Have you failed to keep up with the modern, highly-digitised life?
- Thread starter aaronyuri
- Start date
The likes of twitter and facebook are mostly just time eaters, although on occasion facebook is useful for local info, and twitter good for an instant search on a world event that is happening right now.
But youtube is almost encyclopedic in it's ability to educate on any topic you care to choose.
Some of my recent uses for it
1) How to change a door handle on a patio door
2) How to change a barrel lock on same
3) Car reviews
4) How to build a garden gate from scratch
5) Educating myself on how personal pensions work as you get to retirement, what money funds are, what fixed term annuities are, the different ways of doing drawdown.
6) More relevant to this place, how to progress past places in PC games (Stalker 2 in my case).
7) Weight training in later life, which are the best exercises for which muscles, what protein suplements actually do, is creatine useful
Takes a little while to find content creators that clearly know their stuff, but once you do it really is a great place to enhance your knowledge.
I agree that for me ChatGPT is going to pass me by, at 60+, I don't need it. But I do see that it is becoming a crucial tool that people just can not do without, it looks likes it is going to be as important to that generation as the internet was for my generation. I just hope that it doesn't becoming so all consuming that it impacts everyday life and so NOT using it becomes a major hit on my life.
And in general, I echo the thoughts of other here in that I've lost my desire to keep up. I was one of the first 200 or so on demon internet, the first internet provider. sometime in the mid 90s. I spent an unbelievable amount of time downloading Doom, the first shareware. I imported one of the first MP3 players into the UK (Rio with a whopping 32MB of storage), was ripping DVDs when it took 24hrs to do so and then they often came out in the wrong aspect ratio or the sound out of sync. That's just by way of indicating that I liked to be on the bleeding edge of tech. But I don't feel a desire to keep on top of the next big innovation, and I actually feel like it's leaving me behind a bit.
But youtube is almost encyclopedic in it's ability to educate on any topic you care to choose.
Some of my recent uses for it
1) How to change a door handle on a patio door
2) How to change a barrel lock on same
3) Car reviews
4) How to build a garden gate from scratch
5) Educating myself on how personal pensions work as you get to retirement, what money funds are, what fixed term annuities are, the different ways of doing drawdown.
6) More relevant to this place, how to progress past places in PC games (Stalker 2 in my case).
7) Weight training in later life, which are the best exercises for which muscles, what protein suplements actually do, is creatine useful
Takes a little while to find content creators that clearly know their stuff, but once you do it really is a great place to enhance your knowledge.
I agree that for me ChatGPT is going to pass me by, at 60+, I don't need it. But I do see that it is becoming a crucial tool that people just can not do without, it looks likes it is going to be as important to that generation as the internet was for my generation. I just hope that it doesn't becoming so all consuming that it impacts everyday life and so NOT using it becomes a major hit on my life.
And in general, I echo the thoughts of other here in that I've lost my desire to keep up. I was one of the first 200 or so on demon internet, the first internet provider. sometime in the mid 90s. I spent an unbelievable amount of time downloading Doom, the first shareware. I imported one of the first MP3 players into the UK (Rio with a whopping 32MB of storage), was ripping DVDs when it took 24hrs to do so and then they often came out in the wrong aspect ratio or the sound out of sync. That's just by way of indicating that I liked to be on the bleeding edge of tech. But I don't feel a desire to keep on top of the next big innovation, and I actually feel like it's leaving me behind a bit.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Nov 2005
- Posts
- 3,120
- Location
- Swindon, UK
More money + less time as you get older, I think is the main issue.
Honest question though, when and how do you watch YouTube? For me it’s on the computer and I already spend a working day (mostly) there. So beyond getting distracted and watching some random things — I dint really want to spend my evenings sat there any longer. My commute is on the tube and I listen to music or podcasts, no time (or network) to scroll yuutube. My TV in the lounge is shared with my other half and I’d never be able to sit there scrolling inanely or watching random guff like a review of a HP Microserver from 2013 or an opera singer reviewing Slayer - whatever it was I stumbled across the other dayYouTube is the one thing I don’t understand when and how people watch it all the time.
