We often hear that young people learn to use electronic devices quickly and deeply while older people struggle with them. There is lots of truth to this idea, as anyone can see if they look in on 4 yr olds using iPads. Teenagers often assist their grandparents with learning to do this or that with a smartphone, a tablet or a computer.
I work with both young people and senior citizens. There is some truth to the notion that the oldsters don't learn such devices as quickly but aside of any slower speed of learning, I find several other reasons at work, such as older people have more wealth and they are naturally cautious about incurring law suits or damages, allowing scoundrels and thieves into their accounts and files. It seems to be that they respect the trickiness of world more and want to know more (often than is reasonably possible to know) before they say Yes or click on a link.
We have noted that those under about age 30 use the verb "grab" more than older people. Oldsters don't want to be impolite and "grab" things while the young are interested in being of good service and getting what needs to be done accomplished quickly. That picture of speed for the young and more attention to the flavor of an act seems to fit with others we have of the older and the younger.
However, I notice that the young are prone to use the expression "Go for it!", not just in exhortations calling for genuine effort and push but also in small things. I might say "I think I want vanilla ice cream and a young person says "Go for it!" Of course, expressions come and go. For a while, "you got that right" seemed to pop up quite often but has lost some popularity. Still, I am interested in what might be called the fear and caution level among the young. As the world becomes more complex and its complexity is more readily advertised, I suspect that young people feel the need of a little psychological push these days. Maybe I could move to a new location, find a good marriage partner, become a parent, start and sustain a business, learn a new language. With more communication and more advertising, it is easier to get the idea for a change in my life, for some impressive advance or attainment. When others hear of my dream, their "Go for it!" may be just the encouragement I need.
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Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
