To be annoyed that older people can’t just send a text rather than phoning for the slightest thing?

[Waitingforthesunnydays]

I’ll try not to be ageist here but I might fail at that..so I’m sorry if this offends anyone. If you are over 60 do you feel the need to phone people for things like confirming what time you’ll be arriving that day (after already arranging that you’re coming), letting someone know what colours of paint you’ll be getting for a house renovation, asking someone if they want to go to the cinema with you next week? Those were just examples that popped into my head, but I’m finding it increasingly irritating that the 60 something man that is renovating my house will call me for the slightest thing. It seems he doesn’t know how to text at all as he responds to mine by ringing. Same with my parents, but they get a free pass cos they’re my parents. Same with a neighbour in her 60s who I’m quite friendly with. She rang me the other day, a call which I had to take at work, to say she’d taken my bin in for me, which was very nice of her obviously. But a simply text would have done fine. I’m not talking about very elderly people who don’t know how to use technology, I’m talking about people in their 60s/70s who have had iPhones for at least a decade. Is it just habit or is talking on the phone more common amongst older people? I’m early 40s & I personally hate talking on the phone and will text for everything. I find a phone call quite intrusive, I have to be in the mood to talk to someone, whereas if they would just text me they might get an answer to their question! I can send a text back in any mood but I will often ignore a phone call if I’m not in the mood.
Yes I’m sure I’m being at least a bit unreasonable but it would be nice if everyone could just learn how to text/know how to use text messaging properly. It’s really very easy

Mobile phones have ruined people's ability to be sociable. I miss having phone calls with people.
Anyway my dad is 81 and he texts for most things. Can't remember the last time he actually phoned me. My mum was 83 when she died and never really got to grips with texting although I do remember her doing it occasionally.
So yeah most people even over 60s can text but some obviously don't want to. Does it really matter?

Have you told any of these people that you'd prefer them to text rather than phoning?

What a ridiculous generalisation OP.

I'm in my 70s. My whole life I've hated telephone conversations, apart from with one or 2 people who I am close to and feel at ease with.

I use texting and am pleased to be able to use text or email for communication.

Trades people will often call. They can speak to you without needing to stop work or driving and can get a quicker answer. Expecting them to do everything by text is akin to you never speaking to your colleagues and putting everything in email then waiting for their response. Though given your somewhat extreme response to verbal communication perhaps you do that. It's not very efficient though.

I'm 70. My kids are 42 and 38. I speak to each of them three times a week, on average. Guess who initiates that? It's not me.
How does that fit in with your very rigid world view?

No, I think it’s more a case of younger people becoming hyper dependent on new technology/social media/homeworking and direct communication becoming beyond them. I am a bit hone phobic myself but I am trying to fight it as I don’t think it’s a good thing. At this rate it won’t be long before groups of young people are sitting in silence in the pub communicating by what’s app instead of talking to one another.

Yep, you’re being ageist. It’s a personal thing. I communicate via text, my sister however …….

Maybe your painter has literacy issues and prefers to phone to ensure he gets things right. YABU to to assume everyone must communicate the same way. I agree with others that we have lost our ability to communicate verbally. I have seen teenagers having panic attacks because they have to make a phone call is utterly ridiculous. If my kids need a gp/ dental appointment or something I now refuse to do it for them, they need to be able to pick up a phone and have a conversation with the stranger on the other end. I have seen it with young people at work, it is regressive.

I’m in my sixties as are most of my friends. It’s a standing joke that if someone calls, it probably means someone has died.

So no, I don’t recognise your premise at all, it sounds like a massive over generalisation.

I am 70 and loathe texts. I want to hear a voice. Intonation and speech tell you far more than words on a screen. I certainly do NOT want a text from a tradesperson. I want to talk to the beggar before they start spending my money.

If you young people do not like that - tough shit. Snowflakes the lot of you.

