But are you happier than you were then? Lately I've been struck by how the better things get the less I seem to enjoy them. Like I used to just look at a screen. Now I examine it for dead pixels and light bleed and motion ghosting and color evenness and signs of OLED burn-in.
I watch old movies and TV shows and am struck by how powerful people seem to be when they don't need to look at a phone a hundred times a day. Like the desire for constant improvement has left us unable to tolerate a lower level of stimulation.
Growing up in the 90s and 2000s it was ok to constantly want more because there constantly was more. Every year was a noticeable improvement. Where's it getting better now? I use my smartphone for the exact same things I was using it for ten years ago, except now it has fewer buttons and I can't replace the battery. I can't help but feel like it would've been far better for me if I hadn't been conditioned to expect unending improvement.
I watch old movies and TV shows and am struck by how powerful people seem to be when they don't need to look at a phone a hundred times a day. Like the desire for constant improvement has left us unable to tolerate a lower level of stimulation.
Growing up in the 90s and 2000s it was ok to constantly want more because there constantly was more. Every year was a noticeable improvement. Where's it getting better now? I use my smartphone for the exact same things I was using it for ten years ago, except now it has fewer buttons and I can't replace the battery. I can't help but feel like it would've been far better for me if I hadn't been conditioned to expect unending improvement.