I've got YouTube Premium. I watch it on my phone, PC and Smart TVs. With Premium, on your phone, you can download stuff and turn your screen off whilst it plays in the background.
Some 'crazy' things on YouTube is watching old Christmas adverts from my youth. How to videos on repairing stuff in your house. Walking videos from the major cities of the world. Cockpit videos showing amazing approaches. Live band performances you may have missed or just epic performances, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Fanfare for the common man at Montreal Olympic Stadium. I watch YT more than any other platform. It's what I want, when I want it.
Sort of, I watch Youtube videos on subjects I'm interested in, and the occasional music video binge on Saturday night. I check Facebook once a week to see if anyone has died(!).
I subscribe to a few Twitch streamers, older DJs mainly, they play some great sets.
I subscribe to a few Twitch streamers, older DJs mainly, they play some great sets.
I do find myself spending less time on the Internet these days. It's becoming a bit of a chore tbh, and it's just filled with absolute rubbish.
I still watch quite a bit of YouTube though, but I try to make sure they're interesting videos and not braindead slop. Been watching a lot of channels like Veritasium lately.
I still watch quite a bit of YouTube though, but I try to make sure they're interesting videos and not braindead slop. Been watching a lot of channels like Veritasium lately.
Do you have a partner or live with anyone? I get that you can watch it on all devices but as I sort of said above I don’t want to spend anymore time sat at my computer desk watching things on YouTube— it’s not comfortable or relaxing. I wouldn’t watch anything on the TV because that’s in the lounge and if it’s an evening then my partner and I will be watching something together. On my phone yes occasionally but even then it wouldn’t be in the lounge if there’s something else on the TV or if my girlfriend is chilling then she won’t want to overhear whatever it is on YouTube. In the kitchen maybe but we always have the radio on and I honestly hate being glued to the phone — never do it when eating together. Maybe breakfast but I’m in too much of a rush in the morning.
Like I say, there’s just no good time to get stuck into YouTube in my life. Maybe it’s just me. The most I’ve ever watched for long periods of time is if I’ve been working at home and my girlfriend hasn’t (we usually share an office) so I have occasionally put stuff on in the background. I have occasionally watched some CS tournaments upstairs in the office in an evening I suppose…
I grew up during the 90s and 2000s, so I was at the ripe age when the internet blew up, and have generally kept up with it. On my TV, these days I only ever watch Youtube, Twitch, or whatever movie or show directly, and haven't touched terrestrial TV in years.
Podcasts are literally the only thing I listen to now when commuting, doing an odd job at home or walking about shopping.
I check IG a lot more than I'd like to admit; I use Facebook but only for a quick check, and don't have it installed on my Phone or anything like that. As far as social media apps, I pretty much stopped at IG and Twitter (which I never use myself, but do lurk about sometimes), and haven't jumped ship to TikTok or Bluesky and all that.
I vaguely hear about some of the current memes from watching Youtube and Twitch, but it's getting to the point where I don't understand them. Like this whole 6 7 thing is just beyond me.
Podcasts are literally the only thing I listen to now when commuting, doing an odd job at home or walking about shopping.
I check IG a lot more than I'd like to admit; I use Facebook but only for a quick check, and don't have it installed on my Phone or anything like that. As far as social media apps, I pretty much stopped at IG and Twitter (which I never use myself, but do lurk about sometimes), and haven't jumped ship to TikTok or Bluesky and all that.
I vaguely hear about some of the current memes from watching Youtube and Twitch, but it's getting to the point where I don't understand them. Like this whole 6 7 thing is just beyond me.
Last edited:
Simpler, better times.
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Nov 2005
- Posts
- 3,120
- Location
- Swindon, UK
Yes, I have a wife, married for 14 years and two young children.
I hear what you're saying. I guess the beauty of YT is to watch in-between doing things. Waiting, dishwasher emptying, first coffee in the morning.
