Are you happy you were born before computers were invented?

I puzzled about this. I was here for one of the biggest transitions in the history of man, and it was exciting to watch it unfold from the beginning. Hail Geeks! But we are not done yet; Beware of Geeks bearing gifts.
 

I am glad I was born before computers because we had to learn the basics about math, English, geography, how to write (it was called penmanship during my time), etc. In this day and age of having computers do everything it's not necessarily good for our brains. An example my son and I talked about last week...young cashiers do not even know how to make change. He came across one that was stumped! I remember I did too a few years back. Of course now, so many transactions are being done with credit cards. I also read that cursive (term since penmanship) is being removed from schools. Soon children won't even know how to write their names. How handy that online forms have ways to "sign" without a pen.

Another plus to being born before...we went outside and played instead of being glued to screens all day. As teenagers and young adults socialization continued to be in person, not via social networking sites, Facetime and Zoom. However, now those things do come in handy when families move far from one another and want to feel connected.
 
The Young guys sold books and magazines thru the summer.
I looked forward to the Newspaper delivery, Sports and funnies.

Didn't worry much about calling on the Phone / Party lines.

On Saturday evenings, Town squares would be full of cars and people.
Many Friends / neighbors talking.
 

OneEyedDiva said:
I am glad I was born before computers because we had to learn the basics about math, English, geography, how to write (it was called ingpenmanship during my time), etc. In this day and age of having computers do everything it's not necessarily good for our brains. An example my son and I talked about last week...young cashiers do not even know how to make change. He came across one that was stumped! I remember I did too a few years back. Of course now, so many transactions are being done with credit cards. I also read that cursive (term since penmanship) is being removed from schools. Soon children won't even know how to write their names. How handy that online forms have ways to "sign" without a pen.

Another plus to being born before...we went outside and played instead of being glued to screens all day. As teenagers and young adults socialization continued to be in person, not via social networking sites, Facetime and Zoom. However, now those things do come in handy when families move far from one another and want to feel connected.
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I agree. We had experiences back then and learned everyday. It was important navigating the real world which online isn't.
 
Nathan said:
I'm at a loss to see how being born before computers would elicit 'happiness'. I was happy to finally have my own personal computer, it was an exciting time. Nowadays if you're not gripping your cellphone during all hours of the day you're considered to be some kind of freak.
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Since someone posted today on this thread, I went back through and read some earlier posts. I can understand your point, Nathan. And obviously most all of us SF members see some advantage in computers.

I think there are levels or dimensions to what we each feel "happy" is about. In post #23, I shared my first thought in response to the OP question. I guess that was in terms of what I appreciate about having a childhood & early adolescence without a personal computer or cell phone. Even here in a beautiful valley, surrounded by nature, many teenagers are "living" via their devices. Apathetic about school & getting a job, not getting out on the trails, not being able to relate broadly with fellow human beings.

Maybe Chic nailed it, succinctly, in post #82 just above here.
 
JBR said:
Since someone posted today on this thread, I went back through and read some earlier posts. I can understand your point, Nathan. And obviously most all of us SF members see some advantage in computers.

I think there are levels or dimensions to what we each feel "happy" is about. In post #23, I shared my first thought in response to the OP question. I guess that was in terms of what I appreciate about having a childhood & early adolescence without a personal computer or cell phone. Even here in a beautiful valley, surrounded by nature, many teenagers are "living" via their devices. Apathetic about school & getting a job, not getting out on the trails, not being able to relate broadly with fellow human beings.

Maybe Chic nailed it, succinctly, in post #82 just above here.
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Schools might get more engagement from students if chalkboards were replaced with massive screens, and teachers said "Take out your phones and swipe to page 37 of Modern Chemistry."
 
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More and more, I'm reading about people disillusioned with having spent all their lives working on honing a craft like writing or coding when AI is taking those jobs away faster than people can find new skills for.

When I wrote the OP in April 2024, the big question was still about computers. Within that short time, 7 or 8 months, the question has shifted to whether people will be happy whether they were born before or after AI because that will be a big demarcation, and AI is moving amazingly quickly. Even in that short time, my life has changed so much because of AI.
 
I'm not happy that I was born before computers. I view computers as tools. They can do all kinds of things to benefit my life. And, yes, it's technology that changed lives. We, all, see the past with thick rose colored roses. It's like saying it was so romantic in the horse and buggy days, while forgetting about having to clean out stalls, and tons of horse dung in the streets.
 
caramel said:
Most people here were born before computers were invented. Because we didn't grow up with them, there was a steep learning curve for some, which may have been difficult, particularly if they were older when they were first introduced to them.

On the other hand, people who grew up with computers don't have the ability to say that they can go without one. How would they know?

Some people say that life before computers was more peaceful and simple. We'll never know how life would have gone without them.

