Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks
June 16th, 2009
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In Stephen King’s Kindle-only novella UR, a college English teacher buys an Amazon Kindle in order to spite his ex-girlfriend by appearing tech-savvy. Horror ensues.
Yeah, I know, you probably don’t have a Kindle. But this isn’t about that book. This is about ditching technology as we age. They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Maybe you can, but often the dog doesn’t want to learn them.
A few years ago I took an online test that tells you what generation you belong to. (Here’s one generation test, though not the same one.)
The one I took had me right at the border of Gen X and Gen Y. It all came down to whether I had a Facebook account or not. I didn’t, so I was classified as Gen X. Now I have one, but I don’t use it. Does that make me Gen Y?
It’s not that I can’t use Facebook, I just don’t want to. I say it’s because it’s a waste of time, but does that make me the same as the people who won’t learn how to use email?
Why do we stop trying new things as we get older?
Is it because we have less time to play around?
Is it because we lose our energy and curiosity with age?
Is it because we’ve had enough time to settle into our patterns?
Is it because we think we’ve done enough by then?
Is this a problem?
June 16th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
I’m 58 yrs. young and I try new stuff all the time. I’m on twitter, can’t stand Facebook, although I have a page. I think it is different from person to person. My in-laws who are in their 80′s took to computers and email like fish to water. My parents, in their 90′s have barely ever touched a computer.
I’m not at the level of computer savy as my 19 yo son, but I do ok.
I think if you don’t continue to learn, you stagnate, and become boring. I think of myself as being to young, at least on the inside.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:37 am
I notice this the most with music. Most people have very specific ideas about what constitutes “good” music. Whatever ‘the kids listen to’ is garbage. It’s as true now as it was when Elvis was alive.
I remember a discussion with my father (who, by the way is a musician) when I was a kid. He was 100% convinced that rap was a fad. Rap is certainly not the same – if “The Truth is Out of Style” (MC ft. Jesus) were to get released today, they would get laughed off the radio – but it is not a fad.
I love music. LOVE. MUSIC. I love Stevie Ray Vaughn and I love Rihanna. I love Hendrix and Joan Baez and Cream, and I also love Lady Gaga and Coldplay and Beyonce. Q-Tip and Pharrell and Timbaland. Bach and Tchaikovsky. Prodigy and Mindless Self Indulgence and VNV Nation.
I could go on forever. But the point is, I think you start getting older when you think your stuff is the pinnacle of awesome; that everything to come after is derivative and trite. Pablum for the masses.
You see this a lot with movie preferences too. I finally got around to watching “Blade Runner” and I was like “What is the DEAL? This is the most boring movie EVER.” My husband loves that movie, but he’s also a decade older than I am.
Hayden Tompkins´s last blog post..Celebrating Awesome: Corey Allan!
June 17th, 2009 at 1:59 am
Perhaps we’ve already found what works for us so we’re not on a quest for constant novelty any more.
I pretty much dumped Facebook when I got twitter. But Facebook’s still really useful for organising events as almost all of my friends are on it.
I got 16 points in that test which apparently makes me firmly Gen Y. Personally I think the Gen Y touchstone is whether you had a Nintendo (or other console) when you were a kid; I certainly didn’t. We read books, proper books, not on a Kindle. I would really like a Kindle though!
Sarah´s last blog post..D-Day
June 17th, 2009 at 4:06 am
I think of my grandparents – one set stayed connected to people of all ages and they stayed young right up to the end. The other set connected only with people their own age (more or less) and ended up isolated.
Before moving across the Atlantic, whenever I had a party, I’d invite my parents and they’d be the belles of the ball. They don’t use Facebook, but likely only because they live in an area that only has dialup. They do have cellphones but only for emergencies and they don’t like IM, but then again I don’t much either.
However, in their mid70s, they are two of the most active and social people I know and for me that’s the key in staying young and non-grumbling – connections!
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome´s last blog post..Become a Nomad with the Location Independent Business Course
June 17th, 2009 at 4:29 am
It is only a problem if you want to make it into one.
