PasadenaMike
Grand HAMster
Does anyone else feel like they're going backwards as they get older?
I'm getting sick and tired of all the "smart" technology out there—smartphones, AI, smart this, smart that. Lately, I've found myself actively reverting to older, simpler ways of doing things. I'm literally back to writing checks, and I've never been happier.
The other day, I was driving my work van—a basic model with old-school yellow lights, not LEDs, and no infotainment system—and I realized how much I enjoy the simplicity. There's no constant buzzing, no notifications, and no distractions.
It's not just the digital noise; it's the feeling of being watched all the time. All the company work vehicles have cameras on the road and on the driver, and my job is to literally monitor that fleet to make sure everyone is safe. Thank goodness my personal van doesn't have one. But then you go into the workplace, and there are more cameras. Even at home, we have security cameras on every angle. It feels like there's no privacy left anywhere.
This feeling of a constant spotlight reminds me a lot of why I love my airguns. As many of you have read, my TalonP is my only airgun now because of its retro vibes. That gun is the perfect example of pure, mechanical satisfaction. No complicated electronics, no digital readouts, just the satisfying thwump of the hammer and the solid feel of a well-made machine. It’s a complete escape from the digital noise.
To take this a step further, I've started the process of deleting my banking info from a lot of places online. It's a pain, but the idea of having my financial data scattered across a hundred different websites feels like a huge risk and a burden I don't want anymore. I'd rather just use a card when I need to, and know my information isn't floating around out there.
Honestly, I think a lot of this comes from my childhood. I barely played video games growing up; I was out in the alleys with my slingshot, shooting pigeons and making blowguns. I didn't have time for a screen. So this pull toward tangible, mechanical things isn't me losing my mind—it's me staying true to the kind of satisfaction I've always known.
I know it sounds a bit strange, but I feel like all this modern convenience has created a new kind of stress. It feels like a constant demand on my attention. Stepping away from it all feels less like going backwards and more like taking a deep breath.
Is this normal? Does anyone else catch themselves doing this? I'm curious to hear if I'm the only one feeling this way.
P.S. I may seem like a hypocrite for saying all this. I used an AI like ChatGPT to help me write this post. My own writing isn't perfect, and this tool helps me put my thoughts on "paper." It's something I'm also required to use daily for my job, and honestly, that's a huge part of why I crave simplicity in my personal life. It's a constant reminder of the digital noise I'm trying to escape.
I'm getting sick and tired of all the "smart" technology out there—smartphones, AI, smart this, smart that. Lately, I've found myself actively reverting to older, simpler ways of doing things. I'm literally back to writing checks, and I've never been happier.
The other day, I was driving my work van—a basic model with old-school yellow lights, not LEDs, and no infotainment system—and I realized how much I enjoy the simplicity. There's no constant buzzing, no notifications, and no distractions.
It's not just the digital noise; it's the feeling of being watched all the time. All the company work vehicles have cameras on the road and on the driver, and my job is to literally monitor that fleet to make sure everyone is safe. Thank goodness my personal van doesn't have one. But then you go into the workplace, and there are more cameras. Even at home, we have security cameras on every angle. It feels like there's no privacy left anywhere.
This feeling of a constant spotlight reminds me a lot of why I love my airguns. As many of you have read, my TalonP is my only airgun now because of its retro vibes. That gun is the perfect example of pure, mechanical satisfaction. No complicated electronics, no digital readouts, just the satisfying thwump of the hammer and the solid feel of a well-made machine. It’s a complete escape from the digital noise.
To take this a step further, I've started the process of deleting my banking info from a lot of places online. It's a pain, but the idea of having my financial data scattered across a hundred different websites feels like a huge risk and a burden I don't want anymore. I'd rather just use a card when I need to, and know my information isn't floating around out there.
Honestly, I think a lot of this comes from my childhood. I barely played video games growing up; I was out in the alleys with my slingshot, shooting pigeons and making blowguns. I didn't have time for a screen. So this pull toward tangible, mechanical things isn't me losing my mind—it's me staying true to the kind of satisfaction I've always known.
I know it sounds a bit strange, but I feel like all this modern convenience has created a new kind of stress. It feels like a constant demand on my attention. Stepping away from it all feels less like going backwards and more like taking a deep breath.
Is this normal? Does anyone else catch themselves doing this? I'm curious to hear if I'm the only one feeling this way.
P.S. I may seem like a hypocrite for saying all this. I used an AI like ChatGPT to help me write this post. My own writing isn't perfect, and this tool helps me put my thoughts on "paper." It's something I'm also required to use daily for my job, and honestly, that's a huge part of why I crave simplicity in my personal life. It's a constant reminder of the digital noise I'm trying to escape.
