Differences between generations

[efmesch]

It seems that these days, with smartphones/digital cameras being almost universal, the younger generation has adapted more thoroughly to using them than the oldsters.
Follow the news, and it seems that some innocent bystander was around and had the presence of mind to capture the event on video, using their "newfangled" equipment.
How many of these photographers do you think are over, let's say 60?

Why do I ask?  Because, as a member of the older generation, i find the opportunities but more often than not, by the time  I think of recording an event digitally, the opportunity has passed me by.  Either I didn't have the equipment with me, or the thought of recording the event never crossed my mind, until it was too late.

Why do I mention this? Because I missed several golden opportunities this past Friday, and only after I was out of my bee clothes did I kick myself for the lost photos/videos.

Samples:
1. I discovered, for the first time in my life, a nest of TERMITES that had set up house in a super of empty combs that were waiting to be set aside for winter storage.  Only after I had shaken them all out and trampled them, did I think of filming the episode.
2.  Stacking the empty supers (some containing remnants of honey), bees came (expectedly) and so did oriental wasps (Vespa orientalis) (unexpectedly).  I had an interesting episode of killing the wasps that chased after the bees into the supers.  I covered them with an excluder and they couldn't get out---making them easy prey for me to do them in while they were "behind bars" trying to escape.
3. I went through a dead hive that had some of its frames sprayed with BT, and other frames not sprayed.  It was interesting to see the difference between the two treatments. 

But, forgetful, old generational me, didn't think of using the smartphone camera that was in my pocket all the while.
Maybe someday I'll join the younger generation.

[Ray]

I'm not 60 yet, but I have walked to the house to use the phone, with a cell phone in my pocket.

[Perry]

I'm not 60 yet, but I have walked to the house to use the phone, with a cell phone in my pocket.

Been there, done that! 

[Ray4852]

My cell phone is 10 yrs old. I don’t have all the fancy toys on it. I can only use it for calling out and taking in massages. I never have it on. Its only good for me if I have to use it. I tell people if you need me call the house phone and leave me a message. I will get back to you as soon as possible. cameras and tap recorders are bad on cell phones. This technology should be outlawed on all cell phones. People use them against each other if they have a problem. I'm 63 I’m old school.

[riverbee]

LOL!!! ef, i don't own a smart phone/cell phone............got rid of cell phone/pager when i retired............NEVER looked back. if you want to get a hold of me, call my home number, leave a message, no text messages and no distracting smart phone with my face in it over dinner in a restaurant, other places or driving down the road..............well, they do take good pix!

all i have and will ever have is a digital camera...........

[pistolpete]

Ray, you say people use cell phones against each other, I'd argue somewhat the opposite.  These phones have made the world a much safer place.  Police are much less likely to abuse our civil rights when they know that someone is likely to be taping them.  If I see a poacher on the river while fishing, I take a video and send it to the DFO.  There is so much recording going on that crooks generally have a harder time of it.  Most importantly, teenagers are too busy tapping their phone screens to go out and cause mischief.

[efmesch]

The GPS and navigation programs are amazing at getting me where I want to go---even if I haven't the faintest idea of what route to follow.

[lazy shooter]

The GPS and navigation programs are amazing at getting me where I want to go---even if I haven't the faintest idea of what route to follow.

As our English cousins say:  "here, here."

[LazyBkpr]

LOL all true!   I got a new "flip" phone last year... the fellow at the counter was flabergasted I wanted a flip phone...  You should have seen the look on his face when I asked what the side buttons were for, if they were important?
   He asked me why, I told him because I was going to rip them out and fill them with black silicone...  He stammered for a couple minutes before shrugging and saying, its your phone!
   Yep, ripped the butons out and filled them with silicone.. now I dont pocket call anyone, my Volume remains the same, I dont take pictures of the lint at the bottom of my pocket etc...   No external buttons, it rings when someone calls me, and it allows me to call someone else..  PERFECT phone!

  I got my truck stuck leaving an outyard this spring...  When I couldt get it out, I started hoofing it back toward town...  I was about two hundred yards from the truck when my phone rang......    I didnt tell anyone how far I went till now...

[Perry]

I too just wanted (and got) a flip phone. Still haven't figured out most of it, but it is one tough phone. This summer I was working off the back of my truck and wondered why the tailgate wouldn't lay flat. I kept pushing down on it trying to get it to sit level and finally I lifted it to see if there was another problem, and there it was. I had set my phone on top of the rear bumper and opened the gate on top of it. All the shoving down on the tailgate didn't faze it (other than appearance wise).

[kebee]

 I have had a flip phone ever since I had a wireless carry and the last time I renew my contract with them they try the hardest to try and get me to change to a iphone and I would not do it, saying I am not into all that email and stuff, will it is up again and I am not going to renew the contract just let it ride until I have to, which will be in the next six months or so, that about how long they let it go.

Ken

[Bee Commander]

The GPS and navigation programs are amazing at getting me where I want to go---even if I haven't the faintest idea of what route to follow.

