The Idiot’s Guide to Being Old

[Mr Boochie]

This happened more than once recently: I needed to change PW on some site, and I did it on the screen, then when I turned around to write it down on my PW list, I forgot what it was! Part of the reason is that I use the same "base" and then add a numeric suffix variation. Did I chose 400, or 500 for this one?

I still remember the account number from my first job. You had to use it to clock in and out of the phone time system. Also, it was (and still is) the account number for my Credit Union (now an independent bank).

 

[DesertRatt]

I still remember the account number from my first job. You had to use it to clock in and out of the phone time system. Also, it was (and still is) the account number for my Credit Union (now an independent bank).

WIndsor-0085
That was our home phone number when I was 6. I get some points for that, right?

 

[Enophile]

WIndsor-0085
That was our home phone number when I was 6. I get some points for that, right?

It depends, do you know your current number?

_

'Kids these days' - taking calculus in high school, knowing computer programming, managing IT for the adults in the family who use their computers to complain about kids these days, the list goes on.

When most of the guys here were young, they weren't even allowed to pump their own gas.

 

[shelly_d]

It's weird being the same age as old people.

Or older.

One of the worst parts of being old is the annual physicals with the memory tests. The nurse says three words at the beginning of the exam. Then, 15 minutes later, after a whole bunch of other questions (like drawing the time on an analog clock), she asks you to write them down in order.

I concentrated so hard on those dang three words that two weeks later, I still remember them. "Banana, Sunshine, Chair."

I probably never could pass this test. Even as a kid when my parents sent me to the store for 4 things I would come back with 3. "Shelly: what about the (insert missing item here)!" "I forgot".

WIndsor-0085
That was our home phone number when I was 6. I get some points for that, right?

Esplanade 5-7182, but I'll be damned if I can recall my wife's or daughter's cell number today.

Shelly_D

 

[bhairavi]

It depends, do you know your current number?

_

'Kids these days' - taking calculus in high school, knowing computer programming, managing IT for the adults in the family who use their computers to complain about kids these days, the list goes on.

When most of the guys here were young, they weren't even allowed to pump their own gas.

We took calculus in high school too. What my kids are learning in elementary school is far behind what I learned in elementary school. Go check out the teachers reddit if you have any doubt about how poorly American children are doing in schools, partly due to NCLB. Test scores are declining, as are behaviors. I'm a pediatrician, I'm seeing it as well.

My buddy is a university professor - it's even worse there. Using AI is not a skill. There are no skills that come from a deficit of attention - attention is precisely what is required to develop a skill.

And I'd push back even harder on your second point - kids these days - unless by kids you mean people in their late 30s-40s - grew up on phones and tablets and are functionally computer illiterate. Don't understand file structures, networks, really anything besides sticking the wifi password in the textbox that says 'wifi password'.

 

[ernieb1536]

It's weird being the same age as old people.

You know your old when all the people on tv are younger than you !

 

[Lux Man]

I still remember the account number from my first job. You had to use it to clock in and out of the phone time system. Also, it was (and still is) the account number for my Credit Union (now an independent bank).

I never carried my drivers license back in the day so I memorized my lic, #. I'd get pulled over and the cop would ask for my license. I'd say its' 140-139-229-891 so....how many times did I have to say that...too many. If anyone can use that number - good luck it's really really old.

 

[bashman]

Why do all these young folk make the damn typeface so small ?!?! Don't they know it's too hard to read?

 

[Mr Boochie]

You know your old when all the people on tv are younger than you !

The turning point was when this month's Playmate's birthdate was after yours.

It's all downhill from there.

 

[Yamaki]

I've been re-classified and don't really have any issue with it because:

1. I only have one brain cell left.
2. I used to have two knees. Now I have 1.5 knees.
3. Names of people, places and things are all slow to be uttered during ... wait, what's that word? Uhhh...oh, yeah... conversation.

Now, it's not all bad. There are those rewarding times. Just the other day I walked into a room, and I remembered why I was there. Sure, it was the bathroom but that still counts, right? And you are expected to be dumb or forgetful and that forgives more bad behavior that you would have not gotten away with when you were younger.

Ahhh...the retarded...er, retired, life. Ain't it grand?

 

[YY1]

Or older.

I probably never could pass this test. Even as a kid when my parents sent me to the store for 4 things I would come back with 3. "Shelly: what about the (insert missing item here)!" "I forgot".

Esplanade 5-7182, but I'll be damned if I can recall my wife's or daughter's cell number today.

Shelly_D

I believe it's scientifically proven that humans tend to remember in groups of three's.

That's also why professional comedians tell jokes in groups of threes!

Possibly easier to remember two groups of three than one group of four.

My brief stint at an IBM subsidiary had me cursing their NNANNNN (number, number, alpha character, number, number, number, number) part number format- if it had been NNNANNN it would have been SO much easier to remember those numbers.

...and those people are supposed to be smart!

 

[OBMG74]

My buddy is a university professor - it's even worse there.

Old joke:

Recent college graduates were asked the following question in a survey:

"Please summarize your college experience in 5 words:"

One of the answers: "Math is hard."


Unfair to put a whole generation in one box, though.
The equations that my 8th grade grandson has to solve are way above me.

 

[Mr Boochie]

 

[ElectTech]

You know your old when all the people on tv are younger than you !

Yes indeed! I am a baby boomer born in the 60s. I enjoyed my youth, even though I was born in a humble family in a developing country. Sometimes I think that "being old" is a privilege, especially if we are in good health and have genuine, loving people around us (more quality than quantity). Some close friends passed away much younger than I am right now, and they had a lot of life in front of them. Cheers,

 

[Mr Boochie]

Some close friends passed away much younger than I am right now, and they had a lot of life in front of them.

This kinda shakes me up. I drove by my old parents' neighborhood and saw a house of a guy I played baseball with in school.

I lost track of him when he went to an out-of-state college. I Google his name, only to find his 2018 obituary.

 

[YY1]

That's happened to me a couple of times.

Also found out about a former friend's stabbing that way.

He survived.

 

[bhairavi]

I had a childhood friend who I could never find online even though every few years I would try.. I found his father and emailed him, but he never gave a response.

A few years ago I tried more creative sleuthing and eventually I found an obituary... he passed away from brain cancer at age 13.

 

[Mr Boochie]

That's happened to me a couple of times.

Also found out about a former friend's stabbing that way.

He survived.

Yeah, it's sad and shocking.

A friend in high school was a great guitarist. He was in several bands. I read that he was shot by the sheriffs on a beach when he tried to rob a couple of people.

Another friend told me that Nick had developed a terrible heroin addiction that he couldn't kick.

So many wrong turns down the road of Life.

 

[ElectTech]

So many wrong turns down the road of Life.

Sorry to hear that. I was not going to mention... but I will... I think that COVID-19 was immensely bad for many, including me. I lost some close relatives and friends who died directly or indirectly due to the pandemic. Two of them became alcoholics during the lockdowns and were found dead. They were both relatively wealthy people, but became lonely, and no one was checking on them. It took a while for me to make some peace with all of that. I had no clue that they were going through that; now it is kind of obvious to me.

 

[knotscott]

I like geezerhood so far! My system has never sounded better (even if it's because I'm deafer than ever!). Parenting transitions into grandparenthood, which I see as more like dating than marriage....all the fun stuff without the responsibility. I'm in my rookie year of retirement, and I've never been so relaxed or happy. My health issues are mostly just normal grunting and groaning, and through some miracle of God I've never had more money! Not that there's a lot, but there's enough for now. Geezerhood has been A-OK with me.