Recently my grandson celebrated his 17th birthday just 2 days after I trudged through my 75th birthday. During the celebrating/trudging, I was reminded of how differently the world he sees in 2023 is from the one I experienced in my teenage years. Sure there are some fairly predictable and even expected changes, that is the nature of life, isn’t it? It is also true that he is a male in the 21st century and I am a female straight from the 20th century. That difference alone could take whole days to compare and contrast. I will save that foray for another time.
I read a Pew survey that stated people between the ages of 18-29, when asked when old age began, replied 60. Those middle-aged participants, 35-50, responded 72. Ok, according to both groups, I am way past “old age” and rounding the corner on ancient. I recall vividly when I used to think that anyone who reached their 70s was legitimately old. Today I would say someone can be considered “old” after 101, maybe. Ah yes, perspective; it is a wondrous thing.
Today the use of language, political environment, economy, entertainment, 24-hour news – all are areas where we can see that things have definitely changed. But perhaps one of the most decisive changes is technology.
I can barely type the word without snarling, gagging, and whimpering. I am technologically challenged. There are over 120 social media sites; I am remotely familiar with 6 of them and kind of at ease with 3. I cannot text using my thumbs; I know how to utilize about 1/100th of what my phone’s capabilities are; do not look to me for any assistance whatsoever if you are programming a new TV (I can cuss at it though with little effort); I am lost when people around me start using terms like URL, content curation, embedding, microblogging, CTA, CTR, search engine optimization. Not willing to admit to being a complete tech neophyte, I sort of recognize software, floppy disk (which for a long time I thought referred to back pain), and word processing. Oh yes, not one to be left in the dust of progress, I can use Google and I can order from Amazon, sometimes even simultaneously.
The Google thing is bothersome to me because I really do miss heading to the library and searching through an array of books when I wanted to know more about something. Problem is, many times people look “it up” on Google and then proceed to believe everything that “pops up.” Not good, not good at all. Discernment is an art and a science which is necessary when plodding through endless sites with varying degrees of facts and certainty.
About the phone; I find the entire thing intrusive. I do not relish long phone conversations, and sometimes refuse to even answer that annoying ringing. I guess I figure if it is something important, whoever is calling will leave a message. But then I often cannot recall how to turn on my answering machine. Well, there’s always that.
If a phone on a side table can start firing ads at you after you and a friend casually discuss a new restaurant, or a little cylindrical thing named “Alexa” can tell you who sang the one hit wonder “Mambo No. 5” (has to be somebody’s favorite, right?), or your TV actually “knows” what kind of shows you prefer, or if AI can “chart” your behavior and spending patterns….well, consider this…..if the phone, TV, and the computer can bring “stuff” into your home, just how much can they “take out” of your home? Just saying, it creeps me out a bit.
In regards to the internet, consider how it has effected our shopping habits. Everything from clothing, equipment, household items, groceries, and even books can be purchased with a glance, a glimpse, and a single key stroke! QVC, HSN, Temu, Amazon, AliExpress….heck, is there anything that cannot be purchased online and often delivered the very next day? It is also unbelievably possible to research, locate, and book an entire vacation and never leave your living room chair. All of it puts me into a complete frazzled state of disarray. In every one of the areas mentioned, my grandson has no problems circumventing any of it and he need not break a sweat or feel faint.
Here’s the thing: My 17 year-old grandson and I are separated by 57+ years and countless differences varying from the quotidian to the exceptional. Some of the more vital areas though separate us not in the slightest – core values, sense of humor, love of popcorn, etc. The world and its inhabitants are not static; we are in a constant state of flux. But, the very most important things about life, living, existing on this planet have not changed, nor do I think they ever will. We are in this space for a very short time; what we do within that time span with what we have and what we know, the relationships we share are just as meaningful today as they were, well 75 years ago. Think about it; the importance and impermanence of life and all that it entails makes age almost insignificant in the grand scheme of things. We are so much more than the sum of our years.
bkreigh@adamswells.com
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Editor’s Note: This is one of a series of articles written by a group of retired and current teachers — LaNae Abnet, Ken Ballinger, Billy Kreigh, Kathy Schwartz, Anna Spalding. Their intent is to spur discussions at the dinner table and elsewhere. You may also voice your thoughts and reactions via The News-Banner’s letters to editor.
