Whats something that clearly split your life into "before" and "after"?

[Dream Canteen]

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

Before 2020 *Covid* and After 2020 *Covid*

Like I've said before, pre 2020, the world and PEOPLE seemed so much more REAL, HUMAN, full of human EMOTION, all night chats about anything and NOTHING, silly chats even seemed so REAL with SUBSTANCE, you could just sit around and chat about something. We could have long, indept REAL conversations, we could just SLOWLY chat, plan and scheme.

Post 2020, everyone seem robotic, glued to their phone, in a HURRY, one word replies, nothing seems REAL anymore. No one has any attention span anymore beyond a few seconds, you can't have an actual conversation anymore, beyond one word replies, and if you press it you're met with hostility, "I don't know, GO AWAY!" ugh

I feel like I'm on a different timeline

What you’re describing absolutely pre-dates COVID.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Dream Canteen

What you’re describing absolutely pre-dates COVID.

Would you trace it back to the smartphone? I remember seeing the restaurant thing TLF referred to going way back before 2020--all thru the 2010s, for example.

And that zombie stare TLF refers to--that probably comes from tons of time staring at the phone.

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by Dream Canteen

What you’re describing absolutely pre-dates COVID.

Honestly I AGREE, I did see the beginnings of it before Covid, probably around 2016 or so. When I was a caregiver for my grandmother during that time, I'd go out to town, do my shopping, and errands and the first thing I started noticing is NO ONE smiling, 85% of the ppl having the exact same blank look on their faces.

But I think Covid accelerated it off the charts!

Much like I have seen hints of our "old world" after Covid, around 2021, and 2022 I did have some really good interactions, but they were rare, but since like 2022 everything has just been a BLUR to me, same ol same ol, void of substance living.


A random example memory that comes to me is. I'm a writer and I had a friend who sadly passed away, who was a writer as well, he lived in N.H. and I live in TN, and we would hop on Skype, chat, write and just while away the hours, writing as we chatted, then we'd share our stories with each other, we'd critique, collaborate, etc.....

I find it hard to believe I actually did that SORT OF THING in THIS REALITY!, I cannot even fathom doing anything remotely similar to that with anyone today! Just something so casual, laid-back, NOTHING but full of REAL substance and humaness! Just casually passing the hours, chatting, typing writing, not being in a hurry, etc... I can't even explain properly the feeling I'm talking about but maybe you can understand it. I cant imagine anyone have the attention span, or the 'spirit' to do anything even close to that nowdays. Everything has to happen INSTANTLY now, no time to just sit and BS with each other.