Wednesday, March 22, 2017

The Luddite Chronicles



Anyone the least bit familiar with me probably knows that technology and I don’t get along terribly well. Lately I’m even having trouble with chip reading credit card machines.

At my doctor’s office the receptionist finally had to put my Visa through for me. Then at the grocery store weeks later I suffered the same indignity trying to charge a purchase to my credit union chipped debit card.

“You cancelled the transaction,” the frustrated clerk kept saying.

“No. I followed the instructions and then the machine just blanked out.”

“Here. Let me see.”

At least the keypad accepted my numeric password. I was starting to wonder.

It’s insane. I can’t help recalling how digital watches never lasted long on my wrist either. They always kept slow time or stopped altogether.

A longstanding joke in my home is that if something happens to my tech savvy partner all is lost. Every gadget in the house will gradually seize up and moss will grow over everything. The cats and I will go feral.

What do you think? Could I perhaps have a wonky electric field emanating from my body?

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10 comments:

  1. I have heard all my life that there are people that have more electricity in their body and they will cause things like watches to go bonkers! As for the credit card machines, I think that if there was a standard to them and they weren't all different I would not tend to push the wrong buttons!! That can become a big issue pushing wrong buttons when there is a line a mile long behind you. Have a good day.

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    1. Thanks, Pam! Fortunately, a busy ATM machine worked fine the other day. But that didn't read the chip. Hmmm... Recently I heard about a YouTube videographer (SyxHexEnHammer666 - a cool libertarian occultist) who claims street and traffic lights go bonkers around him.

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    2. Oh my gosh...that would be really scary feeling.

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    3. I know! Right? A part of me hopes he was making it up. He sure looked serious, though.

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  2. My sister-in-law claims the same thing. As someone who's fairly technically proficient (not an expert, but I can make most things work most of the time), I think there's a fear factor that causes you to sabotage yourself. Not deliberately. If you believe you can't do something, you are usually right.

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    1. Interesting. I appreciate the weigh-in. The only issue I have with the theory is that the problem hasn't plagued me in many long years. I actually forgot until these new chip readers started giving me issues. Oh, that reminds me. The first problem I had was months ago at a big box store where all I had to do was insert the card and wait. Nothing happened until a clerk assisted me. Usually my partner goes with me and pays for everything. ~grin~ That is why I forgot about the initial incident.

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  3. Yes. My grandmother could not wear watches. Her doctors said it had something to do with her system and magnetism. I think they call it "Bioelectromagnetics", now. I know every time she wore a watch it went haywire. She also had a strange psychic thing going, but not necessarily for good. Just sayin'. So, use your powers for good, okay? Hugs.

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    1. Thank you, my dear! I have always considered myself surrounded by guardian angels, actually, and try to spread the same good vibes for the most part. Aside from some stupid maneuvers, I have avoided many major vehicular collisions and personal attacks.

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  4. Ha! I have someone in my house who doesn't even know how to change time on his digital watch. And no touch phones for him either.

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    1. Wow! Thanks for the information, Nasreen. That reminds me of something else. I have trouble activating touch-less appliances like restaurant faucets and paper towel dispensers at the gym. Hmmm... At least I'm not totally alone, it seems. Be well!

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