the idea that someone who was 20 in 1995 is too old to be comfortable with computers is a horrifying and offensive stereotype that deeply worries me for my own future
our industry is old enough that the first generation of pioneers has died of old age.
Do you really think someone who grew up with computers in the 80s is incapable of using a smart phone? These are people who are still in the workforce today. These are your most skilled colleagues.
Some of them probably designed the device you think they're too old to understand
Not really. A lot of people in their 20s might have never actually done much with a computer, yet they cannot put their phone down. I know lots of 20-somethings that cannot type. I know even more that do not own a traditional "computer". It has nothing to do with fear, but lack of need.
I don't think anyone is denying the existence of Greybeards, it's more that the field has exploded so much in the meantime that the probability of a random 30 year old being in it is much higher than the probability of a random 50 year old.
our industry is old enough that the first generation of pioneers has died of old age.
Do you really think someone who grew up with computers in the 80s is incapable of using a smart phone? These are people who are still in the workforce today. These are your most skilled colleagues.
Some of them probably designed the device you think they're too old to understand