Was the world a better place wothout cell phones and internet?

by papi70
56 replies
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hummmm... i certainly had more real fun.. I don't however dislike it now, but I'm just grateful I grew up in the 80s and was able to enjoy myself with my buddies the old fashion way. I feel sorry for teenagers today, all this high tech stuff takes lots away from life. Ok that's my 2 cents..

ciao
  • Profile picture of the author webcosmo
    Yes, internet has it`s good but also it`s bad. It makes people live virtually instead of having contact with real people, enjoy real life instead on living online and travelling with G. Earth.
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  • Profile picture of the author janecristy
    Our life style had been changed up to a great extent nowadays. As this era is running thorough information and technology. Internet however helps us in various aspects of our daily life and especially children must not allow to use it up to a certain age limit positively. They must enjoy themselves through doing other physical activities so that their mind and body develop well and they remain potent and healthy. They have to play physical games like football, basket ball, rugby, tennis, cricket, etc. rather than virtual computer games which effect harmfully on their body health and eyesight too.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    A LOT of good things have been heavily misused. Cell phones and the internet are two such things.

    Ironically, I watched a movie just yesterday, ironically enough released in 2007. It was called "live free or die hard". It was about how terrorists could effectively shut technology down. It was too real for comfort. It is said that such things are so heavily misused and yet so firmly entrenched. Another generation, and no people will have any real notion of how the world once was. The current state will be all they ever knew.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author HorseStall
    There are plusses and minuses to everything. As a parent I like knowing how to find my kids instantly. As an adult I resent that I can be "found" as easily as I can ;-)
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    • Profile picture of the author papi70
      Originally Posted by HorseStall View Post

      There are plusses and minuses to everything. As a parent I like knowing how to find my kids instantly. As an adult I resent that I can be "found" as easily as I can ;-)
      hahahaha.. yes that too!! Don't you hate being asked "why didn't you answer your phone?" or "Didn't you get me text?" :-)))
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  • Profile picture of the author taskemann
    Probably.

    IF I could choose what year I should be born and where, I would choose US in the 50's & 60's. I bet it was a wondeful, fun and meaningful time where hard physical labor were valued.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by taskemann View Post

      Probably.

      IF I could choose what year I should be born and where, I would choose US in the 50's & 60's. I bet it was a wondeful, fun and meaningful time where hard physical labor were valued.
      Yeah, I probably would have chosen the 50s myself. I would see all this come to pass, be a bit more rounded, and probably have had a better life. And HEY, maybe I wouldn't get to see what I think is coming down the pike! ALSO, I would be retired by now, and have a good chance at a good retirement!

      Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author papi70
      Originally Posted by taskemann View Post

      Probably.

      IF I could choose what year I should be born and where, I would choose US in the 50's & 60's. I bet it was a wondeful, fun and meaningful time where hard physical labor were valued.
      Yes.. totally agree.. I can only imagine how exciting it must have been growing up in the 50s.. So much still needed to be discovered, people got excited so easily, curiosity was peeking and the world was still a safe place (safer anyways)..
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    • Profile picture of the author TrafficTrader
      Yeah..the 50's and 60's would have been an amazing time. Now put social media in to that time period!
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    • Profile picture of the author Young Financier
      Originally Posted by taskemann View Post

      Probably.

      IF I could choose what year I should be born and where, I would choose US in the 50's & 60's. I bet it was a wondeful, fun and meaningful time where hard physical labor were valued.
      I would choose that same era to live in. However, I wouldn't live where I currently live (the southern region of America) during that era for obvious reasons.

      I agree with the sentiments express by the OP. I've been feeling the same way as of late. I actually feel that technology ruined my life up to a certain point. However, technology is great when used constructively. For instance: we've been able to build businesses, gain education and make great contacts over the internet that we probably would not have been able to do otherwise. That's constructive. But when the internet becomes your life, especially socially, that's a problem. I actually sat down and wrote a letter by hand the other day and that brought back a lot of memories. I guess overall, it depends on a person's lifestyle.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Sean T Alexandre View Post

        I would choose that same era to live in. However, I wouldn't live where I currently live (the southern region of America) during that era for obvious reasons.
        Just to make it clear, that is one thing I was not even considering. Race never entered the picture for me. I don't know how bad the 50s and 60s actually were for blacks, let alone in that area, though the jim crow laws were still in effect. They seemed to be voted down on the basis of region, so they were likely more prevalent in the south. Outside of THAT, the 50s seemed like a nice era. I was born around the turn of the decade, so I saw what the 50s had been like and certainly saw the 60s.

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author Young Financier
          Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

          Just to make it clear, that is one thing I was not even considering. Race never entered the picture for me. I don't know how bad the 50s and 60s actually were for blacks, let alone in that area, though the jim crow laws were still in effect. They seemed to be voted down on the basis of region, so they were likely more prevalent in the south. Outside of THAT, the 50s seemed like a nice era. I was born around the turn of the decade, so I saw what the 50s had been like and certainly saw the 60s.

