It’s amazing how fast the Internet, or rather a website you use on the Internet, can forget you exist.

I say that as I calm down from a battle to program Watch ESPN on my new cellphone. I got the app so I could watch sports while the family’s two TVs were otherwise occupied. It was a great asset during football season, allowing me to check up on games while I was watching another on the TV. I upgraded my phone a few days ago, and have been going through the ritual of having to reload my favorite apps and websites that come when you change phones.

Until the other day, the process was going smoothly. I found my favorite apps — or suitable replacements, since not all cell phone companies carry the same apps — and put them on, making adjustments during the process when I found an app didn’t quite do what I expected.

Then it came to setting up Watch ESPN. I called the app up, went to my satellite TV provider, entered the email address I’ve been using for the past five years and the password I’ve been using for the past five years, and a little message in red popped up telling me I had entered the wrong email or password. I tried again with the same results.

I decided that obviously I must be having an senior moment, so I went to the little message that said “forgot password,” went through the process of getting the special code and temporary password, went in and reset my password, went back to log in and up pops the little message again, “Wrong email address or password.”

At that point, my already pounding headache was getting worse, my blood pressure was up, and I got the urge to hurl my new phone across the room and against a wall.

So here I sit pounding out this column as therapy to relax and regain my composure. They say computers are supposed to make our lives easier, but any “old schooler” like me with a smart phone or a computer can relate to my experience, and I’m afraid as technology changes things may only become more complicated and we may have more “wrong email or password” messages.

My only hope is one day technicians get it right and find a computer or smart phone dumb enough for the average guy to use.

 

John Surratt is a staff writer at The Vicksburg Post. You may reach him at john.surratt@vicksburgpost.com. Readers are invited to submit their opinions for publication.