Digital Ageism

[question everything]

My cell phone started ringing just as I turned the key in my front door. George, my dear friend and neighbor in downtown Los Angeles, was calling. We had just shared a celebratory lunch, and an unwelcome surprise awaited him when he returned to his apartment. Building management had installed a new digital lock on his front door while we were out. And he didn't have the code. On the eve of his 90th birthday, George found himself shut out of his long-time home. I rushed across the plaza that separates our buildings. I had a hunch what must have occurred.

Building management, it seemed, had been alerting tenants about the upcoming change via email and text — methods of communication my friend didn't use. As his eyesight had been faltering, George hadn't been getting online much lately. His sole lifeline to the world was his ever-ringing flip phone.

In the name of efficiency, more companies are driving customers to conduct business digitally. QR codes for menus in restaurants. COVID-19 vaccines scheduled exclusively online. Apps for everything, from banking to health care to travel to routine maintenance requests. The presumption that everyone's life is fully digital — and that everybody is, or wants to be, comfortable with screens — shuts out many who may not be deft with the technology, or even have access to it.

(snip)

Well, he shrugged, she probably couldn't. Then, he called up a temporary code that allowed us to enter George's unit. Inside, we logged onto his email, and retrieved the company-assigned digits that would now serve as his lock. They hadn't even paid for the upgrade that allowed you to choose your own code. George panicked. How would he remember these random series of numbers, much less punch them in on a tiny keypad? "Can't I just have a key?" George asked, pointing to the old-fashioned keyhole above the keypad. "There's no way I'll remember that, much less be able to see those numbers."

(snip)

Later on, I, along with George's daughter — a lawyer who lives in a different city — composed stern emails to management explaining the severity of having locked a tenant out of his apartment — and installing a system that was challenging for him to navigate. The next morning, the friendly maintenance man appeared at the front door of George's apartment — old-fashioned key in hand. George was happy, and relieved, at this work-around that relieved him from digital jail.

https://www.nextavenue.org/digital-ageism/

[cyclonefence]

1. I do not have a cell phone

and I can attest that I am denied entry to lots of stuff in my life. The most recent insult is that my grocery store now uses "digital coupons," so I, surely one of their best customers (the only things my husband and I splurge on are really, really good stuff from the grocery store)(well, that and my Red Breast whiskey), now have to pay full price on items that should be two for one.

My husband, who does have a cell phone, a fancy one, is unable to load the app to get those coupons. He complained to the clerk, who used her phone to help him out.

I don't want to have to ask for help in buying groceries!

I can't handle a cell phone because I'm old and I have tremors. Medical marijuana controls my tremors, but when I take that I can't drive to the store.

When I get a flat tire I have to go someplace that will let me use their phone to call AAA--there are no public phones anywhere anymore.

(I don't want helpful suggestions, just sympathy).

[usonian]

5. You bring up a good point.

There needs to be some kind of ADA for people who can't manage a "smart" phone.

I can barely read mine, but "fortunately" am nearsighted, so I take my glasses off to use it. I'm doing so now.

Sounds like a dumb phone or walkie talkie (CB or FRS band, you can get in hardware stores) might help you in a jam. Some places are outside cellphone coverage.


We just have to help each other when things come at us fast.

[70sEraVet]

8. I fully sympathize with the 'digital coupons' gadgetry!

Like you, i had a helpful cashier who spent quite a bit of time trying to help me. I don't have the most up-to-date phone. After a while, a manager came up, I guess wanting to know what was taking the cashier so long to ring up one customer (surprisingly, there was no line of customers). He spent quite a bit of time trying to access the digital code on my phone, finally giving up and just giving me the discount with his 'over-ride' code.
The discount may as well have been only available upon 'completion of a hand-stand'!

[Mr.Bill]

13. After awhile my wife was able to master the digital coupon crap.

I haven't even tried, but I guess I will eventually. In the meantime I've been telling management at the stores that it would be nice if all digital coupons were just automatically available to senior citizens. Maybe the message will get through to somebody.

In most cases seniors are their longest term and most regular customers.

[crud]

23. I get a daily email from the grocery store

And in the email it says to clip digital coupons. When I click the link it takes me to the shopping page for ordering, no option to click the coupon. I quit opening the email. Stupid and cumbersome. They are herding us like cattle to the slaughter. This digital world could be really awesome, but the money grabbers have effed it up badly.

