Opinions expressed herein are my own and may not represent those of my employer.
I hope I didn't start any rumors, but based on what I was told I still
think Looney Tunes may disappear soon.
As to the Internetphobia from your shop owner, I wonder if it is a fear of
losing business to Internet merchants? OTOH, it could be just an
extension of the computerphobia many people have. I have mentioned this
group and the internet to my local shop owner several times and she is
decidely uninterested, but she has nothing to do with computers in general
and keeps track of her stock by hand. While running a business that way
would drive *me* crazy, I have to admit I love to get those handwritten
receipts for each and every purchase, even if it's one skein of floss!
Meg in CA
I am glad you mentioned this. It would have been very upsetting to me
to have them suddenly disappear as my daughter is decorating my new
grandchild's (Aug or Sept) room in Looney Tunes. I will do a couple of
things for the room. Even if it turns out not to be true, it will be
ok. It will only mean I spent $12.00 out of this month's check instead
of next month's. Thanks for the heads up.
All the women that work at the shop are in their 50s and 60s including
the owner. I keep trying to tell them that they should get on the
Internet, but like your shop owner, they don't understand computers.
It would have been very upsetting to me to have
them suddenly disappear as my daughter is decorating
my new grandchild's (Aug or Sept) room in Looney Tunes.
This is the sort of thing the Internet is so good for!
I recently read that The Proper Stitch is now out of
print. That was a real heads-up for me! So I called
my local shop to see if they still have it (3 copies)
but they haven't heard anything about it being out of
print! I understand that most shop owners probably
don't have the time to surf the net, but this kind of
information would certainly be helpful to their
customers! And, in this case, the information I got
on the Internet sent me running to my LOCAL shop!
Nancy Eddy
: This is the sort of thing the Internet is so good for!
: I recently read that The Proper Stitch is now out of
: print. That was a real heads-up for me! So I called
: my local shop to see if they still have it (3 copies)
: but they haven't heard anything about it being out of
: print! I understand that most shop owners probably
: don't have the time to surf the net, but this kind of
: information would certainly be helpful to their
: customers! And, in this case, the information I got
: on the Internet sent me running to my LOCAL shop!
In my case, I *found* most of my local shops because other people (in
Houston) talked about them on the net. My favorite one doesn't seem to
find the internet threatening at all, but when I mentioned to another
shop's owner that I found it by talking to people on the net, she
got this funny squinched-up look on her face, and she didn't want
to talk about it at all. Odd; you think she would appreciate the
new business!
Terri
--
Steve and Terri Carl
ter...@neosoft.com
>In my case, I *found* most of my local shops because other people (in
>Houston) talked about them on the net. My favorite one doesn't seem to
>find the internet threatening at all, but when I mentioned to another
>shop's owner that I found it by talking to people on the net, she
>got this funny squinched-up look on her face, and she didn't want
>to talk about it at all. Odd; you think she would appreciate the
>new business!
>
I've noticed a trend with news stations sensationalizing stories about the
negative side of the Internet, ie pervs luring kids away from home, the new
"communications decency" act, etc. People that have not experienced all the
positive things that the medium provides base their opinions on the only things
they do know, which is all the negative things they have absorbed from the
media. And listening to these reports it is pretty easy to deduce that the
reporter doesn't know a modem from a frogs butt, but yet they are forming
strong opinions in the minds of people that are afraid of anything "new".
Oh, yes. If all I knew about the Net was what I read in the Ann Landers
advice column, I'd be scared to have it in my home for fear that it would
cause my theoretical spouse to run off with someone, suck me into
spending all my time on the computer, and so forth.... (Which reminds me
that I've been meaning to write her a response to that column. I don't
mind people pointing out potential problems from the Net, but I don't
like it being done in a way that scares people.)
Besides, cruising the Net beats watching television any day ;-).
--slc
----------------------------------------------------------
Sharon L. Casteel cast...@mail.utexas.edu
> Oh, yes. If all I knew about the Net was what I read in the Ann Landers
> advice column, I'd be scared to have it in my home for fear that it would
> cause my theoretical spouse to run off with someone, suck me into
> spending all my time on the computer, and so forth.... (Which reminds me
> that I've been meaning to write her a response to that column. I don't
> mind people pointing out potential problems from the Net, but I don't
> like it being done in a way that scares people.)
Say, Sharon, if you ever *do* write that letter to Ann, add my name
too. I do wish she would do her research and publish the positive side
of the 'net too. <sigh>
Jill
---------------------
jrsp...@siu.edu
_____/\
/ ) _) ...and everywhere that Mary went,
\__)_/ the lamb was sure to go...
/\ /\
On Wed, 24 Apr 1996, Ann J. Shjefte wrote (in part):
Point out to your shopkeeper that mailorder has been going strong for many
years, and so have discounting places like Michael's and Joanne's, yet people
still come to her shop. I still buy plenty when I go into a shop, because it
is the act of *seeing* it that makes me realize I want to buy it. To then
leave, go home, call or write, then wait a week or two is a tremendous hassle.
It's not necessarily worth the discount, when I have the item in my hand and
have the money to buy it right now.
There are companies selling out of their home by mailorder. They haven't put
her out of business yet.
Robin P. pan...@clp2.clpgh.org
just my 2 cents
Nancy Eddy wrote:
>
> ajsh...@mmm.com (Ann J. Shjefte) wrote:
>
> It would have been very upsetting to me to have
> them suddenly disappear as my daughter is decorating
> my new grandchild's (Aug or Sept) room in Looney Tunes.
>
> This is the sort of thing the Internet is so good for!
> I recently read that The Proper Stitch is now out of
> print. That was a real heads-up for me! So I called
> my local shop to see if they still have it (3 copies)
> but they haven't heard anything about it being out of
> print! I understand that most shop owners probably
> don't have the time to surf the net, but this kind of
> information would certainly be helpful to their
> customers! And, in this case, the information I got
> on the Internet sent me running to my LOCAL shop!
>
> Nancy Eddy
I used to save and print off interesting things that got posted here and
took them into my favorite local shop. They were enthusiastic about
receiving the information (especially things like special materials
being used in a Marilyn angel so they could order it posthaste! :) ),
so enthusiastic that I don't need to print things off for them any more --
you see, several of the ladies who work there have gotten their own
connections after seeing some of the fun stuff they were missing out on!
Dawn Draheim
daw...@metronet.com
It is the American spirit of competition. I really feel that both can
survive.
Just my $.02 Barbara
>heard. She said "Oh, I hate the Internet." I asked her why and she
>said that another customer had come in and said there was a man and
wife
>company selling out of their home who were selling everything at 20%
>off. That practices like that would put them out of business.
It sounds to me that she wouldn't like a place like Michael's
or KMart, either. She's worried that people buy on price only,
which is untrue. What she needs to do is increase the
"value" of coming into her shop. Does she have the
designers' freebies available? Does she have classes? "Come
and stitch" nites? Magazines? Unusual fibers? Happy-to-
order-that-for-you attitude? Martha Beth
>All the women that work at the shop are in their 50s and 60s including
>the owner. I keep trying to tell them that they should get on the
>Internet, but like your shop owner, they don't understand computers.
>Ann
If it makes any difference, my MIL (who's 75!) is getting a
computer this week and coming online, so age has little to do
with it. I think it's a state of mind and open people are to
new ideas and taking risks (will I fail at this new
endeavor?). Martha Beth
> If it makes any difference, my MIL (who's 75!) is getting a
> computer this week and coming online, so age has little to do
> with it. I think it's a state of mind and open people are to
> new ideas and taking risks (will I fail at this new
> endeavor?). Martha Beth
This is true. My Mom turned 60 this year and we got her 286 when she
UPGRADED. I also know some younger women 20-30 who are afraid of
computers. You know the feeling that you press the wrong combination
of keys and boom the hard drive gets wiped.
It is not an easy world out there for the small shop and compitition
is sometimes resented. Its true of any small business trying to
compete with the buying power of a chain store. Just my 2 cents (CDN)
Maria Hache
mjah...@atcon.com
>If it makes any difference, my MIL (who's 75!) is getting a
> computer this week and coming online, so age has little to do
> with it. I think it's a state of mind and open people are to
> new ideas and taking risks (will I fail at this new
> endeavor?). Martha Beth
Definitely, MB. My mother finally retired from nursing at 67 when they
told her she would have to learn the computer system for recording
keeping. She was willing to keep up with medical changes but not
technological ones! ;-)
Meg in CA
Martha Beth Lewis wrote:
Opinions expressed herein are my own and may not represent those of my employer.
> If it makes any difference, my MIL (who's 75!) is getting a
> computer this week and coming online, so age has little to do
> with it.
And is she joining r.c.t.n MarBeth?
Glenis
>The owner of the shop that I frequent has said only positive things,
>especially when I have printed off color copies of the new MLI patterns
>and sent them to her. She appreciates it because she then can make sure
>she has all the materials on hand.
~snip~
Until then I keep her updated with news
>bits and pieces that I think she will find useful.
