Two days ago, I bumped into an old family friend. We drifted apart years ago, and I hadn't seen him for ages, so we stopped for a chat. After the usual pleasantries and updates about the family, the discussion shifted towards life in general and what I was to hear was quite shocking.
He told me his daughter has bought him a mobile phone, but he's shoved it in the drawer and he's never going to use it. The rage on his face and in his voice is what shocked me the most. I mean it's ok to not be a fan of mobile devices, but to see it as the enemy and literally refuse to use it, that's a different level. The mobile phone was just one thing, but after 10 minutes of talk with him, I had to realize the man is living in the 90's, he refuses to do shopping in the supermarket, raging against every small change. The worst thing is he thinks this is cool and the right thing to do.
Photo by Mathias Reding on Unsplash
I was wondering what makes people shield or barricade themselves from learning new things, evolving, adapting and keeping up with technology and innovation. What makes someone think change is going to stop, if they protest against it.
Living an analog life is still possible to some extent in my country, even though it slows you down considerably and robs you of a lot of opportunities. This is only going to get worse once things get to the next level, so sticking to your convictions comes at a price.
Photo by Julie Gaïa Guzal on Unsplash
A good part of the people in this category are opting to do this, to mask their incompetence, fear and laziness to some extent, thinking complaining about the changes evolution brings will mask the true reason behind their behavior.
I'm not going to convert to another religion just to make some financial gains but I'm going to learn everything that can move me closer to my goals and make my life easier, that's for sure.
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
My dad is the same age as the man I am talking about and he is sky high in terms of adjusting to digital life, compared to this man. It takes a lot of work teaching him and making sure he understands not only the benefits, but the risks as well and makes the right decisions, but totally worth it. It wasn't easy at the beginning, but after some time he understood that he has two choices: either adapt and evolve or get left behind. Not long ago I asked him what he would do without his mobile phone, his apps that help him in life and he said he'd never swap digital life with analog one. Now he sees the gains and know it was the right decision.
I was thinking of his daughter, knowing his parents don't have a mobile phone to call for help, in case something happens when they are out. Imagine the frustration knowing their mobile phone is sitting in the drawer and it can cost their life not having it at hand.
Photo by Kristīne Kozaka on Unsplash
What is even more frustrating is the constant complaining about new things. It shows a narrow mind and I'd love to know if deep down they realize they are sabotaging their life, or they are too afraid to even admit it.
Those times when nothing changed for decades, thinking was discouraged and you lived the same way, isolated from the rest of the world are long over, so you either adapt, or die, figuratively speaking of course.
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I think there are limits. I mean, some things we don't need to be jumping into them with full abandon like some people do.
Limits, yes, but not total refusal, unless you want to live totally off the grid.
Oh my, we have to be flexible with technology, especially older people, even if it´s just learning the basic functions of a mobile phone. I once got so dizzy at home after coming back from walking the dog of my girlfriend (She was in the hospital for a check-up), and when I was going to give him water, I collapsed, fell on the floor, and sprained my ankle; the water splattered all over my face; I had a heat stroke. Thank God, I had the phone with me, so I was able to call an emergency doctor, and an ambulance came after about 8 minutes.
Oh God! I'm sorry to hear that but I'm also glad you could call for help. You are right, we have to be flexible and try to adapt, learn as much as we can as these things are meant to make our life easier. A phone can save your life, literally, so why resist it?
Exactly!
Sometimes we become so comfortable with what we know that anything new automatically feels like a burden.
Well, I don't think we can generalize like that as the majority of people are trying to keep up with evolution.