Forum Discussion
mjbenedict wrote:
All of this technology is making society soft. Our kids need to experience the disconnect, some adults do too.
FYI, I'm an Electrical Engineer that does automation and feel this way. I'm well versed in technology, not above watching movies and downloading them to watch in my RV. Just sometimes like to visit places with no connectivity.
Imagine having to plan meeting people for a get-together, missing them but hooking up with some others for some spontaneous fun. They will never have this experience.
Technology didn't put an end to the spontaneous hook-ups it was my wife.;)- Like a lot of solo female travelers, I'm rarely willing to camp or noondock somewhere without cell service.
I grew up way out in the mountains. I know what local boys can be like when they've been drinking. I lucked out and have never been caught by a group of them, but I don't want to be in the future.
When I was younger and stronger I wouldn't have been concerned about cell service, but now I feel it is pretty essential for boondocking. Lwiddis wrote:
Interesting subject. Balancing the pros and cons of electronics but Congress seems to want connectivity.
Congress only wants what the people tell them. There is public demand for connectivity, and Congress is responding to the demand.
As for me -- my phone has a power off switch and I use it often.
Anyone that needs to contact me should know how to leave a voicemail or text. I figure if Lewis and Clark could navigate across an unmapped continent without a GPS and only a compass, I can live for a few hours with my phone off.time2roll wrote:
Starlink provided by SpaceX could soon make the debate rather moot.
Again a balancing act but this one will definitely be useful and can save lives.
Read a lot of rescue where a hiker was lost or injured and they are without cell signals.
I myself was lost arriving at night into my campsite and my Google map was rerouting and cannot find a cell connection.- Starlink provided by SpaceX could soon make the debate rather moot.
- Up till 1990 folks managed quite nicely without cell phones in the national parks.
If your worried about an emergency or staying "in touch" STAY HