Yo' Mama!

stickybuns · 06-22-2011, 06:40 PM

I keep seeing comments boiling down to "Oh, that hack/ereader/fixit is fine for techies, but if you try telling someone's Mom, her head is going to explode!"

So is this true about your mom?

chilady1 · 06-22-2011, 06:54 PM

As we speak I am at my Momma's house provide Level 80 help desk support on a computer. My Mom can work her Kindle and as far as I am concerned, that's good enough. Computers scare her to death. I needed this laugh today...thank you!

RainingLemur · 06-22-2011, 06:57 PM

I get calls from my mom all the time for tech help with things. Same with a couple of my friends. For some reason, they all think that I'm Sony, Microsoft, Dell, and Nintendo tech support all rolled into one person. I think I need to start charging for the calls.

Rumpelteazer · 06-22-2011, 06:58 PM

I chose the first option but it's a combination of the first two. She's got an iPod but I'm always helping her (and I don't even have an iPod). Recently my sister also got an iPod but hers got a camera. A couple of days later my mom tells me that her iPod is probably also camera-ready because she can take screenshots

...(she'd just discovered that feature).

witeowl · 06-22-2011, 07:06 PM

My mom used to be very comfortable with technology. She was a master at photography back when cameras had more buttons and switches than I could count and she was doing fine at her computer for the first decade or so. Then something happened a couple years back and now she's almost afraid to do anything new on the computer. She even has hinted that she sees her own paralysis as a type of phobia (meaning that she knows it's irrational).

But then again, my mom is also a great grandmother (there's quite an age gap between my older sister and me), so maybe she's not your target...

stickybuns · 06-22-2011, 07:15 PM

My mom, age 68, falls into the last category. Last time I counted, she had two laptops, three desktops that she set up to share four (or was it five) widescreen monitors, a smartphone, and a jailbroken iPod Touch. And any time I mention a program or whatever, she'll say, "Oh, yeah, I downloaded it already from Pirate Emporium! You didn't actually want to pay for it did you?!"

covingtoncat73 · 06-22-2011, 07:20 PM

Ha! I helped my mom with how to play DVDs on her laptop and I always have to help her with iTunes. I offered to loan her my Kobo to take on vacation but she wouldn't. She does know how to check facebook and email on her cell phone and gets around the Internet somewhat so I put her in the second category.

cfrizz · 06-22-2011, 07:21 PM

Oh my god, this thread is hysterical! I was the tech help for my mom, if it had too many buttons, she wanted nothing to do with it!

Thanks for the laugh.

DixieGal · 06-22-2011, 07:45 PM

Tim's dad couldn't work a telephone answering machine. It constantlyfreaked him out that a woman was answering his phone. Honest. No kidding. I bought him a new machine twice or more a year because hewould wreck them.

Then he got satellite TV, and that 60 mile round trip visit became nearly a daily commute. He lived in tim's broher's garage apartment, but would not quit his tantrum until I plugged/unplugged and restarted whatever he had done with the remote.

I miss him. He and I were best buddies for many years.

Pomtroll · 06-22-2011, 07:46 PM

My Mom was willing to try working with a computer even after she had a paralyzing stroke & couldn't talk. That was over 12 years ago. If she were still alive she would be using the latest e-reader.

stickybuns · 06-22-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by witeowl

My mom used to be very comfortable with technology. She was a master at photography back when cameras had more buttons and switches than I could count and she was doing fine at her computer for the first decade or so. Then something happened a couple years back and now she's almost afraid to do anything new on the computer. She even has hinted that she sees her own paralysis as a type of phobia (meaning that she knows it's irrational).

But then again, my mom is also a great grandmother (there's quite an age gap between my older sister and me), so maybe she's not your target...

That sounds a bit like my 73-year-old dad. He's a retired software and electrical engineer, and while he's not scared of technology per se, he refuses to spend time doing anything that reminds him of "work". He also has several of variations of the "No, I won't help you fix your computer" t-shirt.

