The Technology Challenged

[Nev375]

I AM that guy, and I take offense to the term technologically challenged. In no way am I challenged by technology, I have a degree in electronics, taught myself computer programming at the age of 12. I got kicked out of my high school computer education class because I knew more than the teacher and it pissed her off for me to correct her on everything she was teaching. I also worked at Intel for 4 years on some of the highest tech gadgetry most people can imagine.

However, I don't own a cellphone, a blackberry or any other portable communication device. I don't even own a flat screen TV and I prefer using an abacus to a calculator.

I do however, own a simple netbook and up to the point that I had internet access, my telephone was a large lump of black plastic with a curly cord and had a dial on it .

Why? Because cell phones and most other high tech communication devices are not worth the expense, unless your income or business is dependent on you being tethered to them 24/7. I don't wish to support an industry who does not respect their customers and in fact abuses and rips them off with bad business practices and has been for years. Sadly, we as people have learned to accept this as normal and don't seem to mind it anymore.

I don't really like the all-in-one nature of today's smart-phones. If I had one I would opt for something like the Jitterbug because I prefer something like that to be large enough to fit in my hand, have actual finger-sized buttons and only be a phone and nothing else.

People are becoming way to dependent and addicted to them and getting their music, movies, games and entire lives wrapped up within these little things and if the thing crashes it tends to be devastating. As advanced as our technology is, it's still way too unstable and vulnerable. Hell, even my laptop has been patching itself every other day since I had it.

So please don't refer to me and my brethren as technologically challenged. I for one, would prefer the term Technologically Unimpressed"

/rant

thank you

 

[lfmn16]

Well, sure, but there have been "working musos" for much longer than there have been cell phones and they seemed to get along pretty well. The need for instant response is a demand that has only existed for the last 10 years.

We got along without electricity at one time too. Maybe you'd like to try that. Or antibiotics, organ transplants, air planes, computers, faxes, etc., etc., etc. Maybe we should go back to living in caves.

And your comment about being accessible 24/7 is a load of crap. You may not know this but the cell phone has a function which you can use to turn it off. I can tell you (as the guy who had to coordinate with everyone) if you don't have a cell phone are causing other people extra work. But I guess if it works for YOU, that's all that matters.

 

[carlthegroover]

Interesting, I guess there are different levels of being introverted.

Yes, indeed. As a psychologist myself, I know that the most currently accepted theory of introversion-extraversion is that it is a continuum (with a normal curve distribution).

Still, regardless of how much socializing vs how much self time is needed, introverts are people, and as people we are also social animals. We DO need some human contact, and the degree of it depends entirely on each person.

Same with extraverts. I've met some people that just can't go a few moments without being with others or at least talk to them on the phone, while others are content with at least a little of self time.

I once met Sammy Hagar and he was shy and a clasic introvert. I guess he changes once he's on stage and is being paid to be Sammy.

I'm kind of thinking a lot of famous actors and rock stars are introverts.

I've heard that too. I wonder if that often happens because of just their passion for what they do, or do they kinda learn/ develop a stage personna. Yet, you'd truly know their social tendencies if, after the gigs, these people often "disappear" or they stick around and socialize.

 

[Nev375]

One other thing. As a 40 year old, I can remember the time before we all had cell phones. Life was better then. It was slower and more... human. Is that the right word? I dunno. But we had actual conversations with people with actual complete words and authentic tones of voice and facial expressions. Even the introverts did this!

These things have reduced that to staring at a 2" screen with acronyms, misspelled words, emoticons and incorrect autocorrect.

Look around you. We are getting dumber as a species. I won't go as far as to blame all that on technology, but it certainly does not appear to be helping.

If someone inconveniences you by not owning a cell phone then good. I'm proud of them and I hope it really pisses you off because you need to wake up and think about this.

We should not all conform to the same digital routine for the sake of convenience. Convenience is making us lazy, not more practical and not more efficient. Human life and communication should not operate like that.

 

[BassyBill]

One other thing. As a 40 year old, I can remember the time before we all had cell phones. Life was better then. It was slower and more... human. Is that the right word? I dunno. But we had actual conversations with people with actual complete words and authentic tones of voice and facial expressions. Even the introverts did this!

