Distractions | Silence
How did we find each other pre-smartphones?
We always managed, didn't we?
We would plan our excursions at school, e.g. on Friday, to meet at a certain time, at a certain location, the next day or on Sunday.
On the agreed date & time, we would wait a certain number of minutes for everybody to show up. If someone doesn't show up, it means that she will not be able to join, or we would just ring the person up at home to be sure (using coins and public payphones).
This, I believe, instills discipline. Because everybody had to make sure they arrive on time. Inclusive of travelling time. Funnily enough, nobody actually got lost or abducted or missing. We would meet, go out on our excursion, go home, and meet everybody on Monday at school.
Same goes for school trips. Parents will simply trust that their children will be taken care of by the teachers, and show up at school on the date and time when they are scheduled to return.
No fuss. It was a liberating way to live. Compared to now, with reminders at every corner. With people asking your whereabouts to the second (if they choose). We have lost our freedom as the smartphones and technology pervades our very privacy, our family time, our solace.
We always managed, didn't we?
We would plan our excursions at school, e.g. on Friday, to meet at a certain time, at a certain location, the next day or on Sunday.
On the agreed date & time, we would wait a certain number of minutes for everybody to show up. If someone doesn't show up, it means that she will not be able to join, or we would just ring the person up at home to be sure (using coins and public payphones).
This, I believe, instills discipline. Because everybody had to make sure they arrive on time. Inclusive of travelling time. Funnily enough, nobody actually got lost or abducted or missing. We would meet, go out on our excursion, go home, and meet everybody on Monday at school.
Same goes for school trips. Parents will simply trust that their children will be taken care of by the teachers, and show up at school on the date and time when they are scheduled to return.
No fuss. It was a liberating way to live. Compared to now, with reminders at every corner. With people asking your whereabouts to the second (if they choose). We have lost our freedom as the smartphones and technology pervades our very privacy, our family time, our solace.
posted by elya at 12:23 am
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