old people....

[Soybomb]

Do you ever get yourself into something you just know is a bad idea? Between college and work in the computer lab I also do a little comptuer consulting for people, mostly troubleshooting, but I do build some new pc's from time to time too. Well one day this old lady called me up and said she was one of my better clients mother in laws...I came highly recommened and she wanted a computer built. I started to get nervous when she insisted on having an incredibly thoroughly detailed receipt, and the same level of detail on the warrenty info on each component. None of my other customers ever ask for that, just a basic receipt and warrenty info. I got a little concerned but decided to not back out.

Well she had to have the computer by the 17th since thats when her fellow old people that live in a rv are coming by and they would like to use it. I said okay I can do that, and I might even be able to get it to you by the 8th. Well the 8th she called up asking where her computer way since I told her she would have it then :| I called her monday to tell her weds I would deliver her computer between 2-4 pm since I'm busy all day mon and tues. Well my pager just went and she wanted to know why I hadnt been by yet. I told her it was tuesday and she said yes, I know, you said you would bring my computer by today :| She made a big point of how she waited around all day for me today and she had plans for tomorrow, but she guesses it will have to be okay. The real kicker is the woman is actually a shut in. Her son in law said she hasnt left the house in like 12 years. WHAT DID I KEEP HER FROM DOING? bathing from 2-4pm? Prancing around naked from 2-4pm today? Even if today was the day I said I dont see what a shutin would be doing!!!!

The urge to say "listen to what I'm saying when I talk to you" was so incredibly strong. I'm still almost tempted to return the parts and giver her a check back! But tomorrow i'll deliver it and listen to her ramble about god knows what......

Wow I feel strangely better

 

[Swag1138]

Old people are funny

Did you know that old peoples bathwater isnt bathwater? Its soup!

 

[Isla]

Thank you for reminding me why I did not pursue a degree in geriatrics, even though I live in a veritable geezer gold mine.

 

[Warrenton]

Tell me about it. My grandfather wants a computer, and is fully capable of learning it. But my aunt insists he doesn't need a new one, but that a 486 with windows 3.1 and a 14" monitor is fine. I insist that he should have a modern one because they are so much more usable with windows98/me than win31, plus he needs at least a 17" monitor to be large enough to see well. Plus he wants to be able to do voice recognition with it, although I am against it because of the horrendous training time and unreliability. He is 77 years old, but has a long time left, is very intelligent, and determined. Plus his wife (my grandmother) says it will cost too much money, yet she just went out and bought a $35,000 RV for herself, he never will use the RV.

BTW my aunt told me to my face that she would never let me build one for them because it will break and be unreliable and slow, and that if he were to get a new one it would be a Compaq because they are much better values and more reliable. What a bunch of bull. She knows I built mine, and knows mine never ever break, except software which I do to myself with tinkering.

 

[Soybomb]

Hehe the only good thing I could see isla is that I might be able to tell her i havent been paid yet at least 5 times before she'd catch on

 

[apoppin]

Just remember, someday - if you are really lucky - you will be an old person too (and all the young people will be complaining about you).

 

[Lord Evermore]

Since when does your aunt have the right to tell you that your grandfather can't ask you for a computer? Your grandmother can say it will cost too much, IF she lets you put together a price quote and then says it's too much (even getting the slowest modern stuff would be good for him and not cost too much).

 

[kami]

Soybomb,

if you think those phone calls were bad...just wait til they mess up the computer! :Q

 

[Lord Evermore]

As for old people, some of them suck, but some of them are really cool, just like young people. As long as they've still got their wits about them, AND they realize that they're not in the same generation as their grandkids and don't try to force them to sit and talk with them all the time and listen to boring stories or do things that 'grandma' likes to do, old people can be fun. I wouldn't mind building a computer for an older person if they understood what I was doing and let me do it well, exactly the same as I'd require from a young person. If I could set up a few computers for a retirement home or something, I'd do it and provide some support, but as with anything else I'd make them understand I'm NOT Compaq or Dell or IBM and I don't have unlimited staff and time to fix things they either break or just don't understand.

 

[Soybomb]

Kami, thats my main fear actually, luckilly since she made me spell out my warrenty so absolutely clearly, I limted free service to 60 days I'll do way more as long as its not a problem, but if she calls daily then its $25 an hour in 2 months hehe

 

[Isla]

No one loves old people more than me....

i'm the youngest in a latin family...

I have spent more than the occasional Saturday taking my Abuela and Abuelo grocery shopping. Unfortunately, they can't get it all done at Publix. No, we have to go to Albertson's because chicken drumsticks and thighs are on sale there. Oh, and we have to stop at WinnDixie because Abuela has a coupon for 50 cents off a gallon of milk! I learned to buy a head of lattuce based on weight. They all cost the same, so you gotta buy the one that weighs the most! Ha! (Like I'm getting some sort of deal??)

the scary thing is now when I pull up to the checkout at the grocery store, I've got like $15 worth of coupons with me!

