14 Comments
May 28Liked by Mary Austin (she/her)

Old knowledge may become useful again someday. My son works at a hospital dealing with a cyberattack. The radiology department has had to revert to some "old school" techniques -- reading images on the machine rather than from a file, typing reports instead of dictating. He is exasperated but I wonder if the old-timers are giggling gleefully together in the break room.

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That’s a fun mental image, the oldsters laughing at how much they know now, again!

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May 24Liked by Mary Austin (she/her)

So much automotive knowledge from a long past career. CAD software, Ford's Worldwide Engineering Release System. Teleconference calls, my pager! (pre cell phone days) something called a "digital fountain" that moved data of huge 3d models of vehicle parts around the world.

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That’s a lot! And it’s fun to think about pagers.

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My kids are confused anytime someone voice calls us instead of video calls us. They are always trying to see the person through the phone and don't understand that it can be audio only! 😂

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Lol! That’s funny!

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May 24Liked by Mary Austin (she/her)

Today has my first experience from a co-located receptionist at a PT office. She collected my insurance with a camera provided, printed documentation that required my signature. She collected my "payment". I didn't and wasn't in control of my payment. Trusting that it wouldn't be abused. It was very unsettling not dealing with a live person. I guess this is the way forward

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Interesting!

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May 24Liked by Mary Austin (she/her)

Expecting a gasoline attendant to pump your gas - unless you live in NJ or OR or parts of NY or MA

Knowing how to use stick shift - although this has been gone already for many yrs

Using a hard copy road map when traveling

Going inside a fast food place instead of using the drive thru

Using a flip phone instead of a smartphone let alone dial phones

Some things that are still relevant:

Talking to someone face to face instead of texting or emailing or zooming

Sending a hard copy note to acknowledge thanks or to express kindness or concern (Mary's powerful "note" ministry I can attest to; it will forever be missed at her former Detroit church. She actually sent a note of acknowledgement to every single pledger every single year.)

Hugs

Praying

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I miss having a stick shift, actually. And it is nice to go into a place instead of driving through.

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May 24·edited May 24Liked by Mary Austin (she/her)

I am reminded of my father, an accountant, who died 12 years ago at the age of 96. When adding machines were introduced he eventually tried one to do his income tax return. After having completed the forms using this new machine, I noticed he was doing all the calculations over again with his "head". When asked why he said he didn't really trust the adding machine and needed to check it with his head.

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That’s so interesting! That newfangled machine was untrustworthy. Impressive that he could do it in his head.

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May 24Liked by Mary Austin (she/her)

reminds me of this excellent song "Expert in a Dying Field" by The Beths. They have a beautiful way of expressing a similar sentiment, and they're millennials!

https://youtu.be/-KACt6YhOyY?si=W-ecXKbSRDNNrNO8

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It’s every age!

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