor it.

We make time for the things we want to do.

Inextremis · 18/12/2020 18:18

I'm a 61 yr old gamer who happily uses Discord to communicate whilst playing The Elder Scrolls online. I'm a bit of a whizz with Photoshop and Lightroom too. If there's something I'm interested in, I'm quite capable of learning how to do/use it. That's why I've never got to grips with Twitter :)