Grandpa’s Rant – When Getting Lunch Becomes a Technology Project

Well, folks, I think we have finally gone too far.

I went out the other day thinking I would treat myself to a good old-fashioned hamburger. Nothing fancy, just a hamburger, some fries, and maybe a drink. You know, the kind of thing that used to take about 30 seconds to order.

Boy, was I in for a surprise!

I walked into the restaurant, looked at the menu, and headed toward the counter. That’s when the young person behind the counter informed me that I could place my order using their app.

Their WHAT?

Apparently, walking up to a counter and telling someone what you want to eat is becoming a thing of the past.

Now, if I want a hamburger, I have to pull out my smartphone, scan a QR code, download an app, create an account, provide my email address, come up with a password that requires at least three capital letters, two numbers, a special character, and probably a blood sample.

All I wanted was a hamburger!

And heaven forbid you forget your password. Now you’re waiting for a verification email, which may or may not show up before lunchtime is over.

Then there’s the app itself. You have to scroll through 47 different menu options, select your toppings, decide whether you want extra cheese, no onions, light mustard, heavy ketchup, and whether you want your pickles arranged in a particular formation.

By the time you finish, you’ve practically designed your own hamburger franchise.

And don’t get me started on the QR codes!

I remember when restaurants handed you a menu. You opened it, looked at the pictures, and ordered something. Now they hand you a little piece of paper with a square barcode on it and expect you to know what to do.

Apparently, I’m supposed to point my phone at it like I’m trying to communicate with aliens.

Here’s another thing. What happened to talking to people?

I understand technology is supposed to make things easier, but I’m beginning to wonder who exactly it’s making things easier for. Because from where I’m sitting, ordering a hamburger has become more complicated than filing my taxes.

And what happens when your phone battery dies?

I guess you’re out of luck. No phone, no app, no hamburger. Maybe they’ll let you chew on the QR code.

Now, before everybody starts telling Grandpa that technology is the future, let me make something clear. I’m not against technology. I use a computer, a smartphone, and even write a blog on the internet. Heck, I’m talking to you right now through technology.

But there is a difference between making life easier and making simple things unnecessarily complicated.

Sometimes I just want to walk into a restaurant, look somebody in the eye, and say:

“I’ll have a cheeseburger, fries, and a Coke.”

And I would appreciate it if they said:

“Coming right up!”

No downloads, no passwords, no account creation, no verification codes, and no software updates.

Just a hamburger.

Is that really too much to ask?

So here’s my suggestion to the restaurant industry: Keep your apps, keep your QR codes, and keep all that fancy technology for those who enjoy it. But how about keeping a good old-fashioned person behind the counter for the rest of us?

Because if I need a smartphone, a computer science degree, and 20 minutes of free time just to order lunch, I might as well stay home and make a sandwich.

And believe me, at my age, I’ve got better things to do than argue with an app.

That’s enough outta me for now. But don’t worry — I’ve got plenty more to say next time.

– Grandpa (Professional Ranter and Amateur Philosopher)