How to explain bitcoin to old people

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[Gabi]

Problem: they don't know what online, internet, email, scanning and emailing is. Not joking, they really don't know ANYTHING about computer. And, worst thing, they don't want to learn about it.

[rebuilder]

Problem: they don't know what online, internet, email, scanning and emailing is. Not joking, they really don't know ANYTHING about computer. And, worst thing, they don't want to learn about it.

That's not always true. Not long ago, at the grocery store, an old lady in front of me at the cashier's desk was asking them about the shop's loyalty point system, said she didn't have her membership card with her, and asked if she could claim her points on the chain's website (yes) and what keyword she should search for to find the right page.

It's 2012.

[beckspace]

Tell them its the best present for their grandchildren.

[Topazan]

Americans old enough to have lived through the depression are likely to appreciate the advantages of bitcoin, once their properly explained.  I don't know how Americans who lived during the period in which the gold trade was restricted feel about it, but maybe there's something there, too.  In general, I think there is quite a bit of anti-statism among the older generations that can be exploited.

I wouldn't even try to explain the technical aspect, not least because my own understanding is imperfect.  Just assure them that it's protected by unbreakable mathematical principles.

Naturally, everyone is different and the same approach might not work for everyone etc. etc.

[Graet]

my dad has been using the internet for 15 years or more, I'm 50 in November, I guess he's old, seemed to get the idea when I explained it to him last time I caught up.

I have to say it generalisations ie: "isms" are not valid, age.., race...,sex...

[Portnoy]

my dad has been using the internet for 15 years or more, I'm 50 in November, I guess he's old, seemed to get the idea when I explained it to him last time I caught up.

I have to say it generalisations ie: "isms" are not valid, age.., race...,sex...

Yes, one needs to determine if they are a neophobe or a neophile to know how to proceed. 

[jim618]

It is a tricky one - a lot of seniors have pensions denominated in fiat from their government that they are relying on.

I have explained bitcoin to a couple of smart seniors in my family and they soon figured out the scenario:

1) Young people start using bitcoin as their preferred form of payment for their labour.
2) Where is the fiat going to come from to pay their pensions ?
3) The government will just print it of course = rampant inflation.

Most of them went through (in the UK) the inflation in the 1970s and know that a few years of inflation can totally destroy the value of their fixed income.

[Ferroh]

Problem: they don't know what online, internet, email, scanning and emailing is. Not joking, they really don't know ANYTHING about computer. And, worst thing, they don't want to learn about it.

That is not true of everyone who is "old" (whatever age that may be).

When they aren't interested in learning about it, you don't need to explain it to them. When they are curious, it's handy to have an explanation ready to go.

[niko]

It's like gold (limited supply, essentially impossible to fake),

but better (can be sent instantly, directly, and securely anywhere in the world, easily divisible, easier to store, equally available to anyone willing to "mine" it),

and in one way worse (not widely adopted yet).

[weex]

I'm not sure explaining it is the best path for everyone towards understanding Bitcoin. To learn to use the dollar, nobody had to explain it. At a certain point they had to just trust the system that maintains it and Bitcoin can be similar. You just have to be able to show them a transaction or two and set them up with a wallet. More to come...

[Timo Y]

my dad has been using the internet for 15 years or more, I'm 50 in November, I guess he's old, seemed to get the idea when I explained it to him last time I caught up.

I have to say it generalisations ie: "isms" are not valid, age.., race...,sex...

+1

I know a 70 year old who hasn't even figured out how copy+paste works despite owning a laptop for 15 years.  Yet when I explained the principles of bitcoin to him, he groked it straight away.   Just focus on the principles and don't use technical terms such as "hashing" and clever old people will catch up fast.  Dumb old people perhaps not, but neither will dumb young people.

[Elwar]

Tell them it is like sending text messages but instead of sending words, you are sending money.

Or if they know nothing of technology just tell them that because of all of the expenses and debt they built up, we are jumping ship to a new money without all of the baggage.

Be sure to mention that even though they "paid into social security" (paid taxes) all of their lives. They are now "getting it back" (receiving welfare) but in money that nobody wants.

[mb300sd]

my dad has been using the internet for 15 years or more, I'm 50 in November, I guess he's old, seemed to get the idea when I explained it to him last time I caught up.

I have to say it generalisations ie: "isms" are not valid, age.., race...,sex...

+1

I know a 70 year old who hasn't even figured out how copy+paste works despite owning a laptop for 15 years.  Yet when I explained the principles of bitcoin to him, he groked it straight away.   Just focus on the principles and don't use technical terms such as "hashing" and clever old people will catch up fast.  Dumb old people perhaps not, but neither will dumb young people.

How do you grope a bitcoin? 

[unclemantis]

I am in the works at giving a lecture at a local hackerspace.

Do you all have any suggestions on what I should cover and perhaps HOW?

Feel free to message me or leave your thoughts in this tread.

Sorry for the trolling

[repentance]

Problem: they don't know what online, internet, email, scanning and emailing is. Not joking, they really don't know ANYTHING about computer. And, worst thing, they don't want to learn about it.

Who do you think bought the first generation of home PCs?  Who do you think was using bulletin boards and usenet before the www existed?  Who do you think was signing up for internet and mobile phone services back in the day when those were extremely expensive, buggy technologies?

[dree12]

Problem: they don't know what online, internet, email, scanning and emailing is. Not joking, they really don't know ANYTHING about computer. And, worst thing, they don't want to learn about it.

Who do you think bought the first generation of home PCs?  Who do you think was using bulletin boards and usenet before the www existed?  Who do you think was signing up for internet and mobile phone services back in the day when those were extremely expensive, buggy technologies?

The middle-aged people.

Old people are generally defined as people over 70, who were in their prime when computers were still barely small enough to fit in universities.

[Testit]

Problem: they don't know what online, internet, email, scanning and emailing is. Not joking, they really don't know ANYTHING about computer. And, worst thing, they don't want to learn about it.

Who do you think bought the first generation of home PCs?  Who do you think was using bulletin boards and usenet before the www existed?  Who do you think was signing up for internet and mobile phone services back in the day when those were extremely expensive, buggy technologies?

It was Me i did it all at least once..
Guess I am old enough 

[DannyHamilton]

. . .I explained the principles of bitcoin to him, he groked it straight away. . .

How do you grope a bitcoin? 

First re-read, and you'll see that nobody said anything about groping.

Next go read Robert A. Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land" if you don't understand the concept of grok.

[BkkCoins]

How do you grope a bitcoin?  

It's grok not grope.
From Heinlein's famous "Stranger in a Strange Land" sci-fi novel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grok

Though I think the past tense should likely be grokked as otherwise it really looks like groke.


... Bitcoin - grok it if you can ...