I REALLY Wish My Parents Would Get A Computer!

[querelle]

My brother and I have both offered to buy one for them, but they insist that computers are for "you young people". They are 75 (Mom) and 79 (Dad) and calling them long distance is getting bloody expensive because I like to talk to them at least once a week. It would be so much cheaper by e-mail and I could send them pics as well. I think they are just intimidated by the technology......but really, how long does it take to get the hang of the internets!

Rant over and out.

Q

[unsavedtrash]

1. I got my mom (70) one and she calls it "the AOL."

She did use instant messenger until some guy sent a picture of his penis. She called my aunt(72)to come over and look the it. Then they took turns berating the guy.
She only uses it now to play Mahjong.

[Tektonik]

7. Sorry that was YOUR mom?

:hide:

:rofl:

[DarkTirade]

2. How 'bout you upgrade to a VoIP phone like Vonage so you'll have free long distance phone calls. :P

[querelle]

13. Would Love To..........

.........but VOIP is not availabe here in Canada. Telecommunications laws and such you know.

Q

[DarkTirade]

14. That sucks.

'tis quite handy.

Guess I'm not gonna be moving to Canada any time soon... :P

[LiberalFighter]

3. First, how much would the computer cost plus internet access vs

you and your brother's LD costs?

My dad will be 77 and he does fine with his computer. But if the internet connection is slow that could irritate your parents.

[triguy46]

4. I've been down this road twice before....

With my mom, she could open mail and play solitaire, but frequently called with 'the computer is not working' so I'd drive over, and find she forgot how to click.

With in-laws, its more bizarre, MIL wants to read the entire Microsoft user agreement before clicking 'yes' to make sure they are going to trick her.

Try one of the over the phone email services, with just an LCD text screen.

[wain]

11. I hear you!

Good intentions, followed by the consequences of a different generation that just doesn't get computers, no matter hard hard you try to help. I get the same phone calls, make the same trips. Combine that with not being able to figure out TV/VCR/DVD remotes!

[hippywife]

5. My MIL

is 80. She is very sharp and still very much on the go. She had a computer a few years ago but she didn't use it often enough to get the hang of it. She just wanted it for email. Every so often she would call us up to come over and show her how to use it again. When we tried, she would get all flustered but would use it okay. But even tho we told her to use it a little everyday so she would be comfortable with it, she didn't. Back to square one, calling us up again to come over and show her, again, how to use it.

She finally got rid of it but is now talking about wanting one again. Be careful what you wish for! I love her a lot but... :banghead:

[dropkickpa]

6. My 89 year old grandmother

Does email. She can't do much beyond that, but really, that's all she really wants to do. She was 80 when she first got a computer and the internet, and it took my Dad helping her get everything set up during a visit, but she loves it. She is in an assisted living facility now ad she likes that even more, they maintain the computer and all she has to do is log on and check her email. She'll be 90 on the 11th, and she loves being able to keep in touch with everyone so easily.

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. Oh well. I know how you feel, but you can't really force it.

I'm hosting two 14 year old exchange students from Israel this week and one of their parents won't get a computer because they think they are too old to learn. Oy! If you're too old in your 50s??????

[texanwitch]

9. There is a computer like machine that hooks up to the phone line and the TV.

It is really easy to use.

I can't remember the name of it right now, maybe someone here can.

You can use the internet just like a computer with it.

One of my neighbors had one until she moved up to a computer.

I wish I could remember the name of it.

[Critters2]

10. My folks got one years ago, and took to it right away.

At the time, they were still both using computers at work. My mom was membership secretary at a YMCA, my dad designed farm machinery. So, they were relatively tech savvy. I was lucky, I guess.

My mom and I used to IM nearly every day. I loved to be working away at a sermon and have a message pop up: "You busy?" I miss those messages.

I've found that seniors are happy to get access, once they know how. I have two elderly parishioners who just swear by their webtv. Maybe that's a good way to go at it.

Sorry you're dealing with this!

[no name no slogan]

12. Be careful what you wish for

This could be you