His friend, an old work buddy from a gig at an aerospace company, has turned either senile or lazy when it comes to computer. Unfortunately, since my dad is now pretending to be computer illiterate, I'm getting the questions. "Stickybuns! How do I make my new Gadget 5000 chop onions and mow my lawn?" Have you tried RTFM?

jgaiser · 06-22-2011, 08:10 PM

Both parents are/were (Mom's been dead three years) in their 90's. Mom was the tech expert of the two, but that's not saying much. We got them a WebTV (remember them?) so the dispersed family could exchange email, but both go frustrated with it and let the account lapse. There's never been a real computer in the house, nothing more technical that a VCR or DVD player, so none of us boys ever had to play tech support.

silverraven · 06-22-2011, 08:13 PM

Wish ages of parents could have been included in the survey somehow. I think there is a huge difference between a 46 year old mom (like I am) and an 84 year old mom(like my mom is). My mom remembers the Model T, can program her own VCR, but computers throw her. I still have to talk her through doing anything on it. So I chose choice 2 for her. But if my college age son were on here selecting, he would have to choose number 4. I really think a lot of it comes down to the age of the mom or dad.
Shoot, when I sit down and thing about it, I am amazed at all the things that were invented in my parents lives. Simply Amazing!!
S

lestatar · 06-22-2011, 08:23 PM

My own mom is Category 2, but best thing about her is she is not afraid to try new stuff out.

I just bought her an iPhone4 and she is having mad phone with it, especially now that she is a first time Grandma. She is not capable of connecting and offloading her content, but definitely able to take pics, vids, make calls, send/check emails and SMS, stuff like that.

Not too shabby

CazMar · 06-22-2011, 08:45 PM

My own mother is sadly no longer with us - but as I am in my 60's I'll probably be in the same age group as many MR mums. We have 5 computers at home - 2 notebooks and 3 desktops - between the 2 of us. I use them for complex music technology,web page work and anything else I can think of. Being back at university I am horrified to find that the students 1/3 my age ask me to help them with computer issues! So, don't assume that anyone you talk to who is over 40 is also a computer illiterate - I happily shoot down in flames various computer sales people and so called "help lines" who do this, my brain didn't stop working once I passed 25 years old!
We also use ebook readers as well as computer driven telescopes and other complex recording equipment, and they didn't come in a box marked "under 18 only"

And my mum (who died several years ago in her 80's) used her "hand me down" computer quite happily for correspondence and even played the odd game!

View Poll Results: Your Mom and Technology
My mom has trouble operating light switches.	18	31.58%
My mom has lots of gadgets, but I'm the technical help provider.	26	45.61%
My mom can set the time on the VCR.	10	17.54%
My mom has a pet parrot, an eye patch, and a wooden leg whenever she sits down at the computer.	3	5.26%
Voters: 57. You may not vote on this poll

06-22-2011, 06:40 PM	#1
stickybuns Evangelist Posts: 405 Karma: 479729 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Paperwhite 2	Yo' Mama! I keep seeing comments boiling down to "Oh, that hack/ereader/fixit is fine for techies, but if you try telling someone's Mom, her head is going to explode!" So is this true about your mom?

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06-22-2011, 06:54 PM	#2
chilady1 I devour books! Posts: 789 Karma: 1285226 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad Air, Kindle 3/Kobo Aura HD, iPhone 6	As we speak I am at my Momma's house provide Level 80 help desk support on a computer. My Mom can work her Kindle and as far as I am concerned, that's good enough. Computers scare her to death. I needed this laugh today...thank you!

06-22-2011, 06:57 PM	#3
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	I get calls from my mom all the time for tech help with things. Same with a couple of my friends. For some reason, they all think that I'm Sony, Microsoft, Dell, and Nintendo tech support all rolled into one person. I think I need to start charging for the calls.

06-22-2011, 06:58 PM	#4
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,297 Karma: 27518794 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	I chose the first option but it's a combination of the first two. She's got an iPod but I'm always helping her (and I don't even have an iPod). Recently my sister also got an iPod but hers got a camera. A couple of days later my mom tells me that her iPod is probably also camera-ready because she can take screenshots ...(she'd just discovered that feature).

06-22-2011, 07:06 PM	#5
witeowl Hopeless Geek Posts: 119 Karma: 203608 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Reno, NV Device: Nook Color (manual nooter)	My mom used to be very comfortable with technology. She was a master at photography back when cameras had more buttons and switches than I could count and she was doing fine at her computer for the first decade or so. Then something happened a couple years back and now she's almost afraid to do anything new on the computer. She even has hinted that she sees her own paralysis as a type of phobia (meaning that she knows it's irrational). But then again, my mom is also a great grandmother (there's quite an age gap between my older sister and me), so maybe she's not your target...

