Are YOU An Anti-Tech, Even If You Love Technology?
By Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
United States
January 24, 2010 2:24am CST
I'm not speaking of Luddites. I really do love modern technology, & wish I had the money to indulge my desire to buy a lot of it! But, I have this problem: I was born without a techie gene. Not only that, I think I have some kind of anti-tech gene, as I'm forever breaking the stuff, high-or-low-tech!! I'm absolutely brilliant in other ways (she said modestly...
), but when it comes to techie stuff, I have not Clue One!
Although I have the heart of a Jetson girl (where are the flying cars they promised, by the way?), I don't understand what makes techie things work, & when people try to explain the simplest thing about it, my mind just seizes up. They might as well be talking to gerbils. Which creatures, by the way--for all I can tell--may actually run cars, computers, air conditioners, & so on!
This really is 100% true for low-tech stuff, too. No two clocks in my apartment show the same time, & three have simply died of mysterious causes! All I did was look at them! (No, for you who are thinking it, it wasn't my face that stopped them! Har de har!) And try as I might to never over-wind wind-up clocks, those die quickly, too. My sainted grandmother had the same wind-up clock which worked for over 50 years. A simple little Bell alarm clock. It may still be running! But the longest ANY clock I've ever had work was 6 months. Practically an antique in my world. 
It may be connected to my Klutz gene, which makes it impossible, e.g., to make a stove top burner unit go back into its hole after I finish cleaning it...whereupon I must find someone not cursed with my genes to do the task. And then as soon as I tough it, it refuses to turn on again! Not only that, typically, some friend (usually Elic, my MyLot pal & BFF) will simply walk over, turn it (or whatever item) on, & it works like a CHARM! Me, I look at things &they fall apart!
As I told someone else recently, "Door-knobs fall off in my hands, chairs & even my walker & wheel chair have developed odd quirks, fans seldom work well near me--in short, I AM The Anti-Tech! 
I don't intend to be; I enjoy new gadgets & stuff...until they pop apart, crack open, spill their innards, make loud buzzing noises or otherwise malfunction when I hold them...sigh....
There is no group I can join to be cured or at least commiserate with others with my affliction! I only know one other person similarly aggrieved, & she only makes light-bulbs die when she touches them. I kill anything high or low tech that I even think about for too long!"
Then I said to her, "That said, I'm outta here before my computer catches me talking about it bye'!"
And she replied, "Why not start a group? I'll join!"
(Picture emoticon here--a smilie with a light bulb on over its head!)
So, my question's in the title. I'm asking because I'm tired of suffering in my misery by myself. ARE you like me? Would you like to join a group with me & at least one other? If so, let me know & I'll try to figure out how to do it (maybe Elic can help).
At least let's discuss it here! If you're not thus afflicted, do you take it for granted you can figure out any gadget? Do you assume a person's less-than-bright if they can't, especially after you show them how, & they still can't? Does your confidence level reach high levels in all things?
If you think you're an "Anti-Tech," when did you first notice you had the problem? How has it affected your life--or does it? It drives me nutso! Any ideas how to fix it, or at least cope with it? Talk to me, people!
Maggiepie (so far, THE Anti-Tech!)
VOTING POWER: USE IT OR LOSE IT....
), but when it comes to techie stuff, I have not Clue One!
Although I have the heart of a Jetson girl (where are the flying cars they promised, by the way?), I don't understand what makes techie things work, & when people try to explain the simplest thing about it, my mind just seizes up. They might as well be talking to gerbils. Which creatures, by the way--for all I can tell--may actually run cars, computers, air conditioners, & so on!
This really is 100% true for low-tech stuff, too. No two clocks in my apartment show the same time, & three have simply died of mysterious causes! All I did was look at them! (No, for you who are thinking it, it wasn't my face that stopped them! Har de har!) And try as I might to never over-wind wind-up clocks, those die quickly, too. My sainted grandmother had the same wind-up clock which worked for over 50 years. A simple little Bell alarm clock. It may still be running! But the longest ANY clock I've ever had work was 6 months. Practically an antique in my world.
It may be connected to my Klutz gene, which makes it impossible, e.g., to make a stove top burner unit go back into its hole after I finish cleaning it...whereupon I must find someone not cursed with my genes to do the task. And then as soon as I tough it, it refuses to turn on again! Not only that, typically, some friend (usually Elic, my MyLot pal & BFF) will simply walk over, turn it (or whatever item) on, & it works like a CHARM! Me, I look at things &they fall apart!
