Older generation and mobile phones
Discussion
General question for people who dont want/need a mobile, I'm talking about a mobile in general not a smartphone, why? is it fear, feeling superior for not having one etc or something else? my grandad who is 87 has one, my wifes nan also 87 has one as well.
We had a family friend around 83 (he died last year) who never wanted a mobile, whenever mobiles were mentioned he would go as far as telling everybody he wouldn't have one, he used to carry around a stack of business cards with a rubber band around them with phone numbers on including breakdown etc.
Fast forward to today, I turned off a B road onto an A road and immediately spotted an older chap (late 60s - early 70s) trying to flag people down and then spotted his Volvo 940 dumped at the side of the road, id pulled out and had started making progress, there was a car coming up quickly from behind so I carried on my journey, I then span round at the earliest safe spot and returned to him. Long story short he was about 2 hours away from where he lives now on his way to his parents house to cut their grass, He had decided to stop in a really unsafe spot to have a piss, turned the car off and it wouldn't restart. So I said to him have you phoned anybody, no he replied I dont have a phone, he admitted then hed been trying to flag people down for about 40 minutes. There wasn't any houses near where he had stopped or anything.
So I let him use mine to call his wife so she could let his parents know why he was late, then I called AA/Lloyds for him and they came out within the hour, turns out my suspicions were correct and it was a faulty fuel pump, AA chap called me after to say he was all sorted and on his way.
Eccentric old chap, wanted to tell me his life story and about how he had forgot to pack his guitar, tried to give me £20 but I told him to spend that on a cheap mobile from Argos. He had said that family/friends had been on at him to get one but didn't see the need for one!
We had a family friend around 83 (he died last year) who never wanted a mobile, whenever mobiles were mentioned he would go as far as telling everybody he wouldn't have one, he used to carry around a stack of business cards with a rubber band around them with phone numbers on including breakdown etc.
Fast forward to today, I turned off a B road onto an A road and immediately spotted an older chap (late 60s - early 70s) trying to flag people down and then spotted his Volvo 940 dumped at the side of the road, id pulled out and had started making progress, there was a car coming up quickly from behind so I carried on my journey, I then span round at the earliest safe spot and returned to him. Long story short he was about 2 hours away from where he lives now on his way to his parents house to cut their grass, He had decided to stop in a really unsafe spot to have a piss, turned the car off and it wouldn't restart. So I said to him have you phoned anybody, no he replied I dont have a phone, he admitted then hed been trying to flag people down for about 40 minutes. There wasn't any houses near where he had stopped or anything.
So I let him use mine to call his wife so she could let his parents know why he was late, then I called AA/Lloyds for him and they came out within the hour, turns out my suspicions were correct and it was a faulty fuel pump, AA chap called me after to say he was all sorted and on his way.
Eccentric old chap, wanted to tell me his life story and about how he had forgot to pack his guitar, tried to give me £20 but I told him to spend that on a cheap mobile from Argos. He had said that family/friends had been on at him to get one but didn't see the need for one!
the-norseman said:
General question for people who dont want/need a mobile, I'm talking about a mobile in general not a smartphone, why? is it fear, feeling superior for not having one etc or something else? my grandad who is 87 has one, my wifes nan also 87 has one as well.
We had a family friend around 83 (he died last year) who never wanted a mobile, whenever mobiles were mentioned he would go as far as telling everybody he wouldn't have one, he used to carry around a stack of business cards with a rubber band around them with phone numbers on including breakdown etc.
Fast forward to today, I turned off a B road onto an A road and immediately spotted an older chap (late 60s - early 70s) trying to flag people down and then spotted his Volvo 940 dumped at the side of the road, id pulled out and had started making progress, there was a car coming up quickly from behind so I carried on my journey, I then span round at the earliest safe spot and returned to him. Long story short he was about 2 hours away from where he lives now on his way to his parents house to cut their grass, He had decided to stop in a really unsafe spot to have a piss, turned the car off and it wouldn't restart. So I said to him have you phoned anybody, no he replied I dont have a phone, he admitted then hed been trying to flag people down for about 40 minutes. There wasn't any houses near where he had stopped or anything.
So I let him use mine to call his wife so she could let his parents know why he was late, then I called AA/Lloyds for him and they came out within the hour, turns out my suspicions were correct and it was a faulty fuel pump, AA chap called me after to say he was all sorted and on his way.
Eccentric old chap, wanted to tell me his life story and about how he had forgot to pack his guitar, tried to give me £20 but I told him to spend that on a cheap mobile from Argos. He had said that family/friends had been on at him to get one but didn't see the need for one!
I can only speak for one person I know who has a mobile but could live without it. He's in his 80's. Never had a mobile until we bought him one, never needed one.We had a family friend around 83 (he died last year) who never wanted a mobile, whenever mobiles were mentioned he would go as far as telling everybody he wouldn't have one, he used to carry around a stack of business cards with a rubber band around them with phone numbers on including breakdown etc.
Fast forward to today, I turned off a B road onto an A road and immediately spotted an older chap (late 60s - early 70s) trying to flag people down and then spotted his Volvo 940 dumped at the side of the road, id pulled out and had started making progress, there was a car coming up quickly from behind so I carried on my journey, I then span round at the earliest safe spot and returned to him. Long story short he was about 2 hours away from where he lives now on his way to his parents house to cut their grass, He had decided to stop in a really unsafe spot to have a piss, turned the car off and it wouldn't restart. So I said to him have you phoned anybody, no he replied I dont have a phone, he admitted then hed been trying to flag people down for about 40 minutes. There wasn't any houses near where he had stopped or anything.
So I let him use mine to call his wife so she could let his parents know why he was late, then I called AA/Lloyds for him and they came out within the hour, turns out my suspicions were correct and it was a faulty fuel pump, AA chap called me after to say he was all sorted and on his way.
Eccentric old chap, wanted to tell me his life story and about how he had forgot to pack his guitar, tried to give me £20 but I told him to spend that on a cheap mobile from Argos. He had said that family/friends had been on at him to get one but didn't see the need for one!
But he's getting older and more frail. We've pushed one upon him to make sure he's always contactable. (He's my father in law).
It took some time but we've managed to get him to realise he should keep it charged and carry it.
He's an intelligent man, don't get me wrong, but the mobile phone holds no interest for him and he'd forget it easily.
My uncle at 90 years is quite frail with very poor eyesight.
Without a mobile he is cut off from the online world such as banks and shops that send codes by 2 step verification.
He cannot use a touch screen and needs a phone with big buttons and we have purchased the best we can find but is totally unsuitable for him to use.
Without a mobile he is cut off from the online world such as banks and shops that send codes by 2 step verification.
He cannot use a touch screen and needs a phone with big buttons and we have purchased the best we can find but is totally unsuitable for him to use.
My job was London based but dealing with Middle Eastern Mega contracts, I had 15 years on 2am calls sorting out problems from people who wouldn't wait for my normal working hours, doing 1000 word emails on a Blackberry at 3.00 when you are cheesed off is no fun, I swore then that mobile phones would not be at the centre of my life when I retired and they are now used only when essential and I might make two calls week and never use it for emails or other internet stuff.
My house of on a popular walk to some woodland walks, I see parents with children and the parents look at their phone and never talk to their children as they walk, this reinforces my view that a mobile can be a useful tool but should not be the centre of your life, if you can avoid it.
I was talking to some parents about mobile phones , their 16 year old was barred from his phone from 3 months for looking at some quite savage porn, he openly said that he had no real wish to go back to his phone by the end of the three months, the mother said that she was off all of the Apps and only used a basic phone for calls and texts
My house of on a popular walk to some woodland walks, I see parents with children and the parents look at their phone and never talk to their children as they walk, this reinforces my view that a mobile can be a useful tool but should not be the centre of your life, if you can avoid it.
I was talking to some parents about mobile phones , their 16 year old was barred from his phone from 3 months for looking at some quite savage porn, he openly said that he had no real wish to go back to his phone by the end of the three months, the mother said that she was off all of the Apps and only used a basic phone for calls and texts
Edited by CammyN on Wednesday 14th August 05:01
the-norseman said:
General question for people who dont want/need a mobile, I'm talking about a mobile in general not a smartphone, why? is it fear, feeling superior for not having one etc or something else? my grandad who is 87 has one, my wifes nan also 87 has one as well.
We had a family friend around 83 (he died last year) who never wanted a mobile, whenever mobiles were mentioned he would go as far as telling everybody he wouldn't have one, he used to carry around a stack of business cards with a rubber band around them with phone numbers on including breakdown etc.
Fast forward to today, I turned off a B road onto an A road and immediately spotted an older chap (late 60s - early 70s) trying to flag people down and then spotted his Volvo 940 dumped at the side of the road, id pulled out and had started making progress, there was a car coming up quickly from behind so I carried on my journey, I then span round at the earliest safe spot and returned to him. Long story short he was about 2 hours away from where he lives now on his way to his parents house to cut their grass, He had decided to stop in a really unsafe spot to have a piss, turned the car off and it wouldn't restart. So I said to him have you phoned anybody, no he replied I dont have a phone, he admitted then hed been trying to flag people down for about 40 minutes. There wasn't any houses near where he had stopped or anything.
So I let him use mine to call his wife so she could let his parents know why he was late, then I called AA/Lloyds for him and they came out within the hour, turns out my suspicions were correct and it was a faulty fuel pump, AA chap called me after to say he was all sorted and on his way.
Eccentric old chap, wanted to tell me his life story and about how he had forgot to pack his guitar, tried to give me £20 but I told him to spend that on a cheap mobile from Argos. He had said that family/friends had been on at him to get one but didn't see the need for one!
Good on you for stopping and helping. I don’t think there are many who would. Nice one.We had a family friend around 83 (he died last year) who never wanted a mobile, whenever mobiles were mentioned he would go as far as telling everybody he wouldn't have one, he used to carry around a stack of business cards with a rubber band around them with phone numbers on including breakdown etc.
