Singing Owl says: Yesterday I had two separate conversations in which people were musing about how much change is occurring. The WW II generation, of which my mom is a part, went from horse and buggy to automobiles, saw the lessening, or even the end of many diseases, went from widespread use of kerosene lamps and outhouses (in the country, and most folks were rural)) to a totally electrified and plumbed society. The fastest means of communication was a telegraph. The second conversation–gulp–was about MY generation and how much change occurred in the last half of the 20th century. The person said his 13 year old had not seen a vinyl record album until a few days before, couldn’t remember a time without cell phones, and on and on.
As for the questions!
1. What modern convenience/invention could you absolutely, positively not live
without?
A laptop computer. I do not wish to write muliple drafts on a typewriter, and I love the freedom a laptop gives me. Yes, I do remember typewriters, and I have written papers on them. Long live laptops!
2. What modern convenience/invention do you wish had never seen the light of day?
Why?
Honestly, I can’t think of one.
3. Do you own a music-playing device older than a CD player? More than one? If
so, do you use it (them)?
No, we don’t. I gave away my cassette players before we got married because we didn’t have room. We now have a clock/radio/CD player and 2 MP3 players.
4. Do you find the rapid change in our world exciting, scary, a mix…or something
else?
A mix. I like a lot of the changes but I don’t think we developing ethics along with the technological advances we’re making. That scares me.
5. What did our forebears have that we have lost and you’d like to regain? Bonus
points if you have a suggestion of how to begin that process.
Community. You used to know all your neighbors. So I guess I need to start getting out and meeting my neighbors.
yes to community. and, like singing owl, I love the picture of the victrola!
Interesting thoughts and comments too. I just have to add that I LOVE your picture of the victrola!
Nice play. I remember feeling much more isolated when we lived in “town” than I do now living in a small community where we still say hello to strangers we pass on the street. Community’s a must, as is learning to build it.
And trying to figure out how to start building a community! It’s not an easy thing. And you wouldn’t think it would be that hard in a place as densely populated as Chicago, but it is.
Community- you are right- we have lost too much…and all the gadgets in the world will not replace relationships.
I love how straightforward your solution to #5 is!