"7 Things We May No Longer Do as a Result of Technological Advances"
Post on: May 11, 2021
“I wish that I could turn back the clock; bring the wheels of time to a stop; back to the days when life was so much better” — the song of Johnny Hates Jazz resonated on air.
A feeling of nostalgia swept over me. Songs are so powerfully nostalgic – they can magically take us back in time to a special moment and place.
Regardless of great strides made in the field of technology and the progression of the modern world, certain things remain — the notion of longing… Nostalgia!
Many things which we swore by and seemed indispensable, has or may become obsolete as time goes by. We bring you 7 things you would have relished or dreaded doing in the good old day.
1. Use of pager — A pager is a wireless telecommunications device that receives and displays alphanumeric messages. I remember owning one in 1991, conspicuously attached to my belt. The feeling was exhilarating when someone paged me. The beep not only sent a signal that you have a message but it also resounded with those around you that you are important. How we reminiscence of such fond memories with a chuckle! The advent of cell phones has diminished its presence considerably. However, I still have it, albeit nicely laid at the bottom of my drawer as a keepsake.
2. Memorising friends’ telephone numbers – We used to memorise all our loved ones’ telephone numbers. It seems an uphill task, but it came so naturally then. In our present age where the mobile phone has become an integral part of life, one may even have difficulty remembering his own home number!
3. Queuing up in the post office to pay bills – Some still do this but it has become a rarity. Thank goodness payment via online platform has become an option — we can now pay our bills online from the comforts of our home. I remember standing in line for more than an hour to pay the utility bill for mom. And when my turn was nearing, the system broke down!
4. Use of typewriter – In the late 80s, I was conscripted to the army where my duties entailed that I had to perform clerical duties at one stage. Soon the typewriter became part of our everyday life. We were made to sit for typing test. The periodic practice meant we could type at a breakneck speed. And there was no room for errors under the hawkish eyes of my no-nonsense chief clerk. Mistakes would mean typing it over and over again till perfection.
5. Use of public phones – Keeping lots of ten-cent coins was a must. When we were out, the public phone was the only way to keep in touch with our family. One of the bugbears was when one has to go merry-go-round looking for a public phone. And when he finds one, to his disgust, discovers that it is out of order! It was sheer agony then; however, a fond recollection when one jogs down memory lane.
6. Looking up the spelling or vocabulary of a word in the dictionary. The dictionary was part and parcel of growing up. We were made to look up the meaning of words to our consternation. It seemed such a laborious task then. Like kids with a rebellious streak, we would resist the dictionary the more the teacher forced us to use it. I guess this was part of the growing up phase.
7. Sending a handwritten letter by post – In this age of technological advances, just a click of the mouse transmits our messages instantaneously. In the 80s, I used to write letters to pen pals from faraway places. There is something about a handwritten letter that gives it a human touch, a sense of intimacy that I hold dear. I still hang on to the hope that my letter-box would be graced with the presence of a letter, sealed in an envelope. There’s nothing like the smell of the envelope, holding it in one’s hands, ripping the seam carefully so as not to destroy the contents and taking out the folded sheets of paper to read. It sounds so dreamlike; however, I wonder if such wishful thinking holds ground today.
The list may seem a misnomer in the present times. Youngsters may feel amused by such a chore one living in the yesteryear has to undergo; however, if you’re 40 years or older, it may ring a bell — you’ll probably smile with nostalgia.
The Jolly Good Times hopes you’ve enjoyed the walk down memory lane and the article has evoked some fond memories — invite your kakis (friends) to Like us on Facebook.
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