          Steve
          Based on what my elders have told me, it was crazy in the south during that time when Jim Crow was in effect, which is why I'd like to live in that era, just not where I currently live. I'd most likely live on the west coast.
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    • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
      Originally Posted by taskemann View Post

      Probably.

      IF I could choose what year I should be born and where, I would choose US in the 50's & 60's. I bet it was a wondeful, fun and meaningful time where hard physical labor were valued.
      welcome to vietnam, soldier

      now england swung in the 60s, truly the cradle of civilisation, yeah yeah yeah
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by hardraysnight View Post

        welcome to vietnam, soldier

        now england swung in the 60s, truly the cradle of civilisation, yeah yeah yeah
        FUNNY! YEAH, I forgot about THAT! Of course, if I were born in the early 50s, I guess I COULD have served the last 7 years. Then again, I THINK I would have been exempt!

        HEY, I had to register for the draft once as it was.

        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    I was born in 1963. It was good that you got to play outside and go and visit friends. We did not have internet of course and that meant we got more exercise and it was healthier to play that way too, as a child.

    Growing up and learning how to live with the internet has been challenging. The young people of today have no idea how good they have it compared to when I was a child.

    This is indeed a new era BUT it's one in which I can earn money from home. If I was my current age and state of health but it was the 80s, I would not be able to earn a living on top of my pension and so I have no idea what I would have done.

    So, while today is very different, I am grateful for the advantages it offers me.
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    • Profile picture of the author papi70
      "The young people of today have no idea how good they have it compared to when I was a child." are you sure about this one, laurencewins? I'm not totally complaining about today however being 15 in 1985 was probably 2 million times more exciting than being 15 today..
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    It was definitely more exciting back then. What I mean is that today's teens are practically spoon-fed...they don't have to go out for their entertainment at all. It makes them lazy. They can get what they want so easily compared to back then so they do have it good today. I don't mean it is better than back then.

    I hope that makes more sense.
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    • Profile picture of the author TrafficTrader
      I agree with laurencewins that teens/kids are spoon-fed today.

      With all the structure that kids have in their lives, there is little need for creativity and new ideas.

      Rather than use the "grey matter" its just easier to go to Google!
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      • Profile picture of the author papi70
        It's not how you're fed, it's more about what you're fed!!
        Yes kids have it easy today, but easy is not necessarily better.
        I remember having to call my girlfriends on their home phone and hoping their daddy didn't pick up, or stopping my car and looking for a dime to call my mom, or ringing my girlfriend's doorbell when i wanted to surprise her!! Do kids do this anymore? :confused:
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  • Profile picture of the author Josh Monroe
    I have to disagree.

    Personally I'm a bit of a nerd, so perhaps that's the reason for me disagreeing.

    I love having everything available to me pretty much instantly. I love being able to search for whatever, whenever. Those awkward moments when you ask someone a question and no one knows the answer? Good ol' Google is there to help (when previously you'd have to look in perhaps the newspaper, encyclopedia or hope you know someone with the answer).

    Bored? No worries, stream a movie from a huge online collection. Want to listen to music? Hit up YouTube. Want to learn something new? Hit up YouTube/Google. Want to chat to your childhood buddy who lives half way across the world? Email, Twitter, FaceBook Skype and so on.

    Need to order a pizza but don't have the local pizzeria's phone number or menu? Dont worry you can read the entire menu online and order it whilst you're there!

    I could go on forever.

    I guess I'm a child (or product) of the information age, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I was gaming from a young child and got my first computer with internet access at around age 6.

    I wouldn't change it for the world, and let's not forget me growing up around technology has now given me the ability to work from home using the internet I've grown to love over all those years.

    But yeah, like I said - I'm a nerd when it comes to things like this.
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    • Profile picture of the author papi70
      Josh, you brought up some very valid points, can't disagree with you. There are tons of benefits of the internet that I love myself.
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    • Profile picture of the author garyv
      Originally Posted by Josh Monroe View Post

      I have to disagree.

      Personally I'm a bit of a nerd, so perhaps that's the reason for me disagreeing.

      I love having everything available to me pretty much instantly. I love being able to search for whatever, whenever. Those awkward moments when you ask someone a question and no one knows the answer? Good ol' Google is there to help (when previously you'd have to look in perhaps the newspaper, encyclopedia or hope you know someone with the answer).

      Bored? No worries, stream a movie from a huge online collection. Want to listen to music? Hit up YouTube. Want to learn something new? Hit up YouTube/Google. Want to chat to your childhood buddy who lives half way across the world? Email, Twitter, FaceBook Skype and so on.

      Need to order a pizza but don't have the local pizzeria's phone number or menu? Dont worry you can read the entire menu online and order it whilst you're there!

