I’ve never counted, but it must be dozens. Maybe a hundred. And they have very high memory requirements. Especially for a guy who can’t recall why he walked into a room half the time. I’m talking passwords. The commandments go like this:
You can’t use the same password for more than one system/platform/device/account
You can’t tell anyone your password (duh!)
You can’t write it down
You can’t send your password to someone electronically (duh!)
You must logoff your device when it’s unattended
You will be held responsible for anything done under your login
The word of the Lord.
Now, how much more ageist can you get? I’ve never counted the number of passwords I’ve had to generate for work alone but I can’t remember much without writing things down. Even the chores after work. I hear that there are “keychains” you can get that remember your passwords for you. I suspect you need a password to access your passwords. Replicate the commandments above.
I know internet security is serious business. My objection is that you’re not supposed to write any of this down. I carry a notebook around with me (it has no passwords, so please don’t try to steal it) to keep track of everything from doctors’ orders to how to call the plumber if there’s a leak. I can’t remember all that stuff. Some of it is personal information, but with everything you’re expected to keep in memory these days—at the same time we’re unleashing AI on the world—is madness.
A friend pointed out that AI books are written without authors. If I remember correctly, my response was “AI has great potential, but let’s leave the humanities to humans.” I hope I’m remembering that correctly, because I thought it clever at the time. I wish I’d written it down. Those who make the rules about passwords aren’t as close to their expiration date as I am. My grandmother was born before heavier-than-air flight took place and died after we’d landed on the moon. Guys my age regale their kids (and some, their grandkids) by telling them telephones used to be attached to walls and you could walk away from technology at will. Now it follows you. Listens to you even when you’re not talking to it—our car frequently interjects itself into our conversations. At least she isn’t asking for a password while I’m driving. I couldn’t write it down. Our love affair with technology is also driving. More often than we suppose. It’s driving me too… driving me crazy.