With my wife, we've enjoyed Mark Weins. He's never got a bad word to say about food. And then, anything of interest. Camper van in the Highlands, the Pembrokeshire coast, city tours etc. without the adverts, it's so easy to watch.
But mainly as a couple, it's Netflix, iPlayer or Amazon Prime.
I actively avoid social media of almost all sorts because its just a cesspit and its only function currently is to sell you things or manipulate you in some way. I have never read a single person say "I stopped using social media and I am less happy as a result". Its universally the completely opposite.
Honestly I am so critical of it that I actively look down on people who post their lives on it because I just assume they aren't actually enjoying them if they feel the need to constantly advertise it. People who are happy and enjoying life don't spend their time posting huge amounts of content to social media. They don't have the time or desire.
I enjoy podcasts but they are things like crime ones rather than people just talking crap.
Honestly I am so critical of it that I actively look down on people who post their lives on it because I just assume they aren't actually enjoying them if they feel the need to constantly advertise it. People who are happy and enjoying life don't spend their time posting huge amounts of content to social media. They don't have the time or desire.
I enjoy podcasts but they are things like crime ones rather than people just talking crap.
In my 50's
I don't use social media.
Youtube is awesome. You can indulge in any interest that takes your whim. Like others have said, it's virtually completly taken over from normal tv programs for me.
Love my Kindle for books, as any book is available to your interests at a click.
I do use whatsapp, as it's much better than text messages.
As a family with older teens, we have amazon prime, disney, netflix & spotify.
The kids love tick tock, with the endless 30 second dopamine hit. It just makes my head hurt.
I don't use social media.
Youtube is awesome. You can indulge in any interest that takes your whim. Like others have said, it's virtually completly taken over from normal tv programs for me.
Love my Kindle for books, as any book is available to your interests at a click.
I do use whatsapp, as it's much better than text messages.
As a family with older teens, we have amazon prime, disney, netflix & spotify.
The kids love tick tock, with the endless 30 second dopamine hit. It just makes my head hurt.
Last edited:
I don't do any of those things either. I haven't had "regular" telly channels for a good decade. If I fancy discussing a topic, I tend to talk to people that I know, or I make an engaging post on here, apparently!
I do like to listen to music and read a book. Gaming is also one of my pastimes.
My post doesn't specifically pertain to the mundane digitised things of modern life like sending emails or making video calls. It's that chronic, almost obsessive, need for people to be online or consuming something during every second of their lives. I don't know why anyone wants to live that way.
Soldato
- Joined
- 2 Jul 2019
- Posts
- 2,688
Yes, kinda, I find it all very intrusive. But it's also by choice, mostly.
I feel like Android is not a great O/S given its poor integrated ability to just store and sort files.
Everything feels saturated in the digital world, it has devalued my appreciation for it. But people have done this to themselves with the low effort selfies etc.
But some things I do thoroughly enjoy or help me. Google maps traffic, Youtube for free learning and entertainment with no ads, ease of communication with friends, calender reminders when on the go, etc.
But I still use a pen and paper for doing stuff at home. I also own a video camera and torch. Some old tech or old ways are hard to best.
I feel like Android is not a great O/S given its poor integrated ability to just store and sort files.
Everything feels saturated in the digital world, it has devalued my appreciation for it. But people have done this to themselves with the low effort selfies etc.
But some things I do thoroughly enjoy or help me. Google maps traffic, Youtube for free learning and entertainment with no ads, ease of communication with friends, calender reminders when on the go, etc.
But I still use a pen and paper for doing stuff at home. I also own a video camera and torch. Some old tech or old ways are hard to best.
This is wandering off-topic, but a good few years ago I did fear that for the younger generation, the basic ability of handwriting would be lost. I'm starting to see that happening. Frankly, even my own writing ability is suffering as it's something that I don't often need to do (as a lefty who therefore had to push a pen rather than pull it, my handwriting was never neat). But for a generation where just about everything is digital and therefore never seriously need to handwrite anything other than forced for school work (I assume handwriting is still a requirement for SOME subjects), I do wonder will this be seen as something you just did at school, but it's an ability that has an increasingly diminished value.
