10 Things People In Illinois Did Before The Internet Took Over Our Lives
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Laura
Author
Many kids today don’t even remember what life was like before the internet. Yes, there was a world, and people managed just fine. Now, we can debate all day about whether that world was better or worse. We could argue either side. But we can agree that it was very different in some ways. Here are ten things people in Illinois did before the internet took over.
Back in the day, we got news from an actual newspaper, which we took turns reading. Now, you just look to see if something is trending on Twitter. Newspapers have suffered, and many have shut down or faced huge cuts.
Yep, there was this magical thing called a phone book where you could look up a service you needed, and all of the local businesses, along with contact information, would be listed. It was incredible. Now, of course, we look on Yelp or Craigslist if we need services or want to go out to eat.
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Do you remember having disagreements with people about things like the name of that one movie, or the year that song came out? Before the internet, you'd have to go to the library and look up the answer. Now, you can search on Google and find the answer in 5 seconds.
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Disagreements will always be a part of life. And confrontations, too. But we used to have the courage to tell it to someone's face rather than hiding behind a computer screen and saying negative things. It is sad that some people spend their whole day trolling the internet.
Going to Blockbuster was an experience. Now, the act of finding a movie to watch is as boring as doing a search on Netflix. There is no magic. But, the bonus is that you don't even have to get in your car and there is more to choose from.
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One of the biggest criticisms that people have of this newest generation is that they are so impatient. If a website doesn't load in less than 2 seconds, they lose it. Before this on-demand culture, we waited and we were fine with it.
Yeah, having a bunch of Facebook friends doesn't count for anything. We had real friends that we saw in real life. We "shared" stories over dinner at one another's homes.
The curse of the internet is that it is so much easier to stay connected even when we are apart. Unfortunately, that applies to your boss, who can email you at 9 at night and ask you to work on a project you cannot refuse. That stinks.
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This is not to say that people don't do things other than go on the internet, but it seemed like there was more time to do activities like chop firewood or tend to a garden.
Yes, there is a big beautiful world outside of your phone, with trees, a beautiful sky, and gorgeous sunsets. Put your phone down, and maybe even leave it at home, and go out and appreciate it!
Hey, I’m not saying to not go on the internet ever. How would you follow Only in Your State? That would be tragic. But I am saying there’s nothing wrong with sometimes detaching from our screens and stopping to smell the roses.
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