Page 22 - Masala Lite Issue 159 March 2024

22 Nama-Slay!

Mom: Hai, why do they need to know that? She had a Daughter: On your computer! I’ll do it for you. Here,
very tough life coming to Thailand from India so she how about this pair?
didn’t keep her maiden name. Why would she want to Dad: How can I try them on?
remember it? Just put in my password!
Daughter: You can’t, you have to choose and
Son: I’ll skip to the next question. What about the return it if you don’t like it.
name of your first pet?
Dad: So, I pay for something I’m not sure
Mum: Hai, why would we keep a name about so they can steal my money and
for them? The soi dogs and cats came it doesn’t even look good? I’ll just go
as they pleased and we fed them to the store.
An unreformed party girl and mother of two, leftover roti and chawal.
writer, editor and observer Sumati Huber tries to Son: I’ll just reset your password. Explaining a Technological Issue
make sense of our unique Thai-Indian society and the Your new login is “231284”. Over the Phone
aunties that she will one day become. Once an elder gets wind that you
Mum: Hai, what girl’s phone are
you putting in my email! Who does know how to “do computers”, there
When Elders Use Technology that number belong to? will be no shortage of friends and
Technology advances faster than most people can keep Son: Mum, it’s my birthday! relatives calling from different places
up. But we must give credit to the older generations for to ask for your assistance:
continuing to attempt the latest innovations, despite Mum: Oh yes, I use it for my ATM pin also. See, I have Uncle: Hello, beta. Your dad tells me you are very good
the massive font size your dad needs to read messages it written down right here on this paper in my wallet at computers. Can you check for me how I can set up
on his phone. It’s all innocent, with forwarded “Good in case I forget. this printer?
morning” pictures and questionable links, until an elder Online Shopping Beta: Maybe you can FaceTime me so I can see?
needs your help to figure something out on their devices.
Then you have to suffer through things like: Despite the fact that older people are inherently Uncle: Can you hear me?
suspicious of technology and believe every website is Beta: You don’t have to put your ear up against the
Forgotten Passwords trying to steal their credit card, passport, or identity, phone. This is a video call so hold the camera to the
they still enjoy the thrill of ordering things online:
At an age where our respected elders can never find printer. No, flip the camera around, don’t turn the
their glasses (they’re always on their heads), helping Dad: I can’t find my glasses, can you help me order a whole phone. It’s pointing to the floor.
them remember their passwords on various accounts new pair online? Uncle: Can you see now? This is the printer. I’ve been
can be challenging: Daughter: They’re on your head. double clicking the power button but it keeps turning on
Mum: Beta, I got signed out of the Gmail. Someone was Dad: What’s on my head? You’re always sitting on my and off. They really don’t make these things easy to use.
trying to send me a mail saying I won a million dollars head after everything I sacrificed for you. Help me find Beta: Just press the button once.
so I need to check it. one for reading. Uncle: But on my computer I double click everything.
Son: You need to answer some security questions then Daughter: OK, open your window and type in “glasses So why doesn’t it work here? I’ll just return it for a
you can sign back in. for reading.” new one. Can you also explain why my phone camera
Mum: I don’t know how to do that, can you do it for me? Dad: Open the window? Which window? The air con always takes blurry pictures? It must be defective, I’ll
Son: What’s your mother’s maiden name? is on! just return it also.

MASAL A LITE ISSUE 159 - MARCH 2024