Top Ten Technology Indicators Proving I'm an Old Geezer
Aug 13 '08
The Bottom Line I don't like most new technology because I still like the new technology from "back in my day."
I'm 34 years old -- okay, I said it. Sure, considering the entire population of the United States, I'm probably still on the younger side of the age average, but there are many indicators in my life that clearly tell me that I'm getting older and stodgier. Sadly, like most people getting older, I'm becoming grumpy and "stuck in my ways," especially in the arena of technology.
If I may, I would like to share with you the top ten indicators proving that I am not only becoming an old, stuck-in-my-way geezer, but have already become one. Can you relate?
10) I refuse to get a cell phone pay plan.
As a child of the 80s and 90s, I still remember a world where cell phones were only for those who wanted to carry those military walkie-talkie-sized phones or could afford car phones. I remember a world when I could walk around and have to field a call or worry about a call until I got home and played messages on my answering machine.
In my opinion, that world was a better world. Of course, there were pagers that could conspire to ruin a quiet night out on the town, but one could easily ignore those. Now, though, it seems like most people walk around with a Bluetooth earpiece or their cell phones fully attached to their ears. What alarms me is that people's daily schedules have become so packed and each event become so urgent that their constant attention is required.
As for me, I have a cell phone, but it's a pay-by-the-minute phone with no contract. It's a technologically-backward phone that reminds one of those nascent days of widespread cell phone use.
9) I don't buy into texting.
Okay, I can see why cell phones are popular, but texting? Why not just call the person? When I was in Japan, texting made sense: it was less expensive that talking on the phone. However, it seems like texting is quite expensive and can take more time than just calling someone and speaking for one minute.
Besides, why would anyone want to be out somewhere thumbing a QWERTY keyboard just to send some inane message or pithy one-sentence sentiment?
8) I don't have GPS.
Global Positioning Systems, or GPS, are useful in certain situations, like when you are in the middle of nowhere. But, by and large, most people spend five days per week commuting and the remaining two days either at home or running errands locally. Oh, sure, once in a while, you may go to the beach or the mountains, but can't you find those places with a map or a Mapquest printout? What ever happened to stopping somewhere and asking?
GPSes are one of the most overrated items one can buy not because the technology is useless, but because it is rarely needed to be used.
7) At the moment, I prefer one monitor.
At my new job, I have two monitors. Initially, I thought it was really nice. But, now, I'm beginning to see how unnecessary it is, not to mention disorienting. I also have to do more neck turning because I set my second monitor off-center. Yes, yes, I tried putting the two monitors together, but that inevitable seam down the middle of the monitors was just too distracting.
Instead of two monitors, give me a 25" widescreen monitor and I'd be more than happy.
6) I think video games are too realistic.
I miss the days of Atari and Colecovision. I especially miss the halcyon days of Genesis and Super Nintendo. Now, with PlayStation 3, the XBox, and extremely sharp PC gaming, games are less about pixels and more about shading and frames per second. You can now see sweat dripping, monster scales, grime on walls, and other details with such clarity that those games are almost hyper-realistic.
Give me the days when 16-bit graphics made for a great night at home with friends. My memories of playing Madden 93 with my best friend in high school are much rosier than anything I can play now. Why? There was a certain simplicity with Genesis and Nintendo games that forced us to use our imaginations. We also had to do everything with three or four buttons -- this simplified game play and made it easier for someone to pick up a controller and play competitively. Instead, currently, you have to learn 10 to 12 buttons and two analog sticks to even play a game with any degree of competence.
Thus, games from the 80s and 90s allowed for new players to compete, offered a level of simplicity that encouraged imagination, and, most importantly, created a wide enough gap between fantasy and reality to keep us grounded in the world.
5) Laptops are great, but do we really need PDAs?
I love laptops. I have one, and it has a widescreen, which is great. But, with more portable laptops, why would anyone want to fiddle with Blackberries or Treos? In light of Indicators 10 and 9 stated above, my rationale for this sentiment is easily understood.
Plus, what ever happened to keeping notes on a (gasp) notepad with a pencil or pen? Okay, before you think anything about going green, let me pose this: you have to either burn fossil fuels or use nuclear power to generate the electricity to charge that PDA or laptop, whereas most notepads and pencils are made with recycled paper and wood. That's the myth of going green because you are actually being as ungreen reading documents on computer as you are getting those documents on paper. Of course, it takes energy to print the documents, but it also takes energy to digitize them...