As I told someone else recently, "Door-knobs fall off in my hands, chairs & even my walker & wheel chair have developed odd quirks, fans seldom work well near me--in short, I AM The Anti-Tech! I don't intend to be; I enjoy new gadgets & stuff...until they pop apart, crack open, spill their innards, make loud buzzing noises or otherwise malfunction when I hold them...sigh....
There is no group I can join to be cured or at least commiserate with others with my affliction! I only know one other person similarly aggrieved, & she only makes light-bulbs die when she touches them. I kill anything high or low tech that I even think about for too long!"
Then I said to her, "That said, I'm outta here before my computer catches me talking about it bye'!"
And she replied, "Why not start a group? I'll join!"
(Picture emoticon here--a smilie with a light bulb on over its head!)
So, my question's in the title. I'm asking because I'm tired of suffering in my misery by myself. ARE you like me? Would you like to join a group with me & at least one other? If so, let me know & I'll try to figure out how to do it (maybe Elic can help).
At least let's discuss it here! If you're not thus afflicted, do you take it for granted you can figure out any gadget? Do you assume a person's less-than-bright if they can't, especially after you show them how, & they still can't? Does your confidence level reach high levels in all things?
If you think you're an "Anti-Tech," when did you first notice you had the problem? How has it affected your life--or does it? It drives me nutso! Any ideas how to fix it, or at least cope with it? Talk to me, people!
Maggiepie (so far, THE Anti-Tech!)
VOTING POWER: USE IT OR LOSE IT....2 people like this
9 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
24 Jan 10
This may be yet another example of nature vs. nurture...with a little bit of primary interest in the topic thrown in for good measure, Maggie. My father worked in a technical field...primarily related to electronics...so I learned at an early age what was behind the knobs, buttons and dials on many things, how to repair them and even modify a few to make them work better. Hitting the television if the picture wasn't clear or was rolling was a big no no in our house. So, I had a solid foundation...and developed an interest in computer technology way back when that meant large mainframe computers and complicated computer code. My educational path and work experience continued along those lines and beyond to network technology when that came along. I never felt that I couldn't learn or understand anything technically related because my confidence in myself goes back to those early years with my father.
I don't take it for granted that I'm not afraid to dig deep into the guts of any gadget, and have completely destroyed my fair share of things while attempting to fix them. I don't assume that anyone who isn't technically savvy is less-than-bright but I do get frustrated...mostly with my husband...when I'm trying to help or correct something and he continues to insist that he knows what he's doing when he clearly doesn't. Being a good wife, I let him continue to do battle until he declares whatever it is irreparably broken...then I take over and correct the problem. This has saved us from needlessly replacing 2 televisions, all 3 of our computers, 1 printer and 1 fax machine...so far.
My suggestion, since you asked for ideas on how to cope, is to either start from the ground floor and learn the basics when it comes to maintaining the gadgets you regularly use...or just accept the fact that you're Anti-tech and count on others to repair what stops functioning or falls apart. Forming a group also sounds like a good idea.
2 people like this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
25 Jan 10
The funny thing is, had I had more time to follow my G-dad around, that might have happened to me. Still, he seemed to do his best magic in secret. He wouldn't even tell my G-mom when he was working on a new project, but one day, it would just be there. He'd show us how the latest dealy-mo-bob worked, what it did, & how neat it was, but we got to see none of the making of it.
I also trailed more after him than my G-mom, because, while she was handy, the kind of things she did were less interesting to me (cooking, sewing) than watching G-dad use a post hole digger, or shoe a horse. I was a tomboy, after all. (Tatting was an exception.)
I knew better than to dismantle their stuff to learn how it worked; I'd have gotten spanked had I found it too hard to reassemble.
My engineer cousin didn't let that stop him. I'll never forget how he took apart their huge Philco floor radio set, leaving big bulbs & peculiarly shaped bits all over the floor. He didn't get spanked even though not only he, but even G-dad couldn't figure out where all the bits went again. It still worked, though, even after G-dad did it. I guess maybe they figured John would be able to be an engineer, while they probably expected me to grow up & marry & have babies.
But the world was starting to change....
Maggiepie
Love isn't all you need, but whatever else you need won't work without it.
