The way we live now is drastically different than how previous generations lived in the past. With modernity came advances in technology and social and cultural development that caused society to develop new customs and jettison the old. The once-normal has become archaic or even anachronistic, to the point where the older treasures of modern society are now the stuff of legend to the uninitiated. For today’s Millennials and Gen Z-ers, it may sound like ancient history, but Boomers remember a time when life was filled with a very personal, immediate touch, from formalities to patience to style. This is a small list of how we used to communicate, work, and do life that are long gone, with fondness.
Personal Communication
A decline in handwritten communications is one of the most apparent cultural differences between generations. Thank-you notes were expected after receiving gifts, attending events, or completing business interactions. These notes were personal, thoughtful, detailed, and reflected consideration and effort, which in turn showed respect to the recipient. There was a time and effort required to think of a suitable card, write a message, and go to the effort of mailing it, which gave these actions additional weight.
Face-to-face interactions were also expected and formalized in ways that may seem quaint and old-fashioned now. Job interviews were one example. Interviewees were expected to prepare, present themselves well, and participate in a meeting. An interviewer wanted to see and hear the person, not a virtual or second-hand representation. A good handshake, direct eye contact, and a memorized story were all part of this tradition. Today, these approaches are in decline and have been replaced by preferences for convenience, speed, and digital communication.
Lost Technology
Coupled with these social practices are technological artifacts that have since nearly been wiped out of existence. Landline phones were a necessary and popular source of communication, whether for personal or business-related calls. The process of answering or dialing a phone was methodical and intentional due to its pace and design. In addition, people used floppy disks to save and transfer information before the rise of modern cloud storage services and USB flash drives. The processes of saving, labeling, and carrying around these storage devices were tedious and time-consuming and required patience.
Making and receiving calls and sharing floppy disks were also social in the sense that there were certain etiquettes and practices surrounding their use. Phone calls also required situational awareness of time and place. Thus, people were more ritualistic and mindful of their actions due to the design and persistence of these artifacts.
This strange recipe of absent behavior + defunct technology is actually a delicious offering on the altar of nostalgia for Boomers. Handwritten letters, face-to-face interviews, strong handshakes, corded phones, and even floppy disks were all symbols of caring, decorum, and living an intentional life. It may be difficult for today's Millennials and Generation Z to understand the habits and niceties of yesteryear, but reminiscing on them helps to see just how different daily life, politesse, and communication have become. So while we may never see the return of these wonderful cultural artifacts, we can always remember fondly the slower, more patient, in-the-moment world they represent.
