In the past few days, a thought has been persistently circling in my mind: What did we do 20 years ago when there were no cell phones? How did we invest our time and attention?Unorthodoxy is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
I didn't get my my first cell phone, which I needed for work, until I was 27, so I had a cell phone in my 30's. I was tied to it for work, but initially it was only a phone. I spent my 30's raising kids and working a lot, so it's a blurry decade. If mobile phones had remained phones I don't think it would have been too bad. It would just mean that you couldn't get away from being contacted. It was when mobile phones stopped being just phones, somewhere around 2008, that the problem started. The telephone is just a minor, almost forgotten, function of the device now. If I want to know something, I do a search on my phone. If I want to buy something, I pull out my phone and look for prices. If I want to say something to someone, no need to wait until I get to a landline, I pull out my phone and text them. I will say that I have stopped using it to read news articles and listen to political podcasts recently, and that has been a major improvement, but I think I am in the minority. I definitely agree that they are used for psyops. Remember the creepy Covid contact tracing function of our phones a couple of years ago (I think it is still active)? I turned that off immediately, although I am sure it was still running in the background.
Back in the day I definitely spent more time talking with people in random places out of boredom, like in line at the grocery store. Lame at the time, but now I think those micro connections are important. We are so disconnected today.
I spent more time actually with other people and, interestingly enough, more time alone when I couldn’t get in touch with a friend to hang out with. Like James above, in bars, cars and watching TV (which I never do anymore) gardening and reading the daily paper. I also spent a great deal of time reading which I now do by listening to audiobooks which is like crack for readers who can’t get enough. The best part of the Information Age is (IMHO) being able to read while doing other tasks (like driving, laundry, dishes, working etc). I read more now than I was ever able to before because of audiobooks and have over 3,000 books in my audio library. But yeah. I read a lot. Lol. I’m 55 and got my first cell phone around 2002 or so (in my early 30’s). Instantly hated the phone part but loved texting bc I spend so much time on the phone at work I’m literally allergic to it when I’m off. But I was a real phone person before work made me hate it. Talked on the phone incessantly as a kid/young adult. It was around that same time I got my first device to download books onto (vs using a Walkman and 50 audio tapes which I’ve done but is ridiculous). Used to take hours to download them but now it’s seconds and it’s all on my phone instead of having two things to lug around. I don’t even carry a purse anymore bc all my stuff just goes into the phone case or a pocket. No need to always have a book, wallet, cd player, and other detritus requiring a purse.
As an over 60 what I did for entertainment in my 30s involved music - listening to vinyl, buying ‘newfangled cds’ and going to see local live bands. Oh and watching Cheers and Night Court every Thursday.
Thanks for sharing Lily's excellent commentary ... as for what I did for entertainment back in the day ... I kayaked white water rivers, I hiked with my dogs. I rode horseback up in the mountains with friends. I read. I traveled. Drank good wine and enjoyed Star Trek!
I didn't get my my first cell phone, which I needed for work, until I was 27, so I had a cell phone in my 30's. I was tied to it for work, but initially it was only a phone. I spent my 30's raising kids and working a lot, so it's a blurry decade. If mobile phones had remained phones I don't think it would have been too bad. It would just mean that you couldn't get away from being contacted. It was when mobile phones stopped being just phones, somewhere around 2008, that the problem started. The telephone is just a minor, almost forgotten, function of the device now. If I want to know something, I do a search on my phone. If I want to buy something, I pull out my phone and look for prices. If I want to say something to someone, no need to wait until I get to a landline, I pull out my phone and text them. I will say that I have stopped using it to read news articles and listen to political podcasts recently, and that has been a major improvement, but I think I am in the minority. I definitely agree that they are used for psyops. Remember the creepy Covid contact tracing function of our phones a couple of years ago (I think it is still active)? I turned that off immediately, although I am sure it was still running in the background.
Let's see... how to condense it? Bars, cars, (performing) stars, sports, parties, event vacations on the cheap.
Played and watched live sports. Live music in concert and bars. Vacations to Lake of Ozarks, Mardi Gras, South Padre, Taos, Vegas...
Stayed outside as much as possible, barefoot, occassionally breaking bones and tearing ligaments, water skiing, cycling.
Best time ever!
Back in the day I definitely spent more time talking with people in random places out of boredom, like in line at the grocery store. Lame at the time, but now I think those micro connections are important. We are so disconnected today.
I spent more time actually with other people and, interestingly enough, more time alone when I couldn’t get in touch with a friend to hang out with. Like James above, in bars, cars and watching TV (which I never do anymore) gardening and reading the daily paper. I also spent a great deal of time reading which I now do by listening to audiobooks which is like crack for readers who can’t get enough. The best part of the Information Age is (IMHO) being able to read while doing other tasks (like driving, laundry, dishes, working etc). I read more now than I was ever able to before because of audiobooks and have over 3,000 books in my audio library. But yeah. I read a lot. Lol. I’m 55 and got my first cell phone around 2002 or so (in my early 30’s). Instantly hated the phone part but loved texting bc I spend so much time on the phone at work I’m literally allergic to it when I’m off. But I was a real phone person before work made me hate it. Talked on the phone incessantly as a kid/young adult. It was around that same time I got my first device to download books onto (vs using a Walkman and 50 audio tapes which I’ve done but is ridiculous). Used to take hours to download them but now it’s seconds and it’s all on my phone instead of having two things to lug around. I don’t even carry a purse anymore bc all my stuff just goes into the phone case or a pocket. No need to always have a book, wallet, cd player, and other detritus requiring a purse.
As an over 60 what I did for entertainment in my 30s involved music - listening to vinyl, buying ‘newfangled cds’ and going to see local live bands. Oh and watching Cheers and Night Court every Thursday.
Thanks for sharing Lily's excellent commentary ... as for what I did for entertainment back in the day ... I kayaked white water rivers, I hiked with my dogs. I rode horseback up in the mountains with friends. I read. I traveled. Drank good wine and enjoyed Star Trek!