Are you happy that you were born before computers were a thing or would you have rather had the convenience of them growing up?
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Computers have been around for quite awhile. I'm 67 and started learning in high school, and my father taught me a lot. It's funny how younger think they invented them, and try teaching some of us.
 
caramel said:
Most people here were born before computers were invented. Because we didn't grow up with them, there was a steep learning curve for some, which may have been difficult, particularly if they were older when they were first introduced to them.

On the other hand, people who grew up with computers don't have the ability to say that they can go without one. How would they know?

Some people say that life before computers was more peaceful and simple. We'll never know how life would have gone without them.

Are you happy that you were born before computers were a thing or would you have rather had the convenience of them growing up?
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One big difference is that us older people who know computers can live in both worlds. Some younger people are completely depended on them. A have neighbors in their 70s with computers, and good on them, but still prefer doing most of their business by hand.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
We, all, see the past with thick rose colored roses. It's like saying it was so romantic in the horse and buggy days, while forgetting about having to clean out stalls, and tons of horse dung in the streets.
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Not at all what I meant in my posts. And I take it that some others are coming from a similar point of view. "Romantic"? Why not try to get it right?

Speaking personally, I began using computers in the workplace in 1986, bought my first desktop equipment within a few years, since then have owned four laptops. I use the equipment a lot, and I've participated in online forums from about 1996.

Still, I'm very glad for all my childhood & teenage outdoor experience, and for learning to use hand & power tools, and for knowing how to get enjoyment or in-depth information from books, and for knowing how to relate to a wide range of people in-person or on a phone. People like me, and numerous others here, could present a long list of useful skills we apply in life. Sometimes, though not always, digital devices can be a trap and place a limit on a young person.
 
I wish I had born after computers were invented. However, I like the life I have had as who knew what we were missing in the future. Computers are so handy to have for all kinds of things and a great invention.
 
JBR said:
Not at all what I meant in my posts. And I take it that some others are coming from a similar point of view. "Romantic"? Why not try to get it right?

Speaking personally, I began using computers in the workplace in 1986, bought my first desktop equipment within a few years, since then have owned four laptops. I use the equipment a lot, and I've participated in online forums from about 1996.

Still, I'm very glad for all my childhood & teenage outdoor experience, and for learning to use hand & power tools, and for knowing how to get enjoyment or in-depth information from books, and for knowing how to relate to a wide range of people in-person or on a phone. People like me, and numerous others here, could present a long list of useful skills we apply in life. Sometimes, though not always, digital devices can be a trap and place a limit on a young person.
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That's about the same timescale as mine. First permanent job was in 1986 and involved computers; first home computer in 1988 and my first email address in 1994. It was a culture-shock, having been at school where it was all longhand writing. I did learn to touch-type in 1985 and bought a typewriter, which was and is a useful skill to have.
 
Murrmurr said:
Schools might get more engagement from students if chalkboards were replaced with massive screens, and teachers said "Take out your phones and swipe to page 37 of Modern Chemistry."
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I see somebody hasn't been in a classroom for the last two decades. :ROFLMAO:
 
I am damn glad my kids were born before computers were invented! I get the galloping shudders at the very idea of teenagers, they would have been worse with home computers!
 
VintageBetter said:
That is the other thing about technology and its evangelists. Technolgy creates a new line of poverty, just like housing and food do.

Those who can afford lots of technology can better prepare their teens for the future. Just like if your kids never have to experience being evicted or living in a car, that is going to help set your kids up for more successful futures as adults not beset by mental illnesses tied to Adverse Childhood Events.

Oh middle class kids expereince Adverse Childhood Events too, but I think all of life is harder for the poor.

We don't often think of food being a poverty deliniation line, but it really is. I remember my friends' great lunches - those little bag of chips people brought every day that my mom said were too expensive. She was trying to feed six people on $50 a week. That was the goal. Little bags of chips were a luxury item, in her opinion.

I remember a lot of bologna sandwiches and pithy, dry apples. To this day, I treasure a good apple!

The whole Foodie Culture that Pixar was even persuaded to make a KIDS' movie about, Ratatouille, Ratatouille (film) - Wikipedia, is a perfect illustration of how food is one thing for the lower classes (a need, a practicality designed to help people have energy) and quite another thing to the well-off. Food is an experience to the well-off and Foodies can be quite snobbish about it all.

I simply never thought I'd see that in my life - where such a large portion of U.S. society now sees merely eating as an "experience" worth a great deal of money. They have slipped over into the gourmand category, or they identify with gourmands.

I don't mean cooking it - cooking has always been fun to some people whether they are making cheap pancakes or an expensive prime rib roast. I mean even coffee made by others has become an "experience".

Example: I have never had a drink at Starbucks that costs over $3.50. That's my budget. That is a Food Delineation Line, IMO. I do not know what a Caramel Macchiato tastes like. (I'm guessing like milk, coffee and caramel.)
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"Those who can afford lots of technology can better prepare their teens for the future."
I agree with this statement. It doesn't mean they have to spend all their time on technology, but they do get the experience and learn the equipment to prepare them for their mature yrs.
 

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