Reflections on a Simple Past | 08. The Challenge of Technology
Technology has changed so much, perhaps comfortingly, just as it has for every generation before. We have lost, yet gained so much, but it challenges us in a way we could never have imagined.
In this series, I look back at some of the people, places and things which have so richly influenced and inspired my love of all things simple.
Technology is a wonderful thing, after all, without it, I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this to share with you today. When I look back on my life, the thing which has probably changed more than anything else is technology. 40, 30, 20, or maybe even 10 years ago, could we ever have imagined the changes technology would bring to every aspect of our lives? Granny lived just long enough to, in her early nineties, type and send an email to her son in Australia. To her, it was utterly magic; entirely incomprehensible. Now, still five decades away from my nineties, I know how she felt. I feel complete baffled by it, much of it is beyond me, and it really is, completely magic…and I say that as someone who is fairly savvy when it comes to technology.
For better or worse, so much has changed. The technological advances of every generation have brought their own positives and negatives. How baffled the Britains must have been almost 2,000 years ago by the arrival of the Romans and their technology. We forget that in many respects, our sense of change, of technological change, is nothing new. Our ancestors who came before faced the same challenges and dilemmas, though even then, I think we could comfortably say that technological change has moved at a faster pace in the last few years than at any time previously.
Technology is both good and bad. In our quest to simplify our lives, and to somehow reconnect with those most humble of things which bring us so much pleasure and joy, it’s easy to shun technology. But, in my ever-increasing bewilderment of it, even I have to admit that it has brought much good. Indeed, in its own way, it has also brought its own joys and pleasures. Being able to write to you here, and to share these rambling reflections with you, is one of those.
But in society’s quest to simplify every aspect of our lives through technology, I frequently find myself exclaiming “it just means there’s more to go wrong”. If you’ve travelled by train in the UK, you’ll probably agree that when they go wrong, they go spectacularly wrong. I think there’s are many aspects of technology which fall to the same fate.
But, how far we’ve come.
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I’m old enough to remember when our primary forms of communication were the landline telephone (and yes, we still have one) and post (and yes, I still write letters). I was allowed to ring Granny twice a week after 6pm when it was cheaper. There was post every day, even second post on some days. Letters and cards arrived marking every conceivable occasion, each one treasured and saved. They were all carefully written, every word considered as pen was taken to paper.
Nowadays, we can communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world, instantly, generally for free, at the touch of a button. This really is magic, and what enormous benefits that brings. But in that quest for speed, for instant communication, have we lost the human touch? I can’t treasure text messages, Facebook birthday greetings, or WhatsApp messages in the same way as cards and letters. Perhaps that’s a good thing in our ceaseless decluttering? Don’t get me wrong, in many cases, the messages sent are done so with equal amounts of love and intention. Even if the physical representation of these thoughts cannot be treasured in the same way, the sentiments are nevertheless appreciated.
In a funny sort of way, despite the instant nature modern communication, we seem to have become far worse at keeping in touch. I’m sure that I hear from people, especially family, far less now than when cards and letters were our only way of sending news and greetings. Perhaps this is why I stubbornly cling on to writing letters, cards, thank you letters, and Christmas cards? I enjoy it. I value that means of communication, even though it isn’t in any way instant, and I hope the recipients do too.
In our technological revolution and society’s never-ending quest for speed, I think we have lost so much. Yet, on the other hand, we have gained so much too. I find myself in a terrible quandary when it comes to technology. I like to embrace it for all its many benefits, just such as writing here on Substack, yet I know how easy it is for it to be in control, to become reliant on it.
Like it or not, technology is here to stay. We’re not going to return to four television channels anytime soon! Somehow, we need to cultivate a new relationship with technology. One in which we can embrace it mindfully, yet still value the many non-technological things life offers us. There’s no going back, and as much as we lament what we may have lost, none of us can help but find ourselves coming along for the ride.
Perhaps we can take a little comfort in the fact that of course, none of this is new. Each generation has had to find its own pathway through the technological changes of the era. Life’s journey is full of constant exploration as we navigate bringing the best of the past, and taking it with us as we walk amidst the changes of the present.
In a month’s time, I will celebrate my 41st birthday. In case you missed it, in this rather bumper post, I reflect on those four decades, pondering those things which stand out most.
Reaching 40: Time, Place & Acceptance
As I pass a milestone birthday, I ponder the last 40 years. I'm faced with some hard questions, but overall, an acceptance that we journey forward, celebrating being here, in this place, at this time.
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This was a great read, thank you for sharing. I was having a similar conversation just last night - we were talking about how my mum would go mad if I called a mobile from the landline, or if my Dad made calls from his mobile because it was super expensive 😂 we were also talking about how we would need to buy magazines to find out the latest celeb gossip and would only know what the journalists wanted us to know (still valid in some respects).
That cake is brilliant!