Current Events > Thinking about the society we lost when we had no phones depresses me

(+) Yeah! (+)

No phones, no social media, no constant 24/7 logged into the internet and devices. People were so much more sociable and people had to find things to do instead of being constantly on our devices.

And yes, I'm a huge tech nerd with 5 screens around me. I just think about those lost days where things were much different. When I watch those grainy 90s videos it really hits me hard.

I was born in 1981. I got internet in I think 1995 or 1996. Dist have my first smart phone until like 2010

I can't go back. I'd go crazy if I lost the internet

Yeah now we are fucked without the internet.

I hate the fact that I've become a luddite despite being so hopeful in technology back in the mid 90s and early 00s.

I miss that too. Despite having it all around me as well. Just the way she goes.

Different times for sure, but I also have no idea how I'd survive without GPS >_<

I don't think people we're more SOCIABLE back then it's just now you got the socially awkwards getting in on the internet because they're anonymous so it seems like no one leaves home. I went to a bar last night with a friend and not a SINGLE person there had their phone out for more than a couple seconds at a time. Kinda shitty too because nobody had ANYTHING remotely interesting to say. It was bland chat that was boring as fuck. Some guy walked up and asked about an outdoor fireplace I was sitting by.... Like mother fucker I didn't build the fucking thing don't ask me about that shit.

That sounds like a you problem

Those were the days

Muhahaha yessss, this will make a fine hashtag.

Gremlynn posted...

That sounds like a you problem

It was a me problem Sherlock what gave it away? The fact that I mentioned I didn't enjoy it? You're on your way to the top.

Johnny_Nutcase posted...

It was a me problem Sherlock what gave it away? The fact that I mentioned I didn't enjoy it? You're on your way to the top.

"He didn't quote me, and it's in the first tiny handful of posts on the first page of a topic, and it was literally posted within less than a minute of my own post. But this was CLEARLY about me!"

1: Get the fuck over yourself, I wasn't talking to you.

2: Shut the fuck up

3: Get some fucking help, jesus christ.

Yeah TC it's a completely different world now. But take solace in the fact you lived before the internet and experienced that life. kids these days can't imagine a world without it.

Gremlynn posted...

"He didn't quote me, and it's in the first tiny handful of posts on the first page of a topic, and it was literally posted within less than a minute of my own post. But this was CLEARLY about me!"

1: Get the fuck over yourself, I wasn't talking to you.

2: Shut the fuck up

3: Get some fucking help, jesus christ.

Yeah I was referring to my post you lunatic. Yeahhhh i'll get hlep.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

No that would be just fucking insulting

That world was ass. People will still socialize if they want to. They just realized it kinda sucks ass.

Johnny_Nutcase posted...

Yeah I was referring to my post you lunatic. Yeahhhh i'll get hlep.

Nobody gives a fuck about your post. LITERALLY nobody was even talking to you.

And I'm starting to see why that applies to irl right now too. Do you usually make a habit of jumping down random people's throats because you THOUGHT they were talking to/about you?

The Rose colored glasses are strong.

Holy shit this guy is an angry person.

Meh, I just make a conscious effort to not bring out my phone. Though it does feel weird when I'm the only not looking at my phone and literally everyone else is.

At that point I'm usually the weirdo in the room not on my phone.

SpiritSephiroth posted...

People were so much more sociable

what lol
did you just completely forget that television existed. unless you're old enough to talk about pre-tv days.

no one was sociable. we were all sitting in front of TVs. the people who went outside still go outside today. the people stuck to a screen were always stuck to a screen, it was just bigger and didn't move, which actually made them less social honestly.

Johnny_Nutcase posted...

I don't think people we're more SOCIABLE back then it's just now you got the socially awkwards getting in on the internet because they're anonymous so it seems like no one leaves home. I went to a bar last night with a friend and not a SINGLE person there had their phone out for more than a couple seconds at a time. Kinda shitty too because nobody had ANYTHING remotely interesting to say. It was bland chat that was boring as fuck. Some guy walked up and asked about an outdoor fireplace I was sitting by.... Like mother fucker I didn't build the fucking thing don't ask me about that shit.

I think we were. Online internet and texting has made it really convenient to socialize remotely, and now younger generations don't even want to call each other and just text because they feel, "too awkward." Like WTF man at people in my generation... Don't get me started on online dating.

Because there is an infinite amount of entertainment through electronics and online,people are less inclined to go outside and experience things and rather stay home. One can say we started with TV and then video games, then the beginning of the internet. But it's really taken off with smart phones. People are a little bit more socially awkward now, or at least younger generations are

So what we need is Youuuu don't have to be lonelyyyyy at lonelygamers.com....

I think it's time to log off

I know a lot of young parents who just throw iPads and cell phones to keep their kids from running around instead of raising them properly and it's pretty sad.

SpiritSephiroth posted...

No phones, no social media, no constant 24/7 logged into the internet and devices. People were so much more sociable and people had to find things to do instead of being constantly on our devices.

