27 “Old Person” Things People’s Parents Do That Drive Them A Little Nuts
I try to be careful about making fun of “old person” habits because I’ve already developed a few of my own. I need the television at a specific volume, and I have strict rules about parking.
My future is becoming pretty clear. Still, some of the things parents do are concerning.
People shared the “old person” things their parents do that drive them a little nuts. There’s plenty of affection behind these complaints. You can love someone and still need a moment to recover from helping them with their phone.
1. Saving Time On Dishes, Eventually
“They use plastic cutlery so they don’t have to wash the real silverware, but then they wash and reuse the plastic ones to be thrifty!”
— u/[deleted]
2. The Family’s Entire Tech Support Department Needs More Information
“My mom calls every electronic in their house ‘the machine.’ The computer, printer, router, modem, TV, radio, iPad, vacuum… Everything is ‘the machine.’ She tells me, ‘The machine is broken.’ ‘What is?’ ‘The machine! It won’t turn on! Has it been hacked?’ ‘The computer?’ ‘No, the modem. The wifi router was unplugged.’ She also does this on tech support calls. I feel so bad for them.”
3. Watching A Movie With A Live Transcription Service
“While watching a movie, ‘What did he say?’ I tell them. ‘Well then, what did HE just say!’ I dunno Dad, I was too busy telling you what the other dude said…”
4. She Was Watching That With Her Eyes Closed
“Falling asleep in front of the TV. My mom will insist that we watch this program that we will love, or that it’s great, and she kind of imposes what she wants to watch on the whole family, without asking if we maybe want to watch something else. And then she falls asleep in the first 30 minutes, snoring loudly. But don’t even try to change channels, she will wake up and tell you that she was watching.”
5. Clearing Out Texts To Make Room For More Cat Videos
“My mom deletes all the texts off her phone every day to ‘save space,’ yet she records and keeps new videos of the cats daily. That’s like a million texts! I tell her every time.”
6. Every Facebook Post Comes Personally Signed
“Dad STILL continues to sign his name on the bottom of each Facebook post.”
7. The Work Schedule Remains A Weekly Surprise
“My dad will call me at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday and wonder why I don’t answer. ‘Dad, I’m at work.’ ‘Oh, didn’t realize that.’”
8. Apparently, The Computer Needs A New Wheel
“My mom doesn’t just suck at technology. She regularly makes me facepalm because she’s incapable of understanding the basics, like the power button or the close window icon on her browser. She actually called me once to say that the wheel in her computer was broken. ‘Nothing is happening on my computer, and that little wheel stopped turning. What should I do? Can I get a new wheel? Will that make it go?’”
— u/0w1
9. A Text Requesting A Phone Call That Could Have Been A Text
“My mother-in-law texts me to call, then asks a question she could have texted. Makes me rage every time.”
10. Somehow, Every Setting Turned Itself On
“Every time I pick up my dad’s iPhone, he has Bluetooth, do not disturb, and sometimes airplane mode activated. I always ask him why they’re on, and he always says, ‘I didn’t touch those.’ How?”
— u/CGY-SS
11. The iPhone Is Coming, But MapQuest Is Navigating
“My dad still prints out directions from MapQuest when he goes somewhere, even though he has an iPhone…”
12. Every Gaming Console Belongs To The Same Family
“All styles of game consoles are Nintendos, according to my mom.”
13. The Grocery Line Is Waiting On Some Personal Accounting
“My mom still writes checks at the grocery store and stands there balancing her checkbook while everyone else stares impatiently at her.”
14. Everyone Gets To Be Part Of The Phone Call
“My mom ALWAYS puts her phone on speaker phone. Even in public, she uses the speaker phone.”
15. Showing Them A Picture Means Surrendering Your Phone
“When you show them something on your phone, and instead of just looking, they grab your phone? I’ve never seen a young person do this before.”
16. Talking Over The TV, Then Wondering Why They Can’t Hear You
“Turning the TV up loud and then trying to talk to me, and then when I answer, they say ‘what?’ And then look at me all offended when I say it louder.”
— u/[deleted]
17. Mom Has An Announcement For The Entire Restaurant
“My mom will loudly exclaim to any stranger, cashier, or server, ‘That’s my daughter, that’s my PRETTY GIRL!’ or ‘Just grabbing lunch with my BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER!’ They will awkwardly laugh or stare at her. I’m almost 30. It’s embarrassing.”
18. Private Messages Are Getting Public Replies
“Not understanding the difference between Facebook and Facebook Messenger and leaving replies to messages on one’s profile.”
19. The Read Receipt Is Giving Everyone False Hope
“My mom never turns the screen off when she puts her phone down. So the message will say she read it, but she won’t see it for days.”
— u/[deleted]
20. Muting The TV One Volume Level At A Time
“Turning the volume all the way down instead of pressing mute.”
— u/[deleted]
21. That Appliance Will Retire When Dad Says It Can
“Maybe it’s more of a dad thing, but sometimes my dad’s refusal to call a repairman or replace things (especially appliances) that have more than exhausted their lifespans drives me nuts.”
22. Every Text Gets Dictated To The Room
“Instead of using her phone keyboard, my mum insists on talking into her phone to form texts/WhatsApp messages. It’s annoying/confusing enough when I’m around my parents’ house, but it’s worse when she does it in public. I have to ask her to type instead, kindly.”
23. The Landline Isn’t Going Anywhere
“They own cell phones yet insist on keeping their landlines.”
24. Every Tech Lesson Starts From The Beginning
“Not remembering a single thing I teach them about how to use technology.”
25. Every Large Purchase Requires A Trip To The Bank
“My dad refuses to get a debit card. This means he can’t buy anything online ever, and he has to go to the bank to withdraw money and pay for large purchases with cash.”
26. Driving Defensively Is Stressing Out The Passenger
“Driving 10+ under the speed limit because they are ‘driving defensively.’ Except now you are creating a hazard to everyone who is trying to pass you, and it’s making me super stressed. Most of the time, I just offer to drive now.”
27. Growing Up Doesn’t Always Change Your Job Title At Home
“Talk to me and treat me like I’m a child, even though I’m 22. I understand I’ll always be your little boy, but I’m not gonna always be a little boy.”