Frustrated over another's frustrations
By Morgan
@OneOfMany (12150)
United States
January 22, 2016 6:31pm CST
I gave my parents a new DVD/VCR combo player for Christmas. On that day I showed them how to work it after I installed it, and then I put all the obsolete old remotes out of the way (there are 8 of them, they only need 2). So I get a call from my mother who is frustrated that her 'vcr' isn't playing. I go through the steps and then find out she is trying to play a 'dvd'. Of course she calls it a CD at one point, so first her terminology is all over the place, which absolutely doesn't help.
Next she asks which remote, and has gotten the other 6 into the mess. We spend a while going through to the two she needs, and she's not listening. Finally it works, but she's ready to throw it all away because she just wants it to work without listening to how it works. This is all over the phone, and she's trying to do it in the dark... Sometimes I wonder how people can get so messed up doing something so simple.
It's not so hard. It's several button pushes and then it's ready to go. I feel like removing all technology from their house because they clearly can't handle it.
4 people like this
6 responses
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Jan 16
I would label the remotes, and remove any remotes they dont need for sure
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Jan 16
@OneOfMany With photos, and if there are buttons that they will never need, just shave them away.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
23 Jan 16
@Jessicalynnt Or put tape over them in case they need them later on.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
23 Jan 16
I'm thinking of giving them a detailed step by step guide to using the remotes for switching to the mode they want to be in. Then they can consult that and not have to call me all the time.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
23 Jan 16
Before you get too upset with your mother....remember, she taught you to use a spoon.
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
23 Jan 16
Yes, but once I had it down I didn't get confused over and over again.
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
23 Jan 16
@OneOfMany somehow I'll bet it took you a while to get the hang of it. As soon as mom wasn't looking you just stuck your hand in and mushed it into your face.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
23 Jan 16
@Morleyhunt Actually I hate like a dog for a while. Tableware didn't mean much to me for a while!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
24 Jan 16
patientce us older people take longer o learn the righ way o do things eledtronically as you you younger ones have gro wn up le arnig all this tech stuff im sure your moms really bright as she had you did she not so explain again and she will get it lolk l ol
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
24 Jan 16
@Hatley I offered to run it through to her this afternoon but she didn't want to. She instead wanted to do it an hour ago. Yeah, over the phone, of course.
.@topffer (42155)
• France
23 Jan 16
@OneOfMany And it is not easy to explain it over the phone. I have also experienced it
.
.1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
23 Jan 16
@topffer Well when someone isn't listening to instruction, it's even worse.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
23 Jan 16
I never said anything about stupidity. Frustration makes one not think clearly, and she wants it to be the buttons she pushes to get it. Not the real ones.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502190)
• Italy
24 Jan 16
@OneOfMany You lose your time, I printed clear easy to follow step by step instructions for my Mom, she never reads them, but she calls me when she is unable to do something.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
23 Jan 16
I feel like printing out a flow chart for them. A step by step analysis to get to the end process!
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
24 Jan 16
@LadyDuck Well last night I was able to tell her exactly where the buttons were that she needed (top left, bottom right, etc) to guide her through. She should start the conversation with what system she's using, because that's been the problem for the two nights. She isn't even using the new one, so she's managed to be confused over something that hasn't even changed! That's like driving the same car for 8 years and then not knowing how it works just because you have a new one too.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
24 Jan 16
It's hard to be patient when someone is going crazy on the other side of the phone, providing faulty information, and not listening.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
24 Jan 16
@just4him She doesn't explain things well when she's tired. It's a wonder she got it.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
24 Jan 16
@OneOfMany Yes it is. I'm glad your mom finally got it working.
1 person likes this
