I knew there was an interest in local history, nostalgia and ephemera, but I really had no idea that it would be so intense. Back when I began posting on this, the first of my 4 websites, I assumed that the site would be visited by students and scholars. I felt that there would be limited interest due to the fact that most of my contemporaries in the senior citizen population do not own a computer, nor are they interested in learning the basics of computing.
Dude,
ReplyDeleteWord from the 'Burg?
I'm in. Capisca?
Serioulsy, I'm very happy to see INFO from the "homeland." I truly appreciate your dedication and interest.
Me, I am cursed/blessed with a near photographic memory of my childhood back on South Clinton Ave. You have an article catalogued of my old Calvary Baptist Church, and I recall a few from that article while still alive in their older years.
I really enjoyed the articles on White City Lake. Long after the Park collapsed, that lake and the surroundimg swamps were our personal wilderness where we learned to camp, hunt and fish, while attending Junior Four.
Would I let my kids do what we used to get away with in those days? NEVER! ;-)
With best wishes,
Tom, Don't understand your comment about seniors not having or being interested in computers. I live in an area of many adult communities and I would say at least 75% to 80% of the residents have and regularly use computers. The computer clubs in the communities have hundreds of members that are constantly learning new uses for their personal computers. We find we can communicate with family and friends all over the world and also keep abreast of new and interesting happenings.
ReplyDeleteOMAD: HERE'S MY REPLY:
ReplyDeleteHI OMAD:
YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY TRAVELING IN A DIFFERENT CIRCLE THAN I. IN THE MANY SENIOR CITIZEN CLUBS TO WHOM I BRING MY PROGRAMS, A SHOW OF HANDS MAY FIND 1 OR 2 WHO USE THE COMPUTER BASICALLY FOR EMAIL. MOST SAY THEY ARE TOO COMPLICATED.
One site on the web states that less than 4% of the entire senior community are active in computing. Believe me: I have made it a part of my presentations to encourage them to get active. I taught beginning computer classes at the Hamilton Library a few years ago, and found the there were only a handful of seniors who wanted to learn. Most thought it was too complicated, too expensive, or an unnecessary appliance. Don't misunderstand me. There are a few seniors who are regulars on my site and who are constantly writing to tell me how they appreciate the memories I bring back to them. It is really my target audience with www.glover320.blogspot.com, but the number of visitors to this site I'm sure falls within the 4 to 5% area cited above.
On the other hand, those who read my column are largely seniors and I constantly receive snail mail from them, responding to a specific column. Believe me Omad, had those seniors been on the internet visiting my site, they would have contacted me.
Tom
PS: Here's just one website dealing with the lack of senior participation. The writer states what I have been telling my senior citizens for at least 15 years:
"Technology and the Senior Citizen"
Most people in the 65 and younger age group deal with new technology on a daily basis - from computers at work to cell phones in the car. However, for those that did not grow up with an iPod in their back pocket, technology can be scary and intimidating. Younger generations take it for granted that they are being raised with a lot of these items. Even those in the middle-age bracket find themselves at the minimum exposed to it from their families and jobs. But for those people that no longer go to work and may have limited access outside of their homes, technology can be viewed as unncessary and frightening. What they don't realize is how much technology can make their day-to-day tasks easier and even improve their quality of life.