These things have reduced that to staring at a 2" screen with acronyms, misspelled words, emoticons and incorrect autocorrect.

Look around you. We are getting dumber as a species. I won't go as far as to blame all that on technology, but it certainly does not appear to be helping.

If someone inconveniences you by not owning a cell phone then good. I'm proud of them and I hope it really pisses you off because you need to wake up and think about this.

We should not all conform to the same digital routine for the sake of convenience. Convenience is making us lazy, not more practical and not more efficient. Human life and communication should not operate like that.

You forgot the "imho".

 

[Nev375]

Yoo forgot the "imho".

I was never sure if the h in imho was for honest or humble.

But thanks for validating my opinion nonetheless.

 

[BassyBill]

I was never sure if the h in imho was for honest or humble.

But thanks for validating my opinion nonetheless.

I think that in this case, the "h" probably stands for "honest".

 

[Bredian]

Goes beyond the cell phone.

Band I'm playing with refuses to engage with Facebook and the internet in a reasonable manor.... and then wonders why they aren't getting jobs.

Gotta keep up with the times. Many of you curmudgeons aren't technology adverse, just behind. You've picked a point of comfort that isn't today. Or, more admirably, you're just very frugal.

Lots of venues like the bands to self promote. Are you ready? Did the venue not hire you because your FB sucks or isn't up to date?

Did you not land a key player or job because they couldn't get their text returned?


Gotta know a tune you've never heard before? What are you gonna do, run down to Tower Records and hunt for that 50 year old vinyl and hope you have a turntable with a good needle that the resident hipsters haven't turned into a sampling device? Before you've made the bus exit, I've downloaded the charts and watched both the original recording set to video and some old bass player showing off on youtube. (admittedly, if its 50s stuff, I don't listen much as I don't like it)

Still plucking that bass with your thumb and using the finger rest?

 

[bluewine]

Goes beyond the cell phone.

Band I'm playing with refuses to engage with Facebook and the internet in a reasonable manor.... and then wonders why they aren't getting jobs.

Gotta keep up with the times. Many of you curmudgeons aren't technology adverse, just behind. You've picked a point of comfort that isn't today. Or, more admirably, you're just very frugal.

Lots of venues like the bands to self promote. Are you ready? Did the venue not hire you because your FB sucks or isn't up to date?

Did you not land a key player or job because they couldn't get their text returned?

Gotta know a tune you've never heard before? What are you gonna do, run down to Tower Records and hunt for that 50 year old vinyl and hope you have a turntable with a good needle that the resident hipsters haven't turned into a sampling device? Before you've made the bus exit, I've downloaded the charts and watched both the original recording set to video and some old bass player showing off on youtube. (admittedly, if its 50s stuff, I don't listen much as I don't like it)

Still plucking that bass with your thumb and using the finger rest?

I like where your heads at.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I've got no patience for these people who think that the world should revolve around them.

Funny, in reading you posts I was thinking the same thing.

Please don't mistake me for some luddite. I have an iPhone, so I have constant access to voice, email and text. When my bandmates contact me, I respond promptly. That said, I'm always amazed by the attitude some display that others should be at their beckon call 24/7, simply because the technology allows it.

 

[seanm]

Facebook is really handy for keeping in contact with fans and events. Unfortunately, two of our band members do not have facebook accounts. I try to remember to pass the info on to them.

But don't listen to me, I am technology challenged since I don't have a cell phone. Just don't tell work Ironically cell technology is something I am fairly up on.

 

[seanm]

Actually, no. I was getting my dates mixed up, my bad. I got my first cell phone in about 1998 and I was one of the last of my friends to get one. I guess most people had them about 96 or 97.

Bassybill I was in England for work for a few weeks over the 2003/2004 time frame. I was very surprised at, not only how many people had cells but, how much they used them.

Anyway, the data throughput was terrible. At 5:00pm in London I would lose the data connection completely. I assume with smartphones that data has gotten better?

 

[bluewine]

Funny, in reading you posts I was thinking the same thing.

Please don't mistake me for some luddite. I have an iPhone, so I have constant access to voice, email and text. When my bandmates contact me, I respond promptly. That said, I'm always amazed by the attitude some display that others should be at their beckon call 24/7, simply because the technology allows it.

