How did people spend their time pre-internet?

[MacBH928]

I share your enthusiasm for the many wonders- not only the internet part of it- of life in 2023... but look forward to 2043 and 2063 knowing that 2023 wonders won't shine nearly as brightly then... because whatever is "next" will be THE "majorly changing lives in every manner" then. In 2123, people might refer to the Internet like we refer to the horse & buggy.

This is not necessarily true. Technology can stagnate. cars from 40 years ago still look pretty similar. keyboard and mouse still the input of computers. Furnitures still still made out of wood. Microwaves still look pretty similar since the 70s. The hyper advancement was from about 1850 up until today (about 170 years). I do not assume that people in 1400AD were living much differently than those who lived in 1000AD.

Reads like you were incredibly board without the internet. How did you ever fill the time?

There is something that needs to be clarified. Reading from other's input, looks like people before the internet were much more social so living without an internet wasn't so bad. Living without internet with the current social behaviours will be pretty difficult.

the home computer...

I have to say that pre-internet means pre-internet+computer. You can't use the internet without a computer, while the computer itself was revolutionary in human lives the internet affected social behaviour of people.

We still have a landline, but don’t receive nuisance calls. I also don’t receive them on my mobile. Opt out of everything and I am very selective who gets it.

In terms of technology leaps I actually think the smart phone was a bigger game changer than the internet.

a smartphone without an internet? There won't be downloadable apps, updates, or exchange of media files. No google search, maps, wikipedia, or email.

We have a landline number, just don’t have a phone plugged into it and haven’t for more than 15 years. I don’t have a need for one as we all have mobiles. One less appliance using electricity.

I don't think phone lines use electricity. I remember when we used to have electricity outage, the phone lines kept having a signal.

I was incredibly bored with my early days of Internet. Website took forever to load at 14.4K.😅

At least MUD* didn't require fast network connection. Still, lag from 14.4K got me killed on numerous occasions. I could only play reliably at the Uni's computer lab.

*Multi User Dungeons/Dimensions. Precursors to MMORPG and today's on-line multiplayer gaming.

You could interact with others on those games? I thought it was just a text game where you chose a pre-set paths

Yes it's changed so much. Back then with those sliders, and some businesses calling for CC approval, it was by far faster to use cash and possibly even a check. Today with the better POS systems, unless you know the exact amount in advance and have it ready, CC speed easily beats cash.

I thought CC was always swipe and sign since day 1.

 

[MacBH928]

Oh boy, who remembers Time and Temperature? When was the last time you even heard the phrase "Time and Temperature"? If I found that any of my watches were not on-time or if there was a power-outage that reset everything, I'd have to call in and listen to about a thirty-second weather report recording. Afterward, it would say "at the tone, the time is five forty-two....*doot*" then it would carry on with more information but I would set my watch to that time as quickly as I could to make sure I had some accurate point of reference.

Example

I have a secret to say...

I still dial in to a similar service to set the time on a clock.
Unless you have internet where you can search "whats the time in xxx" how would you know otherwise what time is it!?

 

[KaliYoni]

I've increasingly been getting an uneasy feeling here...but then I suddenly realized this thread is just administering the Voight-Kampff test to us.

 

[Nermal]

Unless you have internet where you can search "whats the time in xxx" how would you know otherwise what time is it!?

I'm going to assume that this alternate universe without Internet is still otherwise similar to our current world. A cellphone can still get the current time from the tower, without needing an Internet connection.

If you meant "how do you tell what the time is in another country?" then it just requires a lookup table. My non-Internet-connected watch has dozens of time zones programmed in and I can ask it for the time in virtually every location that matters.

 

[Apple fanboy]

This is not necessarily true. Technology can stagnate. cars from 40 years ago still look pretty similar. keyboard and mouse still the input of computers. Furnitures still still made out of wood. Microwaves still look pretty similar since the 70s. The hyper advancement was from about 1850 up until today (about 170 years). I do not assume that people in 1400AD were living much differently than those who lived in 1000AD.



There is something that needs to be clarified. Reading from other's input, looks like people before the internet were much more social so living without an internet wasn't so bad. Living without internet with the current social behaviours will be pretty difficult.



I have to say that pre-internet means pre-internet+computer. You can't use the internet without a computer, while the computer itself was revolutionary in human lives the internet affected social behaviour of people.



a smartphone without an internet? There won't be downloadable apps, updates, or exchange of media files. No google search, maps, wikipedia, or email.



