Anachronistic?

[AimlessWanderer]

An anachronism is basically something from a different time, seemingly out of position. It seems to me that many get discussed here from time to time.

I would consider myself quite anachronistic in some ways. When I shave, it is with a DE razor, using black soap and a badger brush. I've not had a television for about 10 years (though I do watch DVDs on the laptop), and the background noise in the house at the moment is an analogue tuned radio with no digital readouts.

I read books in print not on a device, smoke pipes and take nasal snuff. I have two pieces of cast iron cookware which get regular use, and I boil water in a stovetop kettle on my gas cooker. If a distance I need to travel is walkable, I walk. Heck, some people (especially around here) would even consider carrying a pocket knife to be an act from a bygone time.

Do you have anachronistic tendancies, in what way and why? Is it to be different, simply to experience the old way, or do you genuinely think the old ways were best?

[Vidar]

Oh no, I'm an anachronist!  There should really be a BBS which we can contact using phone lines and 1200/96 modems instead of these webby things.

No TV here either - it is a total time thief. If I want to see something this internet thing is actually good for that. Turns out Bill Gates was likely wrong about that - I'm pretty sure by now that it is not a fad. (That said I do kick myself for never getting any of those "complete world wide web" CDs - they would be anachronistic treasure by now).

I actually have days off both email and cell phone. Those days feels a lot more productive for some reason.

Not sure if I'm anachronist or just falling behind the times?


 

[Chako]

Does prancing about waving a sword and wearing a tin pot on my pate make me anachronistic? 

[Chako]

Wait...does using the word "pate" make me anachronistic? 

[moonweasel]

Three pedals, until my left leg ceases to function.

[Vidar]

Does prancing about waving a sword and wearing a tin pot on my pate make me anachronistic? 

Who doesn't under a full moon? If you prance around just right does it start to rain, hence the need for wearing the tin pot?

Edit: I say "hence" - is that a bit anachronistic of me? No idea what the cool kids say these days.

[magentus]

I use Stonehenge to tell the time and a branch to sweep my U Boat out instead of a hoover. And my U Boat isn't even one of the new ones.

I believe the infernal contraption I am typing on at the moment is the devils work and will burn it when I am done.

[Vidar]

Do you have anachronistic tendancies, in what way and why? Is it to be different, simply to experience the old way, or do you genuinely think the old ways were best?

I guess that deserves a more serious answer as well.

I think progress is going so fast in so many different fields that it would be humanly impossible and exhausting to keep up with all. So I end up focusing on a few based on interests, personal and professional needs.

For the rest I basically settle for whatever I can catch up to with minimum effort. And if I already got a procedure or method that works for less interesting or critical things then I just tend to keep doing what I know works. The wheels that doesn't squeak don't get any oil. It is a question of interest, needs and priorities really - one can't cover it all anyway. I'm sure I'll end up as a walking relic in some ways, but those ways are likely not all that important to me.

And of course for many things the old ways have worked great for very long times, and will likely still do so for long times to come too. (Cast iron cookware being one  )

[magentus]

My fear with technology is our over reliance on it. I don't mean life support machines or stuff that actually helps us, but every day things like sat nav, 'smart' phones etc that are actually de-skilling us as a society.

Over reliance on the internet is dangerous too because it can disappear so quickly - turn the power off and that's a lot of helpless people.

[Vidar]

I agree with that line of though. More specialized knowledge (at the expense of less broad base knowledge), and more reliance on technology, does breed more vulnerability.

Somewhat ironically I guess the ones knowing the old basic ways will end up being speSmurfpillsts for that very reason.

[Kev D]

An anachronism is basically something from a different time, seemingly out of position. It seems to me that many get discussed here from time to time.

I would consider myself quite anachronistic in some ways. When I shave, it is with a DE razor, using black soap and a badger brush. I've not had a television for about 10 years (though I do watch DVDs on the laptop), and the background noise in the house at the moment is an analogue tuned radio with no digital readouts the house next door being remodeled.

