Well, let's see. How did we survive? I wrote letters. In fact I still have some that were written over 50 years ago by friends now long gone. Or I walked to the telephone booth to make a call. Yes, one of those funny little boxes on the corner that required lots of change if you intended to talk very long. I went to the movies for less than a dollar. I sometimes typed on a typewriter, but more often than not, I wrote by hand. Printing was called a carbon copy. And we thought we were really "up town" to have such conveniences at the time.
I am sure, in another 20 to 50 years, all that I enjoy now will fall into the category of the vintage telephone booth. At the rate technology is advancing, I won't have to move to do anything. As it is, I can talk to my remote and it will do any number of things so I don't have to get out of my chair. Will we forget how to care for ourselves, will we forgo our independence, will our brain power decrease as we become dependent on machines to do our bidding? Look at the things already lost. Penmanship is gone, basic math skills are gone, why bother when you can type or use a calculator. Sadly, communication is gone as I knew it. Now it is done on Facebook or texts, people rarely ever talk face to face. Do I do those things, absolutely. But nothing beats an old fashioned gab fest between friends, or picking the brain of someone who has more skills than I do. You-tube is handy but sometimes one-on-one lessons are better.
Would I go back to that time of such "inconvenience"? Sometimes. It was easier, slower, filled with things that I know and understand. I think mostly it was filled with youthful exuberance, hope, expectation, and life in general. People interacted, encouraged, taught, and helped each other. Now I just have to "Google it" to find out things, and I while I appreciate the convenience, I sometimes miss the interaction of others.
You would think, being a total introvert, I would thrive on this electronic age. And, in some ways, I do. But for an introvert, it can also be dangerous place. If you are not inclined to be a naturally social creature and are not "forced" to interact with people through work or other outlets, it can be a lonely and scary place to find yourself. I wonder if so many suicides have to do with our loss of human interaction. I know some are the result of cyber actions that can hurt and cause incredible damage. And the "bully" never sees the effect of his elecrronic actions. We live lives with little or no responsibility.
I have meandered way outside my intent when I began this article. But it must all have been stuck in my craw somewhere to come flowing forth. Let's enjoy our conveniences but let's also enjoy each other. Listen, watch, speak, interact. People were created to need others. And an electronic device just won't be there when you really need someone.
Just Writin' on the River Road