Fast forward to today, I turned off a B road onto an A road and immediately spotted an older chap (late 60s - early 70s) trying to flag people down and then spotted his Volvo 940 dumped at the side of the road, id pulled out and had started making progress, there was a car coming up quickly from behind so I carried on my journey, I then span round at the earliest safe spot and returned to him. Long story short he was about 2 hours away from where he lives now on his way to his parents house to cut their grass, He had decided to stop in a really unsafe spot to have a piss, turned the car off and it wouldn't restart. So I said to him have you phoned anybody, no he replied I dont have a phone, he admitted then hed been trying to flag people down for about 40 minutes. There wasn't any houses near where he had stopped or anything.
So I let him use mine to call his wife so she could let his parents know why he was late, then I called AA/Lloyds for him and they came out within the hour, turns out my suspicions were correct and it was a faulty fuel pump, AA chap called me after to say he was all sorted and on his way.
Eccentric old chap, wanted to tell me his life story and about how he had forgot to pack his guitar, tried to give me £20 but I told him to spend that on a cheap mobile from Argos. He had said that family/friends had been on at him to get one but didn't see the need for one!
Guy I worked with bought 2 cheap basic mobile phones for his elderly parents, spent tim showing them how to use them. Goes home and rings them later to see how they're getting on. Both phones off. Rings their land line. Apparently both phones switched off to save batteries and put away in their boxes to keep them safe! 
If he was just waving most people would just assume that he was warning them about his badly parked car. My dad's in his 70s and I remember him having a mobile since I was a child, I don't think that it's a age thing it's more of an idiot thing.
I'm assuming he was the type of person who has never been more than 20 miles from home and was well known in his community. Being able to contact someone for help or information is the most useful, basic and cheap tool that you can carry with you at all times.
I'm assuming he was the type of person who has never been more than 20 miles from home and was well known in his community. Being able to contact someone for help or information is the most useful, basic and cheap tool that you can carry with you at all times.
Edited by s p a c e m a n on Wednesday 14th August 07:43
the-norseman said:
Bright Halo said:
Good on you for stopping and helping. I don’t think there are many who would. Nice one.
For the first few seconds as I went past I was like nah I have somewhere to be, but then thought you know what nope I'm gonna stop and help him. The reality is that the majority of people are decent human beings who will do the right thing when the opportunity presents itself.
The old people who refuse a phone of any sort are fools, perfectly shown by the situation in the OP.
I'd say nearly everyone has a phone of some sort now whatever their age, since it's relatively old tech and most have the common sense to see it's usefulness.
I understand them not wanting a smartphone though. Some days I wish I wasn't so attached to mine.
I'd say nearly everyone has a phone of some sort now whatever their age, since it's relatively old tech and most have the common sense to see it's usefulness.
I understand them not wanting a smartphone though. Some days I wish I wasn't so attached to mine.
While I can see that providing a phone to the elderly may give peace of mind that they can call if trouble arises, there is a better solution.
One can get devices that can be worn that will detect a fall, and other emergencies, and if the wearer doesn't hit the "OK" button, will call several numbers so a check-up can be made.
Our dear auntie who turned 100 on 30 June, has only relatively recently gone into a home. She is still sharp as a tack, so wanted to remain in her home. A couple of years ago she was still doing gardening in her walking frame, when she fell over and couldn't get up, and had forgotten to carry her phone. Lay there for some time before she could be recovered.
One can get devices that can be worn that will detect a fall, and other emergencies, and if the wearer doesn't hit the "OK" button, will call several numbers so a check-up can be made.
Our dear auntie who turned 100 on 30 June, has only relatively recently gone into a home. She is still sharp as a tack, so wanted to remain in her home. A couple of years ago she was still doing gardening in her walking frame, when she fell over and couldn't get up, and had forgotten to carry her phone. Lay there for some time before she could be recovered.
My 102 yo grandma has a mobile, not a smart phone just a standard mobile, my aunt bought it for her it sits in its charger never switched on and never used.
She still goes out daily to get her paper, to do a food shop for the day or to go to church, never takes the mobile with her though!
She lives in the centre of her town, only stay local, only goes out during the day when there are plenty of people about so I guess she feels she doesn't need it as there will be someone about if she needs help whilst out.
She still goes out daily to get her paper, to do a food shop for the day or to go to church, never takes the mobile with her though!
She lives in the centre of her town, only stay local, only goes out during the day when there are plenty of people about so I guess she feels she doesn't need it as there will be someone about if she needs help whilst out.
It's usually just a reaction to getting old, staying in your comfort zone and not complicating life any further. Could be a control issue where life seems to be moving at a pace whilst you feel left behind. Could be an attention thing where being "that old person with no phone" makes people notice you.
I've tried to explain to older relatives that not only have mobile phones become commonplace but the alternatives are quickly disappearing like phone boxes. So if they are out and about their means of contact is limited, as in the OP.
I've tried to explain to older relatives that not only have mobile phones become commonplace but the alternatives are quickly disappearing like phone boxes. So if they are out and about their means of contact is limited, as in the OP.
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