Life Today vs. "The Good Ole Days"

[gators4224]

It is my experience that the world I live in today is quite different than the world I used to live in for most of my life. There are many ways in which the world has changed, but I think the most prominent is access. You see, even ten years or so ago there wasn't as much access as there is today, and I think I liked it better back then. Now, I'm not saying the way the world is today, where you can look up anything you want to on your phone or watch in a moments notice is bad, rather I simply prefer the days where if you wanted to find the time of today's basketball game you checked the newspaper for tv times. It's one of those things that is ambiguous because you can't necessarily pinpoint a certain thing because ultimately life is life, but you know something is different. Personally, I've also noticed that this instant access technological influence has also interrupted my routines. Back when the whole iphone craze wasn't as strong, say 2007, I would have a more established routine where I was more efficient, and got one thing done and moved to the next. I think today schedules are more fluid with technology, people don't see the iphone as a cell phone like flip phones used to be where you simply used it if you had to, now people use it as a part of their lives. Also, with so much access I think people are numb to those little things in life we used to enjoy. Now people can watch shows instantly on netflix or watch sports games alone in their bed on their iphone. Remember when you got excited for that one game or show you could watch on TV that week or that one movie that was coming out. I'm sure people get excited for stuff like this and I do sometimes, but not as much as I used to and I think it all goes back to this information overload. Is the iphone controlling people's lives ( I guess it depends on the person, but I think it can). I also know now that people are much more in touch with others and while that is good, do we really want to know about other people's lives 24/7? This can be good, but it can also create a lack of self identity and jealousy I suppose. I'm rambling, but this to me is a big change that not a lot of people reflect on.

TL;DR - iphones should be used as phones not a part of our lives like walking and breathing

 

[crosscreekcooter]

http://www.saidsimple.com/content/100835/

 

[ExecutiveGator]

Did they used to have paragraphs in the old world? If not, that's one of the things better about today then the old days. It helps people read various coherent thoughts without it all blurring together.

 

[CaGator91]

I've even noticed that today is different and as young as I am (25) I can still see it. Certainly, all of this political mumbo jumbo has shown us how different the world is today. 25 years ago, you never would have guessed that a former president would wire tap the current presidents residence, or make it his life mission to bring about his demise. Or perhaps it did happen, and we just weren't as exposed to it as much back then as we are now. Also, I've noticed a difference in the dynamics of childhood for 21st century kids. When I was growing up, my friends and I spent all day outside and were pretty much given free range of the area within 5 or so miles. We'd ride our bikes to the store and get candy and soda or whatever and we'd have to ride our bikes across a somewhat busy intersection to get there. I can't even imagine a kid the same age as we were then (6-11 years old) doing that now. Parents watch their kids like a hawk and in most cases don't even let them leave the yard. They also treat their kids like Gods and Goddesses. My brothers kid is a perfect example. It's just expected for all of the family to pack up and visit my nephew for his 3rd birthday party. Even though me and my siblings are all spread out across the south east. You know who attended my 3rd birthday party? My parents and my siblings. AKA the people that had to be there. And you know why? BECAUSE YOU DON'T REMEMBER YOUR THIRD BIRTHDAY. Luckily, I have a wife who is on the same page as me on how to raise our daughter and I think she's going to come out as a jewel. She'll know shes not more important than anyone, and shes also not entitled to anything. You think my generation (Millennials) are self entitled? Wait and see this next batch coming up. *End of rant*

 

[ExecutiveGator]

If i called my post a poem would that suffice?

I'll be honest with you. I initially read the first sentence, then I proceeded to notice how long the rest of the write-up was without any paragraphs. It was immediately at this point where I just skipped the rest of the write-up.

Based on how much I hated reading poems in school and skipped over them - yea, most definitely a poem.

 

[ExecutiveGator]

my grammar is **** and don't really care lol but i do think this iphone debate is an issue

Having now read through most of the thoughts, I would agree that the instant access to information through technology has changed the world. But, I disagree that there is any "debate".

Dude, if you miss the old days of having to look at a newspaper to determine a kickoff time - put the phone down and do it. No one is holding a gun to your head and telling you to use an iPhone.

 

[GatorJ]

Yeah. I'm with Executive on this. Paragraphs.

I read the first couple lines which were interesting. And then I just read the other posts.

 

[GatorBart]

I would love to be a luddite like I was years ago - I was always the last to get the next new technology (CD player in the 90s (I had tons of cassettes); digital answering machine in the mid-2000s (I used that little cassette tape thing for years after they went digital); iPod, about the time they went obsolete; flat screen TV (got one about 5 years ago); smartphone, only recently (just over a year ago) did I switch from a flip phone.

I still don't pursue the newest gadgets out there, but I do have an iPhone that I rely heavily upon for work and personal use.

 

[Gatordiddy]

I'm using an iPhone at 32,000 feet - on the internet just so I can ponder these thoughts on the good old days.

Tech has become an integral part of all of our lives and, for the most part, we have the power to control how we use it.

It does become a leash at times when you feel like checking out, but having a phone (and GPS) have been a huge help when getting lost or breaking down. Not to mention streaming music or Gator games on the road.

