Posted on 03/12/2014 3:27:11 PM PDT by The Looking Spoon
I can't even place the very first moment I heard of it, but I was in my very early teens when the internet started "happening."
By the time I was 20 we didn't know what we'd do without it, and that was before social media like Facebook was even created.
I say that because I really try to imagine in my mind living in the world without any of it, which is only possible because the first third of my life was that way. In some ways it seems nice to me, like life would be less...noisy.
And then I see something like this and it all gets thrown right out the window.
I refuse to use Facebook, but I think the ability to share things (such as the nice picture shown) is something we have all become accustomed to.
The internet is an awesome thing when used properly. Older kid skyped with her husband at least twice a week while he was in Afghanistan. Much better than back in the old days when it would take weeks to get hand-written letters back and forth between those deployed and those back at home.
Congrats to the parents for their beautiful baby!
And yes, Spoon, your contributions are definitely a proper use of the internet.
at this time, i am on the East coast, and my sons are on the West coast... i am able to skype school with them... with my 13-year old, we do math, Latin, Literature and History... with my 17-year old, we do Latin, History, Literature and Logic... (he does not need me for math)...
The look on Dad’s face says it all.
I will say: There was something to be said for “Mail Call” in the military, but...if I had these things back then, I would have been thrilled.
Mail call was defintely a “deferred pleasure” and if you didn’t write any letters, often...you didn’t get any, either.
Heck, if I had video games when I was in, I would have probably never got off the ship, so in that sense, I am glad I didn’t.
Recently, I decided to bite the bullet and download Google Chrome, and an extension called "Hangouts". It is quite good and allows for two users on different platforms. My daughter in North Carolina (married w/ 3 children) just decided to continue her education at age 34, in Marine Biology. She graduated high school with great grades and always did well on any task she approached. She bought a Windows based laptop and downloaded "Hangouts". Now, I can see my grandkids any time she calls!!!!!!!!
I still consider it all to be "magic", though. Whoda thunk that you could string a bunch of 1's and 0's together and video chat or watch HiDef streaming video or play solitaire all day long???
(Congress, hard at work!)
Instant is nice, but I know that I treasure the letters i received from my parents and sisters when I was in the service. There is just something about holding the written word in my hands.
<There is just something about holding the written word in my hands.
I do a lot online. It’s part of my scholarly work and it’s a way for me to connect to people all over the world.
However, I also send birthday and holiday cards. Each month, our women’s group at church lists birthdays in the newsletter and I send a card to those I know. You would be surprised to hear that people thank me and say it was the only ‘real’ card they received. I don’t know why people aren’t sending cards anymore, but I like to do it, with or without a little note to the person. It’s not expensive, and people seem to be appreciative.
I remember one Christmas when the only card I got was from Dave Ramsey. : ) I never forgot it.
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