Not sure how this post is going to turn out. I've got a few thoughts I just wanted to express and they may just turn out to be random, but I hope I can bring at least some of it together towards the end.
Firstly, I should probably say that I am British, originally from the north of England.
So, when I was younger, I always looked up to my elders and considered them mature. Now I'm around their age, I don't feel I have that same level of maturity, at least not in the same way. My body has aged, but mentally I don't feel any more mature than I was 20 years ago. I'm sure (or at least hope) I am, and maybe it's just a general inability to perceive small changes over short time periods.
Sort of linked to this is the respect that the older generation were given in my day, which seems almost non-existent nowadays.
Next a rambling of sorts about technology. During my youth, we didn't have mobile phones or the Internet. If we wanted to meet up, we prearranged it and we turned up. Now, don't get me wrong, I understand the benefits of the advancement of technology - I made a career out of it, albeit in the corporate sector with business systems. And the invention of the mobile phone was fantastic - originally. Big chunky phones that only needed to be charged once a week and had an alarm clock built in, so no need to try and program those in the hotel, and the ability to contact people faster.
Then, as technology improved, they started getting smaller, which was great as they still had the same battery life, just made them easier to carry around. And then someone decided to put a camera on them. Then, with the Internet and email, they added Internet connectivity. Battery life reduced because people still wanted the same small form factor, and the only component that could be reduced in size was the battery.
Then came social media. Whilst I've never used it personally, again I can see the benefits for families and friends to keep in touch, especially as the world has become bigger. But with the invention of the touchscreen (or maybe a bit before) came the social media apps for phones. Now the screens needed to be bigger, so phones started growing in size. But people also wanted portability, so they needed to be thin, which meant less battery life again.
Now, here's the bit that really confused me. Battery life reduced to below a working day, but rather than the manufacturers making the phones a bit thicker allowing for larger batteries, along came the battery pack. So people wanted their phones to look slim and therefore cool, but were happy to also carry around a small brick and a cable to charge their phones during the day.
I think that was just a rant. Sorry.
So, with mobile phones as they are today, the younger generation (and many of the older generation too where I am currently) spend all their time staring at their phones: walking down the street, on public transport, groups of friends and even couples at restaurants. What happened to conversation? Interaction? I sometimes wonder if couples are actually communicating with each other over their phones whilst across the table from each other.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've got to an age where I feel like I don't belong any more. I don't fit in. And I struggle to accept what society has become, and find it difficult to adjust.
I have many other issues, but at least I got that off my chest.
The next bit is off topic...
@been_there I can't post on your profile, but thanks for that link on how to be a good psychotic. My favourite bit was:
Also, I thought your avatar was a
clanger until I checked