      I could go on forever.

      I guess I'm a child (or product) of the information age, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I was gaming from a young child and got my first computer with internet access at around age 6.

      I wouldn't change it for the world, and let's not forget me growing up around technology has now given me the ability to work from home using the internet I've grown to love over all those years.

      But yeah, like I said - I'm a nerd when it comes to things like this.

      ... it is bliss.

      I grew up in the 80s myself, and loved it. My google was a pair of hiking boots and a strong curiosity to figure things out for myself. My friends were actually physical, and we didn't need facebook to know what we were doing - because we were all doing it. MTV actually played music back then. Plus you could take a friend to the airport and all the way to their departing gate without having to turn your head and cough. Pirate bay was still the place to share music - It was the swimming hole where we'd blast our favorite cassettes. And you were still interrupted by tweets all day, but they were from actual birds. - Aaaahhhh I wish I could go back.
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      • Profile picture of the author papi70
        Originally Posted by garyv View Post

        ... it is bliss.

        I grew up in the 80s myself, and loved it. My google was a pair of hiking boots and a strong curiosity to figure things out for myself. My friends were actually physical, and we didn't need facebook to know what we were doing - because we were all doing it. MTV actually played music back then. Plus you could take a friend to the airport and all the way to their departing gate without having to turn your head and cough. Pirate bay was till the place to share music - It was the swimming hole where we'd blast our favorite cassettes. And you were still interrupted by tweets all day, but they were from actual birds. - Aaaahhhh I wish I could go back.
        Yup I hear you GaryV.. those were the days!! I miss the 80s!!!!
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        I know kids growing much the same way - they have parents who limit their tech access and direct it to useful purposes instead of allowing it for mindless entertainment.

        Cell phones have saved lives - but also encourage a dependency where kids expect a parent to always be available to make decisions for them. People no longer need to organize their thoughts - they can just blast from brain to Facebook anything that flows through their mind.

        I think increased technology requires different parenting skills and many parents missed that lesson along the way. Parents who wouldn't allow their kid to be out every night with their friends will allow the same kid to spend the entire evening in his/her room being a twit online hour after hour.

        The internet is the greatest of inventions for sharing information - but also for sharing misinformation.

        Technology is amazing but the downside may be the total connectedness that people come to rely on. To me, the downside of "connecting" technology is the growing belief I see in adults and kids that every moment must be filled with chatter or images or 'sharing' with others.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Josh Monroe View Post

      I have to disagree.

      Personally I'm a bit of a nerd, so perhaps that's the reason for me disagreeing.
      ACTUALLY, if you were REALLY a nerd, in todays parlance, and KNEW about it, you would have appreciated the 50s,60s, and even the 70s! THEN, Radio, electronics, and aeronautics were the big things. Electronics was easier to work with on the lowest level, and there was TONS of info about radio. If the internet is shut down, you can BET it will switch to systes that existed decades ago in RADIO!

      I love having everything available to me pretty much instantly.
      Like in the 50s! It just wasn't used by the non nerd types.

      I love being able to search for whatever, whenever. Those awkward moments when you ask someone a question and no one knows the answer?
      There were similar things in the 70s.

      Good ol' Google is there to help (when previously you'd have to look in perhaps the newspaper, encyclopedia or hope you know someone with the answer).
      Well, google is trending to being WORSE!

      Bored? No worries, stream a movie from a huge online collection. Want to listen to music? Hit up YouTube. Want to learn something new? Hit up YouTube/Google. Want to chat to your childhood buddy who lives half way across the world? Email, Twitter, FaceBook Skype and so on.

      Need to order a pizza but don't have the local pizzeria's phone number or menu? Dont worry you can read the entire menu online and order it whilst you're there!

      I could go on forever.
      Yeah, and STRAYING from the nerd claims you started with.

      I guess I'm a child (or product) of the information age, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I was gaming from a young child and got my first computer with internet access at around age 6.
      About that age, I was pining for a computer. I had my eye on one that cost about $400. YOU would consider it a worthless toy. I never got it.

      I wouldn't change it for the world, and let's not forget me growing up around technology has now given me the ability to work from home using the internet I've grown to love over all those years.
      Even working from home could have been done in the 60s! HECK, my FATHER worked from home in the 60s! NO computer, but he was programming computers all over. He just needed a terminal and a modem.

      But yeah, like I said - I'm a nerd when it comes to things like this.
      Yeah, look at how things REALLY were. Back then, people were even BUILDING computers. NOW, that is *****VERY***** rare! HOW rare? SO rare that most people reading this might think I was daft and think "I just built a PC last week"! NOPE! I am talking about BUILDING, with a breadboard or PC board, resistors, capacitors, ICs, a soldering iron, ESD straps, etc....
      NOT going out and buying a BUILT MOTHERBOARD, and assembling everything.

