My brother will always amaze me...
By topffer
@topffer (42156)
France
February 17, 2017 5:54am CST
He works as the general accountant of a pension company, and, frankly speaking, we do not share many things in common, except our parents. When my father died in 2014, he left us his goods, and we realized that we were sharing something else : we do not want of something jointly-owned between us, and we decided to sell them.
Among them, there is a small house with a large barn in the countryside. The house is a 17th C house, it is on the top of a hill with a nice view ; I have been surprised by the relatively high price estimated for this property by two estate agencies, as the house and the barn are not occupied and in bad condition.
In France we need to do a real diagnosis to sell a house, including many things from energy performance to detection of termites. It has been made a week ago and sent to both of us by email. Well, to me and my sister-in-law, because my brother has no email address at home. He is stuck in the 1980's, and has an allergy to internet and mobile phones.
Today my brother called me from his job, because he has offered this property to a neighbor, and the neighbor asked for the diagnosis.
(me) "You sent it by email ?"
(him) - No, I have no email address.
"You have no email address at job 
? I cannot believe that
, you sent me several emails
!"
- I have one, but it is handled by my secretariat.
"Then, ask a secretary to do it."
- It is a private affair, I do not want to ask for that.
"Sit at a terminal and do it yourself."
- Hmm... hmmm... I do not know how to do it... Can you send it 
?
"You do not know how to send an email 
? Alright, give me the email address of the neighbor."
- His email address... Wait, I forgot to ask him. I give you his phone number, you will contact him.
OMG 
! If you think that he is my older brother, you are wrong : he is my younger brother.
He remembers me a memory of a professor teaching social law inviting his students in Master II to his home (a nice 18th C castle with a large park) and asking "Does somebody know how to light the gas stove to prepare a coffee ? It is the cook's day off, and I have never done that."
Have you ever heard of somebody who do not know how to send an email in 2017 ?
? I cannot believe that
, you sent me several emails!"
- I have one, but it is handled by my secretariat.
"Then, ask a secretary to do it."
- It is a private affair, I do not want to ask for that.
"Sit at a terminal and do it yourself."
- Hmm... hmmm... I do not know how to do it... Can you send it ?
"You do not know how to send an email ? Alright, give me the email address of the neighbor."
- His email address... Wait, I forgot to ask him. I give you his phone number, you will contact him.
OMG ! If you think that he is my older brother, you are wrong : he is my younger brother.
He remembers me a memory of a professor teaching social law inviting his students in Master II to his home (a nice 18th C castle with a large park) and asking "Does somebody know how to light the gas stove to prepare a coffee ? It is the cook's day off, and I have never done that."
Have you ever heard of somebody who do not know how to send an email in 2017 ?14 people like this
13 responses
@topffer (42156)
• France
17 Feb 17
They should meet and create a club.
I have received a few emails from my brother. Now I know that it was from a secretary. Next time I send him an email I will start by "Can you tell to my brother..."
.
Well, he is not annoyed by spammers. And it is impossible to join him directly by phone, as there is always an answering machine at his job like at his home, and he calls back later
.
.
I have received a few emails from my brother. Now I know that it was from a secretary. Next time I send him an email I will start by "Can you tell to my brother...".
Well, he is not annoyed by spammers. And it is impossible to join him directly by phone, as there is always an answering machine at his job like at his home, and he calls back later.4 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
17 Feb 17
Not fair that you expose your brother like this here. After all you both have the same blood 
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
18 Feb 17
@topffer You mean he hand writes and posts letters and stuff? 
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 17
@allknowing He posts letters and when it comes to emails he asks a secretary or his wife.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159101)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Feb 17
@topffer .....The first time you do somethings on here is a little scary but after that it is not a problem.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Feb 17
So as not to shame the ones I do know that cannot send an e-mail I won´t say.
They are just not into the Internet and that is it full stop. They play games on the Internet and nothing else.
I have to teach my youngest things also that I would have thought he would have known too but there you go. It takes a World.
I had to learn the hard way like most I can send e-mails and all that yes. I even get surprised looks when I say that I know how to.
I have seen those kind of Houses going through France not many but they do look very nice. We went by Car the last time hence we got to go on all the secondary Roads till we found the right one going into Paris.
Some know, some don´t, when they feel like it they will get around to it.
I can understand your frustration though I really can.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Feb 17
@topffer
Yes I bet you must wonder why but like he says his Secretaries do all that for him I suppose and he can be online why not to read the Newspaper?
He is probably only interested in what interests him and nothing else.
I had to show my youngest the other week how to send photos to his Mobile from Facebook.
Do you think he would get it well no and I got myself in a twist trying to show him how easy it was but he did not want to know.
That is a bit annoying when he keeps asking you and then after he does not want to learn anything about it.
To each his own is what I say.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Feb 17
@lovinangelsinstead21 It is not really annoying here because we have a common interest to sell this house. His interests have always been very different from mines...
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
17 Feb 17
I am not frustrated, but thoughtful. His title is "Director of the management expenses division". I wonder how he can control the expenses of more than two thousand employees without feeling the need to send an email times to times by himself ? I know that he reads his daily newspaper online, so he is not completely out of the internet, but he will certainly not read this.
.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
@topffer While I can understand people not wanting to use a computer or whatever I also believe that they will be left behind in some ways. Already our ABC television says 'for more information go to etc. I don't know how you are supposed to find out more if you cannot access the net. However I can't talk as I am still refusing to have a mobile phone.
@topffer (42156)
• France
17 Feb 17
He has never been very bright but he finally managed to have a Phd in economy when he was in his early 30's. He has a basic knowledge of computers because I know that he reads his daily newspaper online. But I would never have imagined that he did not knew how to send an email.
.1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
19 Feb 17
I could see if they were older as there are a lot of people over 70 who have never done this. But someone younger. Sounds like he never wants to do or learn anything for himself and that is a SAD state.
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
21 Feb 17
Are you sure that we do not have the same brother, because mine does not know how to work a computer, either.
@luisadannointed (4171)
• Philippines
17 Feb 17
Lol! That's was so funny. But you sell everything. Don't you want to preserve one to inherit by your future kids? Maybe I am a bit old fashion but... No! Anyway it is your decision and it is best to sell everything you can.... Hehehehe it is just that your parents I think put a lot of effort to buy those lands for your family.. Hehehe hope you don't get mad. God bless... But your brother is very funny. Lol! I know a kid who does not know what a cellphone is because he was raised in a mountain later when he became a celebrity because of his good looks and good personality and talent he learned to use one. Hehehehe. Do you know the big brother house show? That's where he got opportunity to learn that there is a cellphone existing in the world. Lol!
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (18923)
• United States
17 Feb 17
When I was going to a community college, my professor didn't like technology.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
17 Feb 17
my dad who is in his mid seventies is more up on technology than me
if I ever get left property again I'll try and persuade my sisters to not sell and rent it out.
I made a mistake allowing my grandparents and mums house to be sold, we should have kept them.
if I ever get left property again I'll try and persuade my sisters to not sell and rent it out.
I made a mistake allowing my grandparents and mums house to be sold, we should have kept them.1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
17 Feb 17
My brother is stuck in the 20th C. I inherited of 17 buildings from my mom, and I have realized that it was somewhere toxic : lot of hassle coming from the tenants and the neighbors, and heavy taxes. My brother got an equivalent inheritance, sold everything to buy a house in a big city, and his house is worth much than all mines today. It is why I agreed to sell the properties of my father. Honestly, I would not recommend to keep any house, except if you want to give it to your children.
2 people like this
