My 89 Year Old Father In Law Will Not Use Modern Electronics - LOL
By schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
United States
August 1, 2008 2:29pm CST
My father in law will turn 90 years old at the end of this year. He refuses to use anything that is in the modern electronics spectrum. He says "What do I want this for? Technology! Bah!".
A few years ago we bought him a cell phone so we could reach him anytime, anywhere. You know, we worry about him - you never know. Anyways, what does he do? He promptly stuck it in his closet, fully charged, back in the box and let it sit there gathering dust. We had a one year contract we had to pay for and he just let it sit there while we paid the bills for it.
Ok, then we decide for Christmas that we will get him a DVD player so he can see videos of the grandkids, etc. Also, we bought him tons of the History Channel DVD's for Christmas because he loves this subject matter. We visit him a while later and the DVD's are still shrink wrapped and he has not even used the player. We ask why and he just says, "I don't understand it. It's too complicated.".
I mean, we went and visited him earlier this year and we finally talked him into getting cable. He couldn't get his different broadcasts from Latin America for soccer, etc. that he loves watching. So he broke down and had them install cable in his house. That is another very long story.
Anyways, as you can see it is really difficult to teach an old dog new tricks. Heck, he won't even get an ATM card, let alone a debit check card!!!
Oh well, what can you do? My husband and I are the complete other extreme. We have to have electronics - the more the better.
Are any of your parents like this? I mean it is so frustrating!
Have a great day and happy myLotting!
A few years ago we bought him a cell phone so we could reach him anytime, anywhere. You know, we worry about him - you never know. Anyways, what does he do? He promptly stuck it in his closet, fully charged, back in the box and let it sit there gathering dust. We had a one year contract we had to pay for and he just let it sit there while we paid the bills for it.
Ok, then we decide for Christmas that we will get him a DVD player so he can see videos of the grandkids, etc. Also, we bought him tons of the History Channel DVD's for Christmas because he loves this subject matter. We visit him a while later and the DVD's are still shrink wrapped and he has not even used the player. We ask why and he just says, "I don't understand it. It's too complicated.".
I mean, we went and visited him earlier this year and we finally talked him into getting cable. He couldn't get his different broadcasts from Latin America for soccer, etc. that he loves watching. So he broke down and had them install cable in his house. That is another very long story.
Anyways, as you can see it is really difficult to teach an old dog new tricks. Heck, he won't even get an ATM card, let alone a debit check card!!!
Oh well, what can you do? My husband and I are the complete other extreme. We have to have electronics - the more the better.
Are any of your parents like this? I mean it is so frustrating!
Have a great day and happy myLotting!
11 people like this
31 responses
@ruby222 (4847)
•
1 Aug 08
No worries he is not unique by any means lol my mum wont use a lot of up to date things either!!we bought her a cordless telphone set,she wont use it,we bought her a DVD player,she wont use it,we got her a telephone with an answerphone on it,she wont use it,the list is endless lolol but we are ending up with everything in duplicate because of her habits!
4 people like this
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
1 Aug 08
My fatherinlaw is like that! He wants nothing to do with any of the "newfangled" gadgets they have out nowadays. It took an act of God to get him to get an anwering machine. He still has phones hooked up that he used I don't know how many years ago. No way will he get caller ID..he'd rather yell in the phone and hang up on them if he doesn't know who they are. And a hearing aid.. OMG...according to him..he doesn't need it.. Even though he is totally deaf in one ear!! You mentioned cable...well another act of God...he wasn't getting any of the local channels so got no news reports from his local area and he watched re-runs of sitcoms that went off the air years ago. He's still trying to use the VCR we got him ten years ago. No way could we ever explain a DVD player to him. Good grief.. Sooooo I totally feel for ya and know what you're going through. But if he's content with the old ways, so be it. We're not gonna push him anymore. :)
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
2 Aug 08
my mom bought herself a DVD player and then no one knew how to hook it up and then it got hooked up now she can remember how to work it as she has short term memory loss.
I wanted her to get a computer I think we would have fun IMing each other but she didnt!
3 people like this
@trickiwoo (2702)
• United States
1 Aug 08
My grandmother turned 90 back in April. She has difficulty with technology and electronics, but she at least tries! She even has e-mail! We set up her internet so that her e-mail is the homepage when her browser loads. But if her browser ever gets reset, she can't check her e-mail and she calls one of her kids or grandkids to come help her with it.
She doesn't have a cell phone though, she just uses her regular home phone. She also doesn't have a debit, credit or ATM card. She just writes checks.
She does have a DVD player, but she often has trouble with it.
So while my grandma isn't tech savvy, she does make an effort! I think it is very difficult for people that age to use electronics. I think they're intimidated by them. Also, I know my 90 year old grandmother's vision isn't all that great, so she has a hard time reading what all the different buttons are for... so that adds extra difficulty to the situation.