      The first apple was a KIT!!!!!!!!! That computer I was eyeing, that you would think was a toy? IT was a KIT!

      Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
      Well we get the instant gratification, but we don't learn how to do things for ourselves (like make our own pizza).

      We communicate instantly, but we don't really get to know people since we're not in the room with them.

      We have go-go-go lifestyles with lots of things to do, but we miss out on the important things in life--like a Sunday afternoon with the family.

      It's all too easy to head on out to the internet and ignore your family. I remember the 70s and 80s with no Sunday shopping, no ATMs and no cell phones. Practically forced you to spend time with people in person--and I miss that. Yes, you can choose to see people, but it's a lot easier to default to the internet.

      In the past 6 months I have crowbarred walking every day with my wife into my life. Before that, I "wanted to", but found reasons why I was too busy. It is funny how I'm not too busy now--and we're heading out shortly even though it is a lousy day weather-wise.

      Originally Posted by Josh Monroe View Post

      I have to disagree.

      Personally I'm a bit of a nerd, so perhaps that's the reason for me disagreeing.

      I love having everything available to me pretty much instantly. I love being able to search for whatever, whenever. Those awkward moments when you ask someone a question and no one knows the answer? Good ol' Google is there to help (when previously you'd have to look in perhaps the newspaper, encyclopedia or hope you know someone with the answer).

      Bored? No worries, stream a movie from a huge online collection. Want to listen to music? Hit up YouTube. Want to learn something new? Hit up YouTube/Google. Want to chat to your childhood buddy who lives half way across the world? Email, Twitter, FaceBook Skype and so on.

      Need to order a pizza but don't have the local pizzeria's phone number or menu? Dont worry you can read the entire menu online and order it whilst you're there!

      I could go on forever.

      I guess I'm a child (or product) of the information age, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I was gaming from a young child and got my first computer with internet access at around age 6.

      I wouldn't change it for the world, and let's not forget me growing up around technology has now given me the ability to work from home using the internet I've grown to love over all those years.

      But yeah, like I said - I'm a nerd when it comes to things like this.
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  • Profile picture of the author CoachManny
    Smartphones definitely help beat time and helps business wise.

    The downfall for kids is it keeps them indoors more.

    Computers do keep the kids more in tune with what is going on out there.

    There is definitely pros and cons.

    Don't know what outweighs more though.

    Manny
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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    Originally Posted by papi70 View Post

    I feel sorry for teenagers today, all this high tech stuff takes lots away from life. Ok that's my 2 cents.
    I see what you mean, in a sense.

    I admit my own everyday life (quite apart from my ability to earn a living) would be hugely inconvenienced without mobile phones and the internet - and I don't imagine that I'm by any means the only person here of whom that's true.

    And let's not forget the enormous numbers of disabled people, too, who'd effectively be more or less housebound if they couldn't take a mobile phone with them to go out (and be able to call for help if they need it).

    It makes you wonder how so many people coped before mobile phones and the internet. And I think the answer is that they more or less didn't: they had a significantly worse quality of life.

    Just my two cents.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      I see what you mean, in a sense.

      I admit my own everyday life (quite apart from my ability to earn a living) would be hugely inconvenienced without mobile phones and the internet - and I don't imagine that I'm by any means the only person here of whom that's true.

      And let's not forget the enormous numbers of disabled people, too, who'd effectively be more or less housebound if they couldn't take a mobile phone with them to go out (and be able to call for help if they need it).

      It makes you wonder how so many people coped before mobile phones and the internet. And I think the answer is that they more or less didn't: they had a significantly worse quality of life.

      Just my two cents.
      Well, even a cell phone could be a problem in an emergency. They did have that button device. The name of the company escapes me, even if their famous ad doesn't. As for oter needs? There were payphones. Last I knew, there were FAR fewer now, but we are STILL paying for them!

      steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        It makes you wonder how so many people coped before mobile phones and the internet. And I think the answer is that they more or less didn't: they had a significantly worse quality of life.
        Don't agree with that assessment. It was different but definitely not worse. In many ways, it was more self sufficient and with less "static".

        I wouldn't want to live without the internet - but there are downsides. In another generation or two, people won't know that because they will be so absolutely dependent on a digital life. Don't know if that's good or bad but guess we'll find out.
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  • Profile picture of the author Josh Monroe
    @Seasoned - I wasn't around in the 60's, 70's or even 80's (Well late 80's but I was still in diapers).

    Maybe I chose the wrong word, perhaps "geek" would have been a better choice?

    Plus back in the days you talk about, what I said wasn't available. Streaming movies and such wouldn't be possible on a dial up connection?

    The thing is technology has made things better, not worse.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Josh Monroe View Post

      @Seasoned - I wasn't around in the 60's, 70's or even 80's (Well late 80's but I was still in diapers).

