Slashdot Mirror
World's Oldest Blogger Dies At 97
Hugh Pickens writes "The Guardian reports that a Spanish woman who is thought to be the world's oldest blogger has died in Muxia, the northern coastal town where she was born on December 23, 1911. María Amelia López's posts, which chronicled her civil war memories, failing health, left-wing views, and cantankerous humor, attracted a global following and more than 500 readers have left tribute messages on her site after her family published a final post to announce her death. The blog began in 1995 as a gift from her grandson Daniel, with whom she lived, who had no idea what he was unleashing into cyberspace after he taught her to navigate the Internet after she pestered him to download biographies of poets and politicians. He later become her chief assistant, typing in her words as she dictated. 'Now so many people write to me that I can't hope to reply to them all, though I want to,' she explained. 'My grandson complains that he has to work as well, he can't spend all his time typing.' López said in an interview that the Internet had given her a new lease of life and in one of her last posts, published in February, she wrote; 'When I'm on the internet, I forget about my illness. The distraction is good for you — being able to communicate with people. It wakes up the brain, and gives you great strength.'" The Times adds, "Mrs Lopez became the world's oldest blogger on the death of 108-year-old Australian Oliver Riley in June 2008. The new holder of this unofficial title is unknown, although the actor Kirk Douglas, 92, who blogs regularly on his MySpace page, could be in the running. Twitter's oldest microblogger is the 104-year-old Briton Ivy Bean."
AFK..
500 readers? Too bad she isn't around to see her blog slashdotted.
Real men read Slashdot articles at -1, bottom up.
Twitter's oldest microblogger is NOT the 104-year-old Briton Ivy Bean. This story was set up by one of the many British "newspapers". The day before that story was published, she (or someone responsible for the article) created her account and only posted twice.
Holy shit! Kirk Douglas is still alive?!
It seems rather dangerous being the world's oldest blogger. There has been a 100% fatality rate among previous holders of the title. I, for one, call for UK's equivalent of OSHA to investigate the safety of working conditions - something's fishy here. In addition, the Commission for Racial Equality needs to investigate rampant ageism and see that the perpetrators are appropriately punished, hopefully by public humiliation. Remember, thieves being paraded in public is barbaric, but it's OK to do to people whom society despises.
Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
This is a sidebar in relation to something she said, "LÃpez said in an interview that the Internet had given her a new lease of life and in one of her last posts, published in February, she wrote; 'When I'm on the internet, I forget about my illness. The distraction is good for you â" being able to communicate with people. It wakes up the brain, and gives you great strength.'"
I've often thought the Internet would be a fabulous tool for the elderly, though unfortunately, they are the group least likely to embrace it, as any of you with grandparents can attest. You know I love you, grandma, but if you fucking right-click ONE MORE GOD DAMNED TIME WHEN I TELL YOU TO LEFT-CLICK, I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL STRANGLE YOU WITH MOUSE CORD.
Sorry, flashback. Anyway, with nothing but free time on their hands, and declining physical abilities, the elderly have a dirt cheap, incredibly entertaining and mentally stimulating (depending on where you go) alternative to the idiot box, that is merely a phone jack away. My grandfather, who passed before the Internet was popular, would have absolutely loved it. He was very smart. He loved to read. He loved to research things. He tinkered with small engines and held a couple patents related to coloring fiberglass. He made stained glass windows for churches in his spare time. With a tool like the Internet, who knows what he would have done with his final 10 or 20 years of life.
I've seen the vast majority of senior citizens I know wasting away in their recliners, spending their final years listening to Oprah, Judge Judy and reruns of Green Acres. I'm not sure they enjoy it so much as they are simply limited to what they can do at that age. They are usually on a fixed income, physically infirm to some degree, and have declining mental faculties. The Internet is a great way for them to spend their time, if only there was an easier way to get them to understand the technology behind it. Even interactive games would keep their synapses firing a lot more than soap operas and cribbage.
Not every senior citizen would use the Internet to further their education; in fact most wouldn't. But I'd personally rather watch my great aunt ding 80 in Warcraft than have her sit through the 8th rerun of Green Acres where Arnold gets in the vegetable patch.
Good for you, Mrs. Lopez, and rest in peace.
"Study your math, kids. Key to the universe." -The Archangel Gabriel
I had long suspected, and later has come to prove it to myself, that in the end, a human being can really go long way being active with the brain and cognitive power, as long as that brain is kept well fed with experiences, and not least, challenges. Something this woman has said herself. I wish more people would stop complaining and fearing death (wishful thinking at best, of course) if they realize their brain and body will support them if they themselves lust for more life and are willing to say to themselves "i want to live more, i am not ready to stop being a thinker". That, in my opinion, is the main difference between 70 year old depressed or apathic amnesiacs and those 95 year olds who somehow use Internet, move around and just are being a great example on how to live a mature life.
Extra Extra! Read all about it! Blogging may be fatal!
I like muppets.
for more than one reason...
Neat story; I hope I'm as open to new things when I am that old.
Umm, because most of the rest of us aren't soulless twats?
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson