One of the benefits of life in the slow lane, is the time to sit and ponder the world. When going slow, you can see more around you.
What happened, to us. Once a very cautious and independent society, we have become lazy, and dependent, allowing others to decide what is good for us. This didn’t occur overnight, it has taken years, but it has worked pretty well. I’m not here for fear-mongering, just sharing my observations from slightly outside. Sometimes, it’s like living a Sci-Fi dream. People being controlled by objects, instead of the other way around, to the point of endangering themselves, and others. Texting while driving, operating equipment while texting (distracted).
I’m 67 years old, I’m the odd ball. Why? Maybe because I don’t have a smart phone within reach 24/7, yes I own one, but I control it, not the other way around. I bought and paid for my computer, I want to decide what communication comes in and out of it. Paranoid? Yes, and no. If wanting to protect myself is paranoid, then they can call me paranoid. I prefer oddball.
That switch was finally thrown
There was a time, when we could all control what came in and out of our machines. Slowly companies made things “convenient for us”. If we allowed them permission, they would handle the updates for us, and even collect information about any problems found, and store/share the findings We learned what the fine print of our operating systems meant. It was always there, but who reads 30 pages of legal jumbo when you think you own it. Years and years were spent wondering when the switch would be thrown. We all thought you paid for the software, but the fine print which no one reads, always said we were really leasing the right to use it. That switch was finally thrown after many years, with Windows 10. You now get updates whether you want them or not, ads displayed on your desktop. Your OS sends information back home, unless you dig deep and ferret it out. Most is on by default. Facebook, can even track those that don’t use Facebook. Regulatory bodies seem to look the other way.
Did you know (some of you do)? That your computer happily shares your bandwidth to provide updates to others? This can slow some older machines down, and cost money if you’re on metered service. It can be turned off, but it is on by default. Nice of them to use your computer and Internet you pay for, to help provide their software to others.
Some are truly addicted.
I’m not perfect, just have my head stuck outside the bubble a little. We’ve gone from having fairly decent control over our Internet lives, to sharing our most personal information on social media. Some are truly addicted. Many of us out there are. I’ve watched 70+ adults in medical waiting rooms, sitting right under the “Do not use phones” sign, talking or playing on the phone.
Just observations, shared on a Sunday morning. From Life in the Slow Lane.
Thanks to, Pete of “beetleypete” for jogging my memory to write this, after reading his ‘Anonymous’, Blog Comments, and Suspicious Sites post.
Comments always welcome,
I’m the same age as you, Ron. And I echo everything you wrote in this post. I could have written the same thing myself.
Best wishes, Pete.
Your post from this morning, reminded me that I had been discussing this on my forum, and jerked me out of my fog. I was headed back to your’s to leave a comment.
So true. I have a smart phone but I used it once a day to preorder my Starbucks coffee. I don’t answer the calls and my friends don’t understand why I don’t respond to a text in a timely way. I never see it until it’s time for my next coffee! 🙂 Works for me. I do my blog work on a desk top and a good amount of shopping there. Since on-line shopping ramped up, it’s hard to find what you want in brick and mortar stores. I will play games on my Kindle in a doc’s waiting room but that’s in place of a tranquilizer to keep me calm. Those long waits make me nuts.
I do the same, Kate. I get back to them when I have time. I do my blog on desktop. My fingers are too big and clumsy for tiny keyboards.
I can generally find better deals online, as sad as that is.
Don’t tell anyone, I play games in the waiting room as well.
You either soothe yourself in a waiting room or get homicidal!
Hi Ron. Totally agree. I am starting to believe that our politicians are so buried in party preservation that they are intentionally nibbling away at the education budget. The more uneducated the population is, the easier it is to control them. (Didn’t the British do similar to the Chinese by making opium readily available, and therefore making them ostensibly puppets?).
I have a few years on you … and I have serious doubts about the future of the world for my grand-daughter. She will no doubt adjust, but it would appear to be heading down a very “slippery slope”.
Slippery slope indeed, Colin. Reality shows are a prime example. Some of our society, that were borderline normal, have been dumbed down by the drivel and actually believe that is the way to behave.
Scary stuff!
You are tapping into something big, Ron. We lost something with technology, including our own minds.
Hi Lara, we were supposed to save time and work with the new technology. I fear all we’ve done, is make time to cram something else in. A friend of mine told me, that he misses the morning commute to work. He had some quiet time during the drive to work. Now, as soon as they think he is headed to the office, the cell phone calls start. Thanks for the comment, Lara/Trace.
Exactly! Which is why Alexa, Cortana and their AI relatives will never be invited into my home 🙂
I don’t care for them either. There are enough intrusions in my time. I had heard, that they had started to announce some small ads. Examples of, “Be sure and check out the newest movie on Amazon.
Speaking of, who thought it was a good idea, to give Amazon delivery access to your electronic lock, so they can leave packages inside your door.
Thanks for the comment.
Letting strangers in your home to leave packages or food in your fridge when you are at work…great idea. NOT!!!
So very true, I have seen some sketchy fed ex drivers that made me nervous at my door.
Remember when a new computer kept its operating system until it died???
I sure do, Anne. Those were great times. It’s one reason I have moved to Linux for the last 4 or more years. I tired of the constant updating that broke things, and then a new OS to have to learn.
Love the comment, Anne.
My son uses Linux, too. Did you learn it by using it, or do you have some documentation to guide you? I’m lost without instructions.
Anne, I learned on my own and reading on the internet. I delayed my start for nearly 2 years, thinking it was complicated, Basically, for the average user, it is as easy to get used to, as windows.
The installation is as easy as windows now. As a matter of fact, you can run it from a thumb-drive, without even installing it on your computer! Gives you a feel for it before installing. Here is a post I did, 4 years ago, before I learned there were actually communities of bloggers. I may do another post on Linux soon. https://ronscountry.com/depotblog/new-linux-user-im-free-at-last/
Your post was interesting. I’d love it if you’d do another post on Linux. I might like to try it if I could run it from a flash drive to begin with.
I’ll do that Anne, glad you liked the old post.
I’m with you. The oddest thing is people’s expectation that you will immediately respond to a text. First I would have to find my phone, then remember that texting is a thing, then respond. I even had a friend text “are you mad at me?’ since I hadn’t responded for a couple of days.
So true, Elizabeth. I have had people look at me, as if I was committing some type of rude act. “Aren’t you going to check your text?” “Nope, if it’s important, they will call, or leave a voice mail.” I assure them, my phone will not implode, due to unanswered texts.
I check them when I want. People do too much texting these days. They just don’t talk anymore.
Thanks for the comment.
Interesting post! I figure on about a 6 or 7 on the scale of connectedness. (0 being pure Luddite, and 10 being “always on” nutcase.) BTW, on that note, maybe you’d be interested in this article on slate.com I stumbled on! Enjoy! https://slate.com/technology/2019/10/consequential-computer-code-software-history.html?utm_medium=10today.ad3li.20191019.421.1&utm_source=email&utm_content=article&utm_campaign=10-for-today—4.0-styling
That was a fantastic walk through the history of tech. Thanks so much for sharing that.
?You’re so welcome!
It is surprising how many people use their phone when sitting by a no cell phone sign. Sometimes I wonder if people can’t read anymore.
You’re so right. The way they are used, is the main problem, which could be remedied by simply changing the signs.
In the beginning of cell phones, the large brick phones put out up to 5 watts, that amount of power, could interfere with some medical equipment. Smart phones today put out a lot less, in the micro watt range of power.
Researching this morning, it seems most of the sings are to lessen people from talking on phones, to keep waiting rooms quiet and calm. That is perhaps why they don’t say much, if you are texting or appear to be playing a game.
I think it would be more polite on the establishment part, and get more compliance, if they simply re-worded the signs to prohibit phone calls, in the waiting area. Then you would have the spoiled people, that bring up their right to speak, trumps everyone’s right to silence.
Thanks for the great comment.
And whats with people who have to be on their phone when at tills or ordering food. Grrrr ?
The thing that drives me crazy, is the person walking along and talking into the phone while it is on speaker phone. I suppose they want the world to know they have a phone. You hear both ends of the conversation. Usually at a higher than normal volume.
I totally agree.