What Did You Used To Do Before You Had A Computer?

[bravejordy]

I'm sure this question has probably been asked before but what were your favourite pastimes before you got a computer? Do you find those hobbies have been placed on the back burner since you joined the technological age? More importantly, do you miss those old hobbies? I suppose these questions are more aimed at the older generation (I'm 59 btw) and I'm curious to know if any of you fellow ABers feel the same way I do.


As much as I love my computer, I sometimes feel I allow it to dominate my life way too much. Before I bought my first Internet compatible computer in July 1999, I was quite happy to buy magazines such as Take A Break, That's Life! and Chat every week and enter the competitions. I loved the excitement of trying to win the car or some other prize of equal value (not that I ever did, but I did win a couple of smaller prizes over the years). I also enjoyed reading and loved to snuggle up with a spine-tingling horror novel (I'm afraid Kindles don't have the same appeal for me). Now however, I can't remember the last time I did any of those things. I keep telling myself I'd love to give up my computer for a couple of weeks just to see if I could go back to those old habits.


It's a bit early I know, but my New Years resolution will be to spend less time on my computer and more on the things I used to love doing.

[emmie]

i played lots of sports, but real life got in the way, i had used computers for years for work purposes, so it was not much of a change to get one for just personal use.

[pixie373]

I still do the same- dogwalking, horse-riding, reading. I use my phone on AB, so it tends to be in the times I'm at home anyway, around work and children. I don't remember not having a computer really, except in teenage years, when i would have been watching bands at pubs. It's more the children that have changed my lifestyle, than the computer.

[daffy654]

I used to do a lot of cross stitching and reading, I also watched way too much TV.

[andy-hughes]

I have been a freelance music writer in my 'spare time' for thirty-three years, so wheras before my PC I worked on an office typewriter my alternately (season-dependent) freezing or boiling loft, I now work in a nice comfy spare bedroom kitted as an office - so I do what I have always done, just faster and a lot easier!

It sounds positively quaint these days, but I used to go and review a live concert, come home and type up my review, get up early the next morning and take my copy to the local railway station for it to travel by Red Star to London where it was couriered to the Melody Maker offices, or the printers if we were on deadline, to be set and printed.

Now, that last part happend with a button, but I still don't take it for granted!

Other than that, I listened to, went to see, read about and talked about music which is my lifelong passion. I also did as i do now - spend time with family, read a lot, go walking, go to the cinema, and indluge my other passion - watching television.

I am so lucky!

[jim360]

I spent the weekend without my laptop as it seems to be broken. It was like the Dark Ages. How did civilisation cope without AB or email or just the internet in general?

[Mosaic]

I find research for classes and projects is infinitely better now. Used to involve travelling to distant libraries and waiting for librarians to finish their biscuits.

[Prudie]

I watched a lot more television, played more on playstation, physically went shopping more and actually bought newspapers. Although on AB every day I can't see that I'll ever succumb to looking in on my phone when out and about and certainly not to check and post whil I'm on holiday.

[Old_Geezer]

Before a PC ?
Lived a life !

[SlackAlice]

I was pushed/shoved into getting a home computer about 14 years ago when my Son decided to go on a worldwide backpacking sabbatical at short notice (5 weeks notice!). When OH realised she would not be able to contact him easily except by IM or email, I was bundled of post haste to get a pc. I always remember the pc was a bundle of crap running Windows ME. Spent more time fixing it than using it.

I still do most of what I did before but with the pc at hand research was much easier and helped me out in my hobbies.

I must admit I love playing multiplayer games online and agree I spend too much time doing so, but that's generally restricted to cold, dark winter nights. Other times I'm out and about doing whatever I like.

[boxtops]

My life was very different pre-computers, and I certainly used to write and receive a lot more letters from friends. I love the speed of communication and the fact that you have a record (if you need it), but I don't like being constantly available. I never take my phone with me out of the house with me unless I think I've going to need it. I was thinking yesterday that I needed to ask a friend a quick question - in the past it would have been a landline phone call, yesterday I texted.

We still read newspapers, do crosswords, read books - but we both like the instant interaction of something like this site.

[Quoi]

I had 2 girlfriends.... I bought a computer to save myself

[choux]

My pc is an addition not an appendage to my normal life. Used wisely a pc is a wonderful thing to have. I think it is up to the user ;)

[lyall]

I used the internet at my local library for a number of years before I got my first laptop in November 2005,a few weeks after I started my degree course. I didn’t get internet at the time though as I couldn’t afford it. I managed without internet at home until the middle of my 4th year at Uni in 2009 (did the degree part time). It was when I realised I had spent 38 hours at Uni without coming home that I needed to get the internet at home. I still couldn’t really afford it but I went without other stuff to do it. And even though I swore to myself that after I graduated in 2011 I wouldn’t continue with the internet I still have it!! and am still doing without to afford it. Just.

I have the computer on every day but it doesn’t stop me doing the things I always did except watching as much tv maybe. I still read every day and knit and crochet, I still use shops to shop in and I still write letters (am I the only dinosaur?) I still love doing puzzles (crossword and jigsaw) the only thing I don’t do any more is my cross stitch (except very rarely) but that’s more because I have to wear glasses now and I can’t seem to see properly doing cross stitch wearing the glasses!! I do have a mobile phone but it isn’t a smart phone or whatever their technical name is, where you can get the internet on it, my computer is in the spare room and when I shut the door I walk away from the internet, but I know its there if I want/need it.

But yes my computer has altered my life.

[DaisyNonna]

Still do all the things I did before I had a computer because I retired and can fit so many different things into each day.

[Jeza]

Housework.

[anneasquith]

work, cared for a family.

[tamborine]

Iphone for all communications and lappy when I have to print out. The thought of choosing/writing/posting & costs of xmas cards is depressing; not a good mood to start with - why cant everyone be happy with ecards.

[bravejordy]

Thanks for all your replies. There are certainly some interesting and varied comments among them.


andy-hughes, it was very interesting to discover you used to write reviews for the Melody Maker. Back in the 70s (when music truly was music), I used to buy all the music papers every week: Melody Maker, NME, Sounds and Disc, you name it. I was a huge fan of Elton John (still am in fact, although I have to admit I much prefer his early pre-1978 stuff). My music taste however, isn't just limited to Elton, I like to think of it as wide and varied. My pride and joy is my vinyl collection that dates back to the Fabulous Fifties and contains many classic Rock 'n' Roll hits.


I too, share your passion for writing and enjoy writing short stories. I still have my old Olympia typewriter, which, sadly, is now gathering dust up in the loft (I can't bring myself to part with it).


I agree with what many of you wrote about computers making life a lot easier and even now, after having used a computer for over a decade, I still find it fascinating that we can send an email and/or a photo to the other side of the world in a matter of seconds. But that said, I do miss the personal touch of a handwritten letter. I can recall having three penpals during the mid-1970s and sending each of them handwritten letters averaging twice a week and consisting of 10 - 16 sheets of foolscap paper. I can't for the life of me remember what we had to talk about but we were never at a loss for words. My first computer had Windows 3.1, it had no internet access so basically it was just a glorified typewriter, but just like my old Olympia, I only ever used it to write stories, never for personal letters.


A few of you mentioned mobile phones. Funnily enough, I do recall when people used to say television was killing the art of conversation. Well now, in an ironic twist, I think the same is true of mobile phones. I find it really ignorant when I'm in the company of friends and they decide to pull out their smart phones and start texting someone or to check their facebook status. As you can probably gather I'm not a fan of social networking websites.

Regarding tambo's comments about ecards, I have to admit I'm a traditionalist who still likes to write out and send Christmas cards in the good old fashioned way. Again this goes back to my earlier comments about handwritten letters (and cards) being more personal and, in my humble opinion, more sincere than ones that the recipient has to print out themselves.


Thanks again for all your comments, I had a hard time choosing a best answer.