Anyone out there remember what life was like before the internet?

Question

I feel so disconnected from todays youth.
Although there were some differences in the way my parents grew up compared to the way I grew up, it's pretty similar.
But now, there is a generation of kids out there that have grown up in the internet age. I find them strange and without direction.
Anyone out there remember when we used to go outside to talk to our friends? When we had to use actual books for our research papers? When we would actually take the time to sit down and write someone a letter?
I'm not dissing the internet or anything, I guess I'm just missing the good old days when things were slower and simpler.

Answer 1

I was remembering using my parent's Encyclopedia Britannica for my school papers in Elementary and Junior High... now it's all Internet research (which is slightly dodgy if you ask me).

Oh yeah and my friends and I used to do really stupid things outdoors when I was in high school just because we were bored - but it was fun. Things like drive around in my one friends car listening to Annie Lennox at top volume and sing out the window to random pedestrians...

Ah.. good times.

Answer 2

I remember. Life was different back then, but the internet does have it's ups. Information is so much more easily accessed today than it was years ago, and research is definately easier to do, that's for sure. But friendships aren't the same today, at least I don't think so. How many times do we actually talk on the phone now, instead of using MSN or something or other? I miss the day when my friends and I spoke on the phone every day. Now it's just MSN and blah blah blah.

I also remember Pepsi cans with two holes in the top; a big hole you drank from and a little hole the air entered through, and you would poke your thumb in to open them. No one else my age remembers those! Does anyone on here remember them? (I'm 27).

Answer 3

My life wasn't better really, just different. I was hopelessly hooked on video games, both as an activity and as an outlet, socially. Meaning it wasn't enough for me to play on a console at home, I needed to go to an arcade and use the game-playing to be around other people, socially. It worked but it was really rather expensive. And I had a habit of listening to tunes, on a boombox, rather loudly. So I recall way more tunes, usually of a cheesy pop or radio-rock sort, than most folks. 80s and college radio sorts of things. I also kept busy, since I was in High School until 1985 and in college, on and off, until 1993--near the end I was having problems juggling school, work and therapy at the same time and so needed frequent breaks to maintain something resembling passing grades. But I was really *really* lonely. I really did think that nobody on this earth got me and understood me. It was like...it didn't matter how good my English was, it felt like I was speaking a different language because people just *didn't hear* the words I was literally saying, they only heard what they wanted, selectively, to hear. So yeah....I got by. But I was angry and miserable on a level I haven't been to recently, until the past year or two. I'm in Illinois in the United States of America. I'm not exactly doing ok lately, but hey...

Answer 4

yup... as a kid we actually went outside and played until the street lights went on.... and the worst thing in the world would have been a rainy day, and being stuck inside!!!

Answer 5

I remember what life was like before we had television, which makes me slightly older than dirt.

Answer 6

it's always nice to look back but one day you'll tell your grandkids, "Would you believe they didn't allow dogs to vote?"

Answer 7

yes it was worse.. husband found me thru online dating