Technophobia...anyone?
By doryvien
@doryvien (2284)
United States
July 23, 2009 12:37am CST
I've seen some members here nearing the senior citizens age (no offense meant) and they are actively into internet, cell phones and other gadgets. Once in the mall I saw and old man in his late 60s playing with a PSP. My mother is maybe one of the few people these days who doesn't want to have anything to do with either a cell phone or a computer. She lives far from me and my siblings, in a country where advanced technology is as perennial as the air she breathes, yet my mother refuses to acknowledge their presence. I kept on telling her to buy a cell phone so she can be reached 24/7, but she says she doesn't need it because she has a landline anyway. I also advised her to have a computer so that instead of calling us by phone-which is by the way very expensive, we can take advantage of unlimited free calls offered by skype, yahoo, etc. She told me that she's fine with whatever technology she's been used to, and that I should leave her alone; says she doesn't have a long life ahead of her anyway, and doesn't need to catch up with whatever complicated machines there are around her.
We (me and my siblings) call my mother a technophobic - lovingly I should say. Do you know anybody who is like her? What other machines are they afraid of? Should you insist, like I do, that they learn and/or embrace technology that we know today? Your thoughts please.
3 people like this
8 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
8 Nov 09
I can understand your surprise at seeing old people who are familiar with what are usually considered to be modern technology, but age is certainly not a barrier. I am 60 years old and quite in love with my computer, which I use for a myriad of things and would feel lost without it. I also have a mobile phone which I consider to be essential nowadays. I know many people of my age that are totally technophobic. The main reason is that computers were not in use in the home until I was over 40 years old, and even then they were usually in use by the few people who could understand how to use them. Today most children have a computer and they are prominent in schools.
Technophobia is fine for the elderly, but of course all other people must become familiar with computers because soon they shall be in use whatever type of employment you take.
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
6 Mar 10
Very well said.. I think age is just a number.. and there are many whom are not technophobic..
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
9 Nov 09
Hi Ayslum,
I totally agree with you, age should not be a barrier to learning new things. I kept on telling my mom she should learn new technology, and fortunately she is now open to using a cell phone. So this Christmas I am giving her a cell phone as a gift. I am hoping that after familiarizing with this gadget, she'll try her hand at computers. Thanks for responding and have a good day!
@seanbryan (349)
• United Arab Emirates
17 Aug 09
Hi dory!
My mother too is technophobic! Lol... She's a school teacher but still uses the conventional technique of teaching. As new technologies are being introduced in elementary grade, she was one of the selected few to attend a training on computer literacy but blatantly rejected telling her age as an excuse. And so her superiors didn't force her on it.
But when I bought a computer for the kids at home she began to realize how important it is especially that I am abroad and she spends a lot on long distance calls. Since then she would just ask the kids to open the computer, set the camera and headset whenever she wants to talk to me. However, she would not dare using it when nobody is around to assist her. I also gave her a mobile phone though it has several features she only knows how to use it by calling and sending SMS. Good enough, what is important is that we can speak to her at anytime we want.
1 person likes this
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
17 Aug 09
Hi Sean,
It appears that most parents conveniently use age as an alibi for staying away from the technology we have today. Good thing at least now your mom started using the computer and a cell phone. Indeed these things like computer and cell phone make communicating with our loved ones a breeze, and the bill is a lot lesser than a regular call. I talk to my husband (who works in another country) everynight thru skype and we haven't paid a single cent for the calls. Amazing!
Thanks for sharing!
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
23 Jul 09
Hi doryvien!
Your mom is not alone. My parents are pretty much the same. My mom slightly better than my father though. She is keen on taking pictures on cell phone and talking but my father would just not learn it. He has a great antipathy. May be they belonged to a generation which here was quite different than ours. Things have changed drastically since and the fast pace of life has definitely hit them hard.
Having said this, some of their friends are adaptible to change and have grown with it. That's good in a way. But, I also respect my parents' view point. They must be happy with the way they are! Isn't it!
Nice post. 
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
23 Jul 09
Hi Mimpi,
Oh wow, your mom enjoys taking pictures on the cell phone! That's sweet. I just hope my mother will at least try to explore what the new technology has to offer. I know she knows the benefits they bring us, but I guess she's more afraid than not "like it" at all. I feel that she doesn't want to look or feel st#p!d when she gets hold of them that's why she resolved to keep her distance from these things. Even when I keep on telling her it's okay and she'll learn eventually, she just wouldn't give in. Your dad is more like my mom LOL.