I don't think phone lines use electricity. I remember when we used to have electricity outage, the phone lines kept having a signal.



You could interact with others on those games? I thought it was just a text game where you chose a pre-set paths



I thought CC was always swipe and sign since day 1.

No you completely misunderstood. I’m saying the smartphone WITH internet.
When the internet was first available it didn’t change my day to day life. I didn’t have a home computer until around 1999. I didn’t have a job that used a computer everyday until 2002.

But having the internet in your pocket 24/7 was more of a game changer for me than a computer with the internet at home.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I don't think phone lines use electricity. I remember when we used to have electricity outage, the phone lines kept having a signal.

Our cordless phones used to be plugged into the mains for recharging and to power the dock/answering machine. An old fashioned telephone used to just plug into the phone socket with no power.

 

[Nermal]

I don't think phone lines use electricity. I remember when we used to have electricity outage, the phone lines kept having a signal.

Landline phones do require/use electricity, but it's provided by the phone company and comes down the line.

 

[Surfsalot]

Holidays were better too, used to got to Bail every year surfing for a few weeks, no phones, tv’s, everything you ate was local food, if you saw the news it was a 4 day old paper, was like going to another planet, and no one could contact you unless they knew where you were staying and left a message.
Now it’s just like going to the Gold Coast.
Ah the good old days.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Holidays were better too, used to got to Bail every year surfing for a few weeks, no phones, tv’s, everything you ate was local food, if you saw the news it was a 4 day old paper, was like going to another planet, and no one could contact you unless they knew where you were staying and left a message.
Now it’s just like going to the Gold Coast.
Ah the good old days.

It still can be. Leave your phone switched off or at home.
As I’ve said before I don’t get contacted on mine as I’m very careful who I give it to. So it’s up to us how much contact we have with the outside world, not the device controlling us.

 

[Clix Pix]

Exactly! As a safety measure of sorts I always have my iPhone with me when I am running errands but when I am in the store or the bank or doing something with friends, I keep the phone in my pocket or purse. If the familiar "ding" of an email coming in comes in, I ignore it while with others. When alone, I might take a look when it's convenient to do so. If the tone I use for incoming text messages rings, I do check that only briefly just to make sure it is not an urgent message from a relative or friend. In neither case do I respond unless it is something urgent. I don't let incoming texts/messages/emails interrupt me when I am busy with something and/or other people, and I don't let the device control me. It's there for my convenience, not others'.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Exactly! As a safety measure of sorts I always have my iPhone with me when I am running errands but when I am in the store or the bank or doing something with friends, I keep the phone in my pocket or purse. If the familiar "ding" of an email coming in comes in, I ignore it while with others. When alone, I might take a look when it's convenient to do so. If the tone I use for incoming text messages rings, I do check that only briefly just to make sure it is not an urgent message from a relative or friend. In neither case do I respond unless it is something urgent. I don't let incoming texts/messages/emails interrupt me when I am busy with something and/or other people, and I don't let the device control me. It's there for my convenience, not others'.

The AW is very good for that. A quick glance to see if it’s Mrs AFB (it’s always Mrs AFB!). Otherwise I just ignore it.

 

[Clix Pix]

Half the time I forget to wear my Apple Watch and it is at home while I'm out running around.... LOL! You're right, though, that yes, that is one of the nice conveniences of the Apple Watch.

 

[MrCheeto]

This is something else I’ve noticed that almost doesn’t exist in America since the internet became so mainstream that even our grandparents are on it.

People aren’t tuned-in.

Talk to a person, make eye contact, it just isn’t the same as it was back then. They’re not engaged. They’re impatient, have no memory or attention span, it’s obvious that their head is in a fog. As far as I can tell, whenever I’m speaking to somebody I’m just taking their attention from whatever app they are addicted to.

My personal experience is that people used to talk more slowly, purposefully, and matter-of-factly.

It’s hard to believe that we used to make a whole day of just talking. Having what was called “company” was the highlight of the week.

The friends I keep now all share in my philosophy: don’t blab all week about every little thing. Wait until we see each other to share.

I miss something that people would do called “dropping in”. They were in the area and decided to knock on your door. If you weren’t busy or didn’t have plans, you had the nice surprise of whatever they’ve brought or whatever news they have.

