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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder how our parents survived without the internet.

174 replies

ICanSeeTheSun · 27/05/2014 23:01

I tend use the internet a lot, from paying bills to clothes shopping.

I also use it to gets medical advice, nothing major but things like normal temperature to treating bites from bugs.

Also I have used the internet to research autism, due to my DS having ASD.

To applying for school places and follow DC schools on twitter/Facebook to get latest updates

I do wonder how my parent managed to bring up 7 kids without the internet.

OP posts:
Original poster
ICanSeeTheSun · 27/05/2014 23:02

The abiu is do we rely on the internet too much.

OP posts:
EatShitDerek · 27/05/2014 23:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ICanSeeTheSun · 27/05/2014 23:07

I wish my mum would stop trying, the amount of times I have sorted her pc out is not funny.

My parents will not shop online, but because I know what I am doing I have to order it via my PayPal or debit card.

OP posts:
deakymom · 27/05/2014 23:09

probably but my moms parents and inlaws were on the end of the phone and provided free childcare so she could work (for pin money apparently Hmm) she has more friends than anyone people who she just rings for advice so when my sister had an electrical fault she tried google mom just rang a little man who fixed the problem (for cost) she trades favors for example her tyre blew dramatically so she phoned a friend who said i need a bit of accounting done problem solved (she is an accountant) he collected her the tyre changed it and she did his books

yanbu we rely on google far too much

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 27/05/2014 23:09

My DMum still walks the mile and a half to Argos to pick up the catalogue. Only to walk back down again the next day to order. Then complain to me that it wasnt in stock so walks the three miles to the next one to eventually get the item.

Barmy.

Go online. Click and collect.

Mind,I can still remember when you wanted to go to the cinema you had to knock on the neighbours to see if they had a local paper which listes the films and times.

EatShitDerek · 27/05/2014 23:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

misstiredbuthappy · 27/05/2014 23:12

I never used the internet much until I found mumsnet now im forever on it Blush

thebodylovesspring · 27/05/2014 23:14

OMG how young are you all.

I am 50 and managed perfectly well without it as what you don't have you don't miss.

Use it constantly now as does my 80 year old parents. Grin

thebodylovesspring · 27/05/2014 23:15

OMG how young are you all.

I am 50 and managed perfectly well without it as what you don't have you don't miss.

Use it constantly now as does my 80 year old parents. Grin

Original poster
ICanSeeTheSun · 27/05/2014 23:15

Mumsnet a good use of the internet.

When I get a new device MN is the first thing I do on it

OP posts:
thebodylovesspring · 27/05/2014 23:16

Double post though Grin

Original poster
ICanSeeTheSun · 27/05/2014 23:16

I am 28, thebodylovesspring my mum is only 2 years older :)

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 27/05/2014 23:20

I have got no fucking idea.

We didn't have the internet until DD1 was 18 months old and it was still years until I got into googling for advice etc. We relied on a couple of shitty parenting books and making it up as we went along.

I'm like the borg now and spend more time on t'net than I do off it Grin Shopping without having the stress of going near anyone else? What's not to like?

Overthehillmum · 27/05/2014 23:20

I am 46 and remember going to the library to look up answers to questions my kids asked me, General knowledge, star constellations, who was in films, etc! I LOVE GOOGLE !

Mrsjayy · 27/05/2014 23:21

Urm they went out and did stuff set up direct debits and shopping and everything I can remember a time before the internet < leans on zimmer> we managed just fine dearie Grin

80sMum · 27/05/2014 23:23

I can't imagine life without the Internet now. But back in the 'olden days' pre Internet we didn't miss it because we couldn't in our wildest dreams ever have thought it possible! Such talk would have been the stuff of science fiction!

Mrsjayy · 27/05/2014 23:24

God I would be a wreck if I had parenting sites when mine were babies but tbh nobody cared how anybody brought up their children

FunnyFoot · 27/05/2014 23:28

People back in the day lived much closer lives.

There was always somebody close whether it be a family member, neighbour or friend of a friend who could impart their wisdom.

Funny that the internet can bring us closer to those who live on the opposite side of the world but at the same time drive us further from those on our own door step. Sad

gamerchick · 27/05/2014 23:29

i don't know how my parents managed, but I managed just fine without the internet. I've only had it around since i was early 30s Grin

Original poster
ICanSeeTheSun · 27/05/2014 23:32

I had the internet put on in my parents house, I was 17 and had aol on dial up.

Still got that email address.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 27/05/2014 23:33

My dd was 11 when we got a pc and then it wax dial up and we only allowed the net on after 6pm

Solo · 27/05/2014 23:36

I think the internet has wrecked society! I reckon we'd still have jobs and less crime without the internet. And more besides. It's a blessing and a curse.
I remember not even having a house phone until the age of 11, never mind a phone that does all but make your tea for you! Grin
I do love the internet, but when, for whatever reason I don't have it, I do far more in the house!

DrCoconut · 27/05/2014 23:39

I'm running a workshop at college on this very subject this week. Does anyone know of any ideas that illustrate it well? E.g. A quiz that you can't use the Internet for?

Mrsjayy · 27/05/2014 23:39

Oh house phone I think I was 8 or 9 it was a thing of wonder that dial was amazing I played with it for hours till I was told off

isseywithcats · 27/05/2014 23:55

i had three kids before the internet, i went shopping in the supermarket once a week by car to feed them, if anyone wasnt well i made an appointment at the doctors by landline phone,

we went to the park, swimming out and about in london by train and underground without booking online first didnt need to always got in to where we wanted to go, went to the travel agents to book holidays, went to the library to research anything i needed,

my kids and i went round to friends for coffee wernt called playdates then, my kids went out on their bikes or on the green in front of the house with a ball to play, the first games machine in our house was my oldest sons atari , if my kids wanted to talk to one of their friends they walked round to their house,

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