Flash Back to Simpler Times

 As I grow older, wearier and wiser I find myself flashing back to how things used to be before all the exasperating changes in recent years. I'm grateful for having a mind and ability to think particularly when visiting loved ones no longer able to do so given the ever escalating populace suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia. I console myself in thinking that perhaps they are ironically fortunate in not realizing what’s going on reinforcing the truth to “ignorance is bliss”.  While times are changing so are we the people whether wanting to or not and even worse in not realizing what we are often subjected to.  It’s all happening quietly – I’m referring to the rift between the baby boomers and millenials; the great divide between the wealthy and poor seeing the middle class is near extinct; the technological giants exerting control over each of us in every imaginable aspect and sector.  All the political correctness leading to more incorrectness; freedom of speech not so free and the constant monitoring of our lives decreasing privacy. With all the security systems we have in place whether in our homes, places of business, on city streets and even when attending public events we don’t feel as safe as it used to be.

I can’t help reflecting on my childhood having come from immigrant parents leaving behind their loved ones and homeland to start elsewhere for a better future. We arrived by ship with few belongings contained in a wooden crate barely enough to cover a small corner of the upper flat rental we moved into.  The 500 square foot unit had a tiny kitchen, small living room, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom. The transistor radio was our only form of entertainment. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we also had to squeeze in two of my dad’s younger brothers once they also came to Canada.  My uncles (both respectively in their early twenties) got to share a used pull out sofa bed given to us and who’s coils poked into their ribs. They had to schedule shifts for the shared bathroom contrary to the homes of today boasting an ensuite for each bedroom.  Yet despite the little had, people were happy back then even as newcomers to a strange place. Family was family. Respect meant everything; a verbal contract sealed with a handshake was considered a done deal. None of this holds true today. Those times are long gone. Nowadays we’re burdened with numerous pages written in barely visible  print or equally small text needing to be enlarged on computer screens while ruining our eyes as we struggle to read. Signed contracts are broken; honour and trust non-existent or becoming extinct.   

While growing up the warmer weather was welcomed with open arms as we headed and remained outdoors as long as possible, often called in for dinner by a yelling parent.  I haven’t heard those calls in many years although living in a neighbourhood full of young children. Many of the youth of today are being raised with little to nil social interaction opposite my days when we took our children everywhere with us. Frequent visits with family and friends was a must ; table manners and etiquette strongly enforced, P & Q’s practised until perfect, common sense prevailed, this being unfamiliar terminology to a vast majority these days. Everyone has become so wrapped up within themselves leaving little time for what values hold as absolutely sacred and necessary.

 When meeting my girlfriends for coffee this is a frequent topic amongst us – that of how much effort goes into distracting the children’s attention from their electronic gadgets. We can thank the fast growing pace of technology for all this. I already knew that forty years ago when we were introduced to computers in the legal office I was employed with as a secretary. In later years that job title was also changed and replaced with the word “administrator” as if insinuating a higher level of skills or status quo.  I vividly recall the day our computer systems were delivered to the office and remember how ecstatic my colleagues and I were in knowing our jobs would become far easier and our levels of efficiency greatly increased. Being in the legal field itself attests to the necessity for perfection - no margins or room for errors on documents of any sort. It was wonderful to replace triplicate copies separated by carbon ink paper inserted into a manual typewriter – wow so exciting! In fact I remember well the day we discarded all those office supplies including White Out (correction fluid products) no longer needed thanks to the computer generated thesaurus and spell check. However on the down side, once I became more proficient it took little time for me to discover the full potential computer research could lead to and it wasn’t always a good thing. I remember telling my boss one day that while grateful we were using computers, at the same time I feared he brought into the office the modern day "monster". That was way back then - imagine the monstrous proportions of all the massive technology developed since?  The harm computer research could lead to if not used appropriately. It’s become a known fact there are ever increasing websites considered dangerous, illegal and harmful. The internet has also become vastly inundated with scams and hackers out to destroy people unaware of the risks. Many have fallen prey to online scams defrauding the innocent of their hard earned money.  In listening to world news it became public knowledge that the format some crimes took place were generated from online research. This was and still remains a fact or shocking revelation that this type of harmful information is circulated online.  The internet offers a mix of good and bad  information to be used at the user’s discretion. Not all of society uses discretion wisely – attesting to the evil times we’re living in. 

There are so many radical changes affecting us on a daily basis - the necessity to do comparison online research as to shopping for daily household needs i.e. groceries; apparel; etc. This is more importantly how we research for life, vehicle and home insurance rates; medical information as to physicians, prescriptions, and even house hunting - essentially as to any goods or services needed for human consumption. There was a time when some doctors made house calls; now you're forced to make appointments online. These days when needing any form of live customer service you are asked to go online and given an option to "chat" – options that I personally never attained any success using. With the constant changes taking place just in telecommunications we’re forced to do our homework (research),  continually fight or search for better rates and yet remain tolerant and patient while the drama unfolds. We as the paying consumers are not allowed to raise our voices since it appears these days “the customer isn’t always right” contrary to how it used to be quoted and treated quite differently.

I’m convinced that too much of anything isn’t always helpful – less is more.   Way back then when we emigrated there was only one telephone provider for the entire country and that’s who you paid for services.   In former years you had "hands on" interaction with real people who got the job done opposite the automated systems in place that don’t always provide the answers needed. Our elderly face this challenge and are often forced to push aside their senior's pride in order to turn to  more knowledgeable family members for help, making them feel more so ‘inadequate”.

 Nowadays there are numerous companies to research therefore greatly increasing further our levels of stress; With all the technology and digital automation used we’re somewhat being abused by these outside forces. Our new daily tools consist of words like Login, Password, Pin, Reboot, Shut down, log off - to name a few. I alone have two handwritten pages of recorded login information to a myriad of most frequently used apps and sites – it’s overwhelming. They are actually on paper because I can’t change my conservative way of thinking - a hard copy of anything is always needed just in case. Back then the basic tools for survival were those used by most moms while in the kitchen prepping meals or cleaning the house; dad’s tools used at work and those for tending to the garden– just a simple life without all of the added gadgets and complexities of today.  We didn’t have these types of concerns back then and systems worked just fine. People knew their roles and place – today many appear not to know who or what they are let alone their role or place in society.

Way back then we worked Monday to Friday, Saturday was housecleaning and shopping day and Sunday families went to church and enjoyed a meal and spending time together. Far simpler and compassionate, less competitive and complex than how life has become and is lived by many today. Selfishness and greed appear to be what motivates a large majority of the present population, less known characteristics of days gone by.

Which leads me to concluding – will the phrase “back in the good old days” resurface in years to come and be voiced by our present youth once they arrive at the same weary, fragile state I’m presently in? Will this vicious circle ever turn around again?

Word count – 1580