A flash of annoyance
I try not to be a 63 year old curmudgeon. I read a few waspish elder's blogs just to make myself feel magnanimous. (No, they are not in my blogroll.) Man, some of them can get their crank on!
One writer griped because she went to Chico's and "the size 0 is nothing like the 0 I know." Chico's do use a sizing system that differs from the 0-16 convention, but the store and website provide a chart explaining it.
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| Chico's job aid for sizing |
I've noticed that as we get older, we tend to complain about what we don't understand.
" 'I don't understand it' is the greatest screen for incompetence", says an old friend, a tech inventor pushing 70. The antidote is simple: stay curious, keep learning. Ask a younger friend to tutor, take a free Apple Store class.
" 'I don't understand it' is the greatest screen for incompetence", says an old friend, a tech inventor pushing 70. The antidote is simple: stay curious, keep learning. Ask a younger friend to tutor, take a free Apple Store class.
It's natural to gripe, to try to fit the world to our habitual patterns. And when we adopt new behaviours, especially those that involve technology, we might think about the unanticipated results.
Example: people photographing their meals in a restaurant. Not dangerous, like driving while using a cell phone, but intrusive and unpleasant.You are sitting there, gazing into your companion's eyes or maybe just figuring out what movie to see, and suddenly someone has her butt shoved into your table, photographing her faijitas. Next course, same thing, but now it's dark and she's using her flash. And using it.
Dessert: does not one chocolate mousse look pretty much like another? She takes at least six shots.
If a diner wishes to document a meal, I wish she would so only when tables are well apart, she does not need a flash, and her behind isn't grazing my bread plate. (Is my dining ruining your perspective?)
Is it odd that I don't mind taking a photo for someone nearby? On our last trip, a couple at the next table ordered a classic seafood tower, three magnificent, briny tiers of shellfish. They asked us to take their photo with their treat; I was happy to oblige.
Same with birthdays, friends who want a memory or the serving of something so unusual that you never want to forget what can be done with spun sugar. The spirit of celebration overrides any inconvenience; I want them to have that photo.
While I find the habit of texting at a table even more obnoxious, it is the business of the parties dining together, and does not intrude on my experience. Photos do.
Comments
Tricia
Oh yes, I have a friend who likes to point out with great pride she knows nothing about technology and has no plans to learn. Therefore her friends cannot (do no longer) send her pictures and only write a note once or twice a year, etc. They told her she would hear from them weekly, if not daily, if she would learn how to write and receive e-mails.
Her life is based on "life was better when. . ."
She is a lonely woman unfortunately.
All the best toujours,
Tish
I plan to take my Photography 2 class next January and improving my French is next on the list.
I just love learning new things I think it helps keep one young.
Tish: Have never seen so many people photographing their meals, as I have seen in the last year. Wonder what they do with the photos.
Chicatanyage: Good for you! I like to make a "to learn" list and chip away at it.
Tiffany: A patron can contribute a great deal to the ambience of a restaurant. Have heard that some restaurants ban photography.
kathy peck: Since I have moved to a new city, I am delighted to be able to Skye with old friends; the connection is so good it's like sitting across a table.
During two recent trips, I observed that the persons photographing every dish were middle aged or older, and mostly women.
These generations did not grow up with digital photography, so are perhaps excited about how many photos they can take, and in their enthusiasm do not notice that they might be intruding on other patron's enjoyment and space.
My husband still says "icebox," like everyone else in his family.
And as for loss of curiosity--that's why i'm afraid to stop working. LAst year, I learned such useful terms from my students as "drunktext" and "bromance." The second one is very useful.
coffeeaddict: I can certainly live with that!
Rubi: Classic Rubi! LOL!
Frugal: I still say "dial" a phone and would readily understand "icebox". Will be interested to see what new words stay in our lexicon.
Am guessing it is part of the ever-more-prevalent urge to document a trip or outing. I have also seen people walking through tourist sites, recording every second. It is as if the videography is the experience, not the actual moments spent there.
Or, perhaps they are worried about not fully remembering an experience?
Maybe someone who does this will contribute a comment.
Photographing food outside of the context of celebration makes no sense to me.
We did agree as a choir this year that we would not text during the Church service. I swear this actually came up as a question to be settled. Meanwhile, texting continues during rehearsals and before the service begins. So much for enjoying a peaceful space without distractions.
I was at a funeral where a 50 something family member started taking photos with a flash during the eulogy. I nearly fell off my pew. And I was the only person who was shocked! Never mind that the funeral home mailed us all dvds of the service..,a standard practice now.
A friend of mine says that at her daughter's school recitals some of the parents watch the whole thing through the viewer of their movie camera...