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Not using any modern technology!

(121 Posts)
SueDonim Sun 29-Mar-26 17:06:29

And yet here you are, Silverlining, happily using social media - all is not lost! smile You’re still learning new things and I’m sure that will continue. I remember back in the 90’s with our very first computer, thinking I would never get the hang of email addresses and passwords etc but now it’s every day life.

Norah Sun 29-Mar-26 17:05:26

I use a laptop to bank, invest, order groceries, Amazon. All needs.

I send notes and cards from my laptop as well.

We've no reception here. No smart phone, I've a dumb phone when leaving home (for emergencies). My husband has a smart phone, receives calls when away for work. Our landline works well.

Apps? No. I'm content with basics. I train myself on my new laptop at purchase (I read and follow what to do, or ask a GC).

Allira Sun 29-Mar-26 16:56:55

silverlining48

Well that’s me told …. I don’t think many of us ‘old people’ think it’s clever and sorry you think we are pathetic, but ‘applying oneself’ without help or guidance isn’t easy.

At one time our local Council was running courses to teach people new technology. DH went on one and was surprised to find quite young people on the course; he'd expected retirees like himself.

Boz Sun 29-Mar-26 16:56:48

I tell you the bit I hate.
My beautiful GD's facetime me and I can't say I like it. They catch me at my worst - always.

Talk about Beauty and the Beast.

Boz Sun 29-Mar-26 16:53:56

Yes. You have a point and I apologise.
I am fortunate in having a tech savvy DH who I can turn to in a second if in trouble, It must be harder living on your own but keep at it because it is the future.

silverlining48 Sun 29-Mar-26 16:48:39

Well that’s me told …. I don’t think many of us ‘old people’ think it’s clever and sorry you think we are pathetic, but ‘applying oneself’ without help or guidance isn’t easy.

Boz Sun 29-Mar-26 16:42:42

The worse thing you can do is put your head in the sand as the whole world is living online. You have to keep up, even for your banking, shopping and health contacts such as local surgeries.
I am sure many old people think its clever and traditional to eschew the internet but it makes you look pathetic, imo.
Like all things in life, you have to apply yourself. Apply time and patience and a willingness to learn.

silverlining48 Sun 29-Mar-26 16:28:44

I can’t get on with things tech, other manage messages and googling info etc but not much more. My dh is similar but is willing to give it a try which helps or frustration on both our sides when it doesn’t work.
If I were on my own, which given our ages could be anytime, I don’t know how I would manage in this online app world which everyone is expected to somehow ‘understand’ . All this has unfortunately affected my confidence.

Jaxjacky Sun 29-Mar-26 16:25:07

I’d be more concerned about the 93 year old and his driving NanKate!
We have two friends who are quite capable, one in particular, but insist on ‘doing things as they’ve always been done’ as if their stand will make a difference. It causes them problems and costs money, neither will even try ‘new’ avenues.

Allira Sun 29-Mar-26 16:21:23

Greyduster

I have some sympathy with the refusers. I am pretty tech savvy; I have banked on line since DH died and I keep an eye my investments on line, as well as the every day stuff, energy, insurances etc. But it does sometimes feel scarily like having all one’s eggs in one basket. Last week, during a period of bad weather, we had some sort of outage that meant I couldn’t access any of my apps (I gather there were other Gransnetters who had the same problem). Tried all the usual rebooting strategies but nothing worked. It took most of a day for normal service to be resumed, but these things do tend to unnerve me and I hanker after the days when things were simpler, or seemed to be.

Yes, Greyduster
This is what I mean.

Our over-reliance on technology in general could be our downfall.

Allira Sun 29-Mar-26 16:19:24

NanKate

Thanks I feel I am not the only one who is frustrated with friends who refuse to help themselves. 👍

It took me ages to help a couple we know how to do an online shop. He's about my age and has Masters (engineer) and had a very good job! She is a bit older and seems to use her phone ok 🤷‍♀️

Greyduster Sun 29-Mar-26 16:18:22

I have some sympathy with the refusers. I am pretty tech savvy; I have banked on line since DH died and I keep an eye my investments on line, as well as the every day stuff, energy, insurances etc. But it does sometimes feel scarily like having all one’s eggs in one basket. Last week, during a period of bad weather, we had some sort of outage that meant I couldn’t access any of my apps (I gather there were other Gransnetters who had the same problem). Tried all the usual rebooting strategies but nothing worked. It took most of a day for normal service to be resumed, but these things do tend to unnerve me and I hanker after the days when things were simpler, or seemed to be.

