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Comment by khazhoux | Hacker News Reader

I agree it's overused (especially since it's often not actually true) and a particularly tech-savvy grandma would have every right to be offended by it, but at least the "old people are bad at computers" part is is completely normal and nothing to be ashamed of.

It's hard to learn new things, especially if you encounter them late in your life when you don't have nearly as much time, resources and neuroplasticity (is that the right term here? you know what I mean...).

As for why it's usually grandma not grandpa, it's probably a case of old discrimination showing up in today's statistics. If you were denied good STEM education and never got a job that involved bleeding edge technology, of course you were disadvantaged when computers started appearing. It sucks and we should work to never do that again to new generations, but history is sealed and I think making "grandma-approachable" tech is actually a very important goal (when it's actually easy to use, not like this).

Absolutely, I hear you loud and clear. Here is a geicko commercial in a similar vein:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8aj1AlYvxI. :-\

Typical. Hrmph.

You're proving my point, though.

As a caveman I can be a little slow. Please, explain.

I recently heard on the Tim Ferris podcasts about how in Asian countries age is considered an honour. It's a good way to look at things.

What do you wish the ad copy had said instead?

Or a man, or a cat, or a person who identify itself as a cupboard. :)

Oi vey. That's the only comment you have on the post worthy of sharing?

Not understand, but use.

Not the mental capacity, but the general aversion of tech in older women as compared to that of older men and younger women.

oh Please ! It's weekend, we can argue whats the right gender-roles and the 'correct way' on Monday. I'm sure the OP has nothing against grandmas or women and simply used languages and expressions that is common.

Forget coding puzzle, the next time I interview someone for a job I will actively try to screen for this type of "high-horse-police".

As a programmer I want to solve interesting problems not partake in woke-police!

So honest question, what is the number one thing on a JD that will put you off from applying ?

When people talk about systemic sexism, this is what they are talking about. The sexism is so ingrained into culture that people don't even think about what they are saying. They just say an objectively sexist thing because it's "normal".

Hi! Founder here. As a woman entrepreneur, building a hard tech company,I’m pretty familiar with sexism, overt and systemic. My only living grandparent is my grandma and I always use her as a point of reference If I’ve built something easy to use.

Exactly!! If we were to ask 100 random grandmas if they are offended by the 'systemic sexism' i doubt they will be offended. Using your grandma as a reference point is a more specialised version of 'hallway testing', although im now probably offending construction workers and narrow passages everywhere.

The world probably is not ending in nuclear war but it ends with all this nonsenses.

For heaven's sake, we got the best job in the world, building and fiddle with computers, math, algorithms and problem solving! And yet some will rather stand on ceremony with this idiocy about we are offended grandmas ! How about you go build something instead of complaining or policing ppl about the correct way to use the word grandma in a sentence !! Are you 5 years old ? Yelling to the teacher that Johnny said a bad word ????

Good for you, keep doing what you're doing and don't listen to these people, people like them just like to stir shit up.

Relatedly, have you asked and observed your grandma using it? Might be interesting, I'd definitely read a blog post about her usability of the product as a sort of UX test.

I was the original commenter, and I can assure you my goal wasn't to stir shit up.

I simply don't like that "Grandmother" is the go-to example of someone who will fumble to understand a new concept. I know there's no active malice when people use the expression (who doesn't love their grandma, after all?), but it's a stereotype that makes older women essentially the butt of a joke.

So would you have been ok if the OP said "it's so easy to use even a toddler can use it ?"

Sure sexism is valiant cause to fight but at some point it's becoming a complete joke and no one takes you seriously anymore ! Grandma's example do apply here.

If you take a 100 random grandmas, 100 random middle aged people and a 100 toddlers and give them a basic cognitive test (not IQ) just basic stuff like processing speed, problem-solving and tech skills.

You'd be GUARANTEE to see difference between the groups and to pretend difference doesn't exist is just plain stupid and ignorant of the real world.

If grandmas over the world suddenly want to apply to be airline pilots, would you support it ? Would you feel safe ? Would prefer your child fly with a toddler, middle-aged or grandma pilot ?

And yet I see no grandmas dying in the streets or protesting against the systemic sexism that they are subjected to everyday !

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