Anyway, PDAs: we don't need them.
4) Satellite radio -- I get enough from terrestrial radio, thank you.
I listen to sports radio in the morning, and then Christian sermons in the afternoon. Both are readily available on free radio. So, I don't get satellite radio. I'm going to pay more for music and talk radio that I can get from other people on terrestrial radio? Uh, no. Also, if you don't like terrestrial radio, you could always make a CD or play music from your MP3 player.
3) Isn't having more channels of useless programming a waste?
In American society, we have progressed from 7 network channels, a few PBS channels, and some other local stations to over 200 channels of programming. What's funny is that most of those channels either conspire to consume countless hours of our time watching useless programming or demonstrate that even with more channels you could have absolutely nothing interesting on TV!
My wife and I have reception cable, which is basically getting local and PBS channels with cable reception. We do not get any of those fancy channels. Of course, those channels are really nice, but with work, my son's kindergarten homework, my own homework from grad school, and my wife's side work as a photographer, do we really have time to watch useless programming? If anything, I find more interesting programming on PBS, which features pleasant children's, science, nature, and political programming for FREE.
2) The existence of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD irritates me.
First, I invested a lot of money on VHS tapes, but then DVDs came along. To their credit, DVDs made a lot of sense and I bought into them. I mean, who doesn't want a clearer picture with better sound and the ability to go to any part of a movie in mere seconds? DVDs beat fast-forwarding and rewinding a VHS tape.
However, now, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD media conspire to present even sharper images, in-movie menus, and better sounds. Better than what, though? Seriously, aren't DVDs enough? Why do I want crystal clarity when, in real life, I struggle to get visual clarity WITH GLASSES?!
1) I like buying CDs, not digital files.
I understand that CDs take up space and require us to either go somewhere and buy them or order them online and wait for them, whereas digital media files can be downloaded instantly. But, what happens when your hard drive crashes and all your digital files are lost? You would have to download them again.
In my opinion, possessing the source files in a hard format is reassuring. Plus, by buying digital files, one misses out on the cover art and insert booklet of a CD. Instead of needing a computer or special digital reader, I can also browse album information in tangible form.
***
There are other technological indicators in my life that fully demonstrate that I'm an old geezer, like my love/hate relationship with HDTV, but I'm sure that 10 is enough. However, there are a few technological innovations about which I am really enthusiastic:
1) MP3 players
I used to love listening to CDs, but now I love the customizability and carrying capacity of tiny MP3 players. I can also do yardwork with one without worrying about walking or kneeling disrupting a song, and I don't have to change CDs!
2) Wireless networking
To be able to use the internet ANYWHERE in my house is excellent!
3) Digital photography
Who doesn't love not having to develop tons of film? My wife can attest to this because she often spends hours in lab developing film, though she loves the clarity and grain of film. I'm not knocking film, but digital photography allows neophytes like me to learn and enjoy photography without having to worry about solutions, paper, and the time to develop. Then again, working on Photoshop takes time, too...
4) Computer graphics in film and on TV
Have you watched any sporting events recently? Isn't it wonderful how information is projected onscreen? Doesn't it enhance enjoyment of, say, swimming when you know in which lane each swimmer is swimming with overlayed graphics? I think so.
***
Are you becoming an old geezer? Do the advances of technology leave you sour? Honestly, technological advances have always occurred long before we have been able to adapt, but now it is worse. Technology in all arenas of life is progressing so rapidly that our cultures cannot keep up. To me, technology and the introduction of new gadgets have become what defines any culture. I could write more about this, but I won't.
Suffice it to say, I know, deep down, that I am becoming one of those old guys who often pines for the past and prefaces each sentence with "back in my day..." I suppose this is as natural as younger people fully embracing technology, which makes me think this: I'm still just getting used to the technology that emerged when I was younger. This is why I think most people are stuck in their pasts. Most of us never really got the chance to truly absorb and enjoy the technology from our halcyon days. So, I'm an old geezer, then.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
kedsand1
|
|
Location: Circle City, USA
Reviews written: 123
Trusted by: 34 members
About Me:
Even if you're homeless, you can still write Epinions at the local library.
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.