Do you remember life before the internet?
Cue Archie and Edith Bunker pleaseš! I guarantee few of you reading this even know what Iām talking about. Archie and Edith Bunker were the lead characters in the 1970s sitcom āAll in the Family.ā āThose Were the Daysā was the theme song for the show. If your ears can handle it, pull it up on YouTube. Now to answer the blog prompt of the dayā¦
I never had internet until I went to college in 1998. I never even used the internet until my senior year of high school (1997-1998). We didnāt have a computer at my house, so all my high school papers were typed on an electric typewriter. In fact, the tv and typewriter were likely the only major electronic devices in our house. I despised gaming systems (still do) and only had a Game Boy that I played for about 2 years before it bit the dust.
Fast forward to today. I use the internet all the timeā¦emails, web-based documents, internet searches, study for sermons, etc. TV is now streamed via internet. My kids flip out if the internet goes out.
In September 2024, we went several days without internet. Hurricane Helene swept through our area and knocked out power for four days. We were blessed to have minimal effects compared to those especially in Western North Carolina. Phone service was horrible. We had to learn to survive without the luxuries provided by the internet. At first, it felt uneasy. After a few days, it felt better. Almost nostalgic.
Life before the internet forced us to have real interaction with people. While the internet has helped introverts find some boldness, it has also created an anxious generation. People exercise even less restraint now they can publicly air their opinions. While the internet has its benefits, it has just as any (if not more) negatives.
Life before the internet was a lot simpler. Many generations survived without it. If we tried, we might even find we could too.
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