Yeah, kind of. People then complained about arcades and rock n' roll. Before that, the printing press was a serious issue.

Tech advances faster than our culture. That's just the times.

Who really knows what's next?

emmo posted...

Yeah, kind of. People then complained about arcades and rock n' roll. Before that, the printing press was a serious issue.

Tech advances faster than our culture. That's just the times.

Who really knows what's next?

Kids these days with their stone tools and flintstone spears. Back in my day, we had a sharpened stick and we were grateful to have that.

Life before the internet is very, very overrated. We did a bunch of dumb stuff because it was literally the only way we could entertain ourselves.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Life before the internet is very, very overrated. We did a bunch of dumb stuff because it was literally the only way we could entertain ourselves.

The things you'd do prior were more like events though. Instead of having masses of entertainment you'd numbed to lumped on top of you, you'd take it as it was and revel in it instead of going straight to the next thing. Easier to remember and appreciate if you aren't immediately burying under the next flashy thing and conditioning your brain to burn through as much shallow junk with as little worth extracted as possible.

Nowadays we seem to live in a world that spins a lot faster and expects us to keep up. Trends appear and die fast, internet humor has been circling the drain since 2015, games' playerbases flock on masse to whatever they're efficiently told is the current big game, we used to talk about surfing the web but now it's less surfing and more sailing to one of the main colossal websites.
It's got its ups but I wouldn't call what we had before overrated in comparison to it.

SpiritSephiroth posted...

People were so much more sociable and people had to find things to do instead of being constantly on our devices.

Nope, not me. I was playing my Game Boy or reading books. Not much has really changed for me.

SpiritSephiroth posted...

People were so much more sociable

what makes you think that

The internet was fine before the normies took over.

I dunno, I think there's gotta be a middle ground. People are definitely obsessed with their phones or whatever nowadays, and there are issues with our culture, but don't let that make you think the old days were golden.
I remember how annoying it was trying to find someone in the mall (unless you'd scheduled when you'd meet up). Information was much harder to distribute, being an independent artist -- it was harder to spread your art, so much was buried because stuff (like racism, abuse, etc) was easier to hide.
Was there good stuff too? Yeah absolutely. But IMO we should be smart and take the best of both.

Generally, when people make these types of comments, I feel it is more nostalgia talking than an objective statement. Like, nostalgia is a hell of a drug for a reason. It makes us see mundane things with rose colored glasses because we associate it with happier times. It's easy to assume that things were better as a kid because we didn't have the level of responsibilities we donas adults, and it's easy to conflate that to the lack of technology.

Technology has not made people less social. It just gave both social and unsocial people new avenues to communicate. I am involved in my community and our local parks are filled with kids playing basketball and volleyball. Our mall (yes, we still have a mall) has teens walking around and watching movies at the theater.

And interestingly, technology has given some kids even more opportunity for engagement. I have served as a judge for robotics and drone competitions. Those things are a blast, man. These school gyms fill up with kids and families and The atmosphere is truly amazing, especially as these kids break out these cool contraptions and share with everyone about them.

I also teach Minecraft coding classes, and we get classrooms full of kids who normally stick to themselves in their room excitedly talking about their builds with each other.

We even teach social media influencing classes and all the social kids come together to share ideas about how to act on camera.

Technology is only a tool, not an outcome. If anything, Ibwoupd argue we have become more social since technology, not less.

Johnny_Nutcase posted...

Holy shit this guy is an angry person.

The irony of this statement.

Meh, I disagree. The before internet times werent that great, people still had tv and other ways to avoid socializing. Like others said it was harder to distribute information and to keep in touch with people you couldnt physically meet with often. Nowadays there are problems sure, but tech also gives everybody more opportunities to find their own communities. The benefits outweigh the positives imo

I honestly wonder if people who complain that people don't go outside anymore or socialize anymore actually ever go outside or ever socialize themselves. I pass by a few parks on the way home from work, it's always full of kids playing basketball or soccer or volleyball and adults walking around with each other and socializing. Tons of people still go to restaurants, clubs, parties, out to the lakes and rivers and mountains and local events. I think it's only shut-in hermits that think everyone is just isolated in zombie mode now.

I will say this though, I'm so glad social media and phones weren't a thing when I was growing up. I can't imagine every dumb thing I did as a kid filmed and posted publicly to everyone in the world and being brought up 10 to 15 years later still.

i remember too. it'll be that way again once wearables make it easier to be around our favorite people 24/7 regardless of distance. like with holograms and smart vision and etc. and someday teleportation*.

* https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-04201-6

PesticideDream posted...

I honestly wonder if people who complain that people don't go outside anymore or socialize anymore actually ever go outside or ever socialize themselves.

I don't wonder at all. It's pretty obvious they don't.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/4/2/AAe3AqAAD-0e.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb458ATRByc

But think about all the times when you were arguing with your friends about who was right about something, and you couldnt just google the answer