Daily writing prompt

Do you remember life before the internet?

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I do indeed remember life before the internet. I was in high school when we first got internet and I can still hear the sounds of getting onto AOL in my head when I think on it. Even at that point, the internet wasn’t what it is today. The above picture paints a nice opening picture of what it was like before. Benefits of the internet right off the rip would be – you don’t need to read or use a map to get somewhere unless you’re in an area where your connection is choppy. In my opinion, you should probably still know how to navigate a map for those instances where your phone or vehicle loses connection, but you’re not likely to find a pay phone anywhere anymore so you might have a problem if your cell doesn’t work. What’s a pay phone? Ha, I’ve heard people ask that question before. I used to have to make sure I had a quarter with me so I could check in with my parents at some point in my daily adventures. Back then, in the 1990’s lol, there were pay phones in or near most stores, and on corners of most streets.

So I feel like cell phones made some things easier. The internet made one thing more difficult for sure… conversation. People today, are always glued to the internet, which they mostly use on their phones. When I was a kid and younger than 22 (when I got my first phone), conversations were with the people you were with. They didn’t have a phone in their hand or in their face while being “part” of the conversation. I can’t tell you how many times I just start saying random things to people while I’m talking to them to see if they’re paying attention, or if they’re engrossed in their phone. Guess what? More often than not, they have no idea what I’m saying. It’s sad, honestly. I think the internet has brought great things into our every day lives, but I also feel like it has mostly destroyed human/social interactions.

Before the Internet

I’m just going to list some things I remember appreciating. I probably come off as an old timer, but I’m only 45… It feels old to me, but people keep telling me I’m not old lol.

1. We didn’t have politics and news hammered into our faces 24/7.
2. We could shut down and not be bothered. If people worried about us they’d have to drive to your house to check on you.
3. Attention spans were far better. I hear people saying they can’t pay attention for more than a few seconds due to internet distractions like phone notifications and such.
4. You could be gone all day and not hear a peep from anyone because they had no idea how to reach you.
5. As mentioned before, conversations. Conversations were deep and fun. No, “check out this meme or video” interruptions.
6. People tried to stay in touch and wouldn’t ghost anyone or be accused of ghosting someone.
7. People were just generally friendlier, unlike the toxic bullying behavior spread across social platforms now.
8. Consequences. In relation to number 7 above, people on the internet can be extremely mean to others without any consequence. Before the internet, people had to watch what they said due to someone being able to punch them. It just made people more respectful—at least on the surface.
9. Today, some of my niece’s and nephews will be off staring at their phones at family functions. Me and my friends at that age would either be talking with the adults, or if that was boring, we’d be playing a video/board game or outside doing something. Desire to do something else seems to be lost due to the internet.
10. Lastly, everything seemed so much simpler before the boom of the internet. Simpler meaning, you weren’t attached to everything and everyone. You lived your life without taking a picture of it to show people online… you just lived without approval or judgement from the internet people.

I do appreciate a lot of things the internet offers, but this is about life before the internet. I’ll toss a couple things in anyway. I never would have become friends with a couple of people without the internet considering some are in different countries and states. I wouldn’t have partially fulfilled a dream of mine to host a radio show without the internet. I had always thought being a radio show host would be a fun gig. I started a podcast a few years ago and podcasts are basically internet radio shows, so yay me! I’m sitting here writing my answer to this daily prompt which is on the internet, which I discovered by starting my own blogsite. I could go on, but I won’t. I love and appreciate a lot of things the internet offers, but if it disappeared tomorrow, I’d adjust and be ok. I’d probably get more reading and writing done!