How old are you and what made you go online?

Question

Hi! Since years I try to convince my parents to go online, go to a senior computer class. It offers sooo much possibilities! And it´s so, easy. Most of all because I live in the netherlands and they live in Germany. We could skype, email and send pictures within seconds, but they are afraid they could `break something` or `I don´t know how that works` and so on. It´s shame.

Answer 1

I'm old enough as well but I "fell in love" with computers when they first came on the scene. I was fortunate to have a guy at my work at the time, who spent ages teaching me all that was available on the limited company one, then I did a short course and read manuals.
I work in a call centre now and it is also part of an internet shopping site. We have people well into their eighties using the service and doing fine, we have others in their thirties who just can't master it at all. I have found a very interesting statistic, that those in the medical profession (ie. doctors) have the most trouble with computers. There are people who get a mental block when it comes to using computers and it is that initial fear that you have to overcome. Tell you parents of all the dim witted people who can manage to master computers -that there is nothing to be afraid of, if 6 year olds can use them, they shouldn't have anything to worry about.

Answer 2

I am 66, been on line for too many years to remember .. first computer was an Adler (with two 5-1/4 floppies and no hard drive) back in 1983 .. why did I go on line .. I can read the news from anywhere and not be dictated too, by Murdoch's spawn .. and I get various viewpoints and, since I live in Australia, I can find out what is happening in the rest of the world .. our news is very local and mostly gossip .. since the adventure into the web started I am now teaching older people ( my oldest 'student' is 94 and loves the internet)how to use computers and with all the other things in life, I find I have no time to get bored, tired or disinterested .. and I have to keep up with the Great Grand-kids .. nothing worse than the little blighters saying 'OH Grandpa, you're not 'with it" .. not sure what 'with it' is but I seem to have everything I came into the world with

Answer 3

I'm 65 and have been on line for 9 years. I learned computers on the job and by self taught methods. Since the advent of Windows years ago, using a PC is really quite easy....practice each day makes it easier....and like your parents, at one time I was afraid I'd break something or foul something up so badly it would never work again.

There is one way that could work for them....you can get them WEBTV now known as MSNTV...it hooks up easily to a TV..has a wireless keyboard and remote...online registration and auto billing online...My son gave me one in the 90's and I loved it before I got my PC. It has email and internet capabilities and photos, etc. A set cost around $150 or so...and a monthly fee is charged. No special wiring needed

Oh yeah, what made me go online at home, was email...being able to 'talk' to people often as I want no matter where they lived...then later it was just surfing and learning new things; then bill paying; now shopping too.

Answer 4

I am 54 & started using the internet at the local library to do research to find lost relatives. The first time I used these "user friendly" versions, I got so frustrated because the old models were so finicky. Those punch cards could get jammed up & so many other problems went with computers. These new models are so simple, that it's almost a crime! Although I have learned how to get on & off the internet & send emails...I need an instructional class to teach me how to utilize the many features of my own PC. If it comes with a complex instruction manual, then I'm happy to read & learn. The trouble with the new PC's is that the instructions are just far too vague for many of us older users who learned how to do things differently as children! It isn't always easy for older people to ASK for a new toy because they are afraid to break it & then they have to seek even more help to fix it & then there's the cost factor, that has a certain amount of guilt attached to it & the disbelief that this electronic stuff is just another "fad" that will soon go away & then where will that leave them after thy have mastered this new fangled contraption called the PC! We worry too much...it's not an easy thing to change!

Answer 5

It's not polite to ask a ladys' age but I will tell you that I got my computer when I was 63. My daughter ordered it for me and since then I have taught myself to use it. ( all the kids live in other states ) I certainly did "system restore" many, many times but now can do just about everything. There is a program right on this computer that tells you "how to" do everything. Your parents don't know what they're missing. And I had no computer experience at all when I got this. Wouldn't be without one now. . This is Windows XP , I know people who have gotten the new Windows Vista and have had nothing but problems ,I'll stick with XP. They can't " break" anything, all they have to do is "system restore". I hope you can get them to get a computer. Oh yes, I wanted to send pictures back & forth and keep in touch with emails instead of letters. Though we do still phone each other.

Answer 6

I'm 65 and have been online since my husband bought us a very early Mac, a MacIIsi. That was back in the early 90's. He taught us how to use it, and I taught myself the rest. Now we have two computers, an iMac and a Macbook and are connected wirelessly. Our first online connection was dial-up about 10 years ago. We used it mostly for emails. My mom took a cruise several years ago, and I found out that we could email each other at sea, and how easy it was. All she said was, "I write out my message by hand and someone sitting at a big machine sends it for me". That was her one experience with a computer. Like her, many older people are afraid to use them, or just don't want to learn. I agree, it is a shame.

Answer 7

I was 56 and could not figure out why I would need a computer. I was afraid I would break it and money down the drain attitude.My husband got me a used one for $150. It was a gates.I knew nothing . The first week I messed it up. Ever thing froze. Pressing button and everything went black. Thank goodness it was not a lot of money. My husband took it to work and a friend fix it. We knew nothing of computers. So once he brought the computer back home ,I got it in my head I would mess it on purpose and see if I could fix it. I was tired of being scared of it. Well, It went black (did not know of nothing rebooting) and I press the wrong button again and everything was gone. It took me a week to figure it out and a lot of notes to what I did that time and this time. Finally got it up and I play with it a lot. Bought a new one and my husband got him one too. Now I can understand what the Doctor tries to tell me from health, keep in touch with old and new friends . I also check out the bank statements and play games. I would buy another one in a minute. I don't know a lot of this computer talk and a number of things . Buy them one that is use first and let them learn the BASIC. Tell your parents it don't bite and don't worry . If you can learn to talk and walk as a baby then you can learn things faster as a adult. I am now 59 and learning.

Answer 8

I'm 73 and got into computers when I became interested in genealogy - about 10 yrs ago. I realized that I would never be able to grow my family tree without using a computer. I'm totally self-taught. My granddaughter showed me how to turn it on and handed me the manual. I took it from there but there was a lot of snarling, cursing and gnashing of teeth before we declared a truce. I admitted that it was smarter than I and that it did not always have to do as I wanted even if I had paid a lot of money for it.

While learning we (my computer and I) fought many a battle and there were times when I almost threw it out the window but now I'd be lost without it.

Answer 9

I am 64 and get my first internet connection thru "dial-up" about 4 years ago and now can't live without my DSL connection. I do emails, IM and of course the Y!A on a daily basis.

Self taught computer nerd. B ought my first computer back in the early 80's when the Commodore 4 was popular, got into Windows OS when Win 95 came out.

Answer 10

I'm72 and learned the PC on the job 20 years ago?. Wouldn't be without it. I live out of the US and keep in touch with kids and friends via email, do research for study and written work. I have a Linux set up also. Many older folks around here in Mexico are just stubborn, perhaps the way I feel about cell phones and other hand held trinkets that whistle and beep.