Thanks for sharing and have a good day.
(Hey, I read in the news that your country had the best view of the eclipse that occurred yesterday, did you witness it? Lucky people!)
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
25 Jul 09
Yes my dad is more like your mom! My mom is more understanding and ready to change unlike my father. And yes, dear we did get a clearer view of the eclipse. However, my city could witness only a partial view and clouds hampered the clear vision.
How are you doing? How was the eclipse there? Have a great day.
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
26 Jul 09
HI Mimpi,
Actually I've only known about the eclipse when I listened to the news on the radio on my way home from work. I got more of the details from the evening news when I got home, and that's where I learned that your country (and China) had the full view of this rare phenomenon.
Here in my country we only had a partial view, but still a lot of people waited for it to happen. I've seen clips on TV with some of your people being interviewed about their experience. It's awesome.
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
6 Mar 10
Hello there doryvien.. nice to see you around once more..
My mom too, she always think of herself as technophobic, and I always try to allay her fears away. Fear of technology, that is. She doesn't even know how to on the computer, so I try my best to teach her stuffs that she can grasp. I think the reason some people (the elders, mainly) become technophobic is because they do not know that sometimes it can be real easy. But once they get around the hang of things, they will surely like it..
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
6 Mar 10
Hi Zed,
No doubt your mom is much like my mother. Agree with you, once they get the hang of it, they start to appreciate technology. My mom finally gathered enough courage to use the cell phone I gave her last Christmas. Now she's very happy with it coz she realized the benefits like she doesn't need to get home to be able to call anyone because she uses a mobile phone now. I also wanna teach her how to use the computer, but she's really scared to touch the keys. So I'll take it slow just as I did with the cell phone.
Thanks for dropping by
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
17 Nov 09
hi doryvien I wish you could have just got her to get on the net just once, she would have been so overwhelmed with all you can do I think she would have demanded a computer of her own at once. Once my son convinced me of all I could do on a computer I was sold, I was sixty and now I am 83 and I love it. I was heartbroken when my computer was in storage and I could not be on the net or mylot. so now for the past three months I have been mylotting like crazy and browsing the net too. I do surveys, I look up information, I just do all sorts of things I would never have been able to do otherwise. I also keep in touch with friends and relatives via email. its just wonderful and I would not be without my computer.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
2 Dec 09
hi again I think once she gets a real taste of it she will see
just how much fun it can be And really get excited over all the
things she can find on browsing the net.good luck,use me as an
example if it will help.
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
17 Nov 09
Hi Hatley,
I wish I can teach her to use the computer. She lives miles away from me hence it will be difficult do that. My plan on visiting her will be postponed until next year, when I do I hope she will give me enough time to educate her on this area. I really admire you, you never allow age to hinder your passion. I hope you don't mind if I tell my mom about you, as I believe she will be inspired when she knows that it's never too late for her generation to learn new technology. Have a wonderful day!
1 person likes this
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
25 Jul 09
Hello Dory...I do know some people who are very resistant to change and technology. I bought my father a cordless phone one year for Christmas, and he acted afraid of the thing! But he came to love it and use it often.
Karen@doryvien (2284)
• United States
25 Jul 09
Hi Karen,
Your dad too? And I thought my mom is rare LOL. Good that your dad eventually liked your Christmas present, you made him embrace technology. I'm planning to buy a cell phone for my mom on her birthday, I hope she'll come to love it too. Thanks for dropping by.
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
23 Jul 09
Hi Lovedude,
You're right, ATMs can scare people who are new to the technology. You know what, my mother has a bank account with an ATM but she never uses it. She would always ask someone (me or other members of the family) to withdraw for her. That's another scary stuff for my old mom - but I love her nonetheless.
Thanks for sharing and happy moLotting.
@jimeny (640)
• Israel
23 Jul 09
My mom actually was afraid to do anything on the computer. When she had to use it for work, she kept calling me or my sister to come help her so she can finish the task. sometimes it was a simple task as copying+pasting, she was just too afraid to try without someone to tell her it's okay.
My grandma is technophobic too... we told her to get a computer so we can send her emails and contact her in a different way other then phone calls, but she still refuse to buy one, saying she don't have room for it.
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
23 Jul 09
Hi Jimeny,Well at least your mom is trying, and she seems to be on the way to learning the computer. That's what I tell my mother too, that we can send her emails and pictures in a snap unlike the traditional mail that takes long before it reaches it's destination. Oh well, I guess I just need to convince here more. Happy myLotting!
