Techno Phobe

I am a bit of a techno-phobe.  Ok, so I am more than just a bit phobic about technology  gadgets.  It is not that I won’t use them, but I am reluctant to try them at when I first get them.  I am not sure what my problem is, maybe I am afraid I will break them? I have heard too many horror stories over the years about hitting a wrong button on a computer and erasing all the files.  I am sure that I will download something I don’t want and it will freeze up the computer, or worse yet, put a virus on the system.  For whatever reason, it is a problem  I am working to overcome. 

Just before Christmas, my husband bought me my first smartphone.   Even though I was very excited about the capabilities of the phone, part of me longed for the good ole’ days of the rotary phone, which was simple and would not beep at me if I pushed a wrong button.  I am proud to say that I have not erased anything on the phone, have downloaded some apps, and have really enjoyed using it. I wonder why I still have reservations about technology. After all, I have my own laptop which I use regularly, owned a palm device a few years ago, own and use a tablet reader, and now I have my first smartphone. 

Several years ago, my mom had a computer which she used to do family history.  No internet, just basic database stuff.   Then she and my brother decided to go in together on a better computer.  It was more confusing to use, and she gave up trying to figure it out.  My brother offered repeatedly to help her, but she was becoming a techno-phobe.  She struggled  when calling a business if they had a recording directing you to choose from a menu.  She would yell into the phone that she wanted to talk to a real person, then hang up.  After she quit using the computer, I noticed that she started aging quickly.  Her youthful  zest for life and tackling challenges  was gone, and an old lady was left.  I determined right then that no matter what, I would not become old before my time by giving up on technology.

Fast forward several years, and here I am, a middle aged woman trying to keep up with the quickly changing world of tablets, phones, and  computers.  I am glad to have daughters and sons-in-law who are good with techno stuff.  And, if I have questions on how to use any that technology, I can always watch a YouTube video.

~Gayle