"I Hate The Internet..."

Oh my God, like shush, old woman!!

I started my classes last week and one of the modules I'm currently taking is called New Media Technology. The name explains it perfectly.

Despite switching paths to obtain a Mass Communications degree majoring in Journalism, I still found myself being hooked on to technology and therefore took up another major, this time in Communications, Technology and Policy (CTP).

To my great joy, the lecturer teaching my present module was the very same one who taught me last semester in Global Media Industries. I love her to bits and pieces.

The class started with her asking a few questions with regards to our usage of Internet. An MSN account?? Facebook?? A blog?? Who had NONE of these??

One of the people who raised their hands to these questions was a middle-aged Indian lady, probably about my mother's age if not older. Our lecturer was explaining that it was perfectly fine if one did not have all of these and there was no need to be embarrassed about it.

She went on though, to ask the lady the reason behind her not having these newfound technologies and her answer was classic: "I hate the Internet..."

My eyes rounded like the size of golf balls as I turned towards the whiney voice and shook my head discreetly with disgust. Talk about being in a class with the word TECHNOLOGY in it.

Lady, are you sure you belong here?? Maybe you belong with the ATPAOS - the Anti-Technology People's Association of Singapore.

And then I saw who was seated beside her. Ohh, no wonder. She was good friends with BBOAG. It slowly registered in my head that I'd seen her before in front of the administrations office trying to raise hell and make a scene because one of the staff had promised that her results would be out in a week and that week has passed with no results. And of course, she was with BBOAG.

Anywazoo, back to class.

What was her purpose of bringing up her hatred for technology and the Internet?? Why the need to tell people of your displeasure??

Then it dawned.

Oh my God lahh, it's the old people syndrome.

Middle-aged woman, used to probably typewriters or word stamps in a class filled with technologically-savvy students, you're bound to feel cornered.

And the problem with old people is their unwillingness to change and adapt to the evolving society. This can be seen in many aspects of our lifestyle and not just with technology itself. My Grandmère is one of the prime examples of old people not wanting to change.

During the old days when food was expensive and almost scarce, mothers used to cook noodles using the minimalist of ingredients. No meat, not too much salt, almost no sugar maybe a sparsely used egg and a handful of veggies. Now, even with a plethora of varieties to choose from, Grandmère STILL sticks to her way and fries her noodles kosong. This despite having a hired help to assist her with market and grocery shopping.

This behavior is also eminent with my next door neighbor's mother when she passes us a plate of fried rice or fried noodles every once in awhile. Only hers is slightly blander and you can only taste chilli per se. And Ajinamoto, which in our household is very much shunned.

Back to that lady. So I'm thinking, with no disrespect to the senior citizens, why are you here?? With this negative attitude, the learning experience you will receive will not be as enriching as the rest of us because your mind has already been set against what you will learn. The purpose of getting a degree is to upgrade yourself and keep up with society, especially in an industry such as ours.

Don't tell me five years from now you're still going to run around chasing stories with wads of paper and a pen in your hand?? Just because you don't understand what is new doesn't mean you need to have a burning hatred for it. It's people like you who make me want to hate the human race.

If this is your idea of lifelong learning, sorry, you have failed.

Get out of this class and take your sourgrape aura with you. And don't forget to bring your loyal friend along.

Laterz...
Lenny