Last edited:
I have almost given up on social media except this forum.
But my entire life is almost digital.
That's probably a lot to do with living in Sweden and in a remote part of it too.
I don't own physical media anymore.
I can't remember the last time I used physical money.
I haven't really had a need to use AI at an advanced useful level but I'm not scared of I had an idea or project that needed it.
I try and keep up with technology news, it feels like cod black OPS 2 is now real Warfare...
I have a very "intrusive" smart home setup with almost everything voice controlled and connected feeding Google every shred of my information.
Apart from AI I don't see anything amazing on the horizon, quantum computing, fusion power... Obviously insanely game changing for humanity combined with AI that is the next path of evolution.
I mean it'll probably lead to our extinction at least huge depopulation.
If you know wh40k it'll be like having STC construction facilities. We'll be able to solve almost any problems....
Anyway. ... Yes.
I dunno why kids bother with school, you'll probably be able to directly import knowledge in 20 or 30 years via neural AI inputs or something silly
Then why even need to learn stuff of the AI will take control of a situation anyway.
But my entire life is almost digital.
That's probably a lot to do with living in Sweden and in a remote part of it too.
I don't own physical media anymore.
I can't remember the last time I used physical money.
I haven't really had a need to use AI at an advanced useful level but I'm not scared of I had an idea or project that needed it.
I try and keep up with technology news, it feels like cod black OPS 2 is now real Warfare...
I have a very "intrusive" smart home setup with almost everything voice controlled and connected feeding Google every shred of my information.
Apart from AI I don't see anything amazing on the horizon, quantum computing, fusion power... Obviously insanely game changing for humanity combined with AI that is the next path of evolution.
I mean it'll probably lead to our extinction
at least huge depopulation.If you know wh40k it'll be like having STC construction facilities. We'll be able to solve almost any problems....
Anyway. ... Yes.
I dunno why kids bother with school, you'll probably be able to directly import knowledge in 20 or 30 years via neural AI inputs or something silly
Then why even need to learn stuff of the AI will take control of a situation anyway.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 23 May 2006
- Posts
- 8,494
i absolutely have. (failed to keep up)
BUT no i do not believe i am missing out on anything personally, and indeed when i do get forced down the social media hole by proxy - usually friends sending me stuff - it negatively effects my mental well being (ie i get triggered
) so now i deliberately try to back off..... this web site is pretty much the only one i post on outside of videogames now... maybe the odd post on a car forum.where it is becoming a problem however is our lad is now at an age where he is addicted to all of it, and in truth i am ignorant really in how to control it. i dont want to out and out ban him as all his mates use all that crap, and i remember what it was like to be the kid who was different - for different things not social media obviously - and i do not want to force that on my lad.... but i do need to get a bit more clued in to work out how i can limit some parts of it whilst not blanket banning him.
Last edited:
Yes, These forums are fantastic.
Obviously I haven't posted much, but have started a lot more of recent. I have pretty much logged in daily.
When this forum was more popular before the tick tock generation. I used to find every post or opinion was a trigger for someone, hence I avoided posting.
I think like a fine wine or cheese, it's aged well & the people who frequent it now (in general)have a more mature outlook, even if they don't agree.
Obviously I haven't posted much, but have started a lot more of recent. I have pretty much logged in daily.
When this forum was more popular before the tick tock generation. I used to find every post or opinion was a trigger for someone, hence I avoided posting.
I think like a fine wine or cheese, it's aged well & the people who frequent it now (in general)have a more mature outlook, even if they don't agree.
I work on Building sites & after repeated warnings, have had to sack lots of lads, mostly good workers too bar the phone.
They just can't keep off their phones. It's like a drug that they can't do without. Very dangerous on a building site, as they are oblivious to everything around them.
Last edited: