OAP ageist TV

Oh dear .... and Apple not Apply. This is funny. I really am computer savvy despite the last 3 posts

Yes, I find sometimes the 'youngsters' aren't as savvy as we are! I use my Google Pay app every time I shop (where its possible anyway) as I find it so much easier and instant, and I can keep a track of what I'm spending. So many times have younger people asked what it is! Unbelievable really

I had to turn it off, it was sending me as gaga as them !

And Apple not Apply !

My only problem with self service tills is the same as I have with getting cash from a machine. Cant see the wretched things through the AMD in my eyes. Otherwise would use both as I am not as silly as I look!

What I dislike about these types of programme is that they don’t intend to feature anyone with even the slightest ability. In that I think they are patronising, and going for a cheap laugh.

I think technology can be difficult for some older people, my mother cannot master making a call on a mobile. I can do some things, but I never used technology before I left work, so I wouldn’t say I had many computer skills.

I do avoid self service tills, but only because you invariably have to wait for an assistant for something, or as in Boots, the system doesn’t always register very small items, so you spend ages with it telling you “to place item in the bagging area”. It’s usually quicker by miles to wait for the manned tills.

It seems to me that all the other 'isms' are illegal and vigorously attacked via courts etc.eg racism , sexism, misgendering.
But 'they' seem to have to pick on someone...
But its not very helpful when many 60+ people have to look for work, and this sort of prejudice is around.
You can complain about TV programmes but it's not something I've ever bothered to do.

I'm glad I didn't see it. I hate this patronising of older people. We are constantly being told that people over 70 are clueless about computers etc and yet most of us have been in employment in the last 40 years when IT became central in the workplace. My 94 year old mum can no longer see to use her laptop but until recently, relied on it for e mails, shopping etc.

I didn’t watch the programme, but I wonder how much of it was deliberately exaggerated in order to have a theme, ie “stupid OAP’s”. I’m disappointed that they went along with it, but I suppose it gave their bank balances a healthy boost!!?

I didn't watch. That type of programme usually has an agenda of some kind, and chooses the right people to prove their point.

I know lots of elderly people who are perfectly competent with all kinds of technology. Then there are some, like me, who can cope very well with computers, but wouldn't know where to start at setting up systems of various kinds.

The third type are those who are terrified of computers, thinking that something terrible will happen if they press the wrong button! My late husband couldn't be persuaded to learn, even though he was a whizz with anything mechanical. He always used to get in a mix-up with recording tv programmes, too.

People have varying levels of competency, and may be brilliant at one activity and a dummy at others. It certainly isn't age-related. I think that, on the whole, older people have more overall skills than most younger ones. Many of them can't even wire a plug!

Annoying and ageist, I really hope it doesn't put older people off trying to learn.

So as well as venting here why not bombard ITV with complaints - using the latest technology of course eg twitter etc (your grandchildren will tell you how if, like me, you don’t use twitter! )

My Alexa was getting very cross ,hearing her name then no question. I think it was a daft show but have to own up will watch next week

Agree with you Anja - I’m 70 and was born in England but now live in Australia. It’s the same here - unless you’re under 40 you’re largely written off - and if you’re 60+, well forget it. Everything is geared towards the “bright young things” of the 20-30 generation. I guess every generation looks back on the last one and compares, but I honestly don’t remember my generation in England being as ‘whiney’, demanding, precious, and ‘I want it all and I want it now’ as the current demographic of 20 & 30 year olds. But then what would I know being just an old, past it bastard?

I have many friends who are a lot older than me and they almost all use a lot more technology than I do; I am the dinosaur who doesn't like running my life via a phone and prefers the old ways much of the time.

I do wish we could persuade my mum to use a laptop/tablet, though, as it would make all our lives easier. She is perfectly capable of learning about it even at 85 but has a mental block - won't even have a microwave!

I don't know what an app is either, nor do I particularly want to. There's a lot of us out here. I am sure all those good folk, after pocketing the fee, went back to blissful ignorance.

I can send and receive calls and texts on a £20 throw away - nothing else needed. I have not become addicted to those smartphones. I prefer looking around and hearing the birds in the park to looking at my smartphone (haven't got one) with things plugged into my ears.

In the days when we watched TV on a telly instead of a pc, ITV was known in my family as Idiots' TV, and rarely, if ever, bothered with. What does scare me about ageism, though, as with all prejudices, is the very real possibility of it tipping over into physical violence - think all the variations on 'The old are stealing from the Young', and the ghastly Brexit thing. BTW I am in my 8th decade and work regularly and professionally online.

Agree. And what's more if the electricity suddenly wasn't there all these "must have" technologies wouldn't be worth a sausage!

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I wish I'd seen that. What channel and time was it on please? I don't 'embrace technology as such but I certainly don't shy away from it. We have to try at least and it's not that blooming difficult is it? I know we probably don't move as quickly as we used to but we still have brains.

It was our generation that actually pioneered a lot of the technology we have now.

Yes it was all fixed to make them look daft. - If it were people of any other 'group' - young, Welsh whatever, there would be an outcry.

Good thing I never saw it.

Like many of us who were not stay at home mums in the 80's we had to get to grips with computer technology that was being used in the workplace.

I retired at 64 and was at that stage, part of the Business Recovery Team (I set it up) to handle business continuity/security of client information during a power failure - for whatever reason. Computer technology was not my career, but a means to an end to get things done for a business.

At 50, I studied Multimedia and designed a 3D logo on 3D Max (used for Lord of the Rings) for a filmmaker which she bought from me and used on her documentaries.

In my late 60's I designed a website using Adobe products to produced a unique site rather than use the templates that most people use because they're easy, or that finding out how programmes really work, like Adobe, is too taxing when its not.

I'm no different to anyone else in ability, just interested. It's a mindset - if we think things are too hard, they will be.

Who don't need the latest gadget or ap teaching us how to do something we should know already or something that is just not relevant to everyday life. Many of these things keep us hooked to a screen for other people's persuasive messages. There are better things that we can do with our time.

HannahLoisLuke - you'll need to connect your wireless printer to the new wifi! Had this challenge myself only a few weeks ago.

I hate programs like that-which only put one side of the picture. My 99 year old aunt is an avid Facebook user and I, at my unspeakably great age, teach computing including simple coding and HTML. Were we asked to be on the programme?
Nope!