 

[eyoungren]

Exactly! As a safety measure of sorts I always have my iPhone with me when I am running errands but when I am in the store or the bank or doing something with friends, I keep the phone in my pocket or purse. If the familiar "ding" of an email coming in comes in, I ignore it while with others. When alone, I might take a look when it's convenient to do so. If the tone I use for incoming text messages rings, I do check that only briefly just to make sure it is not an urgent message from a relative or friend. In neither case do I respond unless it is something urgent. I don't let incoming texts/messages/emails interrupt me when I am busy with something and/or other people, and I don't let the device control me. It's there for my convenience, not others'.

So, my mother being a few years older than you and my dad being six years older than my mother, I was raised with the idea of being present in the conversation.

I have a lot of tech in my life, but my wife (who is similar in age to me) and I also raised our kids that in company (or around a table) the devices aren't the focus. Someone may pull out a phone to check a reference, or an email or text, etc. That I suppose is the difference between my generation and my parents. But, my kids who both qualify as the generation younger than Gen-Z (born 2003 and 2008) are not buried in their devices when in polite company. What they do around friends, IDK but that's their thing.

Once, when my son was around 12 or so we were all out to eat and I noticed he was feeling nauseous. Both my mom and dad were there and we were all talking. I opened up a game on my phone and handed it to him. The only time I've ever done that. My mom of course, instantly noticed. I explained to her what was going on.

The game distracted him for a short time from the nausea he was feeling and he recovered. I got my phone back and he re-engaged in the conversation. That minor thing was a much better result than what I knew would happen, was him either throwing up at the table or having to rush to the bathroom. My dad didn't even notice.

Before kids, both my wife and I would go out to eat and shortly after ordering, books or the newspaper would come out. We'd engage in conversation if we thought something was good enough to share. That's just how my wife and I work - we're both loners by nature, but we enjoy each other's company. But we aren't ignoring each other and that only happens between us. So, while we may not honor the 'letter' of what was both taught to us (and what you and your friends/family do) we honor the 'spirit' of it.

And our kids are better off for it I think. Everyone knows they can check their phone if they need/want, but the device is not the focus and we all have fun talking.

 

[eyoungren]

I miss something that people would do called “dropping in”. They were in the area and decided to knock on your door. If you weren’t busy or didn’t have plans, you had the nice surprise of whatever they’ve brought or whatever news they have.

As a teen this was cool. As an adult, I don't particularly care for it. Someone showing up unexpectedly can throw the entire day off. At minimum, a phone call is appreciated.

My dad used to think he could just drop in whenever he wanted. He even demanded a door-key.

No.

(Which is what my wife and I told him).

 

[Surfsalot]

It still can be. Leave your phone switched off or at home.
As I’ve said before I don’t get contacted on mine as I’m very careful who I give it to. So it’s up to us how much contact we have with the outside world, not the device controlling us.

It's not just your phone, anyway no one is going to leave the country without their phone these days.
I am going into a prison today for 8 ours no phones in there, cant even wear a watch.

 

[Apple fanboy]

It's not just your phone, anyway no one is going to leave the country without their phone these days.
I am going into a prison today for 8 ours no phones in there, cant even wear a watch.

Must have been a very minor crime to only get sentenced to 8 hours!

 

[Surfsalot]

Must have been a very minor crime to only get sentenced to 8 hours!

lol playing drums in a band, hopefully get out unscathed

 

[KaliYoni]

lol playing drums in a band, hopefully get out unscathed

Is there a guy named Johnny in your band (I hope you stay well clear of Reno!)?
;-)

 

[mortlocli]

Pre- Internet, folks spent a lot of time getting their fountain pens to work.
..Tis a wonder I don't still have ink stained fingers.

 

[splifingate]

As much as I hate rural, there were some summer nights I recall quite fondly. Some time around 1am or 2am the train would go rumbling through to the southeast of our home, about 3 miles away. The sound of the train horns would carry and if you listened you could hear it. At the time I had my bed close to the window (we did not have A/C, so the window was open at night). That also meant seeing the moon at the same time I was hearing the trains.

For me, it was the perfect soundscape combined with visuals. Always lulled me off to sleep.

I am entirely urban, these days, and--even-though I have AC, now (I did not, then)--windows-open is the default.

In rural Kansas/Missouri, it was so quiet at night, I swear I could imagine the sound of satellites scraping the stratosphere.

When I lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, I could track a late-night car entirely across town.

Today, my lullaby's are the sounds of bard owls, gunfire and last-run subway trains.