      Maybe I chose the wrong word, perhaps "geek" would have been a better choice?

      Plus back in the days you talk about, what I said wasn't available. Streaming movies and such wouldn't be possible on a dial up connection?

      The thing is technology has made things better, not worse.
      The MOVIES weren't there. That was NOT because it wasn't possible, but there was no standard digital format to have what we do now, connections at that speed were VERY expensive, and it was only for BIG business or the FILTHY rich nerds/geeks, whatever.

      As for technology making things better? I picked up a souvenir from Germany. It has a terminal SHRUGGING its shoulders with paper reports ALL AROUND! Below it? "Computers help us to solve problems we didn't have before they existed". THINK ABOUT IT!

      OH, I LOVE computers! I LOVE the internet! I was BEGGING for an account before HTTP BEFORE HTML BEFORE PHP before PERL and certainly before JAVA, ALTAVISTA, YAHOO, or GOOGLE. IN FACT, I FINALLY got access to the internet before any of the above existed! HECK, I did all that before I heard of linux. I think I actually had tears in my eyes. I almost cried, because linux was *******SO****** close to the OS I wanted! SO CLOSE! It wasn't even v1! About a decade earlier, I bought THE honest to goodness UNIX manual written by a little company called AT&T! YEP, THE maker of UNIX. MAN, when I found out that linux was actually past v1, and updated it I felt like yelling EUREKA! But there are a LOT of problems computers created, etc....

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Josh Monroe
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        The MOVIES were't there. That was NOT because it wasn't possible, but there was no standard digital format to have what we do now, connections at that speed were VERY expensive, and it was only for BIG business or the FILTHY rich nerds/geeks, whatever.

        As for technology making things better? I picked up a souvenir from Germany. It has a terminal SHRUGGING its shoulders with paper reports ALL AROUND! Below it? "Computers help us to solve problems we didn't have before they existed". THINK ABOUT IT!

        OH, I LOVE computers! I LOVE the internet! I was BEGGING for an account before HTTP BEFORE HTML BEFORE PHP before PERL and certainly before JAVA, ALTAVISTA, YAHOO, or GOOGLE. IN FACT, I FINALLY got access to the internet before any of the above existed! HECK, I did all that before I heard of linux. I think I actually had tears in my eyes. I almost cried, because linux was *******SO****** close to the OS I wanted! SO CLOSE! It wasn't even v1! About a decade earlier, I bought THE honest to goodness UNIX manual written by a little company called AT&T! YEP, THE maker of UNIX. MAN, when I found out that linux was actually past v1, and updated it I felt like yelling EUREKA! But there are a LOT of problems computers created, etc....

        Steve
        At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer - its personal opinion. If you think that your life was better without internet/cell phones thats your opinion and although different than mine, I respect it.
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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by Josh Monroe View Post

          At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer - its personal opinion. If you think that your life was better without internet/cell phones thats your opinion and although different than mine, I respect it.
          Well, it isn't that we have internet or cell phones. It is what came WITH them, or around the same era. If I had a cellphone and the internet in the 70s? WOW! Even if EVERYONE else had it. If the culture stayed the same, I would have LOVED it! But the culture is VERY different!

          Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Soubhik
    Well, there are are pros and cons to everything! Yes, many of the things which happened in the 1980's does not happen today, but that is because we have adopted a different way of life.

    Let's make it simple - without the internet and phones, a thing would take 10X the time to be completed than what we can do now. Internet helps in research, to remain connected, to expand business - what not! Phones help us to surf web, make calls, watch videos and listen to music - it is a whole new life we are experiencing because of it.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    BTW Cell phones WERE around in the 80s. Not as much coverage, etc... but they were. And satellite phones were around longer. It is ironic, but cell phones took so long to appear because nobody wanted to pay for the infrastructure, and they charged a FORTUNE for the phone AND the service. The keypad for it appeared around the early 70s. The basic radio system appeared around the early 50s. So it wasn't really all that advanced! Cell phones TODAY are VERY different. I have heard, on more than one show, "WHO USES PHONES FOR TALKING ANYMORE!"! The basic technology for THAT was available by late 1980! The changes are they are cheaper, smaller, faster, and COLOR. OTHERWISE, NOTHING NEW! By the 1980s, they could have built a phone no bigger than the ones earlier that had most features of the current phones. It might cost $20K and weigh five pounds and be close to the size of two bricks, and it would be black and white, but it would work. Even the TOUCH SCREEN technology isn't new!