These ‘tests’ are irrelevant IMO
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June 17th, 2009 at 9:33 am
I think it is because we are just used to doing what we do and listening to what we listen to ( I am stuck in the late 90s )…
I have had a FB account for a while, but didn’t like it. Now I use it every day and love it…
Jim Gaudet´s last blog post..New Google Webmaster Tools | What’s Up?
June 17th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Don’t learn for the sake of learning. And don’t learn just because other people expect you to. Learn only if you find it useful or it enhances your life.
Cheers~
Mark
Mark Foo | TheBigDreamer.com´s last blog post..My New Blog Tagline: Personal Development For Big Dreamers
June 17th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I am a middle-aged woman and am more into internet stuff than my two teenaged boys! But I don’t have a Facebook account. One factor is time, but the main one is that I am an introvert who does not necessarily want to reconnect with every person I’ve known over the years who sees my name on Facebook. I have plenty of friends, but if I’ve lost touch wth someone and want to find them, I will find them. I mean, that’s what Google and LinkedIn are for, right?
MiscBytes´s last blog post..Florida serial cat killer – arrest made!
June 17th, 2009 at 10:54 am
I think it’s a problem if we want to keep competing with younger people in the workforce.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Interesting question and very nice site….
I think it’s all of the above, I think there is a multiplicity of reasons as to why when we get older we become less “techy” (if you will).
You ask the important question, “Is this a problem?” I think it’s a problem if it interferes with your life’s objective and priorities.
If it does not interfere, then you’re OK. If it does interfere and you can’t appropriately keep up, then you should take on the task because nothing is as complicated as it first seems.
That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it
Mr. Self Development´s last blog post..How do you Achieve Long-term Goals
June 17th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
@ Paula, you’re certainly doing a good job of trying new stuff. Not many people think of themselves as being “too young!”
@ Hayden, music is a great example of where people stick to what they know. I also think it’s an area where it’s OK to do so, because newer isn’t necessarily better, just different.
@ Sarah, I think finding what works for you is definitely a big part of it. Is having a Nintendo a Gen Y thing though? I think the tail end of Gen X was into that big time. And before that, the Atari 2600.
@ Alex, what an interesting contrast between your grandparents. I guess tech is just one aspect of “staying young” – the bigger picture is connecting with new things.
@ Glen, I agree the test are irrelevant as far as measuring what they proclaim to – I get very different results on all of them. At the same time, I hope I never stop wanting to learn new things.
@ Jim, so you were stuck in the 90s, but at some point you decided to let Facebook into your world? Sounds like a good plan: stick with what you like, but keep the door open.
@ Mark, sounds good, though I don’t see much of a difference between “learning for the sake of learning” and “learning because it enhances your life.” For me, they’re almost the same.
@ MiscBytes, that sounds like a good balance. You don’t need to be on top of every possible internet thing in order to compete with teenagers.
@ Vered, when competing in the workforce, staying on top of new things is often essential. People who enjoy doing that naturally have an advantage.
@ Mr. Self Development, I think that could be right – it’s a problem if it interferes with your life’s objectives and priorities. However, I think it most likely will interfere unless the objective is stagnation!
June 18th, 2009 at 12:15 am
I think I will be 50 years old and still wearing a backwards hat listening to Radiohead!
Jim Gaudet´s last blog post..Costa Rica Sunset
June 18th, 2009 at 4:21 am
Hi Hunter,
I would think ‘learning for the sake of learning’ is different from ‘learning because it enhances your life. The former means you learn something because you think it’s good to learn something, but you don’t exactly know what are the benefits. You just THINK it’s good simply because you’re learning something.
The latter means you know why you’re learning what you’re learning. You’re not learning just because you THINK it’s good to be learning something. You learn with a conscious purpose or goal in mind. You know exactly what are the benefits learning what you’re learning.
I think this makes a whole lot of difference.
Cheers~
Mark
Mark Foo | TheBigDreamer.com´s last blog post..Don’t Lose Focus On What Is Already Working For You
June 18th, 2009 at 4:54 am
FaceBook has evolved into an important networking tool for job hunting. Even if a technological application seems to be just for recreation (making friends, keeping in touch with old friends etc.), somehow, someone will come up with a practical use for it in the real world.
It’s still better off to learn (and play around) new things because technology can have practical applications in just about anything.
June 18th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
@ Jim, we’ll know how to recognize you then!
@ Mark, I guess it’s nice if you know what the benefits are, but I’m not sure we need to be aware of them. Some things, like SEO, have an obvious payoff. Other things are more subtle. As an example, most people say that education is important, but very few people can say why.
@ J Grants, I’m sure Facebook has uses beyond what it’s known for. Sometimes we find unexpected benefits when we branch out into new things.
June 19th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
[...] Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks – Hunter Nuttall wonders, why do we stop trying new things as we get older? [...]
June 19th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Hi Hunter,
Hmmmm. You’ve got me thinking.
I see people of all ages engaged and not. So I don’t think it has as much to do with age as it does our curiosity level.
I remember the first time I saw some relatives of mine with a cell phone. They are in their 70′s and it almost seemed out of character for them. When I asked them how they liked it, they really didn’t, but were convinced having one is a great convenience.
As for being online. In my “circle”, I’m the only one who blogs and uses Twitter. Now when they talk on TV about Twitter, friends will say, “Do you follow Him/Her?” “What do they Twitter about?” Although they are curious enough to ask me, they’re not curious enough to join themselves. And blogging-they all think it looks like too much work, plus they really don’t understand the concept.
RE: Facebook. I’ve looked at it, but haven’t joined. I’m thinking it’s another time suck. But then, I thought Twitter was too. And, look at me now? Thanks to you, Hunter.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..When The Conversation Moves Off Of Your Blog
June 19th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Hi Hunter: I also have a facebook account I don’t use
However, I recently taught myself how to create ebooks, and just yesterday I figured out how to upload a free ebook unto my site. With blogging I learn how to do new things almost every day. You’re right that as people age they have a tendency to stop trying new things, but it’s important to try not to go down that road.
Marelisa´s last blog post..Free Ebook – “Step-by-Step Tutorial: Write, Publish and Market Your Ebook”
June 19th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
All the research I have read suggests that we need to exercise our brains as well as our bodies. Also when I was last teaching Developmental Psychology we talked about variations on the ability to think and learn – such as artistic, creative, analytical thinking but they all fell into two categories…rigid thinking and flexible thinking…
Seniors seem to manifest one or the other style and they practice this over a lifetime..so when they are older they may not be able to make changes.
At 93, before fractured spine, my mom was on her computer email every Thursday and Sunday to check in with the Grand children ( some of them were not very on line) but she tried to know them all and share in their lives. She loved helping me pay her bills on line and the print outs I would make of her Quicken stats were fabulous to her crippled writing hand….My father was always exploring new technology to help people learn and keep learning…
I can not believe all the folks my age who would rather have magazines come in the mail than read them on line/ or stumble upon/ or blogs…and will not shop on line or pay bills They would rather destroy the environment than learn something new…they are sure they will be ripped off on line…
I have dyscalcula and I forced myself to learn how to drive, pay bills and learn everything I can about the computer world….I am on twitter but not very good at it and have no buttons on my blog yet! But you just watch me – I will.
Patricia´s last blog post..Thinking About My Dad
June 20th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
@ Barbara, good point, loss of curiosity doesn’t always happen with age. You see some old people always trying new things, and you see some young people who never try anything. As for your friends, I guess we all usually have to follow a path from disinterest to mild curiosity to intense curiosity to participation to evangelism. How long that takes depends on so many things. I think I’ll stay at the disinterest level with Facebook for a long time!
@ Marelisa, blogging definitely puts us in the path of new things, sometimes when we’re not ready for them! But I’d definitely rather keep learning things than stagnate.
@ Patricia, what great examples you’ve shown us in your mom and yourself! Doing new things is usually a challenge for everyone, but then there are those who go way beyond the norm, even when they have excuses not to try.