NanKate Sun 29-Mar-26 16:14:43

Thanks I feel I am not the only one who is frustrated with friends who refuse to help themselves. 👍

Allira Sun 29-Mar-26 16:02:14

I'm just wondering how everyone will cope if/when we have a massive cyber attack 🤔

Charleygirl5 Sun 29-Mar-26 15:33:38

I have a friend, 82, money isn't a problem. She has a very expensive computer but all she can do is check her premium bonds each month.

She is in a pickle, lives 300 miles from me so I can't help her. She can no longer drive, has major mobility problems so relies on n her poor neighbour to do everything. Only recently she has paid the minimum wage for a cleaner.

She has had to start paying by d/d as the PO is out of reach.

I am not tech savvy but I do bankng and order food online and treat Amazon like a corner shop. I at least try.

dalrymple23 Sun 29-Mar-26 15:15:19

I just get frustrated with the whole palaver and me! I have not worked in an office environment for years and have forgotten so much and get cross when I can't get things sorted on Word, for instance

Then the language on the internet changes and I haven't the foggiest what I am being told to do. It really is an alien tongue!

As for a smartphone - totally banjaxed - just can't use the flipping thing, however much I try. Mind you, it is not helped by the fact that my reception is atrocious to non existent. Then, there is never anyone at the end of a phone to help you out - the questions on the FAQ pages never cover my issue and, if there is a contact number for the organisation (invariably there isn't or it is in Eastern Europe or South Africa or somewhere equally remote), it is devoid of humans - talking to a bot is not my idea of a conversation. Or should it now be? Grrr.....

Cossy Sun 29-Mar-26 14:49:35

🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ Horses for courses I guess.

Unless they are complaining or relying on others to do things they could very easily learn to do, then I guess just leave them to it.

M0nica Sun 29-Mar-26 14:40:01

I have a friend who spent her working life working in the defence and aeronautical industry writing software for aircraft and weapon control systems.

When she retired sho ditched technology and now just has a dumb phone. She lives the other end of the ocuntry to me, we write letters to each other.

She knows how all the technology works, actually wrote some of it, but refuses to use it herself.

Sago Sun 29-Mar-26 13:35:15

I have a friend of 75, I started over 10 years ago to try and get her online.
She is so stubborn and refuses to learn, she is struggling now as we have moved away.
Sadly there is no helping some people.

62Granny Sun 29-Mar-26 12:50:52

I have friends who wont/ can't use the internet and then rely on me to keep them informed🙄 one rely's on her DH or children to do anything with money/banking/ insurance even filling her car with petrol. The other one will not set up direct debits to pay utilities and likes to have a bill and pay at the P.O. I keep telling her she would get a cheaper deal with a DIrect debit. Both professional was women in their working lives.

NanKate Sun 29-Mar-26 12:34:13

I am so frustrated with a friend I used to work with.

She is 88, mobile, but uses absolutely NO modern technology. She lives with her husband who is 93. He does still drive rather erratically down to the supermarket once a week and that’s it.

I took her out to coffee last week and she was so depressed because she felt trapped at home and her husband who has walking difficulties won’t use his walking frame, other than when they have an occasional Coach Holiday.

They are members of the U3A but I doubt they are too involved. Last year she was offered basic lessons in using an iPhone. I encouraged her to participate as it would be a good way to contact her. She gave up after a while and she is still an intelligent woman imo. I do leave messages on her telephone answering machine, but she doesn’t always pick them up.

I suggested they went to our local Everyman cinema which caters for people with walking problems. They have a Blue Badge and the cinema is close to the car park. She said she would like to, but doesn’t know the films that are on, as she doesn’t use the Internet!

She said she would come with me to the cinema, so I hope to find an appropriate film and if she decides after that she won’t go again at least I have tried.

My sister who lives in Italy is just as bad at not using modern technology.

I do hope this is the last generation to live this way