    BTW ALL LCDs used to be effectively black and white. LATER they eventually made color ones.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author Josh Monroe
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      BTW Cell phones WERE around in the 80s. Not as much coverage, etc... but they were. And satellite phones were around longer. It is ironic, but cell phones took so long to appear because nobody wanted to pay for the infrastructure, and they charged a FORTUNE for the phone AND the service. The keypad for it appeared around the early 70s. The basic radio system appeared around the early 50s. So it wasn't really all that advanced! Cell phones TODAY are VERY different. I have heard, on more than one show, "WHO USES PHONES FOR TALKING ANYMORE!"! The basic technology for THAT was available by late 1980! The changes are they are cheaper, smaller, faster, and COLOR. OTHERWISE, NOTHING NEW! By the 1980s, they could have built a phone no bigger than the ones earlier that had most features of the current phones. It might cost $20K and weigh five pounds and be close to the size of two bricks, and it would be black and white, but it would work. Even the TOUCH SCREEN technology isn't new!

      BTW ALL LCDs used to be effectively black and white. LATER they eventually made color ones.

      Steve
      I think making calls is 5th on the list of most used function on a handset. Even back in the 90's when I got my first cell I used it more to play Snake then anything else (back on the old no color screens).

      It is true though, I cant remember the last time I personally used my cell to make a call.
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  • Profile picture of the author mikelmraz
    Hell no! Just porn alone is enough to justify the positive aspects of the internet.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lloyd Buchinski
    One of the problems with the net is that time spent sitting is very unhealthy. It was true for tv, and it's true for computers and office jobs. Another study was published yesterday.

    Sitting time associated with increased risk of chronic diseases | Kansas State University | News and Editorial Services

    I just happened to run across it today and it reminded me of this topic.
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    • Profile picture of the author globalseopoint
      Certainly no. No way. How can I live and my life will be without internet. Bury me with my laptop.
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    • Profile picture of the author papi70
      Originally Posted by Lloyd Buchinski View Post

      One of the problems with the net is that time spent sitting is very unhealthy. It was true for tv, and it's true for computers and office jobs. Another study was published yesterday.

      Sitting time associated with increased risk of chronic diseases | Kansas State University | News and Editorial Services

      I just happened to run across it today and it reminded me of this topic.
      I'm not sure about that part of the world but here we also have stand-up tables, they are great!! They've probably always existed but I just discovered them a few years ago. I got mine at Ikea and it's great!!
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  • Profile picture of the author manika
    If social media was around when I was in high school I probably would have flunked a subject or two XD
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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    For all those hankering for the 50's, 60's and 70's, here's an eye opener for you.

    I can't comment on the 50's as I was born in 1962. The day after the Cuban Missile Crisis ended if you really want to know. However the 50's was the height of the Cold War (duck n cover anyone?), the Korean War and McCarthyism.

    The 60's had, apart from the above mentioned crisis which could've seen the end of the world, a popular President and his brother assassinated. Civil rights riots and one of its leaders assassinated, the Vietnam War, peace protests and riots around the world because of it.

    The 70's had the ending of the Vietnam War, an oil crisis, stagflation, inflation and hyperinflation, Watergate, a president forced to resign in disgrace, an Australian Prime Minister removed from office with the CIA heavily involved, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, during which Al Qaeda was born.

    Even worse than all of these things, the 70's also had disco music.

    The good old days - PFFTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

      For all those hankering for the 50's, 60's and 70's, here's an eye opener for you.

      I can't comment on the 50's as I was born in 1962. The day after the Cuban Missile Crisis ended if you really want to know. However the 50's was the height of the Cold War (duck n cover anyone?), the Korean War and McCarthyism.

      The 60's had, apart from the above mentioned crisis which could've seen the end of the world, a popular President and his brother assassinated. Civil rights riots and one of its leaders assassinated, the Vietnam War, peace protests and riots around the world because of it.

      The 70's had the ending of the Vietnam War, an oil crisis, stagflation, inflation and hyperinflation, Watergate, a president forced to resign in disgrace, an Australian Prime Minister removed from office with the CIA heavily involved, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, during which Al Qaeda was born.

      Even worse than all of these things, the 70's also had disco music.

      The good old days - PFFTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!
      You are sincerely dreaming if you think ANY of the problems you mentioned in the 50s are even less true today! DREAMING! And did anyone attack then? NOPE! Could they NOW? CERTAINLY! So I really fail to see your point ANYWAY! I could say a LOT MORE but, well...

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    Just in case, I actually have some very fond childhood/adolescent memories of the 60's and 70's (except the disco era), despite all the sh*t that was going on.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I was born in 54 - yeah there were things wrong with the world then, too - but we weren't over-populated, we were still ABLE to get a disgrace of a politician out of office, we played outside all we wanted to. Information was from the library. Water was clean. Food was real and delicious. People were generally healthy. We had wars and other things going on that were not much different from today - but nobody got into your face about how you lived your daily life. There was still a lot of personal freedom. If people didn't like your lifestyle, they just stayed away from you. People were happy, playful, and content.

    I like the internet and think it's an awesome tool - and it has brought us to understand, no matter what our leaders want us to believe, that the people aren't that much different country to country.

