How did this happen?

How did this happen I ask myself. As someone who has always been on the leading edge of new ideas and technologies, how did I end up now behind everyone else.

I've always pursued new things. For example, I had a debit card back in 1987 when 99% of the population had never heard of them. I even had great difficulty trying to explain to people what a debit card was. In 1991, I was using instant messaging on the university's mini computers to date my wife before the World Wide Web or America Online even came into existence. I jumped on Satellite TV, TIVO, and Internet phone early in the game, but somehow I totally missed the last five years.

I've completely missed the boat on blogging, social networking, texting, rss feeds, etc. Not only have I been out of touch, I find myself having trouble understanding what these technologies are and what they do. Where have I been.

I have some theories. I've always had a theory that once you get in the throes of being married and raising several kids, you are so busy that you don't have time to experiment. That's why when growing up, you perceive your parents as out of touch. They are so busy, they don't have time to keep up with what's going on and you do. Over the last five years, trying to get even one hour of personal time a week has been difficult. So that's one possibility.

My mother always told me that it seems each generation is made for its specific time and I feel that somewhat. I was on the leading edge during my younger years and now I find myself bungling with the new technologies, but I hope this "predestination" isn't so. At least I'm going to fight it. Happily, I now have a Facebook page. Sadly, I don't have a clue what to do. I've even considered getting the "Facebook for Dummies" book. That shows how pathetic I am at this point.

My last theory is that I had lacked the need for these newer technologies. I'm characteristically an introvert. I don't have a need to communicate with a lot of people. Most of these new technologies are communication centered. I can understand younger people using these technologies to keep up with their friends through high school, college, and starting their careers. I wish these technologies had been available for me to have kept up with my friends in these same situations. However, once you and all your friends get married, at least back when, everyone became so busy and moved so many different places that you lost touch. Maybe that doesn't happen now with the new technologies.

So the bottom line is I am starting this blog as one of several steps to catch up at least to the middle if not near the front of new ideas. I'm tired of being at the rear. Of course its going to be a difficult trek. All my usual friends and family don't use the new technologies for the most part, but I'll try to drag them along.

I try to teach my kids that the greatest failure of all is to do nothing.

So here we begin.....