Ageism

david63 · Post by **david63** » Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:42 pm

There have recently been several posts by I would guess some of the younger end of this board's membership alluding to the fact that when the members of their board reach a certain (undefined) age that they are incapable of being able to do simple tasks on a PC.

Let's just put the record straight here - if it wasn't for us "oldies" where do you think that computing would be today?

I know of "young" people who cannot do basic tasks on any type of computer be it a PC, tablet/iPad or smartphone - in fact I can run rings round my 16 year old grandson.

So the question is - at what age are you considered to be "past it"?

Post by **JimA** » Sun Dec 03, 2017 5:40 pm

I don't believe in ageism at all. It all depends on your interests and capabilities, not your age. Skills hardly fade.

The phpBB community is a fine example of younger and older people working together very well, all with very good technological capabilities. I became a member of the phpBB team in 2009 at the age of 13. My main mentor in the team at that point was already in his late seventies. We worked together very well and he was just as tech-savvy as the rest of us.

**My CDB Contributions** · Post by **HiFiKabin** » Sun Dec 03, 2017 5:46 pm

"Youngsters" (of an undefined age) are always amazed that that my ancient mind can cope with computers and like (some) pop music.

"Olders" (of an undefined age) are always amazed that that my ancient mind can cope with computers and like (some) pop music.

Me? I am not bothered what anyone else thinks.

RMcGirr83 · Post by **RMcGirr83** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 1:37 am

david63 wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:42 pm
I know of "young" people who cannot do basic tasks on any type of computer be it a PC, tablet/iPad or smartphone - in fact I can run rings round my 16 year old grandson.

Issue with a computer came up the other day at work. User didn't know how to select a different printer to print to...on a windows 7 machine.

Not really that young...mid 20's or so.

Yet on a cell phone is a genius.

Go figure.

AmigoJack · Post by **AmigoJack** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 11:35 am

david63 wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:42 pm
when the members of their board reach a certain (undefined) age that they are incapable of being able to do simple tasks on a PC

If by this you mean people that worked with computers and start to loose their skills when passing a certain age: yes, this exists, and I think in the majority of cases it's more a case of "I don't care anymore" after spending so much time doing it the right way.

david63 wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:42 pm
if it wasn't for us "oldies" where do you think that computing would be today?

The same. "Oldies" can be both: contributing/boosting and jamming/special.

david63 wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:42 pm
I know of "young" people who cannot do basic tasks on any type of computer be it a PC, tablet/iPad or smartphone

Me too, but I have the theory that the simplicity of smartphones and tablets are the culprit so nobody knows or cares about basics. This theory would also go hand in hand with why apparently nobody is able to correctly use his mother tongue anymore (must not be English).

david63 wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:42 pm
at what age are you considered to be "past it"?

By others? I don't know. By me? More than 15 years ago I was already "past it" for several things, especially hypes. I'm neither interested in most new stuff, nor do I like to invest time in something that is obsolete in 2 years again - and the internet is full of such things.

Post by **Brf** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:45 pm

You whippersnappers and your fancy computing machines. Why when I was your age, I had to use a adding machine for computing. Heck, I bet stevemaury used an abacus.

Post by **JimA** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 3:27 pm

Brf wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:45 pm
Heck, I bet stevemaury used an abacus.

So did I on primary school. They're so old it's fancy again!

canonknipser · Post by **canonknipser** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 3:39 pm

Dam'n - I'm to old for that modern stuff. I used a P&P-device (*) in the last millennium.

And I still use it quite often, together with a 53-years-old, but still working brain-1.0-machine

(*) P&P = paper and pencil

**My CDB Contributions** · Post by **HiFiKabin** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 4:17 pm

I had to use log tables (which I got) and a slide rule (which I didn't)

Still prefer a pen and paper, or good old mental arithmetic

RMcGirr83 · Post by **RMcGirr83** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 4:35 pm

Brf wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:45 pm
YHeck, I bet stevemaury used an abacus.

Ha, I bet he used a stone and chisel.

Post by **thecoalman** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 11:48 pm

My Desktop wallpaper, ironically the image file size is nearly twice the size of the RAM for the computer. LOL

3Di · Post by **3Di** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 11:52 pm

That's my ^^ avatar ^^

Post by **thecoalman** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 11:53 pm

RMcGirr83 wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 04, 2017 1:37 am
Yet on a cell phone is a genius.

Go figure.

Never had a cell phone or boat anchor as I like to refer to them. Whenever I get a chance I'll borrow one to check my sites rendering. Everyone knows I use computers a lot and get a little dumbfounded when I ask them how to do XYZ if I need to use their phone.

Post by **thecoalman** » Mon Dec 04, 2017 11:55 pm

3Di wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 04, 2017 11:52 pm
That's my ^^ avatar ^^

Hacke'em....

Did you have to use a fan on yours? Mine used to overheat and I put hole in the desk to mount a fan underneath... the old man is like WTF! The good old days.

warmweer · Post by **warmweer** » Tue Dec 05, 2017 12:29 am

My first "computer" was a TI or HP calculator (I think HP) with 90 steps available for programming. Wasted countless hours making useless command sequences to perform automatic calculations which took longer to enter and submit than actually calculating with pen and paper. Well, at least I learned something from it.
I sometimes wonder whether the current Smartphone users could figure out how to call someone with a real telephone with a swivel

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