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Ordinary everyday things I no longer know how to do

(234 Posts)
Vintagejazz Sun 10-Apr-22 09:27:27

I just realised today that even if I was minded to look for a job I wouldn't have a clue how to go about it.
When I was job hunting jobs were advertised in the paper and you sent in your CV or requested an application form, filled it in and posted it back. Then you waited for a letter saying you had or hadn't been called for an interview.

That all seems to have changed.

What other ordinary things would posters not know how to go about in this digital age.

I'm not even 60 yet shock

nadateturbe Sun 10-Apr-22 15:11:15

Handwriting is a matter of practice.
I recently started writing letters again as my eyes can't cope with laptop screen for long enough atm. (post concussion). My handwriting is much neater. My friend in England, who is quite ill, loves getting the letters.

Floradora9 Sun 10-Apr-22 14:56:32

My DS looked round our house one day and said that he never thought the day would come when we had more technology than he did .

Granniesunite Sun 10-Apr-22 14:55:36

So so funny. Cheered me up today. ?

JackyB Sun 10-Apr-22 14:52:31

I can't sing an E flat. ? We have been practising for Easter in our choir and my voice goes all wobbly around E- D, at the transition point. It's very annoying as I sing alto and most of the repertoire hovers around those 3 notes. I hope it's not old age but just lack of practice during the pandemic and that once we have been singing regularly for a while I will get those notes back.

MissAdventure Sun 10-Apr-22 14:21:23

Oh yes.
My daughters TV would pop up and inform me it was going to switch off as I hadnt done anything to it for a while.
I hadnt done anything to it because I was watching a programme!

saltnshake Sun 10-Apr-22 14:10:48

I didn't know how to work my daughter's new television. My 4 year old granddaughter taught me. She and her big brother, all of 6, make little films on a phone. I haven't a clue. But could they work a CD player, sewing machine or other technology from previous years?

Barmeyoldbat Sun 10-Apr-22 13:58:11

I also teach technology to older people at our local library

Kim19 Sun 10-Apr-22 13:49:33

Thanks everyone. Best laugh I've had in ages. No, please don't be mad at me. I empathise completely. I used to be quite the office techie whiz kid and now I'm completely flummoxed by a smart tv. Huh! Trouble is the technological scene has speeded up just exactly when I started to slow down. Double whammy! I didn't think I was alone but this thread has given me a huge fun boost. You're all terrific.

TheodoraP Sun 10-Apr-22 13:46:08

Having said that about Internet knowledge I still have difficulties with things but I do perseve

lixy Sun 10-Apr-22 13:45:20

And I'm not even going to mention the rigmarole I go through to park the car in a car park these days! grin

MerylStreep Sun 10-Apr-22 13:44:57

Barmyoldbat
That’s your opinion. But it’s not the feedback I get from teaching/ helping older people starting out with tech.

TheodoraP Sun 10-Apr-22 13:44:42

If you did want help with learning how to apply for jobs online your local library probably have tuition classes on that.

Some want to learn and get on well but if you have no interest in learning then it's not advised.

For me it's important that I am not faced with an Internet issue that I won't be able to resolve that's why I am constantly keeping up with that world.

Funny enough today I was changing a main light shade and I wasn't as steady as I used to be so that's what I can't do as good as I used to

lixy Sun 10-Apr-22 13:44:10

Our car has a manual gear stick and a key that needs to go into a keyhole to start it.
DD and DS have cars that seem to go by magic.
I'm dreading our car deciding that it has had enough.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 10-Apr-22 13:36:40

FannyCornforth we have had our Sky Glass tv and two pucks for about 5-6 weeks and I cannot stand it.

If I am sitting still it tells me I have left the room, I miss the +1 feature we had on Sky Q and free view, and the internet signal is non existent in our bedroom even with a booster so the bloomin system doesn’t work in there. angry

Barmeyoldbat Sun 10-Apr-22 13:32:57

A bit patronising Merylsteep, i don’t think panic comes into it, it’s more a case of what the hell is this.

Caleo Sun 10-Apr-22 13:25:41

I could soon learn but I'd have to go on a course.

Antonia Sun 10-Apr-22 13:23:10

I can't cope with buying tech. Every device seems to be a little black box and I have no idea whether it plays music, takes photos, wants you to talk to it, or does the ironing for you.

And I can't do airport checking in either. I just look helpless and ask anyone wearing a uniform what to do.

The same with self service checkouts. I want a human being to do it.

Oldnproud Sun 10-Apr-22 13:08:51

I don't know how to get through an airport any more. Last time I flew into England (three years ago), I was directed to to a machine, not a person, to check my passport.
I hadn't a clue what to do. A prison officer security / passport controlperson started barking orders at me. She instructed me to remove my glasses, then to follow the instructions on the screen. She didn't seem to understand that I couldn't even see the screen without my glasses on, let alone read/understand/do what it (presumably) was instructing me to do.
I was angry, humiliated and upset in equal measures. blush

karmalady Sun 10-Apr-22 13:08:01

I have never heard a podcast and have no clue about QR codes

MerylStreep Sun 10-Apr-22 12:55:36

Hellogirl
With respect ? when people see these notifications they go into panic mode and act like rabbits in the headlights.
No1. If you relax and read the instructions they are written very simply.
No2. Make sure you have your ‘device^ on. Be that iPad, laptop, iPhone because your likely to get an email that will give you a code to enter on your tv screen.
No3. Don’t panic, you have more time to do this than you think.
No4. If it doesn’t work the first, second, third time don’t give up. You- can- do- it. ?

Redhead56 Sun 10-Apr-22 12:53:46

Decorating and a lot of do it yourself was my domain and good at I was too. My husband has never really been good at manual work but he does the vacuuming for me now. He was always my apprentice my joints are hard to work with now I can just manage my raised beds. It does irritate me having to get people in to do the jobs I was so capable of doing. I give instruction to workers feed them then get out of the way now.

sodapop Sun 10-Apr-22 12:52:37

I know how you feel inishowen I'm booking a trip to America at the end of May. Flights, trains, hotels , ESTA, kennel bookings it's a minefield. In the end I enlisted the help of a friend who visits USA regularly and he was so efficient. Thank goodness for friends. Just have to sort out insurance now then I'm done.

MissAdventure Sun 10-Apr-22 12:42:50

I couldn't even work my daughters vacuum cleaner when I was left in charge.
When she used it, a light would come on and then it transformed into all different shapes to fit into nooks and crannies.
I had to use a dust pan and brush.

Barmeyoldbat Sun 10-Apr-22 12:37:19

I can cope with the smart TV, and even qr things but I just can’t cope with playing music on anything other than my CD player. People seem to be able to play music from something and it just keeps going. Also bought a lovely camera a few years ago, paid for a lesson on how to use it but have forgotten what I was taught.

Vintagejazz Sun 10-Apr-22 12:31:04

Booking theatre tickets. You used to just ring the box office, book your tickets and collect and pay for them on the night. Now you have to register on a website, remember your password from last time, key in your visa details, print off the ticket and probably pay a fee as well.
If you do ring the box office you have to press button this and that and then speak loudly to a machine and then probably get cut off.