06-22-2011, 07:15 PM	#6
stickybuns Evangelist Posts: 405 Karma: 479729 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Paperwhite 2	My mom, age 68, falls into the last category. Last time I counted, she had two laptops, three desktops that she set up to share four (or was it five) widescreen monitors, a smartphone, and a jailbroken iPod Touch. And any time I mention a program or whatever, she'll say, "Oh, yeah, I downloaded it already from Pirate Emporium! You didn't actually want to pay for it did you?!"

06-22-2011, 07:20 PM	#7
covingtoncat73 Wizard Posts: 2,745 Karma: 83407757 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Lenovo Duet Chromebook, Moto e	Ha! I helped my mom with how to play DVDs on her laptop and I always have to help her with iTunes. I offered to loan her my Kobo to take on vacation but she wouldn't. She does know how to check facebook and email on her cell phone and gets around the Internet somewhat so I put her in the second category.

06-22-2011, 07:21 PM	#8
cfrizz Wizard Posts: 1,566 Karma: 36389706 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Quincy, MA Device: Samsung 54A, Kobo Libra H2O, Samsung S6 Lite	Oh my god, this thread is hysterical! I was the tech help for my mom, if it had too many buttons, she wanted nothing to do with it! Thanks for the laugh.

06-22-2011, 07:45 PM	#9
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Tim's dad couldn't work a telephone answering machine. It constantlyfreaked him out that a woman was answering his phone. Honest. No kidding. I bought him a new machine twice or more a year because hewould wreck them. Then he got satellite TV, and that 60 mile round trip visit became nearly a daily commute. He lived in tim's broher's garage apartment, but would not quit his tantrum until I plugged/unplugged and restarted whatever he had done with the remote. I miss him. He and I were best buddies for many years.

06-22-2011, 07:46 PM	#10
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	My Mom was willing to try working with a computer even after she had a paralyzing stroke & couldn't talk. That was over 12 years ago. If she were still alive she would be using the latest e-reader.

06-22-2011, 08:10 PM	#12
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Both parents are/were (Mom's been dead three years) in their 90's. Mom was the tech expert of the two, but that's not saying much. We got them a WebTV (remember them?) so the dispersed family could exchange email, but both go frustrated with it and let the account lapse. There's never been a real computer in the house, nothing more technical that a VCR or DVD player, so none of us boys ever had to play tech support.

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06-22-2011, 08:13 PM	#13
silverraven Guru Posts: 970 Karma: 3438612 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle 4NTB x 4	Wish ages of parents could have been included in the survey somehow. I think there is a huge difference between a 46 year old mom (like I am) and an 84 year old mom(like my mom is). My mom remembers the Model T, can program her own VCR, but computers throw her. I still have to talk her through doing anything on it. So I chose choice 2 for her. But if my college age son were on here selecting, he would have to choose number 4. I really think a lot of it comes down to the age of the mom or dad. Shoot, when I sit down and thing about it, I am amazed at all the things that were invented in my parents lives. Simply Amazing!! S

06-22-2011, 08:23 PM	#14
lestatar LB's lolz Mutt Minion Posts: 2,902 Karma: 5700001 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hong Kong now but NYC forever Device: Kindle3, GalaxyTab, BB Bold9700, BB 8300, Sony Clie, Palm Vx, Palm III	My own mom is Category 2, but best thing about her is she is not afraid to try new stuff out. I just bought her an iPhone4 and she is having mad phone with it, especially now that she is a first time Grandma. She is not capable of connecting and offloading her content, but definitely able to take pics, vids, make calls, send/check emails and SMS, stuff like that. Not too shabby

06-22-2011, 08:45 PM	#15
CazMar Book Geek Posts: 596 Karma: 1499085 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Adelaide, Australia Device: Kobo Touch, Asus MemPad 7" tablet, Nexus 5, Asus 10" tablet	My own mother is sadly no longer with us - but as I am in my 60's I'll probably be in the same age group as many MR mums. We have 5 computers at home - 2 notebooks and 3 desktops - between the 2 of us. I use them for complex music technology,web page work and anything else I can think of. Being back at university I am horrified to find that the students 1/3 my age ask me to help them with computer issues! So, don't assume that anyone you talk to who is over 40 is also a computer illiterate - I happily shoot down in flames various computer sales people and so called "help lines" who do this, my brain didn't stop working once I passed 25 years old! We also use ebook readers as well as computer driven telescopes and other complex recording equipment, and they didn't come in a box marked "under 18 only" And my mum (who died several years ago in her 80's) used her "hand me down" computer quite happily for correspondence and even played the odd game!