    I HATE cell phones and think they are the worst thing (outside of losing our freedoms to criminals that call themselves representatives) that ever happened to us. It has put us inside a very unhealthy grid of energy (gee, microwaving earth doesn't heat it up, does it?). It has made people stupid, too. They think they can go off anywhere and never have to worry about knowing anything because if they get in trouble, they have a phone. Right. Whatever. Natural selection still has its place on this planet, like it or not. Before cellphones people were at least smart enough to watch for moving traffic before they crossed a street. Now driving in urban areas is like weaving in and out of a cattle herd.

    I think we should get rid of cellphones - get rid of plastic - and keep the Internet, but go back to dial up only. So what - you have to wait 30 seconds for some info. Awe. Too bad.
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    • Profile picture of the author papi70
      Life might be easier now but it was certainly more romantic growing up in the 60s, 70s and 80s.. We had a world to discover. It feels to me like the air even smelt differently back then, excitement was in the air, we were certainly happier even though we had less (more).. LOVED IT!!
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I was born in 54 - yeah there were things wrong with the world then, too - but we weren't over-populated, we were still ABLE to get a disgrace of a politician out of office, we played outside all we wanted to. Information was from the library. Water was clean. Food was real and delicious. People were generally healthy. We had wars and other things going on that were not much different from today - but nobody got into your face about how you lived your daily life. There was still a lot of personal freedom. If people didn't like your lifestyle, they just stayed away from you. People were happy, playful, and content.
      AGREED! I saw a lot of that in MY childhood also. My mother, and an "uncle" BOTH had VW beetles when I was a little kid, but my mothers was built in the mid 60s, and my unkles in the early 70s. The one in the 70s even LOOKED cheaper with the plastic. I had trouble with some other kids, but the adults always seemed nice, to adults AND to kids.

      I like the internet and think it's an awesome tool - and it has brought us to understand, no matter what our leaders want us to believe, that the people aren't that much different country to country.
      I HATE cell phones and think they are the worst thing (outside of losing our freedoms to criminals that call themselves representatives) that ever happened to us. It has put us inside a very unhealthy grid of energy (gee, microwaving earth doesn't heat it up, does it?). It has made people stupid, too. They think they can go off anywhere and never have to worry about knowing anything because if they get in trouble, they have a phone. Right. Whatever. Natural selection still has its place on this planet, like it or not. Before cellphones people were at least smart enough to watch for moving traffic before they crossed a street. Now driving in urban areas is like weaving in and out of a cattle herd.
      WOW, I don't know if you REALLY believe that, about people being stupid cattle. If you have a doubt, go to jersey city new jersey, or nyc new york, or chicago, and MAN, you are DEAD ON RIGHT! Want to kill a few hundred people in a few seconds? Just drive the main street. You can eve obey ALL lights, and STILL kill a LOT of people! Many people might not even notice! INCREDIBLE!

      As for microwaving, good points. The FCC has limited the wattage on most microwave communication devices. They are a small fraction of what the average microwave is. If I remember right, it is like 2 watts versus perhaps 1000. Of course they have microwave ovens as low as 400 watts. And I don't THINK air heats up. I think, the more complex the molecule, the faster it will heat up. Of course, cell towers, radars, satellites are likely a higher wattage.

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        AGREED! I saw a lot of that in MY childhood also. My mother, and an "uncle" BOTH had VW beetles when I was a little kid, but my mothers was built in the mid 60s, and my unkles in the early 70s. The one in the 70s even LOOKED cheaper with the plastic. I had trouble with some other kids, but the adults always seemed nice, to adults AND to kids.





        WOW, I don't know if you REALLY believe that, about people being stupid cattle. If you have a doubt, go to jersey city new jersey, or nyc new york, or chicago, and MAN, you are DEAD ON RIGHT! Want to kill a few hundred people in a few seconds? Just drive the main street. You can eve obey ALL lights, and STILL kill a LOT of people! Many people might not even notice! INCREDIBLE!

        As for microwaving, good points. The FCC has limited the wattage on most microwave communication devices. They are a small fraction of what the average microwave is. If I remember right, it is like 2 watts versus perhaps 1000. Of course they have microwave ovens as low as 400 watts. And I don't THINK air heats up. I think, the more complex the molecule, the faster it will heat up. Of course, cell towers, radars, satellites are likely a higher wattage.

        Steve
        Do I really believe what I said? You bet your ass I do. I'm so disgusted with humans right now it embarrasses me to admit that I'm the same species. I take my refuge in the view of the scientists who say we're splitting into 2 species and just figure people that are so incredibly stupid that they are suicidal by default are the lower species.

        I think the microwave grid is deadly - people that live too near the towers get a very high % of diseases compared to other people. That's why I like to keep off the grid as much as possible - it's not air that microwave heats - it's solids. Put acouple of cell phones head to head and put a few pieces of popcorn between them and wait. That can't be good for anything on earth no matter how large or small.

