Which is better: Life in the digital era or life before the digital era?

Born in 57 here. Personally think the world would be a better place without 99% of all social media.

 

I don't use the digital modes (hardly ever) but I think they're very welcome, as they provide "contacts" under conditions when older modes really won't work; as such, they've been helpful to people with antenna restrictions and such.

The only reason I don't use them (I'm set up for them and can use them any time I wish to) is they're boring. They provide "contacts," but not much in the way of real conversation, which is what I'm in for.

Even on RTTY (like 40 years ago, when I used it pretty often), which is "keyboard to keyboard," we had hour-long rag chews, so it was similar to working CW except it used keyboards.

 

Mostly on the wireless cables, huh?

 

when RTTY was mechanical, it was epic. when it went digital it diminished

internet > ebay or amazon > paypal is way better than tiny advertisement in obscure magazine > payphone > Mastercard > stuff you can't live without.

 

Just a minute, let me ask Alexa....

 

Was life better before or after modern medicine?

Today we save and extend millions of lives through medicine, but we have terrible problems with prescription drug addiction and abuse.

In the past, there was no opioid epidemic, yet many more people died at a young age from illnesses that would have been easily treated today with modern medicine.

Like medicine, technology is what we make of it as individuals. A smartphone can be a gateway to the cumulative knowledge of mankind. It can also be nothing more than a personal pocket porn theater. The choice is yours.

 

First I think we need to consider what is meant here by "digital era". If we are considering the digital era in the context of Amateur radio than I would think it is better now. We have great digital modes that allow us to communicate at great distances in miserable conditions. We have radios with fantastic noise reduction, agile frequency capabilities and the list goes on. If we are to consider the "digital era" in the context of life in general than I would have to say that we are not really better off in the digital era. Although certain pieces of the era are very useful such as smartphones, tablets, texting, email,internet, etc I believe that these things bring more trouble. Most of these devices/services have one common denominator and that would be the internet. How do you suppose your smartphone call that originates in say, Ohio, winds up getting to that relative in Texas? Same with your email, texts, pictures or whatever you send. Take satellite as another example. Some would think that using satellite would be more dependable/secure? How do you think that the information that is sent via satellite gets from the originator of the information to the LES, and then in turn sent up to the satellite (this last link is R.F.)? If there were to be a major internet failure what would happen to our infrastructure, comms., banking, etc. My guess is that our great digital era would be in serious trouble. All of this does not even take into consideration the cultural, societal and health issues we are faced with today. If you know someone in the military, ask them how many of our young people today could qualify physically for military duty. An officer friend of mine told me the figure once, pretty shocking and sad. Too many kids sitting in front of those digital wonders and getting unhealthy. How many folks do you see day in and day out walking down the sidewalk staring blankly into their smartphone as life passes them by? Or someone with bad intent approaches them or a car is headed towards them. Sorry, I don't want to be negative here but that is just what I see. And remember, when all else fails, Ham Radio! 73 to all.

 

Born in 67. After, for sure. The transistor and the IC made cheap computing possible, and Internet really gave the Information Age a major boost. In 1970, a phone call across the continent was an expensive thing you did "person-to-person" from your home or office. Now, I can have a video call in the palm of my hand with multiple people from almost anywhere, and I don't have to pay AT&T $38.75/min. Even futuristic shows like Star Trek really missed what would be possible when it came to computing. I am still waiting for my shuttlecraft and transporter, however.

 

What will we do with the growing number of unemployed people? I'll let all you folks who think technology is nothing but good work this out. I myself see an uncomfortable realization for the future of many of us.

 

Born early 50s. There was just so much a higher quality of life back then. Cars had carburetors and points. Non of this Computer controlled fuel injection and timing. Radios were REAL RADIOS, not glorified cellphones. Gas was 10 cents a gallon so it was OK to have gas guzzler! Beer was still beer back then! And never in our wildest dreams could we imagine going into a store and buying DOPE LEGALLY!!

But there were a few downsides. You would work a DX station and it might take YEARS to get the card back. I remember my FRANZ JOZEFLAND card that took TEN YEARS to come in!! And you could work the station and it might take 6 months before you got a reply saying NOT IN THE LOG! OH yes it took a good 6 months for your license to come in too!

Simpler was better and so much cheaper!

Now I can't stray 3 feet from my Smartphone, which does all the work my main computer can do. but f the battery dies, I AM TOAST!!! So I make sure I have charger close at hand at all times. I still want to know why my 3 year old Granson needs his own smartphone!! (Because if he doesn't he will cry!)
and thats another thing!! We weren't so worried about hurting someones feelings back then!
GET OFF OF MY ^*^&*^^&%&%& LAWN!!!!!!!!!!!