Why do some people think that shunning technology somehow makes them better...

[LuvCuteBoys]

... than those who don't?


It's kinda weird. My mom is not a very technological person, but I never get that "I'm better than you" vibe from her.

But some people seem to think that not having a cell phone or using facebook or utilizing online banking makes them in a higher class than those who do because they can "survive" without all that stuff. Odd.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Ego...

 

[mhsjax]

Probably to offset the attitude of the people always on there I Phones or Blackberry's and talking about how many friends they have on facebook and who they follow o twitter.

Count me in as one of those that hates all of this technology. I am not talking about on line banking and using cell phones for emergencies and business. But all of this silly facebook and twitter just drives me crazy.

 

[luvmy3]

Its their defense mechanism. They have no idea how to work that new fandangled technology so they pretend to be better than those who do so we don't suspect them of stupidity

 

[mjkacmom]

This is my dad (who can manage to use a prepaid simple cellphone, but we've given up on him using email). When my mom flies to visit my sister, she has to put the airline website up, and put in her flight number, so he can refresh it when he's waiting on her flight (I used to have to go over to set this up). BTW, he got his BS from Princeton, MBA from Columbia - he's just old and cranky!

 

[Judy from Boise]

I love technology....but social networking certainly isn't my cup of tea. I do think I could feel a little superior that I am not dependent on other's defining what is "in" for me, or the need for constant peer approval, so I can kind of identify with that limited aspect.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I don't get the whole superior feeling. I love technology and I love to use it to my advantage. I am on Facebook and I have a great time there.

But, I do very little online banking because if my credit cards want it to be easier to get my money, they better reduce my interest or do something to make it worth my while. For now, I'm sending them in checks so that someone can have a job opening them and applying funds. I hate credit card companies.

I also get the same "holier-than-thou" feeling from people who don't take over-the-counter medicine or see regular doctors. Me? I am all for better living through chemisty. I'd rather pop a pill and get over my headache quickly than sit and meditate about it and waste time.

 

[Scurvy]

Its their defense mechanism. They have no idea how to work that new fandangled technology so they pretend to be better than those who do so we don't suspect them of stupidity

I like this explanation! I think you might have a point.


There are things I like and things I don't like, things I "get" and things I don't get. But I don't feel the need to insult something just because it isn't my thing. I so often see people who insult technology or social networking or those who use either one just because they don't like it. If you're into Twitter you are narcissistic, if you're into Facebook you are shallow, if you're into social networking you are too into having others define what's "in", if you text you are inconsiderate or rude. . . It's ridiculous. And most of the time, comments like those are coming from people who clearly don't know anything about the things they are insulting. It's hard to take their comments too seriously, since the more they say the more apparent it is that they don't know what they are talking about.

Technology and social networking are tools. You can choose to use them or not, and if you do use them you can choose to use them wisely or not. It's silly to feel superior because you use them and it's absurd to feel superior because you don't use them.

 

[jekajekalynn]

I agree with other posters, and I might add that my mom who is in her early 60s (and will kill me for telling her age in public), is more tech savvy then me.. She has an iphone, wireless laptop and posts on facebook.

 

[MushyMushy]

You must have been reading my FB status today! I'd made a comment about wanting an e-reader and of course got the comments about books being better.

I'm about as big a book lover as you'd ever want to meet, but I'm also a gadget junky! Give me a way to download free and/or cheap books on a gadget and I'm happy. That doesn't mean I still won't go to the bookstore every chance I get. An e-reader definitely won't save me money.

 

[We_love_WDW]

I don't have a facebook page or twitter, but a lot of my friends do...I don't think or act like I'm better than them b/c I don't use it...who cares? If you use that stuff good for you and if you don't so what?

 

[bicker]

I also agree that it is mostly a matter of folks defending their own personal preference, trying to denigrate those who choose to make the best use of what is offered.

 

[C.Ann]

I've seen people on "both sides of the fence" act "superior".. (Kind of a double edged sword..)

