Poll: A Society Predating High-Speed Internet and Cell Phones Preferred by 2/3 of Americans

I have not agreed with a sentiment more in a very long time.

It’s normal for (aspiring) historians, like myself, to feel nostalgic for times they’ve never known. That’s pretty much tenet number one for pursuing the field. I essentially feel like I would have been better at moving through my day-to-day life in literally any other time period than the one I was assigned to.

*Before you come for me… the racism, sexism, and any other issue that makes me sound like a bigot are obviously not included, nor do they serve as a driving force in my reasoning. (I can’t believe I felt like I needed to clarify that…)

What I do long for isn’t really “a simpler time.” I don’t think such a thing really exists. Every period had its own challenges. What I think what we’re missing is that sense of detachment that every previous generation had (at least in a way).

It seems I’m not alone.

From the Daily Wire:

A new poll has found 77% of middle-aged Americans between 35 and 54 years old want to return to a time before society was always “plugged in,” a time before the always-on internet and cell phones in our pockets ruled our lives.

But it wasn’t just middle-agers. The Harris Poll found 63% of people aged 18 to 34 years old also want to go back to simpler times — even though most of them never experienced those days. Weirdly, fewer Baby Boomers want to go back, with 60% of people older than 55 saying they want to return to pre-internet days.

But overall, two-thirds (67%) of poll respondents said “they’d prefer things as they used to be versus as they are now,” The Wrap wrote.

The poll also found 9 of 10 are open-minded on advancing technology, but more than half say they’re sometimes overwhelmed by the onslaught. And a majority says the advancement of high tech is often more divisive than unifying.

What makes the current situation so difficult, not only to comprehend, but also to navigate, is the overwhelming realization that everything is connected. You can no longer function without keeping up with the virtual version of your everyday life. Texting, email, calendars, meetings, and college learning systems all require you to check them daily if you want to keep getting your paychecks or stay enrolled in your courses. So, even if you wanted to distance yourself, it’s damn near impossible if you also want to lead what one would consider a “normal” life today.

That isn’t even delving into the side of the internet where you’re sharing your opinions. She’s the b*tchy twin. Her “greatest” feature is the ability to come back and bite you in the a$$ professionally if someone doesn’t like what you said.

Unless you’re gonna live off the grid, which is sounding more and more enticing, you’re pretty much screwed. There are limited options for those who wish to disconnect, but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped trying. My love for physical books keeps me away from a screen, as does my infatuation with vinyl records and cassette tapes. I do my best to keep a minimal social media presence, as I feel like I don’t have much to add to anyone’s social experience. A selfie wouldn’t really do that anyway, which is why when I have something to say, I say it here, where I’ve been blessed enough to have been encouraged to do so.

Social media isn’t all bad, but I don’t think it would hurt to re-evaluate just how much precedence it should take in our lives.

Damn… I sound really old…