If you read this blog you know that I do love innovation, and social media, but…
Call me an Old Fogie or something, but
this wave just washed over me
and I remembered (again)
I was HAPPIER when:
- Email did not exist. Life moved at a more manageable pace. Sure I was less connected with people, but those that I was connected to I was deeper connected to. And I didn’t have this damn anxiety that I am always further behind.
- Digital music did not exist. I liked my weekly visits to music stores. I liked buying CDs and even buying music I discovered I did not like just to experiment with stuff. I liked spending more money on music than I did on hard drives.
- Video Stores & Theaters were the only way I could access films. I liked seeing all the random titles that no algorithm would ever show me, that were not popular or would get programmed. I liked talking to the opinionated know-it-all clerks who would challenge my viewing tastes & knowledge. And I liked having virtually immediate access to all the GREAT movies in one place (something Netflix, Hulu, Amazon don’t have).
- I liked it when by opening my mail and what it contained I did NOT have to fear viruses or some scam that might steal my identity or corrupt my expensive hardware.
- I liked NOT fearing my child would show a photo of himself or have someone else show one that might later negatively influence his career or opportunities.
- I liked NOT thinking that all of our children would see so many virtual acts of sex that it will forever alter how they eventually participate in life.
- I read newspapers and not just articles. I discovered more things that way. And it was peaceful, and a relaxing way to start the day, as opposed to now when I feel like I start out working right away.
- There were Alternative News Weeklies that covered a broad range of subjects that I would read over the course of a week, and stumble across things I did not normally encounter, as opposed to just special interest websites that cater to an audience of like-minded types. This article got that time well.
- There were film critics in every city who were known and trusted and had regular readers. There was more regional tastes then and not just a national opinion. Odd things happened more and you could expect cities to have a more individual flavor and taste.
- My friends and I called each other more and did not think we could maintain friendships by “liking” what each other “shares”.
- When my friends and I all truly tried to always be on time, instead of knowing that they now could text that we are running 15 minutes late. In fact, it was even better when if we were late we could call, because then that personal interaction helped self-police to more of a minimum.
- There were places other than airports where I could wander in and kill some time and browse amongst a cornucopia of books, beyond my interests or focus, and discover new things to think and dream about. Where did those bookstores all go?
- When every city — and ever restaurant and store in each and every city — did not seem like one I had seen or been to before. Things weren’t homogenized and corporatized. I miss when a store was a store, and not a chain. When we could NOT expect what was successful and unique in one place to be soon franchised and delivered in a predictable fashion to each and every other place. When places had character and characters.
Don’t get me wrong. I could write on and on about what I love about these times too, but when the wave hits we either get knocked back or dive in. And some waves are just too damn big. Sorry if you got splashed as a result.
Note: this post started as FB post to my “friends” and their response, as well as a note or two that has been incorporated here has lead to this post and sharing it with you.
