How Is This Possible?
First, a confession… This year I got suckered into watching Celebrity Apprentice because of Rod Blagojevich. It was like a horrible accident you couldn’t turn away from. And the main reason I watched – besides the endless amusement Blago generated by proclaiming his innocence to anyone and everyone – was his complete incompetence with technology. In one episode Rod sat at a table for a lengthy bit of time before confessing he didn’t know how to turn on a computer. But the show really got good when Blago became project manager… and was fired.
The men’s team lost for the third straight week. To viewers, it was likely because Blagojevich gave his team little-to-no direction. As viewers saw last week, Blago is basically unable to use a computer or send a text message. While in Orlando, he could not call his team on the phone while he was around Victoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks–the project manager for the women’s team–without her disovering his team’s “strategy,” which was virtually nonexistent on his end.
It was quite amazing, but obviously not that unsual.
Ben Nelson admits he has never used an ATM…
The Nebraska Democrat pleaded ignorance when asked this week whether Congress should cap ATM fees. Nelson said that while he’s no fan of unnecessary fees, he’s unfamiliar with the charges.
“I’ve never used an ATM, so I don’t know what the fees are,” Nelson said, adding that he gets his cash from bank tellers, just not automatic ones. “It’s true, I don’t know how to use one.
“But I could learn how to do it just like I’ve . . . I swipe to get my own gas, buy groceries. I know about the holograms.”
Even our Supreme Court Justices – some of our smartest minds – are completely baffled by technology…
The first sign was about midway through the argument, when Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. – who is known to write out his opinions in long hand with pen and paper instead of a computer – asked what the difference was “between email and a pager?” *
Other justices’ questions showed that they probably don’t spend a lot of time texting and tweeting away from their iPhones either.
At one point, Justice Anthony Kennedy asked what would happen if a text message was sent to an officer at the same time he was sending one to someone else.
“Does it say: ‘Your call is important to us, and we will get back to you?’” Kennedy asked.
Justice Antonin Scalia wrangled a bit with the idea of a service provider.
“You mean (the text) doesn’t go right to me?” he asked.
Then he asked whether they can be printed out in hard copy.
“Could Quon print these spicy little conversations and send them to his buddies?” Scalia asked.
How is this possible? How does a person never send an email, or a text, or use an ATM? And this isn’t about age. My parents are in their 70s and they’ve been sending emails and using ATMs for years. This strikes me more as a resistance to technology, and, given the rapidly changing technological world we live in, being uninformed about basic technology strikes me as a huge detriment – especially when the technologically-challenged are making and enforcing laws concerning ATM fees and text messages.
Perhaps this is the true disconnect in Washington.
Tags: Ben Nelson, Rod Blagojevich, Supreme Court Justices, technology
It’s because they are Very Important People in Washington D.C. and they have others to do these things for them. Do you think any of them pay a restaurant or hotel bill these days? Their aides do it for them. I remember what a big deal it was that Obama was going to get to keep his blackberry once he became president.
There really is a bubble and these guys are in it. Of course, even if Nelson did use and ATM, he still wouldn’t understand the devastation of fees. I’m sure he doesn’t get out $20 bucks at a time and live paycheck to paycheck like many people do.
Pandora, I do not think that all of our SCOTUS members are some of our smartest minds. Two words – Clarence Thomas.
My bad, MJ. 😉
Remember when the first President Bush came down from Camp David to shop in one of Western Maryland’s grocery markets (so as to appear in touch with the people) and was amazed by the laser scanners?
If you are not careful, it is very easy to lose touch if you are a President or a Supreme Court Justice. For a Senator too, apparently.
Here’s what I don’t get… my parents stay in touch with their grandkids through email (and FB soon). So, while these guys may have people to do things for them on a professional level, what about on a personal level?
Also, I don’t think I’ve ever met a person who has never used an ATM. Even if they aren’t a regular user, have they never experienced a we only take cash emergency?
BTW, I’m not exactly tech-savvy. We just purchased cell phones last week for me and the kids. Now I can stop borrowing everyone else’s!
I know people who don’t use an ATM because they are too poor. I guess you also don’t use one if you are too important.
It saddens me that these are the people deciding things like net neutrality, universal access and copyright in the digital rights era.
My boss is only 41 and he doesn’t know the difference between an email address and a website address. It’s so annoying to constantly have to correct him not to mention embarrassing when I have to do it in front of customers. When someone asks for his email address he’ll spout off our website and vice versa. It’s kind of funny in a sad, pathetic kind of way.
Why does one text or tweet?
LG, that’s the point. They are deciding these magical things. We should be very concerned.
Nosy, that’s really embarrassing, and the only excuse is he’s not listening.
Meatball, I text with my kids because our plan has unlimited texting. I also text my husband when he’s at work so I don’t interrupt a meeting. It’s very convenient.
SMS (Short Text Messaging) was invented due to the limitations of the receiving device (small screen, plus some limitations in the network itself). Texting is like emailing on a Fisher-Price computer.
Basically, engineers figured out there was a way to transmit short texts on wireless phone networks in between regular phone calls, for little or no additional cost to them.
Texting and email will eventually converge. But that won’t happen any time soon; the telcos are having too much fun charging extra for SMS plans right now. They want to ride the fad as long as they can.
I still can’t properly type with my thumbs. But I sometimes send email to people’s cell phones when appropriate.
From the source of all lies:
It seems like a fuss over trivia. Though there should be no confession involved over watching one of the best shows on TV. I DVR it just in case. It is actually educational and entertaining. I liked it a little better when it was just real people in the business world, but it still works.
I don’t care if Nelson’s ever used an ATM, but he should know what the charges are. A few years back the Supreme Court ruled states couldn’t prohibit fees for using an ATM. I think it was because of one of the laws that relaxed financial regulations, or maybe it violated interstate commerce. After that almost all ATM’s charged a fee to withdraw money in addition to any transaction fee the cardholder’s bank charged.
I’m not a fan of Nelson, I bet he never needs money because all the insurance lobbyist in Omaha pay for everything.