Why do some people refuse to go online?

I think a lot of older people very suspicious of being online. One friend I know says the only thing she does online is hang the washing out!

I have a friend like this who does use the internet but refuses to buy things online. She sometimes phones placed and gives them her bank card details over the phone but mostly I am her personal online shopper. I’ve tried often to tell her she could do it if she wanted to.

Actually I don’t really mind as it’s easy enough if the company takes PayPal but I’m not willing to set up accounts and put my card details in if they don’t.

She always repays me and this can involve going to the next town into the one remaining bank and doing a transfer there.

There is a lot of stubborn pride in some people about using the internet. Some people, like me, are not as good as others, eg it was enormously stressful trying to get into Google Homework for an on-line course I am doing, but not a lot of choice if I wanted to participate. We are excluding ourselves from modern life if we don't get on board.
We ain't however seen nothing yet!: Wait until A I truly takes off!

First reason I can think of is security against fraud.
Then there's hundreds of adverts often targeting your interests. Try talking about holidays with a mobile phone in earshot.
Also Internet can be quite addictive and a time waster.
I use it all the time on my phone but don't have mobile banking as I don't trust it. Banking is on my home laptop only.

RosieandherMaw

Frenchgalinspain

I do not know anyone (ALL ages ) who does not have a cell mobile phone or a Facebook Page.

I on the other hand know LOTS of people without a Facebook page!
Fact is, many of the young no longer use it, deeming it more for old biddies while they prefer Snapchat, Instagram etc

That's just a snapshot of the current situation. Sites come and go over time. Soon Snapchat, Instagram and FB's time will have passed.
If young people want to be ageist about it, let them! Remember Napster or Friends Reunited! All things must pass!

I have a friend who was scammed and that was it. He won't have anything to do with a smart phone or a computer.

I have just found the benefit of using Google Wallet for tickets, loyalty cards, flight passes etc. Very easy to locate on your homepage.

I can’t help noticing that the people who are protesting that relying on others to do Internet stuff like is not at all the same as relying on others to do the driving are
- well-
the people who rely other people to do the driving 😬

Frenchgalinspain

I do not know anyone (ALL ages ) who does not have a cell mobile phone or a Facebook Page.

I on the other hand know LOTS of people without a Facebook page!
Fact is, many of the young no longer use it, deeming it more for old biddies while they prefer Snapchat, Instagram etc

The internet is a wonderful invention. However it doesn’t come with a book of instructions! You have either:
1.Go to a class at your nearest technical college and learn OR
2. Have a younger family member who will teach you.
I was lucky enough to have the latter. I was very reluctant twenty years ago but my son was very patient and I learned gradually by writing down every step!
I’m able to do everything I need but still get annoyed by having to reset passwords etc to make a simple purchase. Quite often I just ring the store and get it done in minutes!!!

I usually print out theatre tickets on paper - much easier to show than fiddling with a phone. Same for boarding cards. I find ones on the phone don't always read well at automatic gates. Thats OK at home but travelling with no printer can be a pain.

BlueBelle

Lathyrus don’t use such generalisations I’ve never had a car never driven but I ve never expected lifts, I walk, I bus, I use the train, if someone offers a lift I ll accept but never ever have I presumed or expected that I wouldn’t find my own way

Me too, Bluebelle.

I don't drive, but I don't expect to be given lifts - except occasionally by my husband, but only if he offers. There are reasons why some people don't drive. I will happily use public transport whenever possible.

