Let me explain. So imagine this tv show with the plot taking place about like a few decades before the internet was invented. If I see that, I suddenly feel some sort of anxiety as in: “Damn, how did people even get information?”, like I suddenly imagine myself, there, as a child, and not having access to this seemlingly unlimited access to information that I currently have, and not to mention, entertainment content. So like, that feeling of feeling like I’m in the past (as in: I’m imagining myself being in the past), but not have access to the internet just gives me a very bad feeling. Idk how to describe it. As an introvert, I’d hate the pre-internet era.
For context, I’m Gen Z (I mean like birth year around 2000-2005), and I grew up reading a lot of Wikipedia and educational Youtube videos, and variety of news articles, and reading through a lot of internet forums. I hate imagining a world where I didn’t have that. Like Growing up 100 years ago, I would feel even more lonely and isolated, I’d probably have ended my own life out of boredom, if it weren’t for the endless amount of information I am able to obtain.
What is this weird feeling that I’m feeling?
Reverse-Nostalgia?
History-Phobia?
Techno-philia?
(Am I being weird? 🤔)
When you’re living in it, you don’t know what the future will have. I like my information and tech, but growing up as a kid before all that was pretty sweet. You weren’t always after knowing or researching or finding out everything. You lived more in the moment.
There was also a freedom that will never return for anyone. Imagine going places and doing things that at best will only be a story people could tell. No pictures or videos that keep or prove anything forever digitally around. It’s something you subconsciously think about now all the time. It didn’t used to exist. Also the freedom of being a kid and wanting to go hang out wondering around with friends all day completely untethered or tracked. Just a “be home before the streetlights come on” and beyond that your parents have no idea where you are and can’t call you. Getting lost was an adventure.