Anubis
Well-known member
Observation: Social Phobes are a lot like Parents/"Old" People who Hate Technology
(This is done semi-"tongue in cheek", lol, but I thought these were interesting parallels, especially since a lot of us have parents who can't stand technology).
It seems that no matter how many times I show my parents how to deal with their technology (and despite the fact that my dad has a PhD, and my mom works in business), they are constantly befuddled by even the most basic technology problems. I'm talking about problems that could easily be solved by an open-minded 5 minute exploration of Windows one day (like how to change your wallpaper, lol). Certainly, some of their problems are a lot more complex than that, but it always feel like going against a brick-wall when explaining things to my parents. I'm constantly repeating basic information and worse yet, they have a tendency to get easily confused and angered if I go too fast.
Normally this pisses me off, but lately, I've been becoming more sympathetic to the plight of my parents. Why? Because after analyzing the way I approach social interaction, it seems like me and my parents share a lot more similarities than I'd like to admit:
"Old" People and Technology:
- Extremely Uncomfortable with Change
- Can't Do Anything Without Step-By-Step Support
- Easily Angered when Confused - Leads to Avoidance of Technology when otherwise would be beneficial.
- Seem to Lack Foundational Knowledge of Technology Despite having Constant and Direct Exposure to it in their Professional Career.
- Refuse to "just practice" using their Computer with an open-minded approach (Constantly citing excuses: Don't have time, Can't do it, Don't know where to start).
Social Phobes and Social Interaction:
- Extremely Uncomfortable with Change
- Can't Go Anywhere Without the Closest of Friends
- Easily Angered when Confused - Leads to Avoidance of Social Interaction when otherwise would be beneficial.
- Seem to Lack Foundational Knowledge of Social Interaction Despite having Constant and Direct Exposure to it in their Lives.
- Refuse to "just explore" social environments with an open-minded approach (Constantly citing excuses: Don't have time, Can't do it, Don't know where to start).
This is probably a big "duh", i.e. phobias are intrinsically very similar, but still, I just thought it was interesting to note the similarities between a group of people that are traditionally seen at odds with each other.
(This is done semi-"tongue in cheek", lol, but I thought these were interesting parallels, especially since a lot of us have parents who can't stand technology).
It seems that no matter how many times I show my parents how to deal with their technology (and despite the fact that my dad has a PhD, and my mom works in business), they are constantly befuddled by even the most basic technology problems. I'm talking about problems that could easily be solved by an open-minded 5 minute exploration of Windows one day (like how to change your wallpaper, lol). Certainly, some of their problems are a lot more complex than that, but it always feel like going against a brick-wall when explaining things to my parents. I'm constantly repeating basic information and worse yet, they have a tendency to get easily confused and angered if I go too fast.
Normally this pisses me off, but lately, I've been becoming more sympathetic to the plight of my parents. Why? Because after analyzing the way I approach social interaction, it seems like me and my parents share a lot more similarities than I'd like to admit:
"Old" People and Technology:
- Extremely Uncomfortable with Change
- Can't Do Anything Without Step-By-Step Support
- Easily Angered when Confused - Leads to Avoidance of Technology when otherwise would be beneficial.
- Seem to Lack Foundational Knowledge of Technology Despite having Constant and Direct Exposure to it in their Professional Career.
- Refuse to "just practice" using their Computer with an open-minded approach (Constantly citing excuses: Don't have time, Can't do it, Don't know where to start).
Social Phobes and Social Interaction:
- Extremely Uncomfortable with Change
- Can't Go Anywhere Without the Closest of Friends
- Easily Angered when Confused - Leads to Avoidance of Social Interaction when otherwise would be beneficial.
- Seem to Lack Foundational Knowledge of Social Interaction Despite having Constant and Direct Exposure to it in their Lives.
- Refuse to "just explore" social environments with an open-minded approach (Constantly citing excuses: Don't have time, Can't do it, Don't know where to start).
This is probably a big "duh", i.e. phobias are intrinsically very similar, but still, I just thought it was interesting to note the similarities between a group of people that are traditionally seen at odds with each other.
