It’s hard to fathom how anyone managed to learn without the convenience of email. Many of us occasionally reflect, “How on earth did I survive before the internet?” while recognizing that those of us from an earlier generation lived quite fulfilled lives without it. However, trying to convey this to our children, who have never known a world without Google, FaceTime, and instant messaging, can be both amusing and frustrating. A perfect example of this was shared by Lisa Carter, who posted a text exchange between her friend and her college-aged son, and it’s a blend of laughter and disbelief. “I have my friend’s permission to share this, with her son’s name removed,” Carter noted. “This is genuinely one of the funniest things I’ve come across recently.”
The text conversation opened innocently. “How did students handle college before email?” her son inquired. “What if a class was canceled or there was a mistake on the homework?” His mother gently informed him that students simply attended class, and if there was an issue, the professor would leave a note on the door. That revelation left him utterly astonished.
“What if it was at 8 am? You’d have to get up early and walk all the way there?” he asked, his disbelief palpable. “That is correct,” his mom replied. But the humor escalated when he pressed her on how she would know what assignments or activities were required for her courses. She explained that teachers would post this information on a community bulletin board. That’s when the fun really began.
“I don’t even know what that is,” he admitted. Even after she elaborated on the concept of creating and posting on a bulletin board, he was still puzzled. “But how could you even read that without walking all the way to the building?” Oh, sweet child, you had to!
This situation is surprisingly relatable. A few years back, I was browsing through an antique shop with my teenager when we stumbled upon a dial-up phone. I challenged her to call me on it, offering $10, but she couldn’t grasp how to dial my number. The concept of rotating the dial all the way around was foreign to her, and if she made a mistake, she had to hang up and start all over. “Why would anyone even want to call someone if it took this long? Why not just text them?” she asked. Bless her heart.
After a brief lesson on the necessity of physically driving to the building (uphill, both ways), I shared how I got my first job by reading an index card pinned to a bulletin board. “What if they wanted to include a link for more information?” he said, referring to linking online—such innocence! And when it came to job hunting, he remarked, “I can’t imagine interacting with someone for it.” While we can empathize with his perspective, personal interaction is, you know, an essential life skill, even today. Or is it?
“The struggle is real when it comes to helping our kids understand the conveniences they have today,” Carter concluded. And it truly is.
For more insights on parenting and navigating life’s challenges, check out this informative guide on pregnancy, or explore fertility boosters to support your journey.
Summary:
The bewilderment displayed by kids today over life before the internet is both humorous and thought-provoking. A recent text exchange between a mother and her college son illustrated how challenging it can be for younger generations to grasp the concept of pre-internet communication and information-sharing methods, such as bulletin boards. As parents, helping our children appreciate the conveniences they enjoy today can be a daunting task.
Leave a Reply