I read books in print not on a device, smoke pipes and take nasal snuff. I have two pieces of cast iron cookware which get regular use, and I boil water in a stovetop kettle on my gas cooker. If a distance I need to travel is walkable, I walk. Heck, some people (especially around here) would even consider carrying a pocket knife to be an act from a bygone time.

Do you have anachronistic tendancies, in what way and why? Is it to be different, simply to experience the old way, or do you genuinely think the old ways were best?

FTFY 

[magentus]

I agree with that line of though. More specialized knowledge (at the expense of less broad base knowledge), and more reliance on technology, does breed more vulnerability.

Somewhat ironically I guess the ones knowing the old basic ways will end up being speSmurfpillsts for that very reason.

It's frightening how many people (not just young punks) I see walking the streets looking at their phones completely oblivious to their surroundings. It's lucky for them I'm not deranged. 

[Kev D]

I agree with that line of though. More specialized knowledge (at the expense of less broad base knowledge), and more reliance on technology, does breed more vulnerability.

Somewhat ironically I guess the ones knowing the old basic ways will end up being speSmurfpillsts for that very reason.

It's frightening how many people (not just young punks) I see walking the streets looking at their phones completely oblivious to their surroundings. It's lucky for them I'm not taking the meds because I'm deranged. 

FTFY

 

[dks]

How many would dare to admit to having oldfashioned ideas regarding relationships or the place of men and women?

[magentus]

How many would dare to admit to having oldfashioned ideas regarding relationships or the place of men and women?

Looks like we need a poll.

[lister]

If modern technology lowered your skills, the problem is in you, not the technology. Never before was there such ease of access to information about pretty much everything. That is even more true if you are a native English speaker. I can do thing my grandfather couldn't even dream of and all the things they could.

Need to design a PCB? Google it.
Need to learn physics? Google it.
Need to sharpen a knife? Google it.
Need to use a scythe? Google it.
Need to...

And yes, I did all those things and more. Now get off your ass and start learning smurf!

 

[pfrsantos]

I agree with that line of though. More specialized knowledge (at the expense of less broad base knowledge), and more reliance on technology, does breed more vulnerability.

Somewhat ironically I guess the ones knowing the old basic ways will end up being speSmurfpillsts for that very reason.

It's frightening how many people (not just young punks) I see walking the streets looking at their phones completely oblivious to their surroundings. It's lucky for them I'm not deranged. 

Not deranged?! Who are you?! Where's the real magentus?!

 

[AimlessWanderer]

How many would dare to admit to having oldfashioned ideas regarding relationships or the place of men and women?

I do have some old fashioned social perspectives, and some more supposedly progressive ones too. No doubt both would offend somebody's sensibilities, so I'll refrain from going into specifics.

[Aloha]

If modern technology lowered your skills, the problem is in you, not the technology. Never before was there such ease of access to information about pretty much everything. That is even more true if you are a native English speaker. I can do thing my grandfather couldn't even dream of and all the things they could.

Need to design a PCB? Google it.
Need to learn physics? Google it.
Need to sharpen a knife? Google it.
Need to use a scythe? Google it.
Need to...

And yes, I did all those things and more. Now get off your ass and start learning smurf!

 

And start experiencing.  Reading and understanding is part but actually doing is quite another. 

[lister]

If modern technology lowered your skills, the problem is in you, not the technology. Never before was there such ease of access to information about pretty much everything. That is even more true if you are a native English speaker. I can do thing my grandfather couldn't even dream of and all the things they could.

Need to design a PCB? Google it.
Need to learn physics? Google it.
Need to sharpen a knife? Google it.
Need to use a scythe? Google it.
Need to...

And yes, I did all those things and more. Now get off your ass and start learning smurf!

 

And start experiencing.  Reading and understanding is part but actually doing is quite another.

As far as I am concerned, doing is part of learning.

[Aloha]

If modern technology lowered your skills, the problem is in you, not the technology. Never before was there such ease of access to information about pretty much everything. That is even more true if you are a native English speaker. I can do thing my grandfather couldn't even dream of and all the things they could.

