LOOKING BACK Just because someone invents it, do I have to use it?

Just because someone invents it doesn’t mean I have to use it

I balk at change. Just ask my children who are trying to get me to change my Internet dialing to wireless. Goodness, I did finally get an e-mail address! And several years ago I did trade in my typewriter for a computer. But I practically had to be dragged into the new technology. Even today, I know I’m outdated. However, I use the cell phone my daughter provides me, once in awhile.

When I was a church secretary, back in the early days of computers, someone gave us gals each a computer. But it was over a year before I would even try out the new contraption, and only then with the promise that I would be given instructions on how to operate the strangemachine. When our training day arrived, a smart young fellow pulled up his chair to the computer as we secretaries sat in a circle around him. For hours he "taught" us how to make directories and how to set up files from which we could pull all sorts of wonderful statistics and reports.

When I saw him packing his black briefcase to leave, I cried out in desperation, "Wait, let me sit at the computer and you show me how." I seated myself in front of the screen and asked my first question, "How do you turn it on?" I used my computer six months before I discovered it had a spell check. That feature certainly changed my life. Now someone tells me I need to use the grammar check.

Every time I’ve had tochange to a new computer, I’ve had the same problem. None of them are alike, and it’s like learning all over again. I’m like that with all machines. Each new copier at work brought new panic. I never did master a fax machine and refused to even try to learn how to operate the laminating machine.

I also do not do well at self-teaching. Books are of little help, as I can’t understand the directions in relation to operating the mechanism. My husband makes me read instruction manuals before driving a new car, using my new camera, stove, washing machine, etc. I beg him to read the book and show me how to operate my new purchase. I can learn quickly if someone shows me how, but instruction books are written in more than one language, andthey all sound like Greek to me.

I usually get my granddaughter to show me how something new works. That way I don’t have to read the book. Kids are so smart and have no trouble figuring out modern technology.

I think I’ve done fine without succumbing to every new gadget. Just because someone invents something new, it doesn’t mean I have to use it, does it? Besides, once you’ve become accustomed to something new, you can’t live without it. And I’ve accumulated too many things I can’t live without already - indoor plumbing, electricity, telephone, television, microwave, air conditioning, washer and dryer, dishwasher. The list goes on.

I could never go back to outdoor privies and standard shifts on cars.Though I did go back to mowing part of my yard with a reel mower (with no motor) to get some exercise.

I often talk of the days when we camped out in tents, washed clothes with a wringer washer and hung them outside on a wire line to dry. But, I don’t want to have to go back to living that way.

Marie Putman is a former Gravette resident and regular contributor to the Westside Eagle Observer.

Opinion, Pages 7 on 04/13/2011