~C.C.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
26 Jan 10
I hear ya about the cooking and sewing...I'm not very domestic myself...never have been. My G-dad confined his magic to his vegetable garden mostly. It was large and the plants were always beautiful but he never shared his secrets. Wish he had. Maybe I wouldn't be the plant killer I am today. See? I may have tech skills but my thumb is very brown!
@jb78000 (15139)
•
24 Jan 10
anybody who thinks they are good at everything is likely to be deluded. nobody is. as for me i think if i tried to mend a broken cd player for example i would probably cause the universe to implode. i can manage to rewire a plug without burning the house down but that is as technical as it gets. and the answer is simple - ask somebody else who is gifted (or at least competant) that way to help out. 
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
25 Jan 10
Wabbit, you'd be amazed how often some "comp geeks" get annoyed with people such as I. They treat one as if they were born knowing this stuff, & everyone should be blessed with an affinity for comp jargon & know-how! I couldn't tell a zip file from a fingernail file, or a jpg from a glass of oj!
I didn't get this lack from my mom, who was a Rosie the Riveter type. She could wire a lamp, change a tire, you name it. Worse, she had a great green thumb! Nor was it my dad, who met Mom while they worked at the Houston ship yards, making ships! Nor did my maternal G-parents suffer it--they could handle any gadget, & G-dad used to create them, often as toys for me!
Must come from some throwback part of my Mom's side of the family. I never knew Dad's side, really, though I met them all a couple of times.
Ah well, I've made it this far in life. I guess I'll make it the rest of the way, hobbling lamely through.
Maggiepie
Love isn't all you need, but whatever else you need won't work without it.
~C.C.
Maggiepie
Love isn't all you need, but whatever else you need won't work without it.
~C.C.@spalladino (17891)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I forgot to add the DVD player to my list below. Both DVD and CD players can be a b*tch because there are little parts in there that will suddenly fly across the room when given the opportunity to escape!
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
25 Jan 10
Spall, I once had an old manual typewriter spit its T at my face! Maybe I do have a somewhat heavy hand...typing-wise...
Maggiepie
Love isn't all you need, but whatever else you need won't work without it.
~C.C.
Maggiepie
Love isn't all you need, but whatever else you need won't work without it.
~C.C.
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
25 Jan 10
Thank you, Elic.
See? BFF! You gotta love this gal!
Maggiepie
Love isn't all you need, but whatever else you need won't work without it.
~C.C.
@minx267 (15527)
• Hartford, Connecticut
24 Jan 10
I feel so bad for you Mags, I am not anti-tech I don't however consider myself a tech geek. I am somewhere in between. I do however know people who are anti-tech
they are lucky if they can use there (very simple) cell phone.
My Roommate thinks in computer language and constantly yells at me because I can't understand what he is thinking.. let alone what he THINKS he is saying.. because his instructions for me make absolutely NO sense. I need to be shown what to do.- I am a hands on kind of learner.
If your just yelling instructions at me in a language I don't know.. i.e. Computer... I will never understand you unless there are some captions involved. :-)
So while I don't understand your plight completely, I understand somewhat...
and I sympathize with you. :-)
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
25 Jan 10
I can muddle along on my computer, but I'm at the same level on it as someone who drives a car, knowing the bare minimum of basics to make it stop, go, turn, etc., but if someone opens the hood & I see the innards, it might as well be an alien landscape I'm seeing, it makes about the same sense.
Worse, there must be a techie jargon gene, because it's a foreign tongue to me! I learned more German than Techie! Language gene? Check. Got it. Except for the Jargon language. Must be close to my math gene, which is not there, either. I think they were left on the assembly table when I was made....
I, too, am a hands-on learner, so I know exactly what you mean. When I was a little kid, my G-mother taught me how to tat. Later on, I got away from it, & eventually forgot all about it. Some years ago, I recalled how much joy it had given me, but I couldn't recall how to hold the string & shuttle. I bought some tatting books. No joy. I couldn't feel what the drawings & photos were doing. It made me feel like an idiot, because I knew it was easy enough for me to learn at 4 years old, so why was it so hard now?
It finally dawned on me about the various ways of learning. My Gram hadn't even used words--she'd just wrapped my hand in the items, & showed me the process. Zoom, I was off & tatting instantly!
Thanks for being understanding! 