What about husbands who are on line and still say regularly ‘what’s the doctors number etc?) - Look it up …..grrrrr(sorry bit grumpy today)

I find it very difficult. Sometimes I weep in frustration and despair. It is a temptation to ask somebody else to do things for you. But I know I must try. It is hateful to have to ask and comfortable to be independent. As I become older I find it more difficult to learn new things. And I forget things I once knew. And things are constantly changing. A thing I find difficult is having labels on my phone to show at the PO. And having tickets on my phone to show at events..I lose them and panic. But one needs to be able to do this now. Once I make a mistake trying to learn to do something, I find it very difficult to rectify. I have a new i-pad and trying to download zoom, I seem to have downloaded some sort of zoom office ap which I keep getting directed into and which is no use to me. I did try to delete it. But no. I can still get into my simple zoom meetings as an attender, not a host, but with a lot of effort. I remember how impatient I was towards older people who couldn't cope with decimal coinage when I was a teenager. Now I feel sympathy.
.

friendlygingercat

*It’s a bit like people who don’t drive and expect you to give lifts instead of using a cab*

There are valid health reasns why people may not drive. They may have poor eyesight or cognitive problems. In my case I have experienced intermittent panic attacks all my life. To the best of my knowledge no one had ever killed anyone through careless use of a computer or smart phone but you can do a lot of damage in a car if you panic.

I totally agree. Many car drivers are somewhat arrogant in their attitudes to those of us who do not drive for whatever reasons.

I do not know anyone (ALL ages ) who does not have a cell mobile phone or a Facebook Page.

Cabbie21

I must admit that I hate car parks which force you to use an app to pay. So many stories of no signal, errors made etc. I am happy to pay by contactless card. I know all systems are open to abuse, fraud etc, but there should still be choice.

Re train tickets, on one occasion I could not locate the actual ticket on my phone. Fortunately the ticket checker accepted my email receipt. Thereafter I made sure to print them out.
This summer I made several journey by train, storing tickets in my Apple wallet. Couldn’t have been easier.
For most things I do prefer to do my preparation at home rather than needing to get my phone out too often when out and about on the street.
I always do my online banking on my laptop as I find it easier.
I used to produce a weekly newssheet online, but have never mastered spreadsheets.
I just wish I could stop avoiding necessary chores by wasting time online!

It actually makes life more complicated sometimes, rather than just handing over the cash and getting a proper ticket in return.

My hubby left nursing just as computers were becoming a thing. He started his own small business but apart from a brick of a mobile never used technology to run it. He still does not use technology, and asks me to check, buy, research things for him. It can be annoying but I don't mind. He's happy to organise things like insurance and hospital appointments by telephone, he just can't get his head around the Internet.

silverlining mine stays with me in a pocket, very useful 18 months ago when I slipped on our slimy patio tearing a ligament.

janestheone

"several messages a week" that might be scams? I delete dozens every day that probably are.

There is something amiss with your security software if that is happening janestheone. I’ve got an iPhone, and I rarely get scam messages. I don’t answer any emails until the day after I receive them, by which time the security filters have got rid of the vast majority of dodgy ones.

I must admit that I hate car parks which force you to use an app to pay. So many stories of no signal, errors made etc. I am happy to pay by contactless card. I know all systems are open to abuse, fraud etc, but there should still be choice.

Re train tickets, on one occasion I could not locate the actual ticket on my phone. Fortunately the ticket checker accepted my email receipt. Thereafter I made sure to print them out.
This summer I made several journey by train, storing tickets in my Apple wallet. Couldn’t have been easier.
For most things I do prefer to do my preparation at home rather than needing to get my phone out too often when out and about on the street.
I always do my online banking on my laptop as I find it easier.
I used to produce a weekly newssheet online, but have never mastered spreadsheets.
I just wish I could stop avoiding necessary chores by wasting time online!

I think some people make it part of their identity. They feel if everyone is doing something they want to be a little bit different from the rest of their circle. I am not condemning them, we all like to think we have something about us that makes us ourself. For others it might touch on skills that they haven't developed as fully as the other things they are good at and they simply don't want to go on expanding their range.

"several messages a week" that might be scams? I delete dozens every day that probably are.

My friend’s DH had a biopsy in the summer. They were both very anxious about the result and so were my DH and I. The result was due while we were away on holiday so I asked her to let me know the news by text. We heard nothing and began to think the worst. When we came home there was a message on our landline with good news. All was well! I asked her why she hadn’t sent a message and she said that she didn’t like sending texts and was keeping her mobile switched off anyway! The ming boggles!