To wonder if its compulsory to be into all things modern...

[21stcenturydropOut]

Like Twitter, Facebook, Reality TV, latest pop music etc. I chose to opt out of most of this popular culture stuff. I don't feel I need it in my life. It has started to feel a little isolating in certain circles though, and I wonder if I need to immerse myself in the modern world before my kids realise what a square I am. Someone said the other day that I am old before my time (i'm in my 30s) and I must admit that did hurt a little.
I know just a little about computers and stuff but have definitely been left behind in the world of technology.
I have felt depressed for a while now, so I do think I have isolated myself a bit because of this. Where should I start to modernise a little?

I'm in tech, and I use facebook for family, but twitter is silly, reality TV sucks - as does most music these days - and I feel much of it is just a tremendous waste of time.

I use an ebook reader because I'm too lazy to turn pages, and have a smart phone mainly so that DS can watch youtube to keep him quiet when I need to (virtually no-one calls me). The internet provides me with knitting patterns, shopping and news because I find it more convenient than physically going somewhere to get whatever I need, but most of what I actually do for fun I could have been doing 50 years ago.

Don't think you're isolated because you don't do the tech stuff, it might just be that none of the tech stuff is for you!

I'm with wilson. Radio 1 is all boots and cats. Radio 6 is where it's at.

I find the more I retreat from modernity, the better I feel.

I wouldn't bother tbh. I am in my mid 20's and don't have a TV, read mags, use facebook beyond actual friends/family or listen to much music apart from Heart and what DP buys. I don't feel left out too often! I have a smart phone but I don't use it as I thought I would, I have a couple of arcade-style games on there that I play but that's it, use it as a phone or to browse MN otherwise!

I enjoy it actually, it's funny to see people's faces when I tell them that I don't even have a TV!

For music, get spotify, add all songs you like to a playlist and then from the playlist screen start the radio based on that list. It will play your songs, plus songs it thinks you will like which you can then right click and add to your playlist if you do. I started it last week and love it already, apart from the fact that because i like Taylor Swift it keeps trying to get me to listen to Miley Cyrus and the likes

ARealDame, I also felt better once I had opted out of the modern world. For a while anyway. Then I started to feel like I was living in a bubble and there was no-one like me out there at all. Hence the feelings of isolation. But its true that individuality should be celebrated.
Wow ConfusedPixie, no TV, now that's hardcore opt out right there!

I will give Spotify a go, I have listened to Radio 6 today for a bit and I must say I am impressed. It seems to be for people who are too old/cool for radio 1 and can't tolerate anything on radio 2!

Thanks to all you lot for making me feel less of a square.

Radio one is shit. You aren't 12. Radio 6. New music, old music, all good music :)

I don't know anything about TOWIE or those other programmes. In a copy of Heat magazine I understand who about 5% of the people are. I don't care. I don't need to know about vacuous orange knobheads.

In the news if it's important it gets to me through FB or here .

I don't know, I think radio 1 has its place. It's like the shit tv of radio, sometimes it's light relief! I religiously listen to the mix tape on Friday morning at 9 and have a dance around the kitchen.

True, Strawberry it did teach me who Skrillex was :)

No, of course not. You must have quite boring friends if your lack of participation in twitter and reality tv is causing you to be isolated. Get new hobbies/friends.

I hate all reality TV and have no idea of any of the songs in the Top 20 - I'm 39.

Of course not. No X Factor, twitter, minimal FB here, but partial to other fluff. Just pick and choose what you like.

....goes off to google skrillex