Do you remember life before the internet?
Some of us remember life before the internet. For many, that might be hard to imagine, as the internet is now part of daily life. However, for those of us who experienced life without it, the difference is clear.
I was among the last groups to complete college without the internet. My graduation was in May of 1995. I did not get online until the fall of 1995, when it became available at my job.
This experience shapes my view on technology and people my age. I have limited patience for individuals who claim they do not understand technology. It has been almost 30 years, and most people have used a computer at some point. The introduction of smartphones further reduced any valid reasons for not understanding basic technology.
Back then though, doing research was a different experience. It was almost like solving a mystery. Information wasn’t immediately available, so you had to dig for it.
Going to the library, sifting through card catalogs, and finding the right books or journals felt like a genuine quest. There was a real satisfaction in uncovering that specific piece of information you needed. It was fun at least for me!
Also, talking to friends or, even more so, to girls, had zero privacy. Most phones were landlines, and they were usually in the kitchen or some other common area. Everyone in the house could hear your conversation. There was no slipping off to your room to text or call without anyone knowing.
Think about it, we used to contact people buy calling their house or sending mail to their house. Now we can access them directly.
Looking back, I believe having the internet during college would have changed my social experience. I likely would have been less shy. The internet provided more ways to connect with people, and I might have felt less isolated during that time.
The internet has changed how we access information and how we interact. For those of us who recall life before it, it serves as a measure of how much things have changed.
As a parent, it is weird to think of how I really can’t use what my parents did as a guide.
Technology and the internet are always around.
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