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Everyday Ageism

Old people don’t use the internet?

(138 Posts)
sarahcyn Sun 13-Jun-21 12:07:59

A local estate agent told my client the other day: “you house isn’t selling because older people who might be interested don’t go online.”
Hello? My husband and I have a serious Rightmove addiction!

Minerva Sat 30-Apr-22 16:43:40

Everyone on Gransnet is obviously computer savvy to a greater or lesser extent but I do know a number of people a lot younger than I am (80) who have never learnt to use computers. They aren’t stupid, just never thought it would be necessary and as it became necessary decided it was just too late to catch up.
One of them said to me, rightly, that I have the advantage of offspring who can help me if anything goes wrong whereupon my daughter in her mid 40s pointed out that it was I who taught my offspring in the first place and later set them up with email and showed them how to use that too. The internet also enabled me to catch my ex husband out having an affair. His work was in computers but for all that he never worked out how I knew.

sodapop Sat 30-Apr-22 16:11:01

Caleo

If elderly couples or singletons did use the internet I guess nice bungalows would sell a lot faster than they do.

I take it that was tongue in cheek Caleo

Caleo Sat 30-Apr-22 10:52:14

If elderly couples or singletons did use the internet I guess nice bungalows would sell a lot faster than they do.

pctek Sat 30-Apr-22 09:04:51

These idiots forget - who invented all this stuff? How old is Steve Wozniack now? And Tim Berners-Lee ...
Sheesh.
I had a long IT career, then went off MS when Win10 came along and revisited LInux, been running it for years now. As for online....I wrote my own website when I had my own business, never mind looking at house ads on the net.

kircubbin2000 Mon 15-Nov-21 20:49:10

Lots still don't. My best friend refuses to use it and has to drive into town to do all her business. Another only uses it to look things up and is afraid to buy online or use Facebook etc.

MerylStreep Mon 15-Nov-21 18:59:23

I wish I could convince my 89 yr old neighbour that she is on the internet She has every gizmo going, bought by her family.
She uses FB every day but still doesn’t understand how she gets FB etc etc. ?

Katek Mon 15-Nov-21 18:29:08

Oh and he uses a desktop as well!

Katek Mon 15-Nov-21 18:28:25

My 94 year old fil bought himself a new iPad recently as his old one wouldn’t accept the latest software updates. He banks, orders from the delicatessen(!), shops on Amazon, uses email. WhatsApp and is on Facebook. Older people don’t go online?!!!

Kim19 Mon 15-Nov-21 18:04:54

Ignorant as well as incompent.

Sallywally1 Mon 15-Nov-21 17:57:20

I just googled computers in 1965 and there was an article about Olivetti where roberto Olivetti, then CEO and his team developed the first desk top computer. I guess they would all be in care homes now with no idea about computers? (disclaimer, of course they know about computers, this was a weak attempt at humour!).

I am 66 and use a computer at work all the time and regularly use my beloved I pad and I phone. I had my first lap top 20 years ago. In addition our generation did not grow up with them like younger people, we had to learn as we went along.

If I were you OP I would ditch the estate agent!

Puzzled Mon 13-Sept-21 10:37:19

So what are we all doing on here?
Giving the lie to that statement?

M0nica Mon 16-Aug-21 16:16:41

Our generation invented the internet, - and mobile phones and personal computers.

Elegran Mon 16-Aug-21 10:50:22

But of course, the yoof of today won't believe that we wrinklies could possibly know anything that they don't - and were doing it long before they were bornt!

Elegran Mon 16-Aug-21 10:48:00

Programming in Basic was a lesson in logical thinking and demonstrated clearly what a computer could and couldn't do!

The breakthrough that brought computing to everyone was the Graphic User Interface - the screen image that shows pictures as well as typed words, and can be interacted with directly to make the Central Processing Unit perform tasks without typing in every tiny step it must follow.

Pittcity Mon 16-Aug-21 09:19:31

C:\> will mean nothing to the younger generation grin

Elegran Sun 15-Aug-21 21:14:50

In case anyone is confused, the Beeb didn't fill a room! It was a miracle of cutting-edge technology and every bit of it was accessible to the amateur.

Elegran Sun 15-Aug-21 21:12:41

We had a BBC Micro. DH used a computer at work - it filled a room and used punch tape. I can't remember exactly when we bought the Beeb, but it hadn't long been on sale, so it couldn't have been much after 1981.

The Beeb was deliberately conceived and designed to be what these days is called "open source" and owners could write their own programs for it in Basic. There was no GUI graphic user interface, just a dark screen onto which instructions could be typed. Programs were saved onto a tape recorder.

Maywalk Sun 15-Aug-21 20:40:19

I am 91 and been using a computer for roughly 20 years. I put my WW2 website up in 2003 and written a few small books which has had all proceeds, after printing costs taken out, donated to charity, which would never have been done if I had not had my computer.
I have just spent a month in hospital after breaking a bone in my spine and having a chest infection and while in there I used my I-pad to Facetime my family. It seemed to amaze the doctors because they had never seen anyone my age doing this. It certainly stopped me going potty while in there although the staff were brilliant but being in a room on my own my I-pad kept me in touch with the outside world.

MiniMoon Mon 09-Aug-21 15:45:16

M0nica, whe my sister moved house. I had a look at it on Google earth. In fact I took a virtual walk along the road, as far as it would let me.

MiniMoon Mon 09-Aug-21 15:40:44

We got our first computer in 1989 when DS was 5. I'd been using a computer at work for several years before that.
I'm currently doing research on retirement properties in the hope that I can persuade DH that the time is right. I don't know where I would be without the Internet.

M0nica Mon 09-Aug-21 14:36:25

DH bought and assembled a ZX80 - in 1980. We bought our first home personal computer in early 1984, ahead of the launch of Amstrad and have updated them regularly ever since.

Like others, I am a RightMove addict, especially since they included data from the land Agency listing what price houses sold for. It is quite interesting going back to see what price out first home now sells for. (£340,000, we paid £5,750 in 1969) and other homes the family have owned, and what the neighbours home sold for, not to mention google maps and google earth to fly over and look at the houses of people who bought things I sold on ebay.

That is before I check the weather to decide whether to do my online tai Chi class inside or out. later I might checkout Gransne and Facebook, zoom my daughter, or buy the new lighting for my kitchen before researching a talk I am giving in October.

But is they say, we older people do not go online.

annodomini Mon 09-Aug-21 09:55:41

Before I retired, I was keeping student records, using database and spreadsheets. I prepared learning materials for my classes using word processing and desk-top publishing. I did all my house hunting on line 21 years ago and found the one I now live in. I had a dial-up modem until my 10-year-old GD ran up a huge phone bill during her summer holiday! I might add that my dear uncle, now long deceased, bought a computer in his 80s and taught himself to use all apps he needed. At the same time, he learnt Swedish and worked out how to use the keyboard to write it accurately. You can teach an old dog new tricks.

Pittcity Mon 09-Aug-21 09:02:43

Surely if anyone without the internet was looking for a property like yours they would've visited or phoned Estate Agents in the area. A good agent would be using all media including good old fashioned newsprint!
You pay enough in commission to cover any expense.

Sago Mon 09-Aug-21 08:56:33

It was a glib remark but hi lights the fact that organisations need to provide access for those that are not able to use the internet,

My GP practice now no longer takes repeat prescriptions over the phone. you have to use their online system or go to the surgery..
This is causing a big problem for my neighbour who does not use the internet.

It is a huge disadvantage and it’s easy to say everyone should learn but there are serious technophobes out there.

love0c Mon 09-Aug-21 08:35:17

I am an avid fan of Rightmove and love looking at holidays! ha ha.