Good Morning Ef,

I have been in Heavy Highway Construction my whole adult life and at the moment am semi-retired. I work   two days a week as a consultant performing inspections mostly on highway and bridge projects for storm water compliance. I am headed to the San Francisco bay area this morning. I would absolutely die (literally) with out my smart phone and the GPS navigation. Working the San Francisco Bay Area is like running a gauntlet being the bumpkin that I am. I remember being in Oakland a couple of years ago..I left a job thinking I knew my way back to the freeway and wound up in a very bad neighborhood. My phone saved me! However, I look back at how we did things on crews 20 years ago when we had only hand held radios and radios in our trucks. How did we get so much done without our smartphones?
On one hand I can't imagine not having them, on the other I think some of this technology is going to be the downfall of society. I inspect at a junior college in Oakland and was just watching students walk around campus. Its a wonder they all don't run into the light poles and go tumbling down the stairs as they walk around. Every one of them has their head down looking at their phones as they walk around. No one says "hello" as you pass by. Easy to spot most of the staff as they are older and don't have a phone in hand. You see kids walking around the cities, walking across intersections doing the same thing. Its a wonder they all don't get run over! I'll be having a conversation with a project manager a couple of generations younger and they are looking at their phone the whole time. RUDE!

On the flip side, if I didn't have the internet, my bees would probably all be dead by now. Having the ability to do research at a moments notice has given me the ability to make it through my first year and a half and have a 400% increase this season.

Ok enough rambling I'm off to the concrete jungle!

[Perry]

On one hand I can't imagine not having them, on the other I think some of this technology is going to be the downfall of society. I inspect at a junior college in Oakland and was just watching students walk around campus. Its a wonder they all don't run into the light poles and go tumbling down the stairs as they walk around. Every one of them has their head down looking at their phones as they walk around. No one says "hello" as you pass by. Easy to spot most of the staff as they are older and don't have a phone in hand. You see kids walking around the cities, walking across intersections doing the same thing. Its a wonder they all don't get run over! I'll be having a conversation with a project manager a couple of generations younger and they are looking at their phone the whole time. RUDE!

 
In Wolfville, (university town) I see this all the time!

[lazy shooter]

Ah, the kinder more gentle times before cell phones and email. 

As a sidebar:  A couple of years back, one of my young associates asked me how we did business before fax machines and email.

I replied, "In the old days our clients had to think ahead, and if they had a drilling project it was drawn up and engineered months ahead of time, and the necessary information was passed through a system that is now referred to as "snail mail."  When the project was ready to go, everything had been discussed via telephone (a land line) and the schematics had be mailed, corrected and mailed again.  We patiently waited for mail, even air mail.  Everything was in place, and the job was a "lay down."" 

Today, it seems that nothing is completed because we can make instant corrections via email and text messages, not to mention cell phone cameras that take and send pictures  in minutes. 

All of the above being said, I am willing to accept the modern day hustle of "do it now, here is the picture." 

[Gypsi]

I have had a flip phone ever since I had a wireless carry and the last time I renew my contract with them they try the hardest to try and get me to change to a iphone and I would not do it, saying I am not into all that email and stuff, will it is up again and I am not going to renew the contract just let it ride until I have to, which will be in the next six months or so, that about how long they let it go.

Ken

My youngest daughter is in college and needed on my plan last year, so I stuck her on my no-contract tmobile, then she had bad reception at college so she dragged me back to ATT.  I managed to kill my blackberry classic phone due to clumsiness and mainly letting the wrong guy try to fix it, and ATT has these little flip go-phones, for $15. Got one while I shopped for a better phone, did ok as a phone, the price was certainly right, and ATT has gone no contract for their regular plans, they also offer prepaid phone service for their go-phone line.  Daughter has her reception, and I ended up picking up a Microsoft Lumia 640 from ATT for $66 including taxes. The guy at the ATT store hates me, I made him help me move my contacts out of my OLD blackberry (pre classic).  and all I spent was that $66

[Lburou]

I'm in the middle somewhere on this issue of technology ruling our lives.  We need to be smart enough to rule over the technology and not let it come to rule us.

Texting pictures of bee related  inspections back and forth is a real luxury for me.  I leave my phone in the house at least half the time, but do make use of its capabilities when it suits me.  For instance, Lazy Shooter was working out of town during an extended commitment when I stopped by to look at some of his hives that needed supers.  I was able to make a short video of the hives along with a short explanation for each and send it for his peace of mind.  The same goes for new beekeepers sending pictures of bearding, swarms, frames and such.  Makes it easy to mentor from an arm chair when it's hot (or cold) outside.  ;-)

Then, there is the (texted) picture this week of my grandson playing High School Football.  Well, I couldn't be there, but have a picture of him and his team on the field. Priceless to see as he grows into manhood.

Not the Facebook type, but enjoy texts with pictures sharing details of the lives of long time friends.  A smart phone makes it easy to take a picture and post something for sale on ebay, or craigslist (I've put 50 ads on craigslist in the last couple years).

I like to fix things.  Sometimes it's useful to take a picture or two while you are disassembling something or before you start.  That way you can reassemble it using the picture to jog your memory.  That is especially useful if you put the project down for a week or two.  The camera is more useful than you think.

Not interested in the latest smartphone, just one that serves me.  I don't want to serve it.  Thanks for the opportunity to put these thoughts into words Ef.   :-)

[Slowmodem]

AT&T just got a new tower 1/4 mile from the house here, so we swapped everything over to them.  They gave me a tablet for $0.99.  I had never used a tablet before and didn't know what I would do with it.  But since then, I've found it's great for killing time and it's nice to be able to stream music and video now.