I'm doing the same thing for the store near my mother's house. They
really seem to appreciate it and they think I'm really something
special because I can access the 'Net. (please remove hats and bow
heads reverently <VBG>)
--
Sue in Concord (su...@xefarber.mv.com)
"Life is too important to be taken seriously"
On behalf of all the older people who read this newsgroup (or any other) (or who use
computers for hobbies or work), one's age and concern about using these infernal machines
are not synonymous statements.
Jean Walker
I agree with Martha Beth, it is a state of mind. Just celebrated my 71st
birthday yesterday, and have been using a computer of years. Got online
with rctn about a year ago, and am loving it.
Happy stitching!
Helen G. Cademy
Yes, and my mother, who is "29 and a few months" (try 380 months!)
young is getting quite adept at e-mail and is studying CAD at
school. She is one of those "risk takers." Then again, I know
many younger people who don't care to learn anything about
computers, past the ATM machine!
Lucinda
The problem is more one of fear of technology and the media has helped nothing!
The stories about The Internet and Networks in general have been horror stories!
For people whose exposure to computers and networking has been limited to what
they see on TV (or read in mags and newspaper), these stories may have scared
them into seeing the whole things as sex,sex,sex....and polulated with post
adolscent idiots!
Too bad, they have no idea what they are missing!
Mary
emf...@ccnet.com
> >All the women that work at the shop are in their 50s and 60s including
> >the owner. I keep trying to tell them that they should get on the
> >Internet, but like your shop owner, they don't understand computers.
> >Ann
> If it makes any difference, my MIL (who's 75!) is getting a
> computer this week and coming online, so age has little to do
> with it. I think it's a state of mind and open people are to
> new ideas and taking risks (will I fail at this new
> endeavor?). Martha Beth
I dare not ask my 68 year old father ANY computer questions, becuase he
will begin rattling on so fast and in such detail that I'm in
over-my-head before I know it. He knows MUCH more about computers than I do.
Naomi
My mother is 70 years young and knows more about aol than I do!
I was a little miffed about the "older" women thread, as it smacked a
little of prejudice(?) In business, I noticed that the real dataphobes
have been middle aged women/men with little or no experience with
computers. They acted like computers were alive and able to think for
themselves! In training people, I always tried to explain they are just
logic machines and nothing without that wonderful human brain.
My mother owns two pc's and a new Toshiba laptop and two years ago didn't
know how to spell dataphobe.
Happiness to all from a gracefully aging daughter.
Karen
I can only conclude that the age remark must have come from
someone in their 20's, 30's or 40's!! <VBG>
Anne
--
Anne Christopherson
Santa Fe, NM
10351...@compuserve.com
>They acted like computers were alive and able to think for
>themselves!
Aren't they?? *wink* Mine is...*grin*
~~~ Venecha ~~~
Suzan
I hope to talk her into dropping in now and then. I tried to
get her started in xst--she did one project for a friend--but
I think she prefers to knit! mb
>The problem is more one of fear of technology and the media has helped
nothing!
.. these stories may have scared
>them into seeing the whole things as sex,sex,sex....and polulated with
post
>adolscent idiots!
>
>Too bad, they have no idea what they are missing!
>
>Mary
Well, Mary (who is VERY VERY young!), there are many poor,
deprived folks who have not found RCTN! Martha Beth
>-but
> I think she prefers to knit! mb
>
>
maybe she should join rct yarn
kathy
DH set up her computer and internet connection today, and I
told him to put RCTN and RCTY into her newsgroup file, so
we'll see! mb
I guess this is where we get into perceptions of what's "old". I'm 48
and my DH is 51, and we're both professional computer systems
engineers -- began with Computer Science degrees from Brown University
in 1970/1967. Whatever age group grew up before computers, they're
older than us!
Chris
--
Betsy Washburn
be...@mhv.net
SON AND I TAUGHT THE FIRST 'PUTER CLASS EVER TO NEEDLEWORKERS AT VALENTINE
SEMINAR A GAZILLION YEARS AGO - USING MACS - OF COURSE.
AGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
>SON AND I TAUGHT THE FIRST 'PUTER CLASS EVER TO NEEDLEWORKERS AT VALENTINE
>SEMINAR A GAZILLION YEARS AGO - USING MACS - OF COURSE.
>AGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
True enough; it's a personality thing that has nothing to do with age.
Some people avoid change strenuously, and some embrace it. I think it
just shows up more in older people simply because they're the ones
undergoing a lifestyle change a la computers; the younger ones have
been born into the situation, so for them there's no big upheaval.