• TrueStoryBob@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    My Nephew: “What’s a fax machine?”

    Me: “A landline network of low quality printers people used to use to do invoices and file for divorce.”

    My Nephew: “Landline?”

    • jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      So my oldest kid was grounded from her iPhone one time. Feeling generous one evening, I told her she could use the desk phone in my office to call friends on. It’s an old school red landline with no frills. Just buttons to dial the number and an actual bell that rings. The kind that’s only an upgrade from a rotary disl. It’s mostly for emergencies and never gets used.

      Anyway, she sits down at the desk, stares at the phone, and is like, “Ok. What do I do?” It took me a second to realize she was asking how to make a phone call. I told her to pick up the handset and dial the phone number. The whole time she’s just shooting me looks like she doesn’t believe this is actually going to work.

      • Virtual Insanity @lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Sounds like she’s rarely out never noticed you use it either… Which makes it interesting both because of the uncommon UI and workflow, and she has not had regular observations to learn from.

        For those of us that have operated both it’s a non issue.

        But think of how you’d go about it with zero knowledge. I bet most would try dialling the number without lifting the receiver.

      • Octopus1348@lemy.lol
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        1 year ago

        Is she used to contacts and doesn’t know how to dial a phone number even on a smartphone? Or just unsure because it works a little different.