[Joinfortmill]

29. 🍷

[usonian]

2. I was visiting my daughter's place.

Typed the wrong number too many times.

It locked me out.

Fortunately, the lock reset itself after a few minutes.

Reminds me of the story of a kid who punched the wrong unlock code into Mom's phone. Well, each time you fail, the phone takes longer to allow the next try. Locked for 48 years.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5468199/Child-locks-mothers-iPhone-48-YEARS.html

Only solution is to reset the phone. And restore it from a backup.

Reminder! Back up your phone. Ask a friend if you don't know how.

Vexes me, at times, and this was my living.

More to the point, though, business needs to be backed up in writing.

[MLAA]

3. Whew! So glad they accommodated George!

When Covid vaccine recently available I was in Walgreens to pick up a prescription having earlier gotten my husband and myself vaccinated when an older woman (older than my 60 years) trying to get a vaccine appointment at the prescription counter. She was told you had to make them online. She looked distressed saying she didn’t know how to go online. I offered to help her. About 20 minutes later we were successful after having walked her through setting up a Walgreens account, entering her insurance info etc. Her relief was palpable and I smiled all the way home.

[Grasswire2]

38. I yelled at a Rite Aide clerk (I'm sorry still)

Their advertising throughout the Covid era was that walk-in shots were available. Every ad they put out, every piece of information said that walk-in Covid vaccinations were available.

After my third time in a week, involving three different stores, denied each time, I yelled at the clerk. And I'm still sorry.

[MLAA]

39. Was anyone ever able to explain why they didn't/couldn't honor their advertising?

[Grasswire2]

40. No. And I yelled because there were two or three staffers there at the time.

Pharmacy staff. Nobody waiting in line. The sign at the store (and on the web site) says walk-in appointments available. It would take five minutes to jab me. I was already in their computer system.

This dismissal has happened to me more than once at a Rite Aid.

[MLAA]

41. Crazy!

[Croney]

4. I have a story about this too. My stepdad, who is 89,

went to a furniture store and bought a bed. They told him a delivery date and time. That time came and went; no bed. He called them. They said the delivery driver had texted him to confirm, got no reply, and left.

This happened two more times, although he explained on the phone that he couldn't get texts. He got in his pickup truck, drove to the store, and demanded his money back. He had paid cash, which is his habit, so they couldn't refund it immediately, it had to go through channels and he'd receive a check in the mail.

I told him I'd order a bed when I visited him, and give my number for confirmation, but he decided his old bed was fine.

[Delmette2.0]

6. I finally asked my daughter-in-law to deal with two apps I had a terrible time with.

One for my patient access at my medical clinic and hospital. Then other for the state system to renew my driver license.
I was almost in tears with frustration. She breezed right through it.

[Warpy]

7. When your sight goes, EVERYTHING goes

You have no idea how much of this world assumes everyone can see until you can't.

I'm struggling with that right now. I can dope with the computer with my nose 6 inches from the screen. I can barely read print, and anything more than a foot away from my face is shrouded in dense fog.

It's horrible.

[question everything]

10. So sorry about this. The world is aimed at everyone functions with slight correction

PBS used to have descriptions of what was taking place in a program. I wonder whether they still have it.

[Warpy]

15. I haven't turned a TV on in over a year.

I have an Audible subscription, watch news on YouTube (offshore, especially), read the digital WaPo, and generally manage to get by. Oh, and I've found sites with old radio shows. There is a hell of a lot of good stuff out there.

I just can't get anywhere, this town was designed for cars and nothing else. And if I get there, I can't see well enough to get anything done. Plus, I'm terrified I'll step on somebody's kid.

[Aussie105]

18. Wife sits real close to the TV

and has given up driving because of her bad eyesight.

She never took to social media and gets me to read out emails addressed to her, but she prefers voice calls.
And those have been getting fewer and fewer.
She rings them, but most are on the other side of the world, so she has to stay up really late to call them in daytime hours.

She wonders why few ring her, and I'm guessing her relatives wonder why she doesn't respond to emails.

Some of us oldies feel disadvantaged by modern communication technology, and rightly so.
Too new, too complicated, too dependent on good eyesight.

