I'm not really a Luddite, but I'm beginning to feel like one

[IDemo]

I've been online since '95 and have been employed as an engineering technician in the electronics field since '97, most of those years working in R&D for major companies. I also do a bit of programming, but only a bit.

We disconnected DirecTV last year (miss ya, Keith and Rachel). The cell plan for our non-camera equipped phones is: purchase minutes as needed at the checkout counter. I have never sent a text message. I have no interest in an iPad, but can see how others may find it terrific. I still drive the same vehicle I bought new in '93, and likely will until I win the Powerball and buy an electric.

The latest thing to gather my utter disinterest is FaceBook©. I've seen more than one article this week claiming it makes the internets as it has existed basically passé. My sister has made it clear this is how the rest of the family now stays in touch.

I'm sorry, but I value my privacy greatly. I know user settings can be adjusted somewhat, but I don't feel the need for others to leave comments on my virtual 'wall' any more than I would invite taggers to do so on the garage door. That, and a couple of fairly serious security breaches just in the past couple of weeks makes FB'ing a no-go right now.

You may leave comments on the 'reply wall' below, if needs be. :hi:

[Oregone]

1. You sound like me in terms of experience with technology

And Ill proudly call myself a Luddite at this point, computer science degree be damned!


I do not, and will never, have a facebook page. Since I started online in its early birth, the internet has been about anonymity to me


When I leave my office where I do program, I leave the techno gizmos behind (which were a ball and chain for a couple of years)

[izquierdista]

2. I'm with you

Agree 100% :thumbsup: (my car is a '92)

[Motown_Johnny]

3. you can watch keith and rachel online in real time or watch past shows at their site

Texting is useful at times but I don't understand the craze it seems to be to younger people. To me it seems like a step backward. A hand held phone would seem to be more advanced than a hand held telegraph. I keep expecting then next big thing to be texting in morse code.

I have a Facebook page and ignore it almost completely. To me it just isn't that useful. Again, it is another form of texting, I have a phone! (two actually) I also remember fondly the days when writing on a wall was considered an act of vandalism.

[IDemo]

5. I have tuned in (clicked in?) a few times to watch Keith and Rachel

But watching their shows nightly on the tube was a ritual with me. Somebody generally posts an "oh my god Rachel is rockin'" here when a don't miss episode airs.

I'm with you on the texting. I wonder how a Smoke Signals phone app would fly?

[Motown_Johnny]

19. ROFL.... smoke signals app for the iphone I love it

[truedelphi]

4. Just this week, Facebook officials announced that anything you have ever said

Or ever stated as part of your profile at FaceBook is now fair game to anyone in the world.

So I think I will avoid it.

And we drive an older car, and don't have a cell phone with a camera.

[eShirl]

6. Facebook is just a dumbed-down version of the internet

basically

[Speck Tater]

7. I'm right there with you.

I spend about $8/month on prepaid cell phone minutes. No land line. No face book page. In fact I don't think I've ever even visited face book. No Wii, no X-Box, no Nintendo, although I did have an Atari 2600 back in the day (What can I say, I worked for Atari at the time.) After nearly 50 years of programming I finally got pretty sick of computers in general. (I'm a retired software engineer who started programming in 1963.)

Right now I'm thinking of finding myself a nice cave to serve as my hermitage. I just don't see any point in high-tech gadgetry any more. What would I want cable TV for? To watch Paris Hilton pick a new British best friend? Give me a frickin' break!

[snagglepuss]

10. Holy Toledo another post I could've written myself though I haven't ever owned any

computer game. I also dumped cable over a year ago and haven't missed it at all. That said I have to admit that being a news addict and spend way too much time on sites like the DU or The Guardian.

[snagglepuss]

8. Other than your job history, I could've written your post. Nice to know there

are others who feel the same. People get annoyed at me because I let most phone calls on my cell go to VM. I have no desire to be available 24/7. It hard to believe that just 15 years ago few people had cell phones and people coped quite well with just a landline and a answering machine. I'm constantly dumbfounded seeing people walking or in a cafe with either one or both on the phone. Memories of uninterrupted time with friends before IM and cell phones are now treasured. Being with people now is very different.

[Duer 157099]

9. Ditto, on all counts n/t

[Gman2]

11. I am a moldmaker, process/automation eng, product designer

and I am luddite. Old school is the term I prefer. I can do anything. Many things I just hate doing.

[Historic NY]

12. I don't do FB either.

[BlooInBloo]

13. So don't put anything online that you wouldn't want to be public knowledge?

I never understood whiners about this.

[RC]

14. I feel vindicated now. My other half doesn't understand why I am so down with Facebook.

I'm forwarding her the link.

We should start a club.... No wait - Lets don't.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No cell phone with a camera. No computer games except what came with win XP. No playstations, etc.
My cell phone is for things like finding my other half in a store when I'm ready to leave. You know important stuff.

[notesdev]

15. You and me both

just because a technology is available doesn't make it desirable or intelligent to use it

then again, you're talking to someone who views Twitter as "the collective mental diarrhea of the human race"

[MadHound]

16. I'm in the same boat,

I've owned two computers in my life, both Macs, both have run like champs. I have a cell phone that is off most of the time, it is strictly for emergency purposes. I frankly don't want to be available to everybody every single minute of the day. I don't text, tweet or do Facebook because I know I don't give a shit about what my friends do every single minute, so why should they care about what I'm doing. Those I want to keep in contact with I will call (on the home landline), email, or *gasp* drop a letter in snail mail.

As far as vehicles go, I run them until they day. They have to have high quality, last a long while, and with as few gadgets as possible. I certainly don't want OnStar because frankly I don't want anybody else able to eavesdrop on my conversations or be able to actually take control of the car.

But sadly, in this wired society people regularly buy their own chains, not realizing that cellphones are used to track you, and employers now check your FB page to see if you're a worthy hire. Not to mention all the energy and pollution generated by people continuing to buy the latest, greatest piece of plastic coated electronics.

So don't feel alone, you're not the only one out there.

[Codeine]

17. It's not like Facebook looks into your soul, dude.

It's a social network site. As with any other place in the world one is best served by keeping one's secrets secret.

And I'm always vaguely amused by people who post on message boards who proclaim they hate text messaging. It's an efficient way of communicating -- why it rankles people so is beyond me.

[WinkyDink]

23. U rly r pzled? SRSLY? Whatevs, idek.

[jmondine]

18. I'm not a Luddite, but I play one on Youtube and Twitter

[krabigirl]

20. Facebook reminds me of AOL, and I think it will face the same demise.

[Greyhound]

21. Probably just a better understanding of how vulnerable your data really is. K&R

[WinkyDink]

22. I'm way ahead of ya! Land-line, no CallerID, Waiting, forwarding, nada. No answer? Get the hint.

No texting, FB, MySpace, or Twitter for me.

I've read that kids today don't care a whit about archaic things like "privacy." The more up in their business, the merrier.

Maybe they need their parents to track them for them to see how intrusive techology can be.