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It still blows my mind how ubiquitous communication is now. I just had someone message me instantly from a ship in the Mediterranean, while I'm on a flight in the US. (lemmy.zip)
submitted 9 months ago by to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world
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Even less than a 150 years ago that would have been impossible. And prior to that communication among normal people could take months.

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[–] 56 points 9 months ago (13 children)

Being out of contact is underrated these days.

Used to be, on a flight or a train, and in many other scenarios, you weren't expected to work or be contactable. It was time to sit with your thoughts, read something fun, sleep, or converse quietly with someone next to you, often a stranger. That was GOOD, not bad.

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  • [–] 19 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    What I really miss is the distinction between texting and instant messenging. I LOVED chatting on AIM when I was teenager. When you wanted to talk you signed on and when you were done, you just signed off. Now anyone anywhere can pop up in your pocket at any moment, demanding attention. Worse is that a good portion of people consider it rude to not answer a text immediately or even still, consider a day or 2 to be unreasonably long. Yeah, I might be checking my phone, but that doesn't mean I'm available to talk to you at this exact moment for any myriad of reasons, including that maybe I just don't feel like it. I started treating texts more like email and it has helped so much.

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  • [–] 6 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    One can still be out of contact by simply not responding. A mobile devices can be disconnected from the network easier than a house with multiple lan lines, just turn it off.

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  • [–] 6 points 9 months ago

    While you are absolutely correct, it's the fact that most people don't make this choice and it has shifted societal expectations.

    I encourage everyone to disconnect as much as possible. Enjoy the wonderful things technology offers us, and equally enjoy breaking free from the chains it introduces.

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  • [–] 3 points 9 months ago (5 children)

    You picked the wrong line of work.

    As a machinist, I'm not expected to work anywhere that's not in front of a lathe or mill.

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  • [–] 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    Let us know if it asks for your uneaten peanuts or tries to show you pictures of it’s vacation.

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  • [–] 1 point 9 months ago (1 child)

    Did you go to trade school to become a machinist?

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  • [–] 2 points 9 months ago

    Picked it up during about 15 years as a welder. And I went to community College for a couple years where they had a shop program and learned to weld there.

    That being said I could probably learn a lot by taking actual formal classes, especially with CNC these days. Everything I know is manual machining, which is a dying art these days. Most old machinists have either retired or died with their secrets. Under 40 and able to run a lathe or mill with any semblance of accuracy is a surprisingly rare trait these days.

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  • [–] 2 points 9 months ago

    Me, on a plane: sits

    The person next to me: so you're disabled eh? Tell me all about it so I can explain to you how it's the government's fault, and then indirectly blame you for not working with partial blindness, one good arm and leg

    Or

    The person next to me: I couldn't help but notice the stickers on your luggage and laptop, with the gay flag and the paw prints, I can help you find Jesus again

    Or

    The people awaiting boarding when I hug and kiss my partner[1] goodbye and cry: is he, uh, you know, is your friend not coming with you?

    Me: stewardess, I'm gonna need a new seat

    [1]He's technically my master and not my partner, but try explaining that to like 300 boomers

    Yeah, sure, 'good'...

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  • [–] 1 point 9 months ago

    I went travelling in the 90s, for a year. I spoke to my family once or twice on the phone while I was gone. One time at Christmas, when I knew someone would be home, and the 2nd time on a date we had agreed on before I left.

    It was awesome to be unreachable.

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