Why is it that older people have a hard time being open to new ideas?
If you are older, and this doesn’t apply to you – congratulations on being the exception.
As I talk and speak with older people, I realize they have a harder time embracing new ideas. They have a hard time being willing to let existing beliefs be challenged. They have already made up their mind, and discussing new ideas are not welcome.
It’s basically, “I’ve already made up my mind, don’t confuse me with facts.”
And just to be clear, it isn’t that someone gets old, and then turns off thinking – it is progressive. You can see it starting with most people in middle age. Grasping new ideas, engaging, thinking outside their little box is already troubling and not preferred. But by the time they get old? It is almost like they go thru life in a fog. They don’t notice things, live in a very narrow focus, a self-made rut.
As I think about this, I realize that the older people get, they exhibit much more a lack of curiosity. They act as if they already had things figured out, hate all these changes in life, and are just gonna keep their heads buried in the sand (yes, I know Ostriches don’t really do that).
One example is computers and technology. I swear to god they are afraid if they touch the wrong key they are going to explode the computer. Or, a TV remote that if you take a few minutes (maybe even reading the directions/documentation) you would be up to speed? Or ideas about science. If somehow an old man was alive from 200 years ago, he would still refuse to believe new science. Change can be hard.
If it is anything even slightly complicated – the older people are telling themselves they can’t do that.
Why do they not have curiosity? Did they complete high school (perhaps college), and decide they have learned enough? Why do they learn all about TV Shows, but refuse to read a book? That book could be a new skill, self-improvement, just knowledge that can help.
I hate hearing, “I don’t know about all this… [insert anything here], when they could.
The more I learn, the less I excuse people who do not learn. The Internet is a vast place full of incredible opportunities to learn anything, to hone your skills or even just explore a new topic. The library has thousands of books of knowledge. Knowledge is right there for you to take, grasp and ingest. YOU are the reason that you “don’t know”.
If your world perception is based on 10, 20, 40 years ago – why? If you dislike learning new skills, engaging and discussing ideas, why? Why do YOU bury your head in the sand?