[byronius]

9. I'm not challenged by the digital shift --

But I am buried beneath the weight of it. Constant password changes, constant emails buried in the constant stream of marketing crap.

Too old, too busy with important stuff — I hate all this crap.

And look! Here I am whining like an Oldster.

I remember a generation that never touched a computer, that’s how old I am.

[Aussie105]

19. I can beat the 'old' part!

Uni statistics on mechanical calculators.

High school maths with slide rules and logbooks.

Calculators came later . . . only the rich people had Texas Instruments devices that could do some decent maths.

Agree with the password crap.
Tried to pay an annual dog and cat registration.
Couldn't remember the password, had to reset it. Must contain at least one capital letter, must contain both letters and numbers, plus a special symbol like #, etc.
And for some reason Edge doesn't want to store it.

What, just to pay a bill?
1 hour later, got the bill paid. Could have sent a check just as quick, but we have done away with those.

[byronius]

36. So familiar. The smallest things take up more room.

I need an add-on hard drive for my brain.

[The Wizard]

11. I draw the line at digital coupons

If they make it difficult to give them money. I shoplift feigning ignorance or shop elsewhere.

[AverageOldGuy]

12. Streaming services

Add to the digital takeover STREAMING SERVICES.

MSNBC was advertising a documentary my wife wanted to watch, however, it was on only at 11:00 PM, a bit late. We could watch it any time on the NBC streaming service Peacock for a monthly fee. We watched at 11:00 PM.

Today, I tuned my TV to NBC to watch a college football game only to be greeted by a message that because of something and something and something else, the game was only available on one of two streaming services, none of which I had ever heard of. I waited three hours, turned to ESPN and got the score.

That's only the part of it -- listen to a news or similar program, hear an intro for something that sounds interesting but it's only available as a podcast, whateverthehell that is.

And don't get me started on digital newspapers.

[Aussie105]

20. It's the new way . . .

of making your life difficult and getting money out of you.

Technology's bad side.

[iluvtennis]

14. So glad your friend Georgecna again open his door with a key. We should have choices in things. nt

[lambchopp59]

16. My generational beef with these young people's obsession with smartass phone.

Something I've picked up on-- some young folks whip out that multi featured phone fastest gun in the west to avoid personal interactions. I've had troubles directing some young co-workers in recent to contribute significantly, sitting playing with that damn phone when it's time for helping at work.
Sometimes it's insulting. I even mentioned once how holding the phone up as an interaction "shield" even in presence when some social interaction is generally expected. It has the veneer of "the happenings on this thing are so much more important than anything you are" for hours on end!

[multigraincracker]

17. Now my medical groups' portal has been srewwed

up for two weeks. Can’t get on it and that is what I use for everything. Appointments, blood test along with health questions.
Was on the phone with them for over an hour. Still can’t get on.
They got me hooked then cut me off.
Now I don’t do “online” anything with them. It’s “inline” for me. I go to their office and stand “inline” and play dumber than I am.
I’ve been doing in-line banking and refuse to do online banking. All the tellers are now personal friends.

[Aussie105]

21. I must admit paying car registration on line

is so much easier than being in a crowded place to do it in person.

Meeting the great unwashed there, those who don't have a smartphone or the internet! Or online banking and bill paying.

Do most(all) of my bill paying online and tracking bank accounts.
Mostly easy.

[Lithos]

22. the management company f*d up....

Bad program management on their part. There should have been some system of positive checks where they knew everyone had gotten their new code and an outreach for those who did not.

For those who avoid a major communication tool such as the Internet or Smart Phones - that is your choice. It is much like those in a large town who opt out of car ownership. Sometimes, you can get away with it without any issues, provided there are backup systems such as mass transit, but most times, you choose to live with the consequences.

Unfortunately, our society has good and bad actors. This means creating systems that generate a sufficiently strong defense that these bad actors go elsewhere for easier pickings. Right or wrong, it is in your best interest to create chaos by using individual passwords and changing them periodically. If you are not technologically capable, get something like 1Password to generate and safely store your passwords. Do not use LastPass as it has proven ill-managed. If you are technically capable, you probably have a system for your needs. I typically use Dec 26th or New Year's Day to change my passwords - more frequently if I hear of a breach.

