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| 1981 Movie Raiders of the Lost Ark |
I conducted an experiment a few weeks ago. I went back in time to February 1983 when internet, personal computers and smartphones did not exist. As a matter of fact, the main source of entertainment was scheduled television programs. Music was played on tape recorders and CD players. Microwave ovens were rather common in North America; however, many other kitchen appliances were not invented yet. The reasons why I wanted to go back in time are to revert to a simpler lifestyle to see if my vital stats and skin problems would improve, to live in a not so wired environment to see if I could overcome my F.O.M.O. feelings (Fear Of Missing Out), and to see if I could still manage to live comfortably without the modern conveniences. I chose forty years because it would be difficult and/or costly to simulate a time earlier than the 1980's. From my travelling days in undeveloped countries, I learned that many people in the world are still somewhat stuck in the 1980's. I would try to put myself in their shoes for four days.
On Feb 6, 2023 6:00 p.m. (PST) Experiment commenced. An hour before the start of the experiment, I posted on Facebook that I would be conducting this experiment. At 6:00 pm I turned off my laptop computer and smartphone, and turned on my bedside radio/clock. I heard news of powerful earthquakes striking the region near the Turkey/Syria border. Because I do not have a television, I could not see any images or video clips of the natural disaster. I was antsy about getting more information about the earthquakes. My insomnia had only gotten worse than the day before. I had my radio on overnight.
The next day, Feb 7, 2023, I went to the library after breakfast. I took out some pre-1983 books but no VHS. There were no newspapers that I could read in the library. Then I went to the nearby mall to do some grocery shopping. I avoided using the self check-outs and paid with cash. I might have a credit card in 1983 but POS machines were not invented then. I wanted to make a phone call but I could not find any payphones within a 2 km radius of the mall. That night I accessed internet to find out more details of the earthquakes. I was restless and could not fall sleep until 6 a.m. in the morning.
On Feb 8, 2023, I woke up in the afternoon and heard on radio the news of a city bus driving right into a daycare building in Laval, QC, Canada. I spent the day in a haze, getting emotional at times and cried several times during the day. My mind wandered off miles away. Reading did not help. I managed to calm down with meditation. I kept telling myself not to access internet but I simply could not. I read all the related news articles and shut off my laptop again. What would provoke the mentally unstable bus driver to commit such a horrific crime to innocent children? What has our world turned into? Falling asleep was just as hard the night before.
On Feb 9, 2023, I woke up around noon. I thought I must try to do something else to divert my attention to the disasters. Making spring rolls in an air fryer would not take more than 45 minutes normally. Deep frying the old fashioned way using a small pot actually took two hours. I also decided to quit drinking coffee. It took me a much longer time to prepare chai with the traditional Indian method. I read a book cover to cover that day. Falling asleep came naturally at 2 a.m.
The final day of the experiment came on Feb 10, 2023. After my morning chai and breakfast, I went to a nearby drug store. My blood pressure had gone down to a somewhat normal level, 132/84. The breakouts on face had subsided. I returned the books and stayed in the library until dinner time. At 6:00 p.m., I turned on my cell phone and laptop. I almost immediately posted on FB pleading for prayers for the earthquake victims and survivors in Turkey/Syria and for the injured children and victims in Laval. I fell asleep at 2 a.m. that night.
What did I gain from this experiment? The number of email and notifications decreased exponentially as I stayed offline for an extended period of time. The principle of "If you don't use it, you'll lose it." also applies to electronic communication. Newspapers, books, payphones, VHS players, etc. and most of things that I grew up with, would soon be totally out of sight. As long as I have internet access, I could live in a vacuum. The rate of information transfer is almost instantaneous these days. Whether I want to know so much and so fast is another issue. I wonder how much of independent thinking I have lost because of these technological advances. I never really have enough time to digest it all these days.