I'm happy having access to Mom to just get a text that she's still breathing;). And my kids send me their thoughts and funny stuff all the time, so in that regard there are positives.

All in all - it's a good thing (distracted drivers notwithstanding).

 

[NVGator]

Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. It’s very fortunate if you can work on just one of these in your career. … Apple’s been very fortunate in that it’s introduced a few of these.

2007.

An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator… An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator… An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator… Do you get it? These are not three separated devices. This is one device, and we are calling it iPhone.

2007.

You know, everybody has a cell phone, but I don’t know one person who likes their cell phone. I want to make a phone that people love.

 

[MJMGator]

I'm using an iPhone at 32,000 feet - on the internet just so I can ponder these thoughts on the good old days.

Tech has become an integral part of all of our lives and, for the most part, we have the power to control how we use it.

It does become a leash at times when you feel like checking out, but having a phone (and GPS) have been a huge help when getting lost or breaking down. Not to mention streaming music or Gator games on the road.

I'm happy having access to Mom to just get a text that she's still breathing;). And my kids send me their thoughts and funny stuff all the time, so in that regard there are positives.

All in all - it's a good thing (distracted drivers notwithstanding).

I agree for the most part. I love the technology for my personal life but I absolutely cannot stand it at work. It's like you can never get away. Everything has to be NOW. I miss the old days of snail mail, no conf calls, webinars, roll-ups, exception reports, etc.. I think I was born 30 years too late.

 

[GatorBart]

I agree for the most part. I love the technology for my personal life but I absolutely cannot stand it at work. It's like you can never get away. Everything has to be NOW. I miss the old days of snail mail, no conf calls, webinars, roll-ups, exception reports, etc.. I think I was born 30 years too late.

About 15 years late for me. I would have loved being in college in the late 60s (instead I was 5 during the Summer of Love ).

 

[crosscreekcooter]

Mother Mother Ocean
I have heard you call....

 

[deuce]

I love technology until it breaks.

Power windows are the Bane of Western Civilization....

 

[gingerlover]

I love technology but hate not being able to even take a vacation day without something "important" coming up

 

[TLB]

I love technology but hate not being able to even take a vacation day without something "important" coming up

This is why many at my workplace unfortunately have no reception wherever they might be vacationing. Puts everyone on notice NOT to count on you, and you could 'drive in to the nearest town' for reception and catch up if you choose to.

 

[MJMGator]

This is why many at my workplace unfortunately have no reception wherever they might be vacationing. Puts everyone on notice NOT to count on you, and you could 'drive in to the nearest town' for reception and catch up if you choose to.

For the last several years, I leave my devices at home when I go on vacation. It's the only way to not get blown up with emails, calls, texts, etc..

 

[Zambo]

I have spent a lot of time thinking about this. Tech brings a lot of good to our lives. But I don't think that is is making our lives better in an overall sense. Its making our lives more hectic and stressful.

Imagine years ago a typical businessman. He wakes up, reads the morning paper, arrives at work and starts his day. He gets about the business of having a meeting, writing a report, doing some accounting, typing up a memo, making some business calls, etc. His secretary is on the phone scheduling an appointment for him or buying a plane ticket or reserving a rental car. Maybe there is a meeting or a little direct supervision of his area of responsibility. 5pm rolls around and he grabs his had and heads home for dinner.

At that point, work is done and its not starting until he gets back to the office the next day. Yeah, he might take a call at home once in a while, but for the most part the working time of his day is over.

Nowadays, he's at work from the second he wakes up in the morning until the second he falls asleep at night. Constant calls, texts, instant messages, video conferences, tweets, emails, ical appointments etc. In 30 minutes he's buying plane ticket, renting a car, getting a hotel room, ordering food and using his starbucks app so his latte is ready for him when he walks through the door. Constant news updates (all bad and scandalous), tornado warnings, amber alerts, stock ticker flashing and multitasking. Go go go go go go go! The worst part is he doesn't have a choice to NOT do these things, because his competitor is doing them and he'll get drowned out of business if he doesn't keep up. Two kinds of people, the quick and the dead.

People generally think that tech makes our lives easier. Look how easy I can find this or change that or communicate with whoever. Big deal! It only makes your life easier if you then take the time you saved and put it to good use relaxing. But nobody does that, they just cram more and more work into their day. As an airline pilot, I can tell you right now that the planes are more capable than they've ever been, yet the JOB is harder than it has ever been. Why? Because they use the advances in tech not to make our jobs easier but to cram more airplanes into smaller pieces of sky. Way, way more stressful every year with the consequences of a foulup bigger than ever.

People are snapping every day due to the increased stress in our lives. There is no going back of course, but I actively take steps to avoid and decrease stress constantly. This is something I never had to do years ago.

 

[TLB]

It only makes your life easier if you then take the time you saved and put it to good use relaxing. But nobody does that, they just cram more and more work into their day.

This x1000

 

[ExecutiveGator]

For the last several years, I leave my devices at home when I go on vacation. It's the only way to not get blown up with emails, calls, texts, etc..

This is why the wife always wants our vacations to be cruises. When there's no reception or the cost to respond is outrageous, there is no choice but to leave the phone locked in a safe in the room 24/7.

To be honest, I don't miss the phone for a second. It's glorious. Highly recommended.