For those who are computer challenged, why do you think you have such an issue?

[laundry_queen]

74. It's aptitude and attitude - not age.

We first got computers in school when I was in fourth grade. My parents bought a computer around the same time - a Vic20. It was a useless POS despite me spending many hours trying to 'program' it. My parents hated it and I was only allowed 30 min at a time anyway, so I gave up. I taught myself to use it as a calculator, to change colors, and to play games on it. No help from my parents. I read the manual. Then the computer broke down. I never had one again, until I moved in with my now-ex. I did learn quite a bit in school - we learned to use word and other basics. Our school got the internet in '92 but it was only used by those who were REAL computer geeks...you had to take a course that had prerequisites and by then it was too late for me (I was in my last year).

When I was living with my now-ex, we first got the net in '96. I immediately taught myself how to do everything, although my ex did the initial set up. I eventually got so far as to make my own webpage and host a temporary forum. Then I had more kids and couldn't play around as much, and webpages got more complex and I sort of gave up. Now, my kids are much more tech savvy than I am, but they've been on computers since they were toddlers. My oldest could spell her name on the computer before she could even talk, LOL. I don't think it's my age that hampers me, but more my free time and responsibilities. I've also since gone back to school and have learned MANY new programs, so I haven't had much extra time to be 'with it' when it comes to social media. I am on Facebook and I do have a Twitter account - I just don't use it except to follow others.

My grandfather, who died a few years ago at the ripe old age of 102, started using a computer in his 90's. He loved to play solitaire with cards, so my cousins showed him how to play on the computer. He was tickled that he didn't have to shuffle cards anymore, and figured out how to play other games really fast. His only complaint was the computer made it impossible to cheat, lol.

My mom is good with computers because she uses them at work - although she still calls me up to fix hers... My dad doesn't use them at work and hates them. He knows how to use email, and that's about it. He has no interest in learning about it, calls it a waste of time, and refuses to learn how to text on his phone, even though it would be so much easier for us since he picks up my youngest from daycare, but sometimes I get off early. It's a huge hassle to call his work and they have to chase him down (he's in the back shop) but he still refuses to set up his texting so I can just let him know I've picked up my daughter. Yet, HIS mother taught herself how to surf online, and set up her own internet and email, and took a few computer courses - when she was in her 80's. I don't get why my dad not only doesn't want to learn, but has to insult everyone else who uses the computer (waste of time, stupid, dumb, why bother, what's wrong with you...the insults are constant).

So, wow, that got long, but I think it's almost exclusively attitude and whether you have the means to learn or not. I don't think it has to do with age at all. My 70 year old uncle is one of the most tech savvy people I know. I think he's on every social media site there is, LOL. And there are some younger people I go to school with that are just lost when it comes to learning new programs. Perhaps it seems like it might be age because there are plenty of older people who didn't have such opportunities with computers when they were younger and just never bothered to learn because they didn't see the need, but I don't think it's because they can't or it's some mysterious language you need to grow up around to understand. JMHO.