ForumGarden

Is it not funny how we survived so happily when life consisted of rotary phones, easy bake ovens and daleks were frightening?

My life now has evolved to a lap top, kindle fire, blackberry torch, etc.

As i was doing some cleaning i came across an old sony walkman (plays cassette tapes), a gameboy advance, ps one with led screen, and my very first mobile phone.

Have we become so distracted by the newest gadget that we cant just enjoy what is around us anymore?

I am going to do something really extreme....I am going to go out tomorrow without my mobile. :-3

Raven;1447853 wrote: Is it not funny how we survived so happily when life consisted of rotary phones, easy bake ovens and daleks were frightening?

My life now has evolved to a lap top, kindle fire, blackberry torch, etc.

As i was doing some cleaning i came across an old sony walkman (plays cassette tapes), a gameboy advance, ps one with led screen, and my very first mobile phone.

Have we become so distracted by the newest gadget that we cant just enjoy what is around us anymore?

I am going to do something really extreme....I am going to go out tomorrow without my mobile. :-3


I'm not sure that the gadget culture stops us from enjoying ourselves so much as the move from whatever comes to hand to electronic gadgets tends to isolate us from each other.

I firmly believe that true enjoyment involves interacting with other people (and that coming from a confirmed introvert) and using your imagination.

Any trend that presents us with a fixed "story" and a machine interface rather than personal interaction is going to feel like a backward step - the head says fantastic whilst the soul withers.



So says a died in the wool dinosaur

Indeed so true, my friend. I find myself battling inclinations to turn off all that is around me and spend time looking at a screen that prevents my brain from shutting down properly by depressing natural melanin (which allows us to sleep) and working shifts REALLY gets my insomnia cranking. But instead of taking a walk and getting fresh air, I will just attempt another level of candy crush or some other stupid, mind numbing poop.

I wonder exactly what it would take, outside of an emp blast, to get us back to reality.

Raven;1447861 wrote: Indeed so true, my friend. I find myself battling inclinations to turn off all that is around me and spend time looking at a screen that prevents my brain from shutting down properly by depressing natural melanin (which allows us to sleep) and working shifts REALLY gets my insomnia cranking. But instead of taking a walk and getting fresh air, I will just attempt another level of candy crush or some other stupid, mind numbing poop.

I wonder exactly what it would take, outside of an emp blast, to get us back to reality.


You have just described my weekdays where I cannot shut off after work - luckily I have the weekend to unscramble the effects of the weak.

HAHAHA! Love the pun! Unfortunately for me it is going to take time for my body to adjust to my current shift pattern. I work weekends at least twice a month. Ever wonder what the long term effects will be? Have you seen a pixar movie called wall-e?

My Internet went down for 12 hours so I had no choice but to spend time with my family....



They seem like nice people.

OMG! I've still got my Sony Walkman around here somewhere. I've also got a record player and my collection of albums from when I was a kid.

Well, the grandkids were over this weekend. I broke out my old Vinyl LPs (Fifties-Sixties Rock and Roll, and Motown.)

We had a great time, and I made some new converts from the Hip Hop Generation. Next time, I might dig out some of my parents old 78s of 40s Big Band.

LOL my old lps I had as a kid are from the 70's so they're mostly disco! EEK!!

Raven;1447874 wrote: Have you seen a pixar movie called wall-e?


Haha! That was the first thing that sprung to mind when reading your OP!

Raven;1447874 wrote: HAHAHA! Love the pun! Unfortunately for me it is going to take time for my body to adjust to my current shift pattern. I work weekends at least twice a month. Ever wonder what the long term effects will be? Have you seen a pixar movie called wall-e?


I caught bits of it on the box - it didn't really grab my attention.

Modern technology allows me to go a'wandrin at the drop of a hat. I have a complete software development system on my laptop my phone instantly becomes a wi-fi hotspot just about anywhere, if I choose. I can decide that I would rather be in the mountains or the desert and be on my way in a couple of hours without missing anything. My clients know that I prefer to communicate via email and the phone number I give them is for a Google Voice account that I can allow to ring through to my phone or just give me a transcript of their voicemail.

My wandrin vehicle has a solid state drive with many days worth of music on it and is pretty much self-contained. The solar panels on the roof keep the fridge, heat, and equipment running and if it is dark for too long it has its own generator to recharge the big batteries.

I have found that the technology gives me more freedom, rather than feeling shackled by it.

Yeah, I'm with Wandrin. I like technology.

I can pay all my bills without using any stamps, keep up with my bank account from wherever, do my job from anywhere I can get a cell signal, and keep up with the grandkids from afar, and find my way home from anywhere, and carry a massive book library around in my backpack.

On the other hand, sometimes I think my smartphone can be a little too smart for its own good. It does have an 'off' button, though.

LarsMac;1447983 wrote: Yeah, I'm with Wandrin. I like technology.

I can pay all my bills without using any stamps, keep up with my bank account from wherever, do my job from anywhere I can get a cell signal, and keep up with the grandkids from afar, and find my way home from anywhere, and carry a massive book library around in my backpack.

On the other hand, sometimes I think my smartphone can be a little too smart for its own good. It does have an 'off' button, though.


And it's programmable. I very often use a "don't bother me with anything unless it's an urgent call from this small group of people" setting.