To me, I will always have a spot for "life before Internet/Cellphones", which became mainstream around the same time (mid-1990s), meaning that the '80s/early '90s enviornment of just computers and 2D video games will always be "nostalgic home" for me. But there are really several points in recent history were seemingly not 1 but 2 major advances seem to really set an era apart, ususally changing social practices with it. Sadly, with each passing pair as listed, social interaction/going outdoors has seemingly gotten less and less (though hopefully Smartphones will allow people to go back outside and play stuff; though as many people have been saying, it's just not the same with all of the texting while driving, lack of responding, and of course eye contact.

To me, I will always have a spot for "life before Internet/Cellphones", which became mainstream around the same time (mid-1990s), meaning that the '80s/early '90s enviornment of just computers and 2D video games will always be "nostalgic home" for me. But there are really several points in recent history were seemingly not 1 but 2 major advances seem to really set an era apart, ususally changing social practices with it. Sadly, with each passing pair as listed, social interaction/going outdoors has seemingly gotten less and less (though hopefully Smartphones will allow people to go back outside and play stuff; though as many people have been saying, it's just not the same with all of the texting while driving, lack of responding, and of course eye contact.


I voted the internet in 1994. Anything before 1994 seems outdated to me.  ;D

In 1987, you looked for an "emale' in the kinky personals section and if there was a mouse next to your computer, you set a trap!
:)

In 1987, you looked for an "emale' in the kinky personal's section and if there was a mouse next to your computer, you set a trap!
:)


In 1987, this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dddAi8FF3F4

...was just a throwaway line buried somewhere in Return of the Jedi.

Thank you, Internet... umm... I think.

My brother has an Admiral Akbar action figure in mint condition.  He's rebuilding his "Star Wars" collection.  I was a little too old for action figures when "Jedi" came out, but I bought 'em anyway.  Over the years of moving here and there, this and that college, and a transient life, all that stuff I had got lost via attrition.  So it was nice to see Akbar, the anthropomorphic beet, once again! 
:)

I'm nostalgic for the days when it was just records, tapes, and CDs.  I have a massive collection of CDs and CD-Rs.  I don't like the pressure to buy all the "i" media and store all my stuff on hard drives, etc.  I also resent certain record companies releasing their stuff on DVD only and only to take advantage of 5.0 Surround Sound.  A certain electronic music label from Montreal releases all their new stuff on DVD, but there is no real video portion.  You just see a picture of the album cover with the current track title displayed.  Call bullshirt on that.  I rip the audio onto CD-R so I can listen to it in my car!
::)

I'd say 1978 because I could probably tape everything I'd like on Beta Max, even the bad E.T. Game for Atari!

I'd say 1978 because I could probably tape everything I'd like on Beta Max, even the bad E.T. Game for Atari!


1978 was the apex of pre-home computer consumer comforts. 

I had only one friend in 1978 who had a computer in his house.  That's because his father worked for Raytheon.  It was a funny-looking TV screen with a typewriter attached to it.  Mark and I were not allowed to touch it, of course.  Mark said his father didn't really own it.  It belonged to his work.  It was worth $15,000 in 1978.  Why was it worth that much?  I don't know.  I think it was one of those "special" computers and Mark's old man was doing something for the Defense Dept.  My best guess.

We were also friends with an eccentric millionaire who had a home computer, but that was something he assembled himself and my old man didn't go there to fiddle with a primitive home computer.  I think he went there to buy weed and look at stuff with the telescope.  Anyway, this local Hugh Hefner had plenty of fun things for kids to do.  Too bad we weren't friends with him anymore once I got older!
8)

If I'd rank these 5 phases in order of importance and the amount of overall change, I'd say Internet/cellphones is 1st, Smartphones/Social Media is 2nd, Teleivison/Air Travel is 3rd (I feel that the change aspect is a bit overrated as people were used to newsreels/movies before TV took off and had radio as home entertainment plus Air was just a quicker way to travel instead of by road/rail/ship; computers/video games/home video is 4th (more of just an increase in fun compared to socialogical change like the others), and Color TV/Xerox is last.

I was born in 1991, so I answered "before smart phones/social media" because I really don't have much of a memory of life before the internet.

I'm probably too young to answer this poll.  :P

I lived a nice portion of my childhood pre 1994, so I would say Computers/Video Games/Home Video

In 1987, you looked for an "emale' in the kinky personal's section and if there was a mouse next to your computer, you set a trap!
:)


;D ;D

I'd say TV, because people actually READ BOOKS!

I was a voracious reader as a kid and even now as an adult, when I'm not penning my own stories. People went to the movies more, without having to get a payday loan to go. IF there were quality movies at the theatre nowadays, I wouldn't mind spendin g a saturday at the multiplex all after noon. In the last year, I've seen 2 movies at the theatre. This Is It four times, and then a year later, For Colored Girls. Nothing in  the span between films got my attention enough to want to go.

I went to This Is It because I'd have to be flatlining to NOT see MJ and I saw For Colored Girls because I love Kimberly Elise.  ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmh-abe-1_U&feature=related

We got the oppressive police state, but we didn't get robot butlers or personal gyrocopters!
:(

I would have to say COMPUTER/VIDEO GAMES.....

I love playing them like crazy and i love my computer also :) (I hope i understood this thread right)

I voted the internet in 1994. Anything before 1994 seems outdated to me.  ;D


I feel the same way ;D

I loved my Apple IIe, my first Mac, and my old 386, even without a network to connect them to, but life without Internet?  Er, no.