4 people like this
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
1 Aug 08
My father does not have any new technology items either. He does have cable, he likes his westerns He is like that with clothes. We would buy him clothes for Christmas gifts, and you will find them still with the tags on in his dresser draws. He rather use the old instead of the new. But he will always say when we try to get him to go somewhere that he does not have anything to wear.
I guess when you are set in your ways you are set. Oh, he will use the microwave
He is like that with clothes. We would buy him clothes for Christmas gifts, and you will find them still with the tags on in his dresser draws. He rather use the old instead of the new. But he will always say when we try to get him to go somewhere that he does not have anything to wear.
I guess when you are set in your ways you are set. Oh, he will use the microwave
@MOMMASAM (1004)
• United States
2 Aug 08
older people can be so set in their ways ! sounds like you are the loving daughter trying to help him be less lonely. give him something interesting to do.
i'm sure you hooked up the DVD and explained it. but, it takes a while until the remote buttons become second nature.
i've been struggling trying to get my mother a computer.
i want her to be able to search interesting topics.
even recipes are favorite things for her to look up.
of course, my daughter lived in hawaii at that time, so i thought
this would be a great incentive for her.
i bought her a refurbished laptop.
nope, didn't budge her.
i was able to talk her into a mail station for a while. she liked that, too.
i think a "computer" just scared her into thinking it would be too complex or
she would do something to ruin it.
the mail station is no longer operational. they have a newer one, which she says is probably too complex. without even trying it.
i have found though. that if a younger person takes time with her, to explain everything, she isn't so threatened.
3 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
2 Aug 08
Yes, we just want to be able to reach him in case of an emergency. We live in Florida and he is in California. I mean, there was just that earthquake a few days ago in California about 15 miles from where he lives. And we kept calling him and no answer or all circuits were busy. Turns out he was at the doctors office, but you can imagine how we wished he would have had a cell phone with him just so we knew he was ok.
And we want him to be able to enjoy videos of the grandkids, etc. As I said we are like 3000 miles away so we see him maybe once a year. It would be nice for him to see the kids.
Oh well...
4 people like this
@MOMMASAM (1004)
• United States
3 Aug 08
now see, right away when i read this.
i thought, my mother would have said
i was the stubborn one for keep buying
new things for her.
do you think your father thinks he is stubborn
or that you are?
i lived in san francisco for 15 years so i am
quite familiar with earthquakes !
it is soooo scarey.
have you ever discussed a hand held lifeline for him ?
it's a health security system.
if he would, God forbid, fall or become ill
he would hit the buzzer and the company
would notify an ambulance, or police or fire dept ?
at least that could help you from going crazy.
it's a simple device that you can wear around your neck ?
or in your pocket ?
or keep close to your bedside?
1 person likes this
@academic2 (7000)
• Uganda
2 Aug 08
It is funny, but I want us to appreciate his time-during his time, electronics were not sophisticted as we know them today-and besides, he probably is a wise old man who knows the dangers of electronics, the radiations and all that-who knows, he has probably lived this long because he refused to rub himself close to these electronics??!!!
3 people like this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
2 Aug 08
I'm lucky with my Mom & Stepdad. I got them interested in computers as soon as I got my first computer about 12 yrs ago. Mom had a little bit of techno-fright but soon we were e-mailing and IM-ing constantly. Then she did her best to outdo me! She got a computer that was the newest thing going at the time and before I knew it they were both burning CD's and sending me stuff! Now they have a state of the art laptop that they travel with, wireless connection, the works and gave me their old computer which is a heck of a lot better than the computer I had.
Everything I get and tell them about, they get and always get a better one! It's so frustrating sometimes.. LOL
My husband's Mom is just the opposite. She won't even let us get her an e-mail machine. The kind with like 4 buttons and a keyboard. Easier to use than a typewriter and she won't even consider it. But will sit and complain that we don't write enough to her. We tried to tell her that it's so much easier and faster to e-mail but still nothing. We finally gave up. She won't even get a cell phone.
She did get a DVD player. We visited her a couple of months ago and we had to give her a quick 10 minute lesson on how to work the player, she's had it for 2 yrs.
Oh well, I guess sometimes people get set in their ways. I'm just very glad my folks weren't that way.
3 people like this
@izathewzia (5134)
• Philippines
1 Aug 08
My mom is the same. She is only 64 years old and yet no longer interested in electronics. According to her, it is not her style. lol She is not interested with gadgets, computers, etc. Very old school.
3 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
1 Aug 08
my aunt is kind of like that. we got her an email station. where you can just send email back and forth and my cousin showed her how to work it after he hooked it up because she wouldnt use a computer. she didnt use it. my mom would nt let us get her a computer because she said she couldnt use one even tho, she loved to read detective mags. and she could no longer find them.i told her she could reseach and read stories forever on here. but she wouldnt have it.
@reckon21 (3479)
• Philippines
2 Aug 08
Funny to read about your post. I love you father in law. He was
so natural and so very original. Almost of us are crazy about
new gadgets and technology. And because of this we are very
dependent on these things. I'm not againt's on all of these new
technologies. But reading about your father in law, makes me
realize that there are some people who are not ready yet to
embrace the new era.
Your father in law is refreshing, a breath of fresh air.
I think he is the only one who doesn't want to do anything
with technology.
Well, there's nothing you can do about it. He is very contented
on his life as it is. Let's just respect him.
3 people like this
@liveaspankaj (54)
• India
1 Aug 08
no not at all my parents are not like that. not even there parents and even there parents...
they love anything they can enjoy...
he must be feeling like special shunning the electronics...
u can just tell me some day very casually that u read a survey no old people above 80 use these techy devices and its too common for them not to use them...only a special few percent do it...
may be if he likes challenges he might try to enter that few percent...
anyway whatever he does best is to let him enjoy his life his way...coz i know tht u cant tell old people anything....they will do it all their way...
i just feel a bit pity on you...coz i know how it is like
3 people like this
@KCash69 (37)
• United States
2 Aug 08
My grandparents were the same way. They never had a phone, cooked on a wood burning stove and didn't get indoor plumbing until I was about 3rd grade.
My grandma used to like to go to Mac Donalds after church but my grandpa wouldn't want to go inside. So I'd say ok let's go through the drive thru, and he'd say no I don't know how to work those things.
So it never failed I would have to go inside get the food and we would eat it at some park.
3 people like this
@lucy02 (5015)
• United States
4 Aug 08
Oh absolutely. My mom is that way. She's 81 y/o. She won't even try to learn how to use the tv remote. We have a cordless phone in the living room and she says she can't use it though she has before. She is on some meds that do confuse her but I wish she would at leas try.
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
24 Aug 08
I know it is frustrating. My mother is 81 years old too and about 8 years ago she would always tell me that someone left me an e-mail on the phone. I told her countless times that e-mail is something on the computer and she would not know if someone sent me an e-mail and that voice mail is something that is left on the telephone. She could never get that straight.
1 person likes this
@meiyeec511 (405)
• Malaysia
2 Aug 08
That's normal for the elders. They wouldn't believe in the new technologies will help.
Certain new technologies will help a lot, but still will bring some disadvantages. Depand on how do the community use the technologies.
2 people like this
@jerzgirl (9291)
• United States
2 Aug 08
My mother is 91 and is really intimidated by new technology. She still thinks if I push the redial button on her pre-programmed phone that I'll undo all the programmed numbers. My dad was the gadget freak. If it was new and had bells and whistles, he had to have it!! LOL But, when my mother lost her sight, he got the programmable phone for her. She memorized whose numbers were on which button. But, she's getting used to the idea of my computer and the Internet and will occasionally ask me to email my aunt or a friend who lives elsewhere. She doesn't understand it, but she's more aware than she was. I think my dad would be completely into it if he were still alive!
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
24 Aug 08
I think it is amazing how some older people just get set in their ways while others welcome new technology or other new things to learn. I hope that I am the type that always wants to learn something new. I think it keeps you younger and gives you more of a reason to live. Because you are trying to improve yourself as a human and seek more knowledge.
1 person likes this
@roanne05 (1290)
• Oman
2 Aug 08
i guess it takes time...my mom also find it hard using her cellphone.before she only knows how to call. now she sms us every time and ask where we are then call if we did not reply back. hehehe! before she don't know how to chat,,,but now she chats the whole day with my father who is working abroad.hehehe...
i guess patience is the key...try to come there everyday and teach him how each gadget you gave him works. it takes a while before my mom knew how to use her cellphone and we need to tell her the step like 10x before she can do it alone. it might work. good luck,,,
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
2 Aug 08
That's funny that you say that. A few years ago he insisted that he needed a fax machine. I forgot why, but he needed/wanted one. Go figure. So we showed him about 10 times and he got the hang of it. He uses it still to this day. I guess that is item of technology that he has and uses! I don't know for what though!
1 person likes this
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
1 Aug 08
I have known some elderly people who could not gain the grasp of today's modern technology, especially when it comes to vcr's and the like. It could be that the older generation might not welcome the change.
There have been so many advances in today's technology then so many years ago when these people were younger. I imagine that they just become more confused faster than the younger people.
3 people like this
@thestar (304)
• Egypt
2 Aug 08
yeah i could imagine your grandpa life and i really love it it is very calm and healthy life that is why he is a 90 years old lol . i love to live this life i wish i could and about teaching dogs i think we also can't learn to live without electronics and this also a problem big problem i think cause with the raising of the electricity price i think one day we will have to back again to life without electricity so the main question here could you live 5 day without electricity lol i bet you won't have a nice time my friend and electric life . best wishes my dear friend and happy post
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Welcome to myLot. I just don't think I would like life without electronics very much. I could do it, but I know I would be miserable. I don't think it will get to that point, hopefully we will be able to better harnass solar energy in order to power our electronics.
1 person likes this
