Do you remember life before the internet?
A few years ago, I was visiting with my father-in-law as we were on our summer holiday back home to Egypt. He was in his late-sixties, and though he was suffering from some serious health problems, he was mentally and physically okay. One of his granddaughters had just left when we arrived.
As we were having some tea together, my father-in-law couldn’t hold his temper any longer. He huffed and puffed, and I put my tea cup back on the table, holding my breath. I didn’t know whether he was in pain or whether he was devastated by anything. I remained silent, praying my any one would join us in the living room. No one did. And, the poor man exploded.
‘She was on that junk machine for the whole day. Her fingers tapping and tapping all the time. Her eyes fixed on that trash. She didn’t hear, didn’t see but that … phone.’
I swallowed and thanked God mine was in my bag.
‘That’s what she always does every visit. It’s stuck in her hand. In the kitchen, at the dinning table, and even in the bathroom.’
When I burst out laughing, he smiled and his anger evaporated a bit.
‘Stupid generation.’ He added before changing to another topic.
I think this summarises how life has changed after the internet, or can we be more accurate and say after having it on our cell phones. A few years before this happening, my in-laws’ house was full of life and noise. People, young and old, were talking, playing, laughing, arguing, etc. But, after the interent has become widely used and accessible, life is mainly about being live, online. That why my father-in-law couldn’t quite fit into the new generation’s electronic mold.
With all the best wishes,
Nahla
Pure and Simple 