Are you older? Why don’t you think?
John Chapman ??????
Roofing Production Manager (Hands on, too). Podcaster. Life-time learner. A thing either is, or it is not.
Why is it that older people have a hard time being open to new ideas?
If you are older, and this doesn’t apply to you – congratulations on being the exception.
As I talk and speak with older people, I realize they have a harder time embracing new ideas. They have a hard time being willing to let existing beliefs be challenged. They have already made up their mind, and discussing new ideas are not welcome.
It’s basically, “I’ve already made up my mind, don’t confuse me with facts.”
And just to be clear, it isn’t that someone gets old, and then turns off thinking – it is progressive. You can see it starting with most people in middle age. Grasping new ideas, engaging, thinking outside their little box is already troubling and not preferred. But by the time they get old? It is almost like they go thru life in a fog. They don’t notice things, live in a very narrow focus, a self-made rut.
As I think about this, I realize that the older people get, they exhibit much more a lack of curiosity. They act as if they already had things figured out, hate all these changes in life, and are just gonna keep their heads buried in the sand (yes, I know Ostriches don’t really do that).
One example is computers and technology. I swear to god they are afraid if they touch the wrong key they are going to explode the computer. Or, a TV remote that if you take a few minutes (maybe even reading the directions/documentation) you would be up to speed? Or ideas about science. If somehow an old man was alive from 200 years ago, he would still refuse to believe new science. Change can be hard.
If it is anything even slightly complicated – the older people are telling themselves they can’t do that.
Why do they not have curiosity? Did they complete high school (perhaps college), and decide they have learned enough? Why do they learn all about TV Shows, but refuse to read a book? That book could be a new skill, self-improvement, just knowledge that can help.
I hate hearing, “I don’t know about all this… [insert anything here], when they could.
The more I learn, the less I excuse people who do not learn. The Internet is a vast place full of incredible opportunities to learn anything, to hone your skills or even just explore a new topic. The library has thousands of books of knowledge. Knowledge is right there for you to take, grasp and ingest. YOU are the reason that you “don’t know”.
If your world perception is based on 10, 20, 40 years ago – why? If you dislike learning new skills, engaging and discussing ideas, why? Why do YOU bury your head in the sand?
(I wrote this originally on my blog at: https://followjohnc.com/personal/are-you-older-why-dont-you-think/)
Gate Monitor
4 年As one gets older, he or she acquires more and more knowledge and experience. Ignorance is an opportunity to explore all possibilities but with knowledge, one tends to eliminate some of these possibilities as options. But some options which are eliminated might still be viable. Other options which are eliminated might become viable under different confditions and circumstances. When one learns new concepts in an old discipline or profession, old knowledge can be a hinderance to learning because the candidate may not be fully cognizant of the NEW conditions and circumstances. For example, an experienced employee may be asked to test out a new machine; the employees' job may be a step-wise process and the new machine may not fit into the existing structure and so maybe the employees should be asked to adapt to a new system in which a the new technology is well integrated rather than bringing in new technology without making the necessary modifications. Understanding of various scientific concepts may take years of study. But after someone has devoted years to gain mastery of the subject, whole new thought structures in approaching pertinent questions and problems may be introduced which themselves may require years to master.
Roofing Production Manager (Hands on, too). Podcaster. Life-time learner. A thing either is, or it is not.
4 年Edward (Ted) Bauer....