12 very normal things in the pre-internet age that are almost extinct

In an increasingly technological and connected universe, it is sometimes difficult to imagine how some tasks were done in an offline world. The growth in internet access, service improvements and speed of both mobile and broadband devices also bring a range of facilities that may go unnoticed in everyday life. Here's a list of 12 things that were very common in the pre-internet age that should make you amazed or feeling a bit old.

1 - Do school research

There was a period when Google didn't exist, believe it if you want. Computers were not common, the internet was not widespread and to do work and research it was necessary to visit libraries and look for information in books. Consulting encyclopedias was quite common, if not the only option. If having a state-of-the-art laptop can help with research these days, in past decades anyone who owned a collection of Barsa or Larousse was viewed as a resourceful person.

2 - Write letters

If writing testimonials on Orkut is something that many people do not remember, imagine writing letters in your own hand and send it to someone ?! In a time when phone lines cost land values, sending letters was pretty normal. Looking forward to exchanging mail that took weeks to reach their destination was the way to talk to the big guy who lived far away. Just like the world with email and WhatsApp.

3 - Search for a job

Without LinkedIn or groups with Facebook job openings, the way to look was via newspaper classifieds. That's right, the process was to buy the newspaper, go to the classifieds session, and look for something that matched his skills.

4 - Contact Network

Speaking of LinkedIn, the old way to have and grow your contacts network was, believe it or not, by meeting people. Going to events, clubs, socializing and expanding your professional contacts.

5 - Relationships

Did you know that before we had dating apps it was necessary to go out to meet people? Look how absurd! Having to go to a bar or a club to try to meet someone. Really, very bad.

6 - Go to the bank

More and more people prefer to use applications over banks, for a variety of reasons, including convenience, convenience and even security. However, there was a time when the only option was to go to the branch and talk to the cashier or manager. It didn't matter if the intention was to simply check your balance or make transfers, payments, or verify an statement. Everything was face to face.

7 - Phone Book

Consulting a phone was much more complicated in the past. Find the number of a pizzeria? Yellow Pages Only. And there won who had the best and biggest ad, all organized alphabetically. A completely different world.

8 - Listening to music

Pre internet, listening to any music was very complicated and laborious. First we could listen on the radios or having some vinyl record. Then, with the arrival of the tapes, it was possible to record (when playing on the radio, which unfortunately also included possible advertisements in the best parts of the song), rewind their tapes and take them anywhere. With the arrival of the Walkman with batteries, we gained freedom but only as long as the batteries lasted (and they didn't last long). Then came the CDs, what a golden age! It was possible to buy an entire album for one song, to listen quietly sitting, since discmans were very sensitive. Listening to music was hard work.

9 - Take and reveal photos

Before we had infinite Facebook albums, pumping Instagram of photos, and lots of selfies, having a picture to call your own required a camera, a movie, and someone to take photos of. No selfie on mobile. Photographic devices were expensive and woe to those who scratched the lens! The 12, 24 or 36 pose films were careful when changing the roll so as not to burn the film with exposure to light, which meant losing all your photos. And after you took it, you had to have it revealed, wait almost a week if you didn't have the time and money to reveal it (amazement!) Within an hour. With the photos in hand, it was time to make those wonderful family albums, great for embarrassing as an adult.

10 - Use maps

There was not always Google Maps to tell us the best way or Waze showing accidents and traffic jams. To know how to get to a certain place, if no one knew the way, it was necessary to use a map. Yes, a huge printed map, seeing the streets, the exits, if it was to turn on the second street on the left. The left is the hand of the watch? A big mess.

11 - Compare prices

Yes, comparing prices for any item you wanted to buy was complicated in the offline age. You had to go from store to store, asking sellers the best product, noting the amounts, deliveries, payment terms (mostly cash or pre-dated checks). You could also try to do this over the phone, but you had to rely (blindly) on the salesman on the other end.

12 - Watch movies and series

But calm is not quite. Before we had Netflix and its full-of-choice catalogs available, it was necessary to keep up with the television schedule to watch a show. On the other hand, having any spoiler was very difficult. To watch movies also required a good commitment. Whether it's going to the video store to lend the movie or buying a newspaper to find out which movies are playing at each location and time.

So, were you amazed? Not? So welcome to the best age club! :)

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