# People who don't understand technology continue to be frightened of it **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 14, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167 "2009-12-14T01:34:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/1 "2009-12-14T01:34:55Z")
This woman apparently read something in the paper about facebook being used to catch a sexual predator, and she apparently took that to mean that anyone who uses facebook can be arrested as a sex offender. She tries to convince her (probably) grandson to stop using facebook. > **[Grandma, I'm not a Sex Offender - Video Fantastica!](http://www.videofantastica.com/view_video/78698/)** > > Video Fantastica aggregates the best crazy videos. Enjoy this YouTube video - Grandma, I'm not a Sex Offender Reminds me of when Napster first started making the paper. Boondocks had a comic where Granddad was reading the paper, and then he looks up and says, “Boy! You ain’t been loadin’ down on no Nappy, have you?” ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/2 "2009-12-14T01:55:45Z")
Wow… bad logic _and_ technophobia… I’m glad she’s not my grandma. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/3 "2009-12-14T01:59:12Z")
Yesterday, my mother-in-law asked me how she can cancel her Facebook account. In her own words: “I’ve just heard too many bad things about it, and people getting in trouble.” So I offered to help her adjust her privacy settings. She said, “No, I just want to get rid of it. I don’t like it, I don’t trust it.” ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/4 "2009-12-14T02:02:45Z")
People like that are so annoying! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/5 "2009-12-14T02:13:06Z")
> [@Daddypants](#): > > Yesterday, my mother-in-law asked me how she can cancel her Facebook account. In her own words: “I’ve just heard too many bad things about it, and people getting in trouble.” So I offered to help her adjust her privacy settings. She said, “No, I just want to get rid of it. I don’t like it, I don’t trust it.” I’m sad to say that my 32 year old best friend has the same ideas. She won’t join facebook because it’s evil, but she belongs to a very popular site for new moms. And the mommy site is ‘so much safer’. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/6 "2009-12-14T02:53:07Z")
> [@Always Brings Pie](#): > > I’m sad to say that my 32 year old best friend has the same ideas. She won’t join facebook because it’s evil, but she belongs to a very popular site for new moms. And the mommy site is ‘so much safer’. :rolleyes: oo oo pick me I know, I know. She’s on THE NEST right? Now we all know and we can stalk her. That will teach her a lesson.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/7 "2009-12-14T02:53:15Z")
But this is just another variation of the old “afraid of the unknown” syndrome. Why do you think universities were often located in small towns far away from the cities. Because “big cities = evil” Dancing = evil or so we learned with _Footloose_ People will always find evil in something ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/8 "2009-12-14T03:01:26Z")
Oooh, we’ve got Trouble, right here in River City. With a capital T and that rhymes with P and that stands for Pool. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/9 "2009-12-14T15:16:50Z")
I remember being in a doctor’s waiting room, once, and listening to someone’s conversation. It was an old woman and her daughter, and the daughter was telling her about this young man whom she had met on the 'Net, whom she had since met in person, and seemed like a very nice young man. The daughter had to be at least 35 or so. The mother started to say…“but I heard on the news that they can be predators…” And the young woman went on to explain that yes, she had heard that too, but she was careful, and she met this young man in public first, and he had shown no qualms at meeting her mom or her friends or anyone else, and he seemed like a nice guy, and love could be found in the weirdest of places… and the mom said, “Yes, but I heard on the news there can be predators…” Just totally not even listening. Because whatever you hear on the news is TRUE. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/10 "2009-12-14T15:23:11Z")
“I don’t rape little girls!” Ha ha ha! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/11 "2009-12-14T15:27:55Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Just totally not even listening. Because whatever you hear on the news is TRUE. :rolleyes: And because nobody has ever, ever, ever, met a predator in a bar or at work. Nope. Not ever! ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/12 "2009-12-14T16:36:34Z")
My wife has an otherwise knowledgeable friend who believes that 3.5 GB of kiddie porn got on her son-in-law’s computer because of a “virus.” Apparently, you can, like, be innocently toodling around on the Internet, then, _BAM_ – kiddie porn on your computer. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/13 "2009-12-14T16:38:43Z")
Well, there was that virus that downloads kiddy porn to your computer. Someone mentioned here a while ago. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/14 "2009-12-14T17:08:02Z")
There’s also a computer virus that breaks into your neighbor’s house and steals all their Xbox games, so that explains why my closet is full of them… I like the video in the OP for obvious reasons, but my favorite is that the kid has a replica sword mounted on his wall. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/15 "2009-12-14T17:23:30Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Well, there was that virus that downloads kiddy porn to your computer. Someone mentioned here a while ago. Yep, as seen [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=539609). ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/16 "2009-12-14T17:49:52Z")
Well, that’s why I stopped using Facebook. Well, that and people I didn’t want to associate with Friending me. ETA: Granny’s nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/17 "2009-12-14T17:58:00Z")
I’m reminded of my father & stepmother, who some years ago told me to not go to porn websites because they thought that “bad people” would show up on the doorstep. In black trench coats, no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/18 "2009-12-14T17:59:52Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I’m reminded of my father & stepmother, who some years ago told me to not go to porn websites because they thought that “bad people” would show up on the doorstep. In black trench coats, no doubt. Only if that’s what you’re into, ya sick perv. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/19 "2009-12-14T18:00:48Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > oo oo pick me I know, I know. She’s on THE NEST right? Now we all know and we can stalk her. That will teach her a lesson.🙂 I’ve never heard of THE NEST so I googled it and bopped on over to the forums. The very first thread? “_Is Anal sex bad for you??_” Too funny! ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167/20 "2009-12-14T18:37:31Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > ETA: Granny’s nuts. Now _that_ sounds like a porn site. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-understand-technology-continue-to-be-frightened-of-it/521167.md?page=2)