In my opinion, people use what they need, want, or consider fun.. If people choose not to use some of those technologies, I don't think it's because they don't know "how" to (or feel "superior") - it's just not a "priority" for them..

I can think of quite a few people who don't post on message boards of any kind - even the DIS - although they're huge Disney fans.. (Gasp!!!! ) Not because they don't know "how" to - it's just something they aren't interested in doing.. The same goes for Facebook, twittering, texting, iPods, or any other number of things..

Everyone has different priorities - doesn't make one person superior over another..

 

[arminnie]

Its their defense mechanism. They have no idea how to work that new fandangled technology so they pretend to be better than those who do so we don't suspect them of stupidity

Ding, ding, ding - we have a winner.

I agree with other posters, and I might add that my mom who is in her early 60s (and will kill me for telling her age in public), is more tech savvy then me.. She has an iphone, wireless laptop and posts on facebook.

I am in my 60s and have all of that too. But I also started working in the computer industry in the 60s so I have a lot of experience.

I'm always surprised at how many people my age and even a little younger who will not use an ATM. Of course I managed the developed some of the early ATM networks so I'm a little prejudiced.

 

[erincon23]

12 or 13 years ago, I was in a large moms group. One woman took the post of being the public contact for our chapter (when moms were interested in getting info about joining, they would call her). This woman, in this position in the group, was very proud of the fact that her family did not have an answering machine and would never get one -- in fact, when her parents gave her one, she and her husband superflued it to their ceiling as a decoration!!!! Guess what, our membership declined that year...

Erin

 

[diznygirl]

Probably to offset the attitude of the people always on there I Phones or Blackberry's and talking about how many friends they have on facebook and who they follow o twitter.

Count me in as one of those that hates all of this technology. I am not talking about on line banking and using cell phones for emergencies and business. But all of this silly facebook and twitter just drives me crazy.

But it's meant to be silly. That's the point. I like being silly.


And it's not a defense mechanism - some people just have to find something to feel superior about. No sense in it.

 

[GirTheGecko]

I think it's people just needing to feel superior about something. I know some people can go off the deep end and can't disconnect. I love my iPhone, but I don't rub it in people's faces. It fits my needs, but my needs are not everyone's needs.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Its their defense mechanism. They have no idea how to work that new fandangled technology so they pretend to be better than those who do so we don't suspect them of stupidity

 

[jekajekalynn]

This thread makes me pine for gadgets I don't have yet.. I want a new gps system, a new cell phone, a kindle......etc

 

[FireDancer]

I don't consider social networking and technology the same thing. Paying bills online, using a device like an e-reader instead of paper books (though it is usually in conjunction with and not instead of), getting television on devices other than the living room TV, setting up webcams with audio instead of the old walkie talkie style nursery cams, etc are usually what I mean.

I wouldn't say someone who doesn't find a use for Facebook or Twitter to be shunning technology as much as shunning social media. In either case I agree that it is probably a defense mechanism of some sort. If you are in the working world it is a good idea to be up on the latest technology in the field you are in. Some people might feel intimated and instead of taking the time to learn the new way they cling onto the old way. It isn't only individuals though, look how many businesses are clinging onto old business models that don't work well in the current world.

But, I do very little online banking because if my credit cards want it to be easier to get my money, they better reduce my interest or do something to make it worth my while. For now, I'm sending them in checks so that someone can have a job opening them and applying funds. I hate credit card companies.

I look at paying all my bills online in a slightly different way. I like the convenience not so much because it makes their lives easier but because it makes mine easier. I also save quite a bit on stamps and with the post office continuously raising rates I am happy to do that. Lastly, it gives me more control over my own money. I can set my bill to get pulled on the exact day it is due instead of mail it in a week ahead. That means it sits in my interested bearing account longer and it is there longer in case I have an emergency and need to change the amount I am paying. Granted the interest isn't great but it is the principle of the thing. Anything that moves some control out of their hands into mine is a great use of technology IMO.