Open Thread: Obsolete Mores

There are some ideas that never went out of style – or so we thought.  The pace of technology, instant access to everything, and social media, plus the march of time – all conspire to move the goalposts of the concepts we took for granted into….wherever the hell they are going.

At least once a day, don’t you find yourself pausing to think, “wait, what?” and ask yourself whatever happened to…

The PUBLIC SQUARE

Remember when public spaces especially public transportation, were blissfully quiet?  No music blasting, no being unwilling eavesdroppers to others personal conversations?  No loud music blaring from cars at window shattering volume? Whatever happened to discretion? Beyond that, in certain areas you might at any time be drafted as an unwilling participant in someone’s TikTok, or Instagram, or whatever pathetic bid for attention some wannabe influencer is using…or worse, to be asked to move so they can continue their little ‘production.”

OWNERSHIP!

Remember how you could own stuff?  I used to buy a disc for the latest windows software and it was mine. I was limited in how many times I could install it elsewhere….but I owned it.

Not any more.

You used to be able to own all sorts of software (I’m looking at you, Microsoft).  You bought it once and it was yours to keep.  Now there are tons of things we are used to owning and now must rent.  That’s probably why vinyl is making such a comeback, as opposed to Spotify.

PRIVACY

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve  been informed of a ‘breach.”  I made more than $200 this past year off class action lawsuits against security breaches…especially of institutions that should have known better – medical organizations, Facebook, and even TranUnion, for Heaven’s sake- a credit bureau!

TIPPING CULTURE

Tipping used to be pretty easy and fairly limited. Someone took your order and brought you your food. If they were good at it, you gave them a modest tip. If they were really good at it, you gave them a bigger tip.

But now I’m being asked to tip at self-serve places or take out joints where the only action by the staff is putting my item in a bag.  Sometimes they don’t even ring me up, but hand me a gizmo and ask me to sign….with a tip screen that starts at 20 percent and goes up from there.

PAPER

I won’t eat anyplace where I have to scan a QR code to see the menu. (I’m looking at you Nando’s. I miss humans AND your chicken salad but it’s a hard pass from me.) I insist on paper receipts.  I hate ‘paperless billing.”  I need those files for my taxes and don’t want to wade through online files searching for the receipt for that DVD player I bought in 2020. Besides, it’s hard to wade though hundreds of emails to find the note from my late husband…especially when I’m only an Outlook ‘Upgrade” away from everything being completely out of reach.

YOUR TURN

But that’s me.  What important concepts and ideas are going the way of the buggy whip? Let us know in the comments!

Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; she writes frequently on Old School New York City and performs at open mic readings throughout New York City.  Send  Open Thread suggestions to editor@seniorplanet.org.