Neighbour has no internet, tv or smart phone

[Bottlesofrumonthewall]

I was talking to my neighbour recently he is 40 I’m much younger than him and he casually mentioned that he has no internet at home, no smartphone, no TV, and doesn’t drive. He cycles everywhere.
it feels completely surreal in 2025 that someone actually lives like this. I think I would turn into a crazy lady without my gadgets. I coped as a child, but don’t play out anymore so now the idea of spending every day like that is completely alien to me, and yet here he is
Does anyone else know someone who also lives this way it just seems so rare now

I’m 50 and don’t watch television or films, on devices or the cinema or on television sets.

I understand not watching films/tv but do you have no internet? Not listen to music or the news?

Read a newspaper, listen to a record or CD??

Does he have a radio?

Fair enough. I still read a physical newspaper everyday but honestly forgot about cds and records 🙈

Yes, I knew someone like this. No TV, internet, or mobile phone. He was in his 70s and perfectly happy with how he lived. He would listen to the radio, and had a little portable DVD player (remember the ones with the little screen). He would get DVDs from charity shops.

I think it is easier to go without those things if you were not brought up with them.

I still listen to records! I do have the internet too though..

I'm 70 and have it all.

And love it. Keeps me in touch with family, son, and friends around the world.

Yet here you are using the Internet on mumsnet though?

While I use all modern devices I think it's nuts that many government departments, businesses etc are so dependant on them. I back up important information on paper. For instance the internet could so easily be knocked out in a matter of seconds by either a natural disaster or a war.

That’s how I know I need to go to bed because I didn’t pick up on that 🙈🤣

It would be hard to manage banking without internet access, or job searching or dealing with benefits. And for leisure activities like booking tickets, hotels, travel by train or plane. He'd miss out financially by not being able to shop around as easily and not being aware of money saving tips, online discount codes and cashback etc.

OP said he didn’t have them at home
so
He may have them at work

One of MIL’s friend said proudly that she doesn’t watch tv. Turns out she had an iPad and streamed tv shows. That’s the same thing but she thought it wasn’t. I didn’t bother pointing this out - what do I care. I wonder if this guy has an iPad or tablet.

We didn't have internet at home until ds started senior school and needed it for his homework. I watched my friends 5yos turn in to horrible screen addicted, anxious brats with their social media and smart phones, so I chose not to. I spent all day on line at work so I certainly didn't need another 6 hours of it in the evening.

Now ds is a happy healthy well balanced 17yo who reads a lot. No eating disorders, no bullying, no angst. Couldn't give a toot about labels or any of that rubbish.

I had a work phone but turned it off at night. Ds had a phone from 11 but left it uncharged under his bed until he was 16. He said people only used them for bullying and sending dick pics anyway, and he wasn't interested.

We both have them now, although I can cheerfully go a day without looking for mine.

Rural life without a car would be very difficult, but ds cycles to work and doesn't want driving lessons yet because he says cars are just too expensive (and he knows I'll drive him anywhere urgent).

People live different lives. Nothing odd about that.

Yes, I know people who live a little bit like this, some of them have no internet no phone but they do have TV. Some of them have internet and a desktop computer but no phone and no TV.
Obviously this fellow must have other interests such as reading, some other hobby, it would be very difficult to go from a connected lifestyle in which you have the ability to look things up so quickly and easily, communicate so quickly and easily etc, and then just not have it.
But it wouldn't be quite as difficult perhaps do not have it, especially if you never had it, you would just really assume that everybody else is so addicted to screen time. You'd really see it more than everybody else sees it. It would be like walking around in a land full of zombies I would think.
Interesting, your neighbor. Although I would think that it's difficult for him cuz so many things you have to do online these days, but I'm sure he gets around it. If he's not lying of course :-)

@meadowfinch My dc aren’t screen addicted anxious brats. They have no eating disorders nor is there any bullying and no angst. But from primary they have been expected to complete homework on screens (TT rockstars/spelling shed) then during the pandemic they were expected to do a lot of online learning e.g bbc bite size amongst others. It’s great that your dc didn’t need to access those educational tools but most dc do.

People who think they’re somehow morally superior or healthier than other people just because they refuse to go online really are a strange breed.

And is he happy and contented?

If he wants to live a life free from all these trappings of modern life and is living the life style that suits him then good on him.

@Bottlesofrumonthewall Why do you think you would turn into a crazy lady without your gadgets?

I won’t argue with you about the majority of what you’ve said, but it’s perfectly easy to manage banking without the internet. And the reason I know this is because, although I have the internet, I do not do internet banking. I have no problems or inconvenience at all.

Also, it’s very easy to deal with benefits and pensions without the internet.

Ooh, I was quoted in a deleted comment. What did it say?

My brother is 67 has no internet or smartphone, but does have Sky TV, is retired and does drive.

My DM refused to even consider internet, smart phone, any gadgets etc as she believed if you used them you were inferior…and therefore she superior.
Ridiculous.