So I had to take my car in to get the oil changed and get an estimate on how much work needed to be done to it… I hadn’t taken it in since DECEMBER and had put on over 10k miles… so I was WAY overdue! Anyway, while I sit there in the little waiting area reading emails on my iphone, this couple (who said they were 61) says to me “is that an ipod?” I told them that it was an iphone but it had an ipod in it. They were so amazed. “Wait so you can like play a game on there? And read emails?!” Yep. Technology is fantastic lol. They told me they don’t have a computer and go to the library to google funny cat images and were trying to understand what a “blog” was. I tried explaining it in a few ways… not sure if they got it.
Then we got is talking about how generations and technology differ. We got to talking about the newspaper and the phone book. She said “how do you know about this car place? I found them in the phone book!” I said “what’s a phone book?” (jokingly) and I told her how I absolutely HATE those thousand page waste of paper books… we could save so many trees, resources and landfill space if they just stopped making them. I said “these days, everyone can either get on google or look them up on the internet somewhere if they don’t have a phone book…” but then I was like “wait… not if they don’t have a computer… and don’t want to call 411…” I was saying how when I was at my studio and the delivery guy brought the phone book I told him to take it back and recycle it and he said he wasn’t allowed to. So I threw it away. SUCH a waste! Even my mom doesn’t use a phone book anymore! (I don’t think… now that I’ve taught her all about google…
Then there’s the newspaper. I mean really. Every single article in the printed paper is available on the newspapers website, on yahoo, on cnn, on tmz etc. Is there really a need for the hard printed copy when the info you want is FREE online?! I was telling her how my parents always call me to tell me about something in the paper and I remind them I’m on the internet and it’s all right there. She went on to tell me about how much they love the paper. I hate how the paper gets your fingers all black! Am I the only one?!
Then there’s the news… I fully understand people wanting to be “informed”… but my Dad like lives on CNN. I personally can’t watch all that stuff daily.. it’s kinda depressing. That’s why I follow local news stations twitter alerts and if something is breaking news, it sends me a text via twitter (you older generation are like WTH… twitter? Huh? Maybe you aren’t aware of WTH.. lol that’s another post…). I was explaining this to the lady and she was like “ok I’ve heard of this twitter and facebook thing but I have no idea what it is…” How do I explain to someone who doesn’t use a computer what it is?! Ok back to my point…
During the earthquake on Easter, as my family ran to find cover, I just stood there on twitter posting “OMG EARTHQUAKE” and followed about 500 other people posting the same thing. AS it was happening. I bet a bunch of you reading were doing the same thing. I know because I follow you all. Anyway, my mom and everyone else ran to turn the TV on and were all trying to guess the size. My husband and I both knew as soon as it was tweeted by the news a split second later… before the news even announced it on TV. You can’t tell me a tv will bring you information quicker then twitter!
Now, whenever there is a breaking news story, or something happens, I run to yahoo or twitter or some other news outlet (facebook counts too LOL) and I can definitely see the generational difference between generations.
-Oldest relatives: “Check the paper!”
-Older relatives:: “Turn on the news!”
-Younger relatives: “Check twitter!”
Anyway, I just thought it was pretty funny having this discussion about technology! Oh and I must mention… they LOVE shows on HBO and all the pay channels so we chatted a long time about one of my favorites, “Big Love.” I can’t WAIT for that new season to start… but I have no idea when that will be. Anyone know?
Ok this was probably such a random blog post but I thought it was funny when it happened. 🙂
