a thoughtful web.
Good ideas and conversation. No ads, no tracking.   Login or Take a Tour!
comment by Wed7pm
Wed7pm  ·  4837 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: What was daily life like before almost everyone had cell phones?
"I think the internet is changing our lives as much as any invention ever has" - I think you're probably right about that, at least for people in the West (and presumably the changes will move across the whole world eventually).

It's a pity most history is written about the past, really. A lot of our lives are spent looking forward and wondering what's coming or trying to influence it, but that probably won't be recorded, even though it's probably shaping what we do.

Re those old rotary phones: can you remember how slow they were to dial?! I can't imagine using one now. It would seem like forever to wait for that circle thing to return after each number is dialed. Just thinking about that makes me feel impatient :)





mk  ·  4836 days ago  ·  link  ·  
My childhood number was 979-9471. Those first 9799 were brutal. :)
Wed7pm  ·  4834 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Haha! That would seem SO SLOW now.
mike  ·  4836 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Mine was 375-0517. A number burned into my mind. Last week I found out it's a prime number.
CC440  ·  4834 days ago  ·  link  ·  
I still have a list of childhood friend's numbers burned into my head but I realized the other day that should I somehow be without my cell phone and its saved contacts, I would have no way to contact my girlfriend or anyone else I've met in the past 10 years.
mk  ·  4834 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Scary isn't it? I know one friend's #, and my wife's. Probably should remember your girlfriends. :)

I also know a bunch of landline numbers that don't exist anymore.

Wed7pm  ·  4834 days ago  ·  link  ·  
You've got a good memory. The only way I can remember my current phone number is to list it as a contact in the phone's address book.