My friend. Lisa sent me a Facebook message this morning before 8:00 A.M. I happened to be up and reading the newspaper (yes, I still have an actual newspaper delivered). It was a bit odd, both for the time and the message as it was one of those ridiculous cat videos. Neither Lisa nor I have a cat, nor do we share any cat videos, as a rule.
But okay.
I responded with something like: “Hahah. Oh that’s cute.”
To which she responded: “Fuck. that was a mistake and I sent it to someone so wrong. HELP!”
I said, helpfully: “Haha. You and technology. You do have a brain injury, you know.”
She messaged back: ” I meant to send something else, this video is STUPID. Help me delete it.”
I gave her instructions on Messenger how to delete the message that went like this:
“In the messenger box at the top is a circle that looks like a sunburst and it says “options”
and then if you click on it it says delete conversation.”
To which Lisa replied:
“What’s the Messenger Box?”
Now, I’m thinking: “Oh, boy, we are in trouble” Since we are typing in the Messenger Box.
So I reply:
“When your are on your iPad in Facebook and you send a message to someone it comes up in a box. The message box to send a message is next to the word HOME after the silhouettes of the people…its like a bubble of conversation.”
To which Lisa replies by calling me on my cell phone so we can have an actual conversation…much like an actual newspaper.
“Help me get rid of this stupid video!”
“Okay,” I say, “get off your android phone and go to your iPad, it will be easier there, because I have an iPhone and the screen isn’t the same.”
After a minute or two as two middle-aged incompetent Facebook users try to communicate about things that look like bubbles and sunbursts and silhouettes of people and gear-thingies and where to click on them and see what it says, I finally get off my computer and revert to my iPad so we can be looking at the same screen.
We somehow manage to both get into the Messenger app and find a screen that had options on my computer but doesn’t come up with options when you click it on the iPad. Ugh. How can this be? Why oh why do they keep changing the options?!?! And then I see and owl icon and it says “help”. So I type in:
How do I delete a message?
Up comes an FAQ:
How do I delete a message?
Put your cursor on the message and hold it down and the message will be deleted.
All of that took 45 minutes and a lot of swearing. I never did get to finish “Dear Abby” in my
actual newspaper.
“You Just Have to Laugh…..”
©Cathy Sikorski 2015
As an owner of 3 cats let me say…THERE ARE NO STUPID CAT VIDEOS!
Phew. Okay. I had to say that. You and your girlfriend are hysterical. I think you live in a Seinfeld episode because you are always so hilariously funny about life. Gotta love ya!
The challenges of social media and technology! I still know people who have no clue how to use a computer!
Even my 86 year-old Mom uses a computer and an iPad. But my Mom and I often have similar conversations like the one in this blog!!!!
i love this one. i just had to laugh. Marion (wife) has done this. and i do know what you mean about they keep changing things on us middle age people. smiles!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHHAAHA! Oh Jerome, if only they would teach us the secrets, BEFORE they change them!!! Tell your lovely wife that she is not alone!!! Smiles right back at ya’!
This is a great screwing up with technology story between friends!
Thanks, Estelle, what are friends for?!??!? HAHAHA!
Ok, so that is pretty damn funny! Got to love and hate technology all in the same moment. I can relate to all of this! thanks for sharing Cathy!
And my little guru, I really WAS trying to Simplify but, boy oh boy, it wasn’t working!!!
Too funny! I have to turn to my kids to help with anything technical – and they’re usually rolling their eyes about my incompetence.
I usually do try my kids…but they get so frustrated with me, so I try to fix it and of course, that’s a slippery slope to the netherworld of confusion and no return!
So funny!! Wonderful to have friends who can help navigate the silly seas of social media. THAT’s what true friends do anymore, right!? Thanks for the chuckle.
Yes..we can do so much in mid-life if we stick together!! Hahaha.
We have all been there. Some of us (yours truly) are still there! Funny sharing and way too close to home!
I keep thinking, Tammy, that I have it all figured out. Why would I think that…..ever??!?!? Thanks for seeing the humor with me!
So incredibly funny in a reality-based sad kind of way isn’t it? We think we are so tech savvy until we watch something float off into cyberspace and leave our control for ever! Thanks for the laugh this morning!
Truth be told, we were actually laughing like crazy during this fiasco. When it turned out to be so darn easy, we were astounded! Oh technology!
I have not laughed that hard in a long time and with tears!! The Video at the End is Pure Genius! No Coincidences Cathy!!!
Sent from my iPad
>
Thanks for continuing to provide me with fodder for my blog. Kisses!!
Yes. That moment after you hit SEND or POST when you have the sinking feeling you didn’t want to do that. And have no clue how to UN-do it!
I’ve already gotten comments from her friends and family that we just weren’t quick enough….that video went viral from two old gals who were working furiously to say : “Noooooooooooooooooo!!!” Gotta’ love technology. Thanks for commenting, Carol.