Open Thread: It’s Not You!
Hey, fellow digital immigrants! Sometimes when tech goes wrong, it’s not you – it’s just your misconceptions about technology….and about yourself!
I was on a Zoom call with my Senior Planet colleagues recently and discovered an issue with my camera – I could see them but they couldn’t see me. My instinct was to think I did something wrong.*
They patiently guided me through one fix after another and nothing worked They all quickly concluded that they were stumped.
A Digital Immigrant’s Self Talk
As a digital immigrant (as many older people are) I often manifest silly ideas that interfere with my ability to maneuver in the digital world:
-that my electronics are supposed to be perpetual motion machines that work perfectly all the time…and if they don’t, it’s a catastrophe.
-that if something goes wrong with my computer, my connectivity or my phone it’s because of something I did – or didn’t – do.
-that if something goes wrong and I can’t fix it right away it’s because I’m dumb.
-that if I try to fix it I”ll break something or do something I won’t be able to undo, OR
-that fixing it means going down the rabbit hole for hours so I should either live with it or try a half assed workaround.
BUT WAIT!
It wasn’t until that Zoom call that I realized how often digital immigrants like us think its our fault that tech doesn’t work or is difficult. And that younger folks who grew up in a digital world have all the answers.
Wrong! Sometimes younger folks have the answers. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes nobody has the answers! Once I let go of the self-blame and fear, handling the inevitable tech glitches got a lot easier.
So I finally got my “It’s Not Me” moment. I might have a bit more confidence with tech – and may still get in trouble – but at least I know it’s not always me. (BTW, turns out my camera wasn’t working because the cover got pushed back over the lens accidentally).
YOUR TURN
How about you? Did you have an “It’s not me!” moment with tech? How did it change your attitude or confidence? Share your experience in the comments!
Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog “Don’t Get Me Started” puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City. Send your suggestions for Open Threads to her at editor@seniorplanet.org.
Interested in personalized content? Sign up for free
Create an account and join our vibrant community to get reminders on classes and unlock a more personalized experience.
Comments
Our son calls me a digital immigrant. My husband says I do all the ‘computering’ in the house, so you know I get no help from him. Overall, technology is the biggest problem in my life, and like Virge, I frequently do it to myself! Why do I think that another app/program will improve things???
I grew up in the 60s with a mother who until the day she died at 95 believed she had some kind of negative power over any type of electronic. Of course, that thinking trickled down into my brain, slightly different yet present when electronics (practically everything nowadays) breakdown. I’m now in the enviable position that encourages me to minimize my interactions with all that jazz! Stuff will happen so don’t get over your head!
For the most part I can figure out how to make things work. Mostly. I had to do a lot of trouble shooting at work. A great thing as it turned out as now I am not afraid to try things on my own. And I learned to READ and follow instructions very well! But when something does happen and I am able to fix it, most times I have no idea how I did what I did. I just call it magic!
I would love to have an its mot me moment. I live with an IT guy & every time i have a computer problem the first thing out of his mouth is what did u do , or u must have do e something. I feel so incredibly stupid when it comes to computers im ready @ times to go back to the dark ages.
Your partner needs to get over himself.
my late husband was an IT guy and he left me with residual techphobia.
Maybe try the SeniorPlanet 800 tech line that’s on the SP homepage?
Anyway I feel ya! a few days after I did that Open Thread I got myself locked out of my own laptop with no backdoor to re-enter. (Beware of the Bitlocker!)
I got too cocky and tried something i shouldn’t. I’m lucky my colleagues are all so patient and the tech support guys were brilliant.
So I hear ya, sister! Waiting on my new laptop!