Comments on: Can We Still Opt Out of Technology Today?

By: Rosa Say

Rosa Say — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:05:54 +0000

I think you are right about the fear Ulla, or at least an apprehension and hesitancy. I remember when we first bought a computer for our home many years ago: We had our kids open it as a Christmas gift, and as they tore off the gift wrapping Ker and I looked at each other with the very same thought ”“ and question: “This is no bicycle” now how does this Christmas toy get put together and who is doing it?” And you know who did? My son, the baby of the family.
It can take a good friend or coach (or smart kids!) to help someone see the advantages, and the choices are so dizzying when it comes to software apps today, so I think the first fear we need to work through is often asking someone else for help.
Laurie the telephone is interesting to me in how it connects to and affects our computer use, for there is no question that email has proliferated a good deal of avoidance behavior in us. I recall having a boss who we’d never dare ask “did you read my email?” for he would predictably say, “you want an answer, call me” and we didn’t want him wondering about why we didn’t! He was also one who often ranted about us not accepting personal calls at work though, and so he was an advocate of hotmail because he was so adamant that we not use our work email addresses for anything but work.
I think there is still a privacy factor at play here too though, with many now having personal email addresses, but keeping them ‘unlisted’ and as un-guessable as passwords while using their email addresses at work as buffer zones.

By: Laurie | Express Yourself to Success

Laurie | Express Yourself to Success — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:11:35 +0000

Interesting question.
If I was to encounter someone without a professional email address, I probably react surprised – like someone would have reacted in 1974 after being told the other professional doesn’t have a phone, which was common work ‘technology’ at the time. However, I’ve not met someone in the last five years without a ‘work’ email address.
Now, in my personal life, I know several people who don’t have personal email addresses and swear they never will! I understand their protest and take down their phone number like the ‘good old days.’
It’s interesting to note here – generally, I’m better friends with people who want to be telephoned (to speak to their friends) than with people who communicate only through electronic means.

By: Ulla Hennig

Ulla Hennig — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 06:53:33 +0000

I consider myself quite tech-savvy (well, you always could know more, but I get along quite well), but I know some of the less tech-savvy persons. A lot of them are afraid – afraid of getting problems they will not be able to solve, afraid of not being able to learn all those new things. So they stick to what they know – they think they are safe doing that.
The first step for them is to learn that new technology can have a meaning for them – that they will be better off having a personal e-mail address, or a twitter account. If they see the advantage, the following steps are a lot easier.