I can't remember what life was like before computers

[Lancer]

I think I, no, that wasn't it. Of course I was single so I chased the girls. I worked. I remember when I was young having 3 jobs. Hmm. It seems like forever since I had no comp. I read alot! Was life better then or worse or just different?

[Lorizael]

There have always been computers in my life. I hope I live to see the technological singularity that destroys us all.

[Lancer]

Truly? There was never a time before computers for you? Of course, this will happen more and more as generations are born and old ones die off. What a strange world it has become. People will discover life while in front of a computer. To me, something seems missing, but who knows, maybe not. When I was a kid we used to 'play' 'outside'.

[Whoha]

There was this thing called outside... wasn't there?

[Lancer]

It's a myth, don't buy into it.

[Lorizael]

I played soccer as a kid, but as far as I can remember, there was always at least one computer in my parents' house.

From our Tandy 1000 with no hard disk to our Mac LC II to our first 486, we've always had something.

I wrote a time travel story on the Tandy 1000 when I was very young (five-ish? judging from when wikipedia says that line of computers was aroud). There was a logical hole in the story that my dad pointed out. I cried and cried because I was so upset. This probably has a lot to do with who I am today.

[Patroklos]

Only my very early life was computerless. Sometimes I try to imagine how life worked before cell phones. It is very hard to do.

[Lancer]

You people are like lepers who are missing some choice bits.

[Zkribbler]

The change that has stuck me most in the access to information. I remember when going on a trip, pouring over maps. Now, Mapquest or some such hands you the info. If something pops up in conversation, rather than arguing about it, you turn to Google and get a reasaonably reliable answer in seconds.

And supermarket checkouts. Years ago, I worked in a supermarket, finding the prices that were stuck onto the product and entering that amount into a cash register. Now, a quick scan and you're done.

I may not play outside as much as I did when I was a kid ("Bang, bang, bang, you're dead!" "I am not!"), but I have conquered the world innumerable times with Civilization and right now, the economic, religious and political empire of my family in Merchant Prince II is doing very well. I control the Doge and 8 senators. While it looks as if my family won't win the Papal election, the new Pope probably won't have a long reign...because I intend to assassinate him.

[Lancer]

Yeah, true. I used to explain to people on the casino shuttle that they were being driven about by the ruler of many worlds. Never failed to impress.

[Cartimandua]

Computers were around when I was born, but I remember a time when computers weren't so effective. As a child I had to do research by looking up the subject in our 30 volume set of the Encylopedia Britannica. I remember learning how email worked and practiced by sending worthless messages back and forth between my friends in junior high and having to empty our inboxes a lot because there was so little memory. I know there was a time before cell phones because I didn't get one until my second year of college, but I could never go back to those days. Today I can't imagine going a day without my cell phone or not checking my email.

[Japher]

Don't worry Lancer, you're old. Soon, you won't remember this post.

[Chemical Ollie]

I have used my own computers almost every day for the last 18 years. It started with a C64. My favority computer was a Mac powerbook 100 that I used from 1991-1996, which was my first Civ platform. I played Civ on that laptop anytime, anywhere: at work lunchbreaks, in cars, in airports, while visiting friends, in bed, while eating at my kitchen table and while taking a dump.

[Kuciwalker]

Re: I can't remember what life was like before computers

Neither can I.

[PLATO]

Oh...life before Computers? Indeed. It is not personal life that has been impacted as much as my business life!

When I got my first job in the lending business we had no computer (we had an older lady named Martha who was our "bookkeeper"), no fax machine, and rotary dial telephones. Dealers we financed for would call in applications and we would have to write down all the information to complete an application as they dictated it. Then our "credit processor" would call the credit bureau and they would dictate a report.

Now, my brokers submit their loans on line and I have to get nline to see what they sent in and to see the results from my underwriters...all of which just takes a few hours.

The revolution that computers and elerctronic communication created in business is beyond amazing. I simplky could not function today without my cell phone, blackberry, and pocket PC. Not to mention my IO pen that downloads all my notes I have written that day and converts them to text. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined all that just 20 some odd years ago.