Get used to the idea you have no privacy anymore. You have enough data exhaust that most statistical models can figure out your likes and dislikes to a rather uncanny level.

And spend the time to learn how to use things. You do not have to learn programming or even advanced techniques - but there are easily available videos out there explaining basic use.

Before I get voted off the island for all of this, yes, I know this is hard. However, I am a Baby boomer (ask my kids) who makes a very good living in IT and easily runs rings around the digital generation. Adopt a learning mindset, invest an hour or two each week, and the "compound interest" will pay off.

[crud]

24. I generally spend a few hours each week

wasting time with the digital world. The granddaughter had a cough last week, went online to schedule an appt. at urgent care. I spent some time and filled out all the forms with all the information they demanded before granting me an appointment. When I showed up for the appt. they handed me a form to fill out by hand...ugh. These are the things that frustrate me. The shit don't always work the way it should.

[Lithos]

30. Yeah, that happens

Right hand/left hand not communicating on their side. I have a ton of that in my company. Usually, this occurs because people go through the motions doing task work instead of starting with a measurable outcome and then figuring out how to meet it best. I constantly fight the battle where people think that things will magically work because they put something online or in a cloud. Technology is a tool, not a solution.

[ShazzieB]

25. What I'm sick of is constantly being bugged to download yet another app.

I don't have any trouble with online stuff in general, but I resent being told I need to download yet another app for everyone I do business with and half the websites I use regularly. Dude, you have a perfectly good website, and it works just fine for what I need to do. Quit pestering me!

But pester is what they do. Every time I go to the website, up pops another "Please download our app!" reminder. Sorry, but I don't need all that extra clutter on my phone or tablet, tyvm. Grrrr.

[LoisB]

26. Glad this had a happy ending.

[teach1st]

27. My beef is with the companies that think they don't need a browser app, just a phone app

I'm old and retired, but I can handle tech. I just don't have the finger dexterity or the visual acuity to enjoy phone apps. I much prefer to use a browser on my trusty desktop with two large-screen monitors. I hate when companies direct me from the web to a download a phone app so that I can get full service.

I take care of my mom (who, believe it or not, is even older than me). She lives in a nursing home, but in the independent part. The home sends important messages as attachments to email and she can't open them on her Chromebook. Admin at the home won't even consider not sending attachments to 90 year-olds or, at least, providing alternatives. My mom could read the text of an attachment if it was included in the email.

Thanks for posting. This is an important topic.

[Lithos]

31. Hmmm - a couple of questions

What is the format of the attachments? My wife and kids run Chromebooks, and they do not have too much of an issue with them. But they rely on Google Docs for the Office format. I know a lot to ask in terms of manipulations.

In Africa or some parts of Latin America, the phone network vastly outpaced the network capabilities for computers - so they live exclusively on phone applications. That said, in the US, phone apps typically are a result of being cheap, or they are a marketing-driven organization that wants them so they can get additional tracking information on you.

L

[teach1st]

33. The attachments are PDF

My mom is 95. She just doesn't get attachments, and she knows not to click on email links. I do have it set for PDFs to open in Chrome when clicked, but her concept of emails is fixed - you read them and you don't click on links.

[question everything]

34. Same here. My iPhone, which I got less than three years ago, is for calling, texting

mailing and visiting Facebook- mostly reading, and NextDoor which is a useful community link.

Several months ago I could not pay my Xfinity cable bill unless I downloaded an app.

So I did once, but since then I have been able to avoid it, just pay online from my desktop computer as I do for other utilities.

I do not use the phone for any financial activity not even checking the bank account to see that, say, Social Security check is there.

[Joinfortmill]

28. Happy ending. You are a good friend.

[Lithos]

32. Unless their name is Lisa Napoli

They just posted an article they found.

[question everything]

35. ...

[IcyPeas]

42. Good article. This entire thread should be sent to AARP.

When I post text from an article I always use the "excerpt button" to highlight it so readers know right off the bat that the story is from an article and not me.

Even though there is a link at the end of your post some skim right over that...

I don't think it's an actual rule though.

[Pluvious]

37. Context is everything ;)

I always try to go the extra step to be overly clear
when I ask a question or share something

It’s often so easy to make the assumption on what is obvious