A few years ago my DD was watching Nick at Night and they played an old commercial that said something to the effect of "Don't turn that dial, we'll be right back!" DD looked at me and said "What dial"? I began to explain how TVs used to have dials for channel changing, volume adjustment, etc. Her next question was "But Mom, we have like 700 channels?"

I then explained that we only had 7 and some UHF channels. The horrified look on her face was priceless.

Then she followed up with "You mean every time you wanted to change the channel or adjust the volume you had to get up out of your chair?"

It was quite the enlighting conversation for both of us.
We've had similar conversations with our kids.
"When we were your age we only had 5 channels, and at midnight all shows went off the air, after they played the National Anthem".
That, and the remote control talk---"yes, we actually had to get up to change the channel".
I sound like my mother--- "when I was your age we didn't have......", or "when I was your age we had (or had to..).....".
My DD saw an old fashioned 33mm camera once and asked me what it was!! Wow.
At Christmastime, I told my kids that shows like "Charlie Brown Christmas" were a real treat, as they were only on once a year, and if you missed it, you had to wait a whole year to see it again. I think these shows had more meaning because of that. Nowadays, most, or many shows are on repeatedly, so if you miss it once you can most likely catch it again very soon. Not to mention, nearly everything is available on DVD or online now to watch.
Times have definitely changed, but it does with each generation.
My brother shared that list with me today. It was a it depressing. I kept thinking of the movie Grownups where Adam Sandler kept making his kids play outside.
I saw that and thought it was kind of sad. Fortunately, a lot of kids still do play outside and are active outside the house; though with all this new technology more kids are spending more time indoors playing with electronics. Not that some of those can't be fun and give some exercise (some wii games do get kids moving, so that's good), but I think it's good to get out and get some fresh air, too. I hope it doesn't get to a point where kids don't go outside much anymore, but with sports and such, I don't think that will happen for a while. Not with all kids at least.
My nephew pointed out that in that movie (Grown Ups) that the kids were texting the maid. Poor maid, lol.
The only one I care about on that list is books. I don't want to buy a Nook or Kindle at all; I need to hold my paper book and turn the pages.
We like holding books here, too. We have quite a large collection, and I plan to keep buying them. I know reading books electronically is popular, but besides preferring holding an actual book, I always thought that it was 'safer' for me and my kids (not talking about anyone else) because if we accidentally lose a book, leave it behind, spill something on it, sit on it, or whatnot, we aren't out much money. Also, no need to worry about charging it, replacing batteries, or whatever is required for the Kindle & Nook. Lastly, sometimes computers malfunction, but books don't.
Again, I know they are very popular, and I'm glad people are enjoying them, and perhaps one day I will want and enjoy one. I'm just not interested--------yet. Maybe someday, but I think I'll always buy books with or without a Kindle or Nook. We also have dictionaries and encyclopedia's here... but I admit, I do use the computer to look most things up.
As for letters: I still correspond the old fashioned way with a few (very few!!) select people. There's something exciting about getting a real handwritten letter in the mailbox amongst the bills and junk mail. I admit, it's much easier to email, though. But, I'd like to keep writing, at least now and then.
Technology doesn't bother me much, but I suppose there are things I miss a little. It goes both ways, though---some things have made life much easier. I just hope we don't become too lazy or rely so heavily on computers that we don't know how to do anything by hand/the old fashioned way, if necessary. There are pros and cons to most things, and everybody's thoughts and feelings vary. To each his own
