# Why do old people act... old? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 6, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-act-old/668175 "2013-09-06T13:52:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-act-old/668175/41 "2013-09-08T19:22:15Z")
Fifty-seven. I’ve worked with computers since 1990, still like new gadgets. I’m actually more patient than I used to be. I made a conscious decision to back off from polticial involvement, which used to be a large part of my life - it got too discouraging. ---
**Author:** ![silvermist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@silvermist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silvermist)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-act-old/668175/42 "2013-09-08T19:23:06Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I’m 43 now. Is this why I hate the MS Office Ribbon and Windows 8? You hate Windows 8 because it’s hateable 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-act-old/668175/43 "2013-09-09T13:47:48Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > The Tea Party lineup is over there. Really. I had no idea the Tea Party had that particular viewpoint. :dubious: > [@](#): > > There are special classes at the local recreation department that we go to in order to learn these behaviors, phrases and mannerisms. For example, at the ripe old age of 50, I consider texting to the stupidest invention ever. Why text when you can have an actual conversation? WTF youngsters? I can see the advantage to it as passing notes in class, but otherwise it is stupider than swallowing goldfish. And Facebook? Who the hell wants the whole damn world to know what they are doing every minute? Some teenagers are even so stupid as to post videos of their pranks that are criminal on Facebook. This is what I mean though. You have decided they are both bad, but you don’t really know if they are useful to you. Ok, so if you are willing to listen with an open mind: Texting is great for quick conversations that only need a quick answer. For example. I need my SO to pick up some eggs on the way home. Phone, at the shortest possible call: Ring, ring Him: “Hello?” Me: “Hey, it’s me.” Him: “What’s up?” Me: “Can you stop by and pick up some eggs on the way home?” Him: “I can/can’t.” Me: “Ok, thanks/I’ll get them instead.” Him:" Ok, love you." Me: “Love you too.” So now I’ve disturbed him at the office, taken time out of both of our days and distracted the both of us, just over some eggs. Text: Me: “do u have time to pick up some eggs on the way home?” Him: “Yes/no.” So there’s texting. Here’s Facebook. Now I am not on FB, because I consciously made a decision not to be. But I tried it first. And the biggest advantage was, I have family overseas, and it was really nice to be able to talk to them. And not just the immediate family, but distant cousins. I might pick up the phone to talk to my uncle (but probably not, because the long-distance is incredibly expensive, or I buy a calling card) but I won’t to talk to his niece. But like this, I could. I eventually decided against FB, but it was an informed decision. And I am still on google+, and I guarantee you I don’t post what I am doing every moment. I basically use it as a photo repository. It’s the closed-mindedness that I think is bad for all of us - to just decide something is terrible. Then we don’t get the benefits, either. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-people-act-old/668175.md?page=2)