Why is 21st C life so stressful

Those older granetters who said we are being ridiculous when we said modern life has become more stressful because of technology, I like to know when their broadband, tv and mobile phone goes wrong, who sort it out for them?

The thing with mobile phone numbers is to memorise those of your close contacts by reciting them in your head in a more rhythmic way.
Rather like the more “normal” old phone numbers. Everyone had a “list” in their heads then.
Ditto PIN numbers for banks etc.

I think it probably helped "nudge" the memory enough to turn out the rest of the phone number when one had to start it mentally with the number of the exchange.

But...yep...I can't remember my PIN numbers now - after having had to change my cards because someone I knew turned out to be a thief instead of a friend. It was easy to bin him within a matter of hours once I was quite clear he was a "thief" instead of a "person" iyswim. Easy to ring my bank and tell them to change my cards just-in-case and explain I'd made an error of character judgement. But can I remember my new numbers? Can I heck as like - and I guess it's a mental block of resentment from having had to do that because of him...

I think that's the thing - ie if you resent having to remember something you shouldnt have to remember = then you won't remember it, even if you need to. That's probably at least part of why I can't get on with smartphones or driving a car.....because I don't want to have to use them and want "phones as they were - including coinbox phones" and "good public transport".

There was a very similar thread recently on Mumsnet. As one who hates the dominance of apps I was surprised at how many mumsnetters also hate them (I am assuming the average on there is on the younger side).

I agree with the OP, IT can make life stressful and annoying. I don't think the poster was comparing it to not being a struggle to put food on the table, or parents watching children being evacuated during the war. That was a different emotion to stress and annoyance. Parents seeing their children being evacuated was sad and heart wrenching.

Now a widow, I need to make a new will. The solicitor whom we've always used has a copy of my old one, but I had to certify my identity. (Why?)

This involved downloading an App called Credas.

Then I had to put in a special code which they emailed.
Then photograph my passport on the app
Then take a selfie for the app
Then photograph my driving licence
Then my council tax bill

Each time, it took a minute or two for the app to accept each document.

The whole thing wasn't exactly difficult, but I couldn't see the point, since I have been known to that firm since 1979.

rafichagran

I agree with the OP, IT can make life stressful and annoying. I don't think the poster was comparing it to not being a struggle to put food on the table, or parents watching children being evacuated during the war. That was a different emotion to stress and annoyance. Parents seeing their children being evacuated was sad and heart wrenching.

That's exactly what I meant upthread. Those things in previous generations were far worse than not being able to scan a QR code or fearing your online banking's been hacked (or it actually being hacked). But they're different emotions & ways of coping with them are different.
I agree with OP that 21st century life is stressful for humans.

I really do love what domestic technology does for me making my life so easy and pleasant - but cannot deny that it also causes me so much stress. I only know how to 'work' that technology, not set it up or repair/correct it.

So last Thursday, having one those bad nights, I did what I often do in that circumstance and went into my living room on my recliner/riser chair to watch something boring on tv in order to help me back to bed and sleep. Did not put on my specs so could not read some message which came up on the screen, pressed the remote - and so managed to disconnect my tv from my wi-fi.

Not such a terrible thing, but despite trying then a couple of times, and the following day on several occasions, just could not get it to accept my email address and wi-fi password to re-set it. Still no idea why!!! Just technology having a go at me!!!

Okay, I was not going to go hungry, or get made homeless, but my nice, cosy world was undermined. I love tv - particularly in the evenings, when I settle down, in nightie and dressing gown, with my knitting and watch streamed programmes of my choice (never what is actually on life tv). And that niggling worry, that if I cannot get it to re=-join my wi-fi something major wrong. It DID stress me out much more than seems reasonable.

Of course, later in afternoon, son-in-law popped in, did exactly what I had been doing - and it immediately responded to him correctly and all sorted.

I was told off for getting so stressed over such a minor problem - all very well for them to say to me - but does not stop it happening.

In my younger days with a large number of children, and a severely disabled hubbie, I did have serious concerns daily about paying bills and providing enough good food, etc. etc.- concerns about losing out house, as well as the oft repeated hopitalisation of my hubbie. - so I really do know what those sort of horrible stresses are like.

I am fortunate that life is good for me now and all those children, grown up and doing well - I am not trying to compare my stress with not being able to use my living room tv to hiding from the milkman, etc. but stress it is just the same.

I have managed, quite easily, to stay off temu. But my DiL, who I love and trust, uses it so I tried to just take a peek to see what they have.
Ha! I can't get in without a pin, but as I've never used it before what pin did they mean?
I tried a few different pins, then just random stuff.
Finally, I just gave up!
I've since found out what pin they wanted, not that I can recall it now, but I ultimately decided to leave it as I wasn't happy with them wanting a pin!!

My phone is one mass of different apps, half of which I don’t use so I decided to clear some of them - trouble is I don’t want to remove anything important and it is not always clear what they actually do or lead to. I have shopped with Temu for a while now and most of the stuff is pretty good but you need to be careful. It is cheaper than Amazon and delivers very quickly for free. They give free gifts which are quite good,too.