I think you might be missing the point.

 

[SuperFineLin9]

I couldn't deal with it. Especially when it comes to decision making.
If we couldn't get a hold of each other when we needed to it would get in the way of productivity.

It bothers me when planning tours or dealing with locals it takes a person more then 24 hours to answer an email

 

[carlthegroover]

Why? Because cell phones and most other high tech communication devices are not worth the expense, unless your income or business is dependent on you being tethered to them 24/7. I don't wish to support an industry who does not respect their customers and in fact abuses and rips them off with bad business practices and has been for years. Sadly, we as people have learned to accept this as normal and don't seem to mind it anymore.

I agree with this. I've had cell phones for a few years now (due to necessity) from different providers, and none give me a reasonably priced plan. They are all way too inflated, especially for someone like me who doesn't use the phone as a tweeter.

I'd say cell phone plans are a huge rip off. I'm pretty pissed by it.

People are becoming way to dependent and addicted to them and getting their music, movies, games and entire lives wrapped up within these little things and if the thing crashes it tends to be devastating.

That's very dumb to boot. If lost and caught by some undeserving hands, the device has a lot of personal info available to the finder/ snatcher. Phone numbers, photos, clips, notes, text messages.

Who really wants to be that vulnerable?

I am a 29 year old, so I'm often assumed to be somewhat tech-saavy. However, many end up surprised I like frugality when it comes to tech gadgets.

The most I've spent on something "electronic" or "electric" are my basses. My phone is under $100 with very basic apps, my computer is a tattered 4 years old laptop. My only relatively new item is my iPod, but even that one has 2 years under its belt. I don't see the need to go for the hip and trendy if I don't have just the need to use it.

Whatever I have is fine, and it often involves relatively inexpensive gadgets.

 

[BassyBill]

Bassybill I was in England for work for a few weeks over the 2003/2004 time frame. I was very surprised at, not only how many people had cells but, how much they used them.

Anyway, the data throughput was terrible. At 5:00pm in London I would lose the data connection completely. I assume with smartphones that data has gotten better?

By 2003/4, I think just about everybody had a cell phone over here - or even well before that. Like I said, I got one for the first time in 1998 and I was one of the last people to do so out of my own family / social circle / working circle. I was teaching in school at the time and most of the kids had one before I did.

The data connections seem pretty reliable nowadays.

 

[mboogiemanusa]

I'm in a couple of bands ......the old fart guys in the gigging cover band barely read their emails or send one and seem to have a problem even putting a song list into a word attachment. Still everyone comes prepared to practice and gig on time. My other band has long e-mail conversation and all member have iphones and such yet that band doesn't gig much and some members come unprepared to practice despite talking about learning certain songs on e-mail chains for weeks. Technology is a nice tool but its not everything.

 

[guy n. cognito]

That's not what I said.

What I said was that was failing to adopt a piece of technology that is commonly in use can, and does, inconvenience the rest of the world. I said nothing about meeting needs.

You can't deny, for example, that forcing someone to drive across town to speak to you because you refuse to have any type of phone is inconvenient.

That's not what we're talking about. Someone that insists that all contact must be in person is a bit odd. You were specifically addressing those that don't adapt mobile technology, not eschew all forms of remote contact.

 

[guy n. cognito]

By 2003/4, I think just about everybody had a cell phone over here - or even well before that. Like I said, I got one for the first time in 1998 and I was one of the last people to do so out of my own family / social circle / working circle. I was teaching in school at the time and most of the kids had one before I did.

The data connections seem pretty reliable nowadays.

Yes, it was the exact same here in the states. I got my first mobile in 1997, and I was a late adopter in my area. By 2003, they were as common as oxygen.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I'm in a couple of bands ......the old fart guys in the gigging cover band barely read their emails or send one and seem to have a problem even putting a song list into a word attachment. Still everyone comes prepared to practice and gig on time. My other band has long e-mail conversation and all member have iphones and such yet that band doesn't gig much and some members come unprepared to practice despite talking about learning certain songs on e-mail chains for weeks. Technology is a nice tool but its not everything.

That's the key. A guy with a land line and snail mail can be an efficient communicator, while the guy with an iPhone and tablet computer can be near impossible to reach. It's the person, not the technology.