        My post about all the troubles going on at the time(s) was meant to be tongue in cheek. That's why I added a follow up post to try and get that across. Some things just don't work on the interwebz though.

        The real reason we romanticise about our childhood days is because we were young and free - literally.

        We had a bed to sleep in, we had three meals a day provided, no bills to pay, no rat-race, no real decisions at all needed to be made.

        It doesn't matter what decade you grew up in, those days are the ones you'll look back on with fond memories.

        Heck, my Mum and Dad grew up in England during WWII, and they look back on those days as being golden as well.
        That might be true in part - but not completely so. Sure, generally everyone who grew up in average households without major trauma thinks those were great years -- but I was an adult in the 70's and life was still awesome. We've already produced the last of the "golden age" kids. These are kids that went outside by themselves without Mom getting hauled to jail for it. Kids that didn't have to walk through metal detectors to get into school - or get felt up at airports by TSA as routine activity. That didn't have to squat and pee for the authorities to hold a job. That were allowed to play at school without being jerked out by police if they said something deemed not politically correct. That weren't drugged for showing individuality. That ate more real food than GMO and processed and enjoyed the health that went with it. That drank water that fluoride wasn't dumped into (bringing down IQs, too, btw). The last to be taught how to think objectively and critically instead of being indoctrinated WHAT to think. The last to have control of bringing up their own children as they wished. The last to know when they got dressed for bed or used a toilet that nobody was watching them.

        I'm not sure that kids that are drugged or dragged off with police for playing cops and robbers are going to remember anything they would call "golden years" anymore. There is nobody that is immune from fascism - not even little ones. There is no innocence anymore. Every step, every action, every word has to be monitored to stay out of "trouble".
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        Sal
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  • Profile picture of the author Gedeon G
    Personally, I was born in 1987. That was the era when Michael Knight and KITT defined my childhood, or Mr. President defined my musical style with Coco Jambo, etc.

    What I don't like about the current age we are living in is that everything is 10 times faster than before (as somebody mentioned in this thread before). All our lifes are a complete RUSH and there is not enough time for important things such as family, making new friends, or hanging out with girlfriends.

    Before the internet age you always had the time to solve your things and now you have to run here and run there to get things done. Freakin' hurry and rush.

    I do like the internet tho. But glad I was a kind in the 90's when things were so much different...
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    I too was born in 1954 and most of my childhood memories revolve around the 60s. Someone pointed out all the social conflict of the 60s, 70s, 80s, etc. Guess what? It's always been that way. Every decade, going back to biblical times and before has had its problems, and many triumphs as well. I suppose your take on history and life depends upon where you put your focus. I remember the troubles but don't dwell there. I think back to the Beatles coming to America and the explosion of great music that soon followed. What a time. There were computers back in those days but one took the space of a huge room. Data was stored on punch cards. Cutting edge, baby...

    As for the Internet and cell phones, same thing. Nothing is good or bad. It's what we do with it. Balance and moderation. Perhaps the greatest downside to technology is that it almost literally eliminates privacy.

    Someone once asked me what time period I'd live in if I could choose. I think I'd choose to be coming of age during the 1920s in America. Many new inventions and technology, though personal freedom and liberty were still alive while the nanny state was absent. Yeah, the 1920s, when having a telephone was state of the art communicating.

    High tech is nice but so was the luxury of taking your time.
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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    My post about all the troubles going on at the time(s) was meant to be tongue in cheek. That's why I added a follow up post to try and get that across. Some things just don't work on the interwebz though.

    The real reason we romanticise about our childhood days is because we were young and free - literally.

    We had a bed to sleep in, we had three meals a day provided, no bills to pay, no rat-race, no real decisions at all needed to be made.

    It doesn't matter what decade you grew up in, those days are the ones you'll look back on with fond memories.

    Heck, my Mum and Dad grew up in England during WWII, and they look back on those days as being golden as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author SandraLarkin
    Banned
    Well, I liked it better without cell phone and all of that even though it was more convenient. However, the internet is the only free open source of truth, and I would not have it any other way.


    I do really hate how everyone is so involved in technology and nothing else. Thee needs to be balance, and things are off balance right now.
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  • I sometimes wonder if we weren't better off without the 'conveniences' - there is an urge to create information overload - and I think a lot of people turn out like Kelly Bundy ("Married With Children") where when her head got too full of information, something had to go before she could function again, or she would shut down...:p

    But on the flip-side - it sure is nice to have a world of information at your fingertips...
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    • Profile picture of the author papi70
      Kelly Bundy? yum yum
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  • Profile picture of the author williambrown
    Before people don't have cellphones and internet but still they have a way an artful way to communicate. I guess sometimes tech is being used to do less harm but all in all it helps a lot.
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