Maggiepie
Love isn't all you need, but whatever else you need won't work without it.
~C.C.
Maggiepie
Love isn't all you need, but whatever else you need won't work without it.
~C.C.@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
25 Jan 10
Glaiz: I was always an anti-tech! It just took me a long, long time to realize I was a rare breed, an anti-tech who still loves technology!
Now if I could just figure out how to stop breaking it!
Maggiepie
Love isn't all you need, but whatever else you need won't work without it.
~C.C.
Maggiepie
Love isn't all you need, but whatever else you need won't work without it.
~C.C.
@angelajoy (1825)
• Philippines
25 Jan 10
I am also not a techie. But lately I've been improving because I've been trying to learn more about tech stuff. But it really doesn't come naturally to me. Sometimes I sound really stupid when I ask about new technology. Maybe I should join your group of anti-tech, tech lovers. 
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
28 Jan 10
Don't feel stupid! I'm convinced it's a disability, & with enough tax money, I'm positive Obama could fix it!
As for joining, the only way we can do that, I suppose, is to all become friends & PM one another when we want to talk. Or is there another method, here?
Anyway, I'm going to go right now & ask you to be my friend, so we can chat!
Then I'm going to bed, & by Friday, maybe I can finish going through all these replies!
Maggiepie
VOTING POWER: USE IT OR LOSE IT.
As for joining, the only way we can do that, I suppose, is to all become friends & PM one another when we want to talk. Or is there another method, here?
Anyway, I'm going to go right now & ask you to be my friend, so we can chat!
Then I'm going to bed, & by Friday, maybe I can finish going through all these replies!
Maggiepie
VOTING POWER: USE IT OR LOSE IT.
@kaylachan (58927)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Jan 10
I am for all entences and purposes, a tech geek. George on the other hand is what you kindly refered to as an anti-tech. His clock is about the only thing he can set. We have had our microwave a couple of months now, and he finally figured out how to operate it. I had it figured out in five minutes. I have a hard time teaching him anything as well.
I can spend hours pointing out a simple switch, and yet George can't figure out how to operate the device five minutes later. Even if the sulition is so simple and obvious. I don't like making fun of him, but I do laugh when he gets agervated with eletronic objects. Then again, he doesn't tackle projects of the eletric kind sober.
Unless you count the truck.... in which he's a genious.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
29 Jan 10
klutz gene lol I have one too...
I like the idea of technology, but I'm not necessarily good at using it. I'm mechanically inept, that's for sure. And far as new gadgets and so on, I don't have to have the newest ones. I'd rather wait until the bugs are out, they've passed the test of time, etc. And even then, I'm probably not going to be using the fancier features...
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
25 Jan 10
Sorry Mags, you lose your title to me. My attitude to all things techi is I expect them to do what they are meant to do, yet I have not the slightest interest in how they function. Frankly it bores me rigid and if someone tries to explain I don't want to know, as it will put me to sleep. I have tried sometimes and people have been most helpful here, bunny took 5 hours talking me through putting a picture on and I'm sure the result was a fluke and I could never do it again.
I spent 10 years in a sophisticated working environment but they were used to me and were very impressed I could manage my stapler without assistance, but send a fax, forget it. Fancy mobile, what for, I barely know how to work the simplest one from the shop, the red button means answer it. I didn't even realise it needed charging up. All this yet I am an intelligent woman, like I say techi just bores me rigid. Unfortunately I have a light bulb to tackle later, the very thought is filling me with dread.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
25 Jan 10
It's much more complicated than that jb, it's the stairs light so it has a switch at the bottom and the top so I need to turn the whole of the electric off and lean at a perilous angle over the spiral stairs, plus there's something not quite right with the fitting.
. ok, turn the light switch OFF, unscrew the old one, screw the new one in. and celebrate. let us know when you have managed this and i'll get the cake ready 
@teamrose (1492)
• United States
25 Jan 10
I feel so sorry for you. I have problems with a lot of tech stuff, but not to the extreme you have. My biggest problem is tech is just changing too fast. As soon as I get one technology down pat, something new it the lastest and greatest must have item.
I have a cell phone that has all the bells and whistles, but just can't be bothered learning how to properly use it. I mean why bother with a phone if you are going to type a message? Wasn't email good enough? Will there be a day when a pc is no longer needed? I think we have tech overload.
1 person likes this