I just want y'all to know... I love the old folks.... I've just paid my dues for some time to come!

 

[Isla]

No one loves old people more than me....

i'm the youngest in a latin family...

I have spent more than the occasional Saturday taking my Abuela and Abuelo grocery shopping. Unfortunately, they can't get it all done at Publix. No, we have to go to Albertson's because chicken drumsticks and thighs are on sale there. Oh, and we have to stop at WinnDixie because Abuela has a coupon for 50 cents off a gallon of milk! I learned to buy a head of lettuce based on weight. They all cost the same, so you gotta buy the one that weighs the most! Ha! (Like I'm getting some sort of deal??)

the scary thing is now when I pull up to the checkout at the grocery store, I've got like $15 worth of coupons with me!

I just want y'all to know... I love the old folks.... I've just paid my dues for some time to come!

 

[DanC]

"Old" people know so much more than "we" do about life, it isn't even funny. Yes - they're set in their ways, they're eccentric - but at their age, they've EARNED it. They deserve patience, and respect. IMHO.

 

[Bleep]

What is the age of "Old People"
I was born in 1934 does that qualify me?? If so I must be a pain in the butt also. But I built my first machine when I was 62 and knew nothing about computers. since then I have built 72 systems some for sale and 50 were donated to some native american schools in South Dakota and Northern Nebraska. I write a tech. column for one of the local papers and administer 3 web sites. Please dont generalize you will hurt my feelings.
Bleep

 

[Tripleshot]

Bleep

Your to old to be offended.Can't fool me.

DanC

Well said.

 

[Bleep]

Dan:
You are right. The best part is I havent had a job for 7 years.
Bleep

 

[DanC]

Bleep...
My hat is off to you... my knee bent.

You are both gracious and learned. A true gentleman.
Young folks - THIS .... IS A MAN!

 

[Gustavus]

Bleep
Boy, what I wouldn't give to be only 66 again. I would estimate that I am four times the average age of the members of these forums. Like you, I assemble my own computers (I have never owned a pre-built computer)and almost never have the cover on any machine I own since I am always making changes, I still publish professionally (two math research papers last month and have just finished an 18,000 word rewrite of the Cryptology article in the Encyclopedia Brittanica) and have a laboratory and shop that I work in almost every day. I am not sure when you are supposed to be "old", but it is my observation that the fraction of people whose company you find enjoyable enough that you like to spend time with is prety much independent of age. At the very extreme of age that may not hold true, not because of age but of the consequences of aging -- people find it uncomfortable to be around other people who are sick or infirm. When I look in the mirror, I know that I am "old", when I look inside, I don't feel thatI am old. I have many friends that are decades younger than me and a much smaller number that are a decade older, but age seems to be incidental to the relationships. Obviously, I can no longer go mountain climbing with the 30 and 40 year olds as I did when I was that age, but there is more than enough to fill any friendship with enjoyable moments.

 

[ultravox]

Gus: Yeah that's all fine and dandy but I bet you still leave your flasher on for miles at a time...........

 

[jadinolf]

Since I, too, am an old person (66) there is something that some of you don't realize.

These older folks who appear to be a little dense were that way when they were 20 also. Even then their elevator didn't go all the way to the top.

 

[Soybomb]

Just so you guys no, I mean no disrespect to those older than me. I can only hope I live as long as they do and are as successful. It just seemed like something good to rant about at the time If she was 30, I'd just call her stupid for not being able to tell teh days of the week apart hehe.

 

[Gustavus]

ultravox
You got me there, I will admit I'm too old to flash any more.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

My grandma: "I'm old and I don't want to learn" (actual quote)
My grandpa: "And here" (the only thing he can say, literally, 5 years of Picks Disease)
<edit>
That was my mom's side, my dad's side has a perfectly ok Grandma who just isn't interested, my step grandpa is a little off but still ok to hang around with. My blood grandpa dies when my dad was 14. For some reason my mom's side just doesn't wanna go out, and my dad's side is fun to be with.
</edit>

 

[Isla]

My 95 year old Abuelita has an amazingly sharp mind and remembers everything. She is the perfect example of optimum aging (which is a field of study). She is an amazing person and has seen just about everything. I wish everyone could age like that... and I hope I inherited the genes!

 

[Bleep]

Gustavus: Dan:
Thank you Dan for the Kind Words
Gustavus--Interesting background you have. I was a Cryptographer many years ago-Model 15 rtty with dual tape heads, big old box with a ton of relay's, I am sure you remember them. I have written several tech articles for QST mag in the past, you and I have a lot in common.
Bleep