"When I have grand kids I will tell them that I was around BEFORE the Internet...and BLOW their minds"
Needless to say that isn't all I will tell my grandchildren.....not to mention my children.
I'm sure a lot of you can relate to the following 'gems' of technology history.
- I took typing class. ON a typewriter. Although, my teacher was more than happy when I dropped out. I just couldn't understand how to type without looking.....and didn't care to learn! Why the hell would I need that skill???? Oh, wait.....*sigh*
- I took a computer class. Spent more time playing PONG. And discovering the uses of CTL. ATL. DEL. And other keyboard necessities.
- Computer were ONLY found in the ONE computer lab. Everything else was pen and paper.
- Cell phones....ah yes. Well, my aunt had a 'bag phone' in the car and I didn't get a cell phone until I was 20. Just sayin'. You do the math on my age. I dare you.
- I had DIAL UP! *computer squeal* YOU HAVE MAIL. Oh yes.
- I know how to rewind a tape cassette....with a motherf-ing pencil.
- I watched a documentary on the 'new Compact Disc'. It will never catch on I said. 0_o
- I had a walkman.....then a CD portable player.....AND orange foamy looking headphones. I was bad ass.
- I had a the first Gameboy......Nintendo game unit.....you know the ones.....if it stopped playing, pull out the game cartridge and blow on it....hahahah. That totally worked too.
- I had no Internet or computer until I was in my teens. Oh Dear God. I'm old.
I know that there are plenty of people from my generation that have no problems understanding the nuances of computers and technology of today. But damn......when my kids at work can troubleshoot better than me.....there's a problem.
I have an awesome Macbook. I love this sucker. Batter and beat up.....it keeps truckin'. However......a recent creepy issue had me staring dumbly at the computer screen wondering what the HELL is THAT?
In short - mostly because it's too stupid to really go into...and it's embarrassing - my camera on my laptop won't turn off. Most people would immediately work on the problem and wonder why it's happening and WHO is watching......yikes! But not me. Oh no. I just ignored that little green light of possible creepiness. I mean honestly.....how would want to watch me and my boring life of strange. So, I just left it alone. Ignoring the problem is always the best course of action, right? No.
My husband - upon his return - noticed the light and told me in passing, " Hey, your camera is on....might want to turn that off." Oh, I said. Huh......maybe I should. HOW?
Three hours later I discovered a couple of things.....
- I'm techie stupid. But I kinda knew that.....
- Someone had turned OFF my firewall program. Awesome.
- How long had the firewall been turned off is anyone's guess.
- What nasty, creepy virus has been floating around my computer is a terrible thought and needs more than a tissue and NyQuil to cure.
- I am none the wiser as to WHY the camera was on, how I actually got it turned off and that a hard 'reboot' is a scarier proposition than having the camera on.....
- I need to take a computer class.....another one.....specifically to address the basic computer skill deficiency I have BEFORE I have kids that will be born into a world of Internet and technology that they will better understand than me. SCARY thought.
I feel part of history. I was around before Internet and that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.
