Outdated ugly, old

What technology would you be better off without, why?

(Is a leaf blower technology ? Thats one I might be happier not hearing. Will they be inventing a silent version soon?)

To answer, I want to first say that the things my life is definitely better without, is the old stuff.

I wasn’t a fan in the beginning. I found no real use for the giant beige vented device that had to sit on and equally ugly big desk (that I had nothing to do with buying). Eventually I wanted to hug some guy named Steve Jobs for caring about aesthetics. Before Apple updated its earlier color computers, and made form as important as function, I couldn’t handle it.

Now not only is my huge screened computer pretty, my iPad has a cool cover and my iPhone is in a super cute case. Better yet I use them to make art and write books and read and get inspired and listen to music. Technology and I have become close friends.

I’m pretty sure no matter what I say here, someone’s living depends on it. This is where we have evolved. My thinking is that most anything can be used for good. It can also contribute to a lesser quality of life. Or even be destructive. Tools can be like that.

Do we need all the technology we have today? We did exist as humans for a long while without it. Would our lives be better without certain things?Were lives better before? Maybe in some ways, but most of the things that were available before are still around. Farmers have the option to walk behind an ox pulling a plow if they want. You can still get and only have basic cable. You can use a landline phone. Write a letter, mail a check…maybe someone is still using an old towered desk top computer. It might be black instead of beige…

I personally like where things are going. I know new things can be hard, they can seem scary and threaten the life we are used to, but I m glad for advancing technology. The things I use regularly make my life easier and more fun.

A very long time ago, people had to pump water from a well, heat it on a stove and fill a bath tub pail by pail to take a bath. Bathing wasn’t a daily thing, in fact for many families it was a weekly event. Oldest to youngest would take their turn as the water temperature cooled. Babies were last because they couldn’t handle the initial super hot water. Water was bailed out as the last bather was still mid bath. By then the water was murky. It’s where we got the saying ‘don’t throw the baby out with the bath water”.

Which means something like, don’t throw out the whole thing just because one part isn’t good or doesn’t work for you. Keep the good (the baby), and throw out the rest ( the icky dirty water- they probably used it to water the garden). If one technology is taking away my peace or my joy or whatever, I hope I will adjust my use of that certain thing and not toss it all out…because, well, I kinda love technology.