Is it too late to become a Luddite? Tired of fighting tech!

[XS22J8R]

This morning I pulled my phone off the charger and went to check email right away. I noticed no new emails since yesterday, which seemed impossible, as I get 8-10 mostly junk miles overnight every night.
Went downstairs and looked at my iPad, and found the expected bunch of mostly junk new emails in its inbox.
I fought with the phone a bit, turned it off and back on. Sent a test email, and it sent ok.
Gave up and called T Mobile, and then proceeded to spend the next 2 hours on the phone with a tech while he guided me through everything they had in their book to try to resolve. At some point we tried deleting the gmail app and then reinstalling it.
Of course several times I had to wrestle with finding correct passwords, which is something else I’ve come to despise.
Didn’t fix anything, but did clear all the old emails out on the phone, so it just has a blank screen that says “problem synching”.
In the course of playing with various settings with the tech, several times doing something with synch and it would say synched 12-18-2025 at 10:15 or something similar, but nothing shows up in the email folders except the error message saying problems synching.
Since I use Comcast email, the T mobile tech finally ran out of ideas and suggested downloading the Xfinity app and trying getting my email there. The play store to get apps doesn’t want to let me in without adding a password or the like so they can bill me for ones that cost money. I don’t want to buy apps now just download xfinitys free one!
I eventually found a workaround and downloaded the app, and now can get email again on my phone directly from xfinity.
But the Gmail app I’ve used for the last 3 to 4 years I’ve had this phone for some reason won’t work now, except to send a new email.
After getting off the phone with the tech, I did google searches and found things like YouTube videos on this issue, all the steps that were suggested were ones the tech had me do over the course of 2 hours.
That’s how I spent almost 4 hours this morning!
I’m old enough to remember a time we didn’t have to try to maintain a list of hundreds of passwords or spend hours on the phone trying to make something work with the internet! Life was so much easier.
Rant off, but I really find myself wanting to live off the grid sometimes….

 

[Runcharger]

Agree: Im pretty tired of dealing with all this silly crap that is supposed to make our lives so much easier. This crap is to benefit everyone except us.

 

[3sloppydogs]

Technology is great until it isn't

 

[XS22J8R]

Technology is great until it isn't

I don’t know how we lived without it, but at the same time don’t know how to live with it!
Who it really benefits is criminals and data harvesters.
As one who is retiring I am getting more worried by the day about security. We find stories online pretty much daily about people getting scammed out of their life savings, including seniors getting scammed out of their retirement accounts.
Most sound stupid, like who’d really think the bank would call you about a problem with someone hacking your account, so cash it out, buy gold bars and our currier will come get them?
But then you’ll read about one that you think that could happen to me.
I read one the other day where someone checked their IRA with one of the biggest investment companies, and found their $400,000 account drained. They called and found someone had got their credentials and personal info off the dark web, opened a new account in their name. Then transferred the money from their real IRA to the new account.
They’d caught it in time that it was able to be reversed. But if they hadn’t checked their account that day, the crooks probably would have had time to complete the transaction, then get the money out of it into their pockets.
How do you protect yourself from that?
I have my rollover IRA and Roth with the company in question.
Ironically, in recent years it’s gotten to be a bigger and bigger pain in the butt just to transfer money in from my checking account to make my yearly Roth contributions. But someday some criminal will figure out a way to steal from my account probably which will be an even bigger kick in my *** considering how burdensome it’s become just to make a legitimate purchase of shares of a fund on their site.
It’s said hostile nations like North Korea, China and Russia have state sponsored teams of IT gurus whose whole purpose is to scam westerners of their money.
With their expertise and now having AI to use, how is it possible that they won’t find ways to get everyone’s savings and investments eventually, regardless of how safe you think you are online?

 

[Davefinan]

This morning I pulled my phone off the charger and went to check email right away. I noticed no new emails since yesterday, which seemed impossible, as I get 8-10 mostly junk miles overnight every night.
Went downstairs and looked at my iPad, and found the expected bunch of mostly junk new emails in its inbox.
I fought with the phone a bit, turned it off and back on. Sent a test email, and it sent ok.
Gave up and called T Mobile, and then proceeded to spend the next 2 hours on the phone with a tech while he guided me through everything they had in their book to try to resolve. At some point we tried deleting the gmail app and then reinstalling it.
Of course several times I had to wrestle with finding correct passwords, which is something else I’ve come to despise.
Didn’t fix anything, but did clear all the old emails out on the phone, so it just has a blank screen that says “problem synching”.
In the course of playing with various settings with the tech, several times doing something with synch and it would say synched 12-18-2025 at 10:15 or something similar, but nothing shows up in the email folders except the error message saying problems synching.
Since I use Comcast email, the T mobile tech finally ran out of ideas and suggested downloading the Xfinity app and trying getting my email there. The play store to get apps doesn’t want to let me in without adding a password or the like so they can bill me for ones that cost money. I don’t want to buy apps now just download xfinitys free one!
I eventually found a workaround and downloaded the app, and now can get email again on my phone directly from xfinity.
But the Gmail app I’ve used for the last 3 to 4 years I’ve had this phone for some reason won’t work now, except to send a new email.
After getting off the phone with the tech, I did google searches and found things like YouTube videos on this issue, all the steps that were suggested were ones the tech had me do over the course of 2 hours.
That’s how I spent almost 4 hours this morning!
I’m old enough to remember a time we didn’t have to try to maintain a list of hundreds of passwords or spend hours on the phone trying to make something work with the internet! Life was so much easier.
Rant off, but I really find myself wanting to live off the grid sometimes….

I ve had that happen and it was always because the iPhone and iPad were not updated to their highest iOS level. Doesn’t sound like your issue though.

 

[XS22J8R]

My hooptie phone is an Android Dave. My Apple stuff is still working ok.
Funny thing after I blew off steam ranting, I looked at my phone and saw a number by the Gmail app. Which it does when I have new emails. Tapped on it and lo and behold my inbox was now showing emails again.
After it last got new emails about 24 hours earlier.
Still fubared though, I click on an email to look at it and get a spinning wheel. But if it never gets better, at least that app shows if I get new emails. If so, I can then go to dig up the clunky xfinity app to open to actually read any that look interesting.

 

[Kern Dog]

Uses obscure words like “Luddite” to flaunt his superior intelligence….

(Guys like me that almost had to look it up)

 

[XS22J8R]

I’d been tempted to make a topic headline saying maybe I’ll go be like the uni bomber, but given all the data scrubbing off the internet, I’d probably have caught notice of the FBI and NSA, and got on secret watch lists and never be able to fly commercially again, maybe bank accounts froze etc.
I don’t think saying you’re tempted to become a Luddite will catch any government agency’s attention, and be misunderstood to mean anything more suspicious than I just want to throw my phone, tablets and PC in a lake and go live off grid in a cabin free of the stress, aggravation and trouble tech causes.
But with my luck I’ll find otherwise!
Haven’t flown commercially in ages, so at least I don’t have to be too concerned if I end up forbidden to do that!
Government takes too much of my money already, so I don’t want them taking my savings because I threatened to become a scary Luddite though!

 

[themechanic]

Ted Kaczynski wrote an essay on the subject if you're interested.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

Uses obscure words like “Luddite” to flaunt his superior intelligence….

(Guys like me that almost had to look it up)

View attachment 1964560

Me too.

 

[Budnicks]

I feel bad for those chained to their cell phones, slaves of technology
that's not pointed/directed at any person here, just a general statement
almost seemingly helpless, when it's messed up, can't do anything without one...

I hate cell phones,
I have a PC, if I need to get online or E-mail someone
I can check it any time I want, not have to carry it around
or answer it while driving
people can wait for an answer, if it's that important,
they know call me at my home #

I know some use it for work a lot too, it's a crutch

it's like everyone forgot how to do, what they do, without all this crap
technology & hassles, supposed to make out life easier...

I am there again & happier for it

For years since like 90-91 to 2007 & again till like 2013
I had 2 cell phones one for private & one for my 2 businesses
had the portable fax machine too, all in my truck...

I 1st started out with that portable Motorola suitcase phone, in a nylon bag,
expensive SOB, & like $5 per/min to use the damn thing
& the portable antenna suction cupped on the roof of the truck...
I thought I needed it, had to be in contact 24/7, but I really didn't need it
I could have had my office contact me & get back to whomever...
What a hassle & a waste...
Then the Motorola flip phone & 6 extra batteries, constantly one or 2 charging...
yeah;
It was handy for emergency/work calls on the road...

As soon as I semi-retired all the wireless-sh*t I had,
all got discontinued
all got shut off
most of that stuffed in a drawer in the desk
never to be seen or used again...

Now
I have a phone/simple flip phone for emergencies, big easy to read #s
Consumer Cellular $20 a month/& min. service needed
& I have never exceeded my plan, not even close,
some weeks I don't even ever turn it on...

Only thing I use the cell phone for now, is when I travel,
for road service/emergencies if needed...
I can read a map, when I rarely ever need to find someplace,
I don't need GPS either...
or
It will be on, when dad leaves the house I have him carry it,
just in case something happens... He doesn't answer it anyway...
I don't give the # out ever, period
I told dad don't either, unless it's an emergency too...

Life is so much easier & calmer now too...

I feel bad for those trapped in their cells/technology...

I know he didn't really say it
but it fits

carry on, enjoy
put the damn phone down

 

[sr71mopar]

Yet here we are.

