What is Digg?132 Comments
- bennyboy371, on 10/12/2007, -16/+85I certainly think a policy like this is beyond ridiculous. If someone may not understand the fine print, then have your associate explain it to them. You don't exclude people because you assume they're all too foolish to understand something!
- mastercheif, on 10/12/2007, -20/+80That's because old people try to download the Internet, and then clog up the tubes!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+61no one on the internet under 12!
then you might finally get some counter-strike in without the little kid with the high pitched voice bitching about how he lagged and totally should have killed you - rockforever, on 10/12/2007, -8/+53This is a very tricky subject fellow diggers. If you get to many elderly complaining about being swindled, you look like evil con-artists. If you try and help them out by holding their hand you look like you treat them like babies; incapable of doing anything on their own.
The company in question already looked like the former, so they switched policies and now looks like the latter. Finding an equalibrium is quite the challege as people age very differently. Some become completely detached by 60, others are kickin at 100. You can't just condemn them completely, as this policy is designed to help the elderly, unfortunately in the situation mentioned its taken completely out of context. - rick2k, on 10/12/2007, -2/+37there is a guy on youtube who is like 79 and he is now the #1 most subscribed person ever..
Old people must be popular on the net ;) why not let them on ??
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=geriatric1927 - JAGUART, on 10/12/2007, -1/+35Last week I was training a 95 year old woman on a PC for the first time in her life. She picked up on Solitare almost immediately without ever having used a mouse, ever. The other half was that I spent an hour trying to explain what a username and password was for her Yahoo mail.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+33Or the 24 year old calling you a "jew", because in his mind that's an offensive word.
- eplawless, on 10/12/2007, -3/+29I love the term "silver surfer".
- pintomp3, on 10/12/2007, -13/+37i guess the company is worried they will drive slow in the passing lane and jam up the tubes.
- DJcrayon, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23Yeah, 70 is an asinine number to loose your mind
Just like how 18 is when you are mature enough to be on your own
or how 21 is when you are mature enough to drink
...oh wait. - PsychoPNut, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21As long as it explained correctly to them, it's they're fault if they say, "I agree," or sign the form(s).
- dopyoman, on 10/12/2007, -4/+23@zelig
No. So long as net neutrality is being debated in the senate we should keep making fun at people who try to pass legislation on topics they do not know about. - borninda818, on 10/12/2007, -4/+23this is really stupid. I also don't like it when they do the same type of thing for young people. but it's understandable because it's a liability thing.
- jmz635, on 10/12/2007, -5/+23Read the Daily Mail Article, then take a look at this
http://eclectech.co.uk/dailymailpicnic.php - corduroy, on 10/12/2007, -4/+19Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
It sucks but as the story mentioned, the company was in trouble the year before for selling to older indviduals who didn't understand what they were getting into when they signed there contract. So to avoid that problem in the future they require that a younger person accompany them to explain what they're getting into.
It sucks but if the company was burned by selling to the elderly before, I don't see why the shouldn't protect themselves in the future/present. - nazadus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13If it it's small company, then I can understand this -- sort of. They don't have the time or the man power to train this people. When I use the word train, I really mean "support" but what it inevitably turns into is training. Especially with the attitudes I've seen from the elderly, they seem to *expect* the younger ones to teach them and it's almost never *their* mistake.
I've trained a few elderly people (like, here is what a folder is. here is how you login to check your webmail.) and I would go to their place once per week. Every. Single. Time. They had spyware and adaware installed. I have no idea how the hell they did it. Even after searing they don't let kids on it. I got so fed up I just said we needed to re-format -- everytime. After about the third format, it slowed downed dramatically (my fee wasn't cheap) because they started paying attention. HOWEVER, the broadband company doesn't have that option and it can be more of a pain in the ass more than anything to keep someone like that. For the same reason they don't want you uploading 24x7 to the max (don't seed torrents during peak times and they will almost never care if you seed) -- you suck up all the resources, technical support or bandwidth. Don't get me wrong, not all elderly is like that. But enough of them are ***** -- much like kids -- to make some companies go out of there way to stop them. The reason they want someone younger is so they know the elder person has another local geek (instead of the broadbands' geeks) and will suck him instead.
Of course, just to be fair, I've met *plenty* of parents who had children of gold and would _never_ do the illegal file sharing thing. *I* must have put that on there and *Im* obligated to remove it. People who are only half informed are just as bad, if not worse, than those who are completly clueless. The other half is parents who accuse this "aim" thing of making their computer crap. I'm serious, the kid had a crap load of software installed but it _must_ have been AIM that ***** it all up. I think the parents just wanted the kids to stop IM'ing and wanted that to be the excuse.
I'm starting to think an "insurance" or some form of regular mothly paid tech support wouldn't be a bad idea. For example, this "insurance company" would help you if you had problems with your router. These people would determine if it's user or hardware error. They would call the companies and take care of the mess. Problem is, I just can't see this being reasonably priced and being reasonably useful (you would need geeks who don't suck, which wouldn't be cheap). - jamesthejust, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12TalkTalk are making a huge loss signing people up for 'free broadband'. Perhaps the companies long-term goal is to recoup these costs over the course of many years. This silver surfer isn't going to be around much longer.
- shotgunefx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11Having run a tech support call center for a few years, I'd have to disagree with you. While they may be less knowledgable, they were almost always more forthright, pleasant and patient. Most of the ***** were in the 30-40 range.
I don't see how this isn't age discrimination plain and simple. Drawing lines for the elderly when driving and such is one thing, to assume everyone over 70 has a brain made of swiss cheese is retarded. I've known many people over 90 who were sharp as a tack. I also know many young adults who are stupid as *****.
It's one thing to make a call when someone seems impaired, but a blanket age policy, like most blanket policies is just plain wrong. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13Old people are the only group that is AS dangerous or MORE dangerous behind the wheel of a car than a teenager. So why don't we ban every 60 year old from driving? Oh, that's right. Because after a certain age, it's suddenly wrong to discriminate on age and you have this ***** feeling of ENTITLEMENT.
Funny how the people turning 60 today and crying about this are the ones who only a few decades ago were telling the world that you shouldn't trust anyone over 30 and that anyone over 30 is basically *****.
So excuse me if I, at 30, dont' give a ***** about *them*. - AiNoMuchi, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11This is just hilarous and sad. My dad's 77 and he just negotiated with the local sbcglobal Internet provider to lower their rates back down or they'd move to a cheaper provider. On top of that, my 66 year old mom uses an iMac with Mac and Virtual PC. On top of that they both iChat (that's video chatting for PC users) with me here in Japan every week. And they are NOT computer people, but they get by. This company is nothing. Stupid name if you ask me. Whatever.
- Limester, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Yikes...that means I only have two more years. I guess I better find someone to take MY tech support job and someone to help the kids with homework on their computers.
So long beloved iBook, so long digg, deviantART, Google, Livejournal and all my other favorite hangouts on the interweb.
Uh oh, the light on my palm is blinking and..."beep, beep, beep"... - catoutfit, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11OK, this sounds bad...but it's in the Daily Mail, take the article with a metric tonne of salt.
- returnofmalv, on 10/12/2007, -10/+19"You don't exclude people because you assume they're all too foolish to understand something!"
No, you charge them more like insurance companies do. It keeps the costs lower for the rest of us that don't run a malware-infected, 100-connections-per-second, virus box. - cecil_t, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I think you nailed the main point - the article says the company instated the policy because older people couldn't understand the contracts, but I suspect it's more likely that they analyzed their tech support calls and found that people over 70, on average, made more tech support calls and those calls took longer to resolve, making those customers not profitable to do business with.
- Haiyadragon, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11You don't have to wait that long.
- astatine, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8A metric tonne? Oh, that'll rile up the Mail no end...
- h00ligan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9my father who died 8 weeks ago, was video conferencing with me at teh age of 80, this is ***** ridiculous and the guy should be fired.
***** people. - rdotson, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8So in ten more years I have to give up my broadband connection, website, Skype telephone, Internet Chess, etc., because I'll be over 70??? Does the fact that I have a BS in Computer Science and have worked as a computer programmer for my entire working career (35 years) help at all? I've taught myself Verilog HDL on my own since my retirement just for fun, so as far as I know my mental facilities are just fine and I would be happy to match my computer knowledge and IQ scores with the snotty nosed clerk who insulted a lady simply because of her age.
- eonblue, on 10/12/2007, -6/+12Old people could easily be a big drain on resources, especially if tech support is free.
Although the spewing of spyware is not elderly specific. If isp's were smart theyed offer a 10 dollar discount if they could give them private ip addresses, or give out real ip addresses on an apply for basis only. Then again that owuld be an outcry that people can't 'host servers' despite the fact its against most isp's tos to host a server of any type. - melanko, on 10/12/2007, -6/+12I don't know about blocking service, but when it comes to the technology biz and old, grumpy people, the customer is usually wrong.
- Haiyadragon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7That only works if it sounds funny. You just sound like an *****. So you're welcome.
- jonathantneal, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10I agree with rockforever that this story brings into view the deeper issue of age discrimination. Not only do I understand the idea of keeping the eldery fully liberated, but I also understand the idea of assisting the elderly. Tack on to that, I understand the idea of liberating the youth / minor populous, but I also understand the idea of protective restrictions.
You know what? It's too bad you can't have your blood tested for mental competency. And for those who never pass, you could just assign an age where you automatically get it, regardless. If you could do that, then you could do a much better job protecting minors and elders. Then again, I don't know how my community would feel about the possibility of a thirteen-year-old girl passing the M.C. and going out for a night on the town and getting knocked up. That might just be a necessary reality in our advancing society. Weird. - iliketurtles2, on 11/20/2008, -8/+13This sounds fair enough to me. It is from the Daily Mail, so it's probably blown out of all proportion. Many elderly people aren't too tech savvy and don't understand the terms used. How can a sales assistant be 100% sure that they understand all of the contract?
If I was 75 I would be grateful for them doing so, before I get tied down into a 12 month (or longer) contract that I don't understand or don't want. I would be appreciative that they are safeguarding elderly people. talktalk also have every right to protect themselves, just as elderly people are not allowed on themepark rides, etc, for their own safety and wellbeing.
Signing up to talktalk is not just as simple as getting broadband installed, it also transfers your telephone service from BT to talktalk. Many people don't realise this when signing up to it and are surprised when they stop receiving bills from BT. - reaper, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9the customer is always right. and its not what you say - its how you say it.
Maybe if they taught their sales reps how to sell the product / solution they wouldnt have gotten into this mess. - succubuskiller, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I agree that they probably created a policy like that after analyzing. Not only is it not profitable it ties up the lines because you have explain it in as simple of terms you can, and keeping other customers waiting.
- Gimli, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4My father who is 79 years old uses the computer daily to read the news, surf the web and check email. I've built the computer for him to use and I haven't had to do anything to the computer for the last 6 months and everytime he starts to say "the computer is slower than normal" I just say when the last time you defrag the hard drive. He defrags the hard drive and tada it's back to normal. He's an retired designer who fools around with Cadkey for fun and from the drawings he's shown me would put anyone who's still working to shame.
- ThirdPrize, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4All those 70 year old blokes looking at those hot young MILFs.
- BobbyOnions, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8> you can't drink until 21
Of course you ***** can. Where the ***** do you live? - RichCoder, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6If you think it is ridiculous, then start passing a law that forbids those over 70 from suing stores because they claim they didn't understand the terms. Do you really think this is a policy just to deny rights to the elderly?
- scotty2012, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4"If someone may not understand the fine print, then have your associate explain it to them. You don't exclude people because you assume they're all too foolish to understand something!"
Maybe you are looking at it the wrong way. The company doesn't think older people are too senile to understand, the company knows they don't pay enough to have knowledgable employees and don't want to risk lawsuits because their employess did not explain the contract properly. - batfink, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6This man can be reassured by the fact that next month, policys such as this that exclude people solely based on age will be illegal
- Phaedruss, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Oh KingBelly, are your tubes clogged?
- ThinkBox, on 10/12/2007, -9/+12@ Parent
"You don't exclude people because you assume they're all too foolish to understand something!"
Yeah, like handguns! - SlowOnTheUptake, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Most of the inventors of the Internet are over 70 now. They're the same generation who brought us most of the innovations and improvements that make our world so much more comfortable and safer than they found it. It's unfortunate that we, the beneficiaries of all that, aren't more concerned with making sure that they get to take full advantage of what they provided for us. It seems pretty arrogant for us younger people to be deciding if we should let them use "our" technology.
I'll be 60 soon enough and I'm already beginning to experience that same attitude. I can just imagine what it will be like in 10 years... rude behavior from poorly educated young people who haven't really created anything of value yet on their own. I'm just beginning to understand how patient and indulgent older people were towards me when I was younger.
Now you can all stay the hell out of my yard! ;-) - philz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Actually it doesn't. I do download 100G+ a month, does my mom? Would my grandma?
- fmucklo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Since some people think that I am going to lose my mind in another six years I had better write now. It's been my experience that stupidity isn't a mater of age. Granted that some elderly people can be taken advantage but they may have been gullible all their lives. I just witnessed a group of hiphopers in Las Vagas. Nothing against dancing but the uniform seems to require a body full of tattoos and piercings. They don't realize that they have been sold a cultural bill of goods that they will surely regret in twenty years. Ignorance and stupidity have no claim on age.
- philz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3No offence, but maybe it's your destiny to serve as a warning for others :-)
Shortform of what you said is: Don't do support. And if you do: CHARGE THEM! - ratlhead, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4My grandma is 90 years old and uses the internet, as well as Yahoo! Messenger to chat with family and I. She rocks.
- sublimemtb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3While, it's probably not right, i sell cell phones, and there are times when i'm afraid some old people don't really understand that thier entering a 2 year contract, and all that that entails. As well sometimes they realize they have little use for a cellphone in thier rural area, a few months in, and are locked in for far longer. Then they try to cancel and see they have to pay a disconnection fee and complain that noone ever explained about these disconnection fees. and it all comes back to you as you being a pushy dishonest salesman... but i don't want to not buy something when i'm 80.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I especially hate the l337 ones still on netscape or AOL.
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