I’m over 50 , sometimes I’ll call sometimes I’ll text depending on who it’s is or the urgency of it . I actually don’t understand people who just text and can’t use common sense about when it’s appropriate to use either. Nor do I see the problem with someone calling or texting me unless it’s during working hours and a text is easier to manage /less disruptive. I’m don’t get the rage at all.

Ditto, DCs in 30s, they ring for a chat and I love it. Please note... THEY RING!
And it's not a duty call, they want to speak with this old fossil !

I prefer texts to calls like any other introverted millennial but I would absolutely pick up the phone to a tradesperson and it would be a complete non-issue. Unless it was actually inconvenient for me at that moment in which case I would reply saying so (and apologising).

I'm not above saying I can't pick up right now when I just don't want to. But if someone is doing important work to my house I'm happy for them to take priority.

Often it's all resolved by the fact that I don't notice calls anyway, because my phone is always on silent and usually out of sight. (If I'm expecting a call I will take it off silent.)

People who complain about things that ‘older people’ do, forget that one day, if they’re fortunate, they’ll be the older person and some of the things they do as a matter of course, will be irritating to people who don’t do them so readily.

The only people I see regularly talking on phones these days, are younger.

It may well be a stereotype, but in my experience it’s true. I’m describing my real life experience, not complaining that “all old people can’t text” with no evidence. I’m describing all the people in my life who choose to phone me when a text would be more appropriate (not just in my eyes before I get jumped on..but in situations most people would agree are more appropriate). All these people are over 60, so I’m going to assume it’s an age thing. However we all know what assuming leads to…so that’s why I’m checking whether my assumption is accurate or not by posting it on MN. Seems it’s not so much of an age thing, as many people over 60 say they never call and many younger people say they do. To use your example- if the only people who phoned me rather than texting me were black people and gay people, and all straight white people only texted me then I’d obviously wonder if it was a race or a sexuality thing! That wouldn’t make me racist or homophobic, it would make me a human being observing a trend

Yes, my Gen Z kids call every day. Can’t get them off the phone!

At least if they did text or, ooh, write a lengthy post (and a lengthy reply) on an Internet forum the over 60's would know how to use paragraphs.........

70 year old here...rarely call, generally text as its quicker!

I think for informational stuff - 'Have put your bins out' - texts are great.

But for discussion, conversation, to and fro, Whatsapp's a pain in the arse. Twenty messages on each side, trying to arrange something or clarify something or explain something - and I think, 'Bloody hell, we could have done this in about forty seconds on a phone call.'

Wow that's unpleasant
See I think most people would just wonder why Sally, Dave and Ben phoned them and never text them and wouldn't give a thought to their race or sexuality.

Individuals have preferences

You are obviously talking about all "old people" you still need to have a think if it is your intolerance or not ? I mean someone phoning to ask about paint seems sensible better than a text back and forth.

OP you obviously don't like old people, it's obvious from your biases. Just admit it.
You will be old one day you know...

Your contractor is calling you because, presumably, he needs a reply urgently. If I need something done quickly, I always ring because I don't have time to sit and wait for someone to pick up a message and then decide whether or not they can be bothered to reply.
I also much prefer having a 10 minute call with a friend than spend my evening texting back and forth.
I am in by early 40s and absolutely don't understand how it happened that people became terrified of hearing someone's voice on the telephone.

My parents are both in their 80s. Both call once or twice a week, but they also Whatsapp if there is something minor they want to ask about. Or they share links to newspaper articles they think are interesting, or send photos of something they saw. Not all old people are incapable Luddites!

My manager is terrible for this. Given that I have a job where obtaining phone signal, answering the phone at the drop of a hat, and hearing it over machinery isn't always possible, I would say it's an unreasonable annoyance! WhatsApp messages are much more convenient to get back to when you have a moment and not during lunch, or time off work.

Can I add those companies that pester you during your own working hours to the list, when you can't answer the phone, OP? I wish that they would just send emails instead!