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Back then, a shared candy bar could start a whole chat on the climb
I used to meet folks on the mountain who would stop and talk for ages. Now, it's rare to get more than a quick wave. One morning, a guy I never saw before walked with me for an hour just because. Last month, I saw a family and their kids were all watching tablets instead of the view. It's not like it was. I guess people are busier or more into their own stuff. But those old talks are what I remember most about being outside.
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the_abby6mo ago
I used to argue that phones and tablets were just tools, no different than a map or a camera. Seeing those kids glued to screens while missing the whole point of the hike really got to me though. You're right, those random, long talks with strangers were the best part. Now I miss them too and I get why it feels like something's gone.
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jamie_garcia256mo ago
Even quick errands feel less human now, @the_abby, like grabbing coffee without that chance chat.
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ivan_cooper6mo ago
My buddy and I were on the Old Rag fire road last fall and met a thru-hiker who showed us his GPS app with real-time weather overlays. That tech actually started a deeper talk about route planning than any candy bar chat I can remember. Sometimes the device is the new shared thing to talk about. I see what @the_abby means about tools, and maybe we just notice the bad screen moments more than the good ones. People have always been in their own heads, thinking about work or family stuff, that part isn't new. The chance for a real connection is still there, it just might look different now.
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