 

[OneWheelPeel]

Luckily we have tech to make it really easy to look up words. iPad is my main tool to view this site.

I’ve been on the tech journey since 1982 but some things I avoid, like email on my phones. Most days I check it once or twice on one of of the computers, if I see an email that needs a reply on my phone usually I’ll end up on the computer to write it anyway.

 

[Davefinan]

I feel bad for those chained to their cell phones, slaves of technology
that's not pointed/directed at any person here, just a general statement
almost seemingly helpless, when it's messed up, can't do anything without one...

I hate cell phones,
I have a PC, if I need to get online or E-mail someone
I can check it any time I want, not have to carry it around
or answer it while driving
people can wait for an answer, if it's that important,
they know call me at my home #

I know some use it for work a lot too, it's a crutch

it's like everyone forgot how to do, what they do, without all this crap
technology & hassles, supposed to make out life easier...

I am there again & happier for it

For years since like 90-91 to 2007 & again till like 2013
I had 2 cell phones one for private & one for my 2 businesses
had the portable fax machine too, all in my truck...

I 1st started out with that portable Motorola suitcase phone, in a nylon bag,
expensive SOB, & like $5 per/min to use the damn thing
& the portable antenna suction cupped on the roof of the truck...
I thought I needed it, had to be in contact 24/7, but I really didn't need it
I could have had my office contact me & get back to whomever...
What a hassle & a waste...
Then the Motorola flip phone & 6 extra batteries, constantly one or 2 charging...
yeah;
It was handy for emergency/work calls on the road...

As soon as I semi-retired all the wireless-sh*t I had,
all got discontinued
all got shut off
most of that stuffed in a drawer in the desk
never to be seen or used again...

Now
I have a phone/simple flip phone for emergencies, big easy to read #s
Consumer Cellular $20 a month/& min. service needed
& I have never exceeded my plan, not even close,
some weeks I don't even ever turn it on...

Only thing I use the cell phone for now, is when I travel,
for road service/emergencies if needed...
I can read a map, when I rarely ever need to find someplace,
I don't need GPS either...
or
It will be on, when dad leaves the house I have him carry it,
just in case something happens... He doesn't answer it anyway...
I don't give the # out ever, period
I told dad don't either, unless it's an emergency too...

Life is so much easier & calmer now too...

I feel bad for those trapped in their cells/technology...

I know he didn't really say it
but it fits
View attachment 1964669

carry on, enjoy
put the damn phone down

The thing is people and their situations are different. There are many people that have big families and a lot of friends. The cell phone is a great thing for them to be able to keep in touch in a big way. I doubt they look at it like they are slaves to technology. Sure there are those who have their nose in the phone checking everything under the sun. Maybe THEY are slaves to the technology, idk. Or maybe it’s just that everyone has their different levels as to how they use the technology.

 

[Road Rat]

The biggest downside that I see too tech has been social media, it appeals to peoples vanity and wanting to get their 15 minutes of fame. So we have idiots posting the most outrageous crap to get likes or get noticed. The companies track their movements of what they say, eat and do, its a great marketing tool. I see so many people walking around or driving around with a phone in their face. This is as close to social media as i get, no Facebook, Tik Tok or any of the others.

 

[451Mopar]

I think alot of the technology is making us dumber.
Many younger generation can't read a map, use a compass, navigate, or even know the basics behind much of the technology.
It also seems to make education a joke as many students just Google answers or have AI do homework.
I got fooled at work by a newer employee who "wrote" some nice software code. Later when the code needed to be updated the employee seemed to make a mess of the code and after looking at what they were doing, I figured out they didn't understand their original code that was likely AI generated and copied.

 

[BSB67]

I read one the other day where someone checked their IRA with one of the biggest investment companies, and found their $400,000 account drained. They called and found someone had got their credentials and personal info off the dark web, opened a new account in their name. Then transferred the money from their real IRA to the new account.

This is my biggest fear. Does anyone know how to protect yourself? What actions can a non-tech savvy guy take?

 

[mmissile]

Technology is the bane of mankind.

 

[mrhemi]

Luddites unite.

 

[YY1]

Try being an IT guy that doesn't advocate for "unnecessarily overly complex" implementations of IT.

I recently bought tickets to Triumph.

Ticketmaster (which I also hate) says on their site (but only after you buy tickets), that you have to either-
1- download their app to access your tickets, or
2- transfer them to your digital wallet.

I spent half a day finding a way to download and install their app, without registering for the google store.
When I finally was successful , there was no place inside the app to view the tickets, only a paragraph saying I had to transfer them to a digital wallet.
Guess what you can't do without registering with googleplay store?

WTF, ticketmaster?
Why not say all this before I spend money.
...and more importantly, why LIE about accessing tickets in your app?
I'm half tempted to sell them for a loss.