Need to design a PCB? Google it.
Need to learn physics? Google it.
Need to sharpen a knife? Google it.
Need to use a scythe? Google it.
Need to...

And yes, I did all those things and more. Now get off your ass and start learning smurf!

 

And start experiencing.  Reading and understanding is part but actually doing is quite another.

As far as I am concerned, doing is part of learning.

We don't disagree.  I was commenting more in part to those who watch or read about how something is done yet don't actually go out and do. 

[gregozedobe]

I prefer to pay cash for my physical purchases & services, and this often raises eyebrows when it is for larger amounts (although even I don't like carrying around too much cash as it won't fit in my wallet once it gets over $2,000.00).

[Aloha]

I prefer to pay cash for my physical purchases & services, and this often raises eyebrows when it is for larger amounts (although even I don't like carrying around too much cash as it won't fit in my wallet once it gets over $2,000.00).

I've recently gone back to paying in cash as well.  For nearly 15 years thats how I paid.  It certainly does raise some eyebrows and I've also found makes the person who has to count it nervous.

[magentus]

I agree with that line of though. More specialized knowledge (at the expense of less broad base knowledge), and more reliance on technology, does breed more vulnerability.

Somewhat ironically I guess the ones knowing the old basic ways will end up being speSmurfpillsts for that very reason.

It's frightening how many people (not just young punks) I see walking the streets looking at their phones completely oblivious to their surroundings. It's lucky for them I'm not deranged. 

Not deranged?! Who are you?! Where's the real magentus?!

 

1.Taking a well earned rest in the U Boat at the bottom of an undisclosed location
2.Forming an evil Superteam with ductapetech
3.Being spliced into an organic Legion Mechsuit while being videoed by dks.

[lister]

If modern technology lowered your skills, the problem is in you, not the technology. Never before was there such ease of access to information about pretty much everything. That is even more true if you are a native English speaker. I can do thing my grandfather couldn't even dream of and all the things they could.

Need to design a PCB? Google it.
Need to learn physics? Google it.
Need to sharpen a knife? Google it.
Need to use a scythe? Google it.
Need to...

And yes, I did all those things and more. Now get off your ass and start learning smurf!

 

And start experiencing.  Reading and understanding is part but actually doing is quite another.

As far as I am concerned, doing is part of learning.

We don't disagree.  I was commenting more in part to those who watch or read about how something is done yet don't actually go out and do.

It seems we don't. 

Although it must be said that a broad knowledge base is damn useful when searching for the next step when you are actually doing something. So it also pays tu just read stuff. Sadly there is not enough time to try ones hand at every interesting thing us apes get up to. 

[Aloha]

 

Well.  There ya go.  I love learning just as much as the next person.  I tend to start with reading and watching but the "real" journey begins with combining those with doing, at least for me.  Time can be a hobby killer so I try to work as little as I can so I have time for hobbies  .   

[Vidar]

There is no contradiction between it being easier than ever to aquire information, and that the increasing levels of technology and specialization makes society as such more vulnerable.

There is more knowledge than ever in the world, but as nobody can know it all we also get more people that know a lot more about a lot less.

Technology and society is built layor upon layer upon layer. As we get higher and higher fewer are actually familiar with the base levels. If there should ever be an issue lower down it might be of limited use to know the whereabout of things higher up.

Besides, what is more anachronistic than the classical renaissance men that does a bit of everything? These days it is very easy to end up with the describtion of Jack of all trades instead. And to be fair, there is something to the saying that a little knowledge is dangerous.

That said we all need to start somewhere, and internet and experimenting is easier these days than ever - and that is a very good thing.

[lister]

A classical hallstatt man? 

[pfrsantos]

A classical hallstatt man? 

I just took a closer look at your avatar.

Show content

Are you Spider-man?!

 

[Vidar]

A classical hallstatt man? 

Lol Unlike Pfrsantos I didn't actually look at at your avatar until now. Truly a renaissance man I guess