I truly miss the eck-ohh of Summer katydids . . . .

 

[eyoungren]

I am entirely urban, these days, and--even-though I have AC, now (I did not, then)--windows-open is the default.

In rural Kansas/Missouri, it was so quiet at night, I swear I could imagine the sound of satellites scraping the stratosphere.

When I lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, I could track a late-night car entirely across town.

Today, my lullaby's are the sounds of bard owls, gunfire and last-run subway trains.

I truly miss the eck-ohh of Summer katydids . . . .

My wife and I moved to Phoenix in 2000. Both our kids were born here in Arizona. So, been entirely urban for the last 23 years. That's about all I miss about rural.

 

[Nermal]

I tend to keep windows open as well. It's usually pretty quiet where I am; officially I'm urban but I'm in an area with a lot of trees and comparatively few houses.

Part of my street, courtesy of Apple Maps:

 

[millerj123]

You fail to prove your point. Your provided the links to help me understand how a BBS is different from the internet, and I already explained I already know this.

If I provided you a link explaining what a computer keyboard is would you feel the need to read it? Or maybe you already know what a computer keyboard is.

Haha! I give you a full "A" for "Effort", or maybe "Q" for "Knowledge"

Since I have never asked for help understanding a keyboard, I'm not sure what good that would do. I use Dvorak much better than Qwerty, but got pretty good at Fitaly back in the Palm Pilot days.

So, since we can't go back and re-examine life on the internet (which you are an aficionado of), here's where we started:

I consider BBS the internet. Instead of connecting to a "server" you just connected to a guy's computer. The BBS was basically a website. Did it have live chat? Did it charge by time on phone or data transferred?

My response:

BBSs existed in the early 80s. The WWW wasn't even a thing until 1989. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_World_Wide_Web

Also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletin_board_system

Please, before you make "PROCLAMATIONS", try to understand.

You gave me this, which seems odd. Almost like you can't understand the discussion you started. But, you also give new definitions to everything which also is true to form and odd.

The internet was made around the 1960's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet

there is a difference between the internet and WWW which I believe still exists today in things like IRC chat , FTP, and E-mail.
Yes , BBS was not the "internet" and so was "usenet" , but they acted the same. You connected to another computer to gain information, just like i am connected from my computer to macrumors.com server to exchange information.

Although I am not sure how people connected to usenet back then, I will guess they dialed in like BBS. I am also not sure when exactly the internet was made public and you can connect to it as a service from home.


I guess there were very few people dialing in then, because I imagined each board had like 100s of members


My understanding is that a phone line was expensive back then and people usually had 1 phone line. I do not assume it was normal to call your phone company and ask them for 10 phone lines just for your house.

So, you don't understand, but claim to and add a bunch of new questions.

I was a bit miffed because the links I gave you answered some of these, so it seems you didn't bother reading, so I continued with this:

Honest question: did you read either of the links I posted, particularly the one about BBS’s?

The honest answer is no. I have been on the internet daily for hours for over 2 decades and am a computer aficionado if you may. I know what the internet is and what BBS is. I saw the full documentary. I just never had a hands on with one although I did successful log in to couples a few years back via telnet on my macos terminal.

Wait, WHAT!!!! You saw the "full documentary"? Bully for you!!!!

I never understood what CompueServe/AOL/Prodigy was. I thought its ISP software that had some chatrooms and websites dedicated to it but this doesn't make sense pre-1993 since there was no websites before that.

Hm, maybe someone gave you a way to discover this?

Was it like a BBS software that everyone connected to to get information?

Was there a live chat on them?

I didn't know they had online ones like with pages, I thought they just turned into websites.

I am still not clear on AOL. I get that it was more like BBS back then but after the internet was public , if you had AOL in 95-97 , did you get anything more than the regular internet user? I remember they had this thing called a "key word" where you type a word about something (ex. Microsoft) and it takes you somewhere. I am not sure where it takes, I never had AOL. I am guessing their website, or is it some sort of AOL exclusive site?

For someone who "saw the documentary" you seem to not know very much.

I have tried to help you, both now and in the past, but it really seems you "already know it all"

 

[millerj123]

I said BBS acted like a webpage. You go there, there is news, info, files, and posts and replied by other users. You could upload and download files.

you can see clearly how it has sections like board posts, chat, files, and others just like today. You just navigated with a keyboard not a mouse

Technically, no, you didn't. Do you need to see the exact quote again?