When it comes to technology, I straddle two worlds
Living in a new, at times old, world
By Jim LaJoie
I am in my mid-sixties and have tried to keep up with the technological changes that have occurred in my life. I surf the net, stream a show, have a cellphone, and use social media (as this blog post attests). At times, I still need to rely on those younger and more technologically savvy, but I am not a tech dinosaur. I am an old-world guy trying to live in a new world.
However, there are still many ways I am admittedly old-world. The idea for this post came from a germ of an idea scribbled in a small notebook I carry to jot down thoughts, to-dos, reminders, etc. I could use a phone app but I find writing things down on paper helps me better remember and, for some reason, seems more satisfying. In the office, though, I rely heavily on Outlook, Teams and Google Docs. Old world at home, new world on the job.
I am new-world in that I never write a check or carry cash. But I am not new-world enough to use payment apps such as Venmo or Apple Wallet. I straddle both worlds when I pull out my credit cards to use in person or online.
My wife and I are faithful followers of many shows on streaming services, placing us in the new world. But we are also unabashed fans of several major network shows, an admittedly old-world habit. We aren’t fully committed to ABC/CBS/NBC but have not completely cut the cord to depend solely on the Netflix’s of the world for our TV content.
For most of my life I was a devoted reader of daily newspapers. I also majored in print journalism. Those are both solidly old-world characteristics. But these days I am fully committed to getting my news via the internet. Online platforms deliver the news faster and allow me to dive as deeply into a story as I want, with easy access to multiple perspectives.
I would have a difficult time going back to newspapers exclusively. I do miss, though, the ability of newspapers to filter out the nonsense that is often sprayed online. Blatant misinformation is more of a new-world issue than an old one. Editors in the past proved to be more than capable gatekeepers. Of course, this blog could not have existed in the past, so there’s a point in favor of new-world communication.
I have moved to music-streaming services, which places me in the new world. But I retain an old-world bias for albums and old record shops, which I dearly miss. There was something uniquely satisfying about finding some album you had been scouring the store bins for or discovering a new band. Flipping through stacks of albums was good for the soul. I realize you can still purchase albums, and there are still record shops, but it no longer feels the same. The immediacy of music-streaming services has blunted the enjoyment. I do not miss cassette players or Walkmans.
I am completely and enthusiastically new-world when it comes to my writing. Typing something on a laptop using a word processing program beats the hell out of banging out a story or memo on a typewriter. If you ever used a typewriter, I don’t need to explain. I am enthusiastically, wholeheartedly new-world here. Trees worldwide must appreciate this.
I like the portability of a cell phone and Zoom is a nice way to stay connected in real time with those you are not geographically close to. But when landlines were the only option, you were always unplugged and controlled when you could be contacted. I straddle both worlds here.
My wife and I have a television, but I like being able to watch something on my iPad, especially a long baseball game. The portability of the iPad allows me to do other things without losing touch with what’s going on. I am new-world in this way. Being able to record a TV show with just the touch of a remote is definitely an improvement upon VCRs.
I mentioned my preference for getting news from the internet versus newspapers. Here’s a contradiction: I greatly prefer actual books, either hardcover or paperback, to downloading them to a device. I want to physically hold a book I am reading, a bookmark placed where I left off when done. That is pure old world.
I also prefer an actual menu to using a QR code when at restaurants. I am old world in that regard. I want the waitstaff to bring me a menu and allow me to pore over the offerings.
Without a doubt I would rather hang out with friends than just catch up on Facebook. The latter may be easier, but the former is built into who we are as a social species. Consider me old world in this.
I don’t mind cashier-less machines, making me new-world. But I hate the fact stores do this to increase their profit margins at the expense of personal service. I also know that many kids, me included, had their first jobs as cashiers. I am a bit old world/new world here.
My refrigerator can do more than I need or want it to. I just want refrigerated items to stay cold, freezer items to be frozen. Nothing more, nothing less. Old world, yes. My wife is old world when it comes to the washer and dryer. She doesn’t want anything fancy, a push of a button is all she wants.
I don’t get Instagram or TikTok. At all. I have both feet planted firmly in the old world here.
I am new-world when it comes to finding my way from point A to point B. Give me GPS rather than a map. Maps can be difficult to read, impossible to fold back into their original form, and they require a second person in the car to read. New World all the way here.
I am not a big car guy. It is a way for me to get somewhere quicker and easier than any alternative. I may be old world in that I own a conventional car but when the new world has perfected self-driving cars, sign me up. I will be happy traveling somewhere while forgoing driving and doing something else.
I am old world in that I like seeing people sitting on their front porches and watching the world go by while also serving as an informal neighborhood watch. Seems more neighborly than front-door cameras.
My goal is to stay as technologically current as possible as I get older. I don’t want to make myself obsolete. However, I am convinced there will always be old-world things I prefer. I will continue straddling the two worlds. There is something to be said for both.
About the author: Jim LaJoie was born and raised in Massachusetts, relocating to North Carolina about a decade ago. He acknowledges getting older but refuses to get old.