Alienation of the oldies

Many of our parents and grandparents were ostracized or sidelined when dialect was banned from SBC, from radio or TV broadcast. Their world just closed down on them and they would have to go around finding people who could talk to them in dialects. The grandchildren would be distant aliens as they too did not speak dialects but English and Mandarin. The Malays, Indians and Eurasians faced smaller problems than the Chinese. With the stroke of a pen, a whole generation of oldies became foreigners in their own country and in their homes.
 
It was a ruthless policy that was not phased in over a period of time. It just cut into their lives overnight. They were not prepared for the change, they were not integrated into the community but simply ex communicado, as simple as that. Who cared how they would cope or able to cope with the change? Were they provided with any alternative sources of information and entertainments over the air?
 
Soon we are going to see another batch of oldies going ex communicado. The Mediacorp is terminating the teletext services. No more information on TV for stocks, for airport arrival and departure schedules and no more what not that the oldies have become dependent on. The oldies are old dogs that managed to learn the trick of operating the remote controller to view the teletext. This could be the last trick they are capable to learn without straining the grey matter as many are computer illiterate or have not access to a computer.
 
The rationale for the withdrawal of the teletext services is that the advancement of technology has made such information available in many places and from service providers. The teletext is obsolete and need not provide such a service anymore. Those who need to read the teletext should be able to get their information from other sources. This is the biggest assumption which may not be valid.
 
Many of the oldiest could not handle the computer or smartphones or ipad. So, how are they going to get their information? Are they obsolete too and their interests no longer important? I bet many of the oldies and aunties are punting the stock market and are relying heavily on the teletext for stock quotes. Sure, they can always call their brokers for quotes. Telephone calls are free right? Wrong?
 
The brokers should be happy to hear their phone ringing when these oldies have to start calling them again. Only slight problem, many would feel pai seh calling their brokers every now and then without making any trades. With the teletext they could flip to their hearts’ content without disturbing anyone.
 
Now, would these old dogs want and can learn any trick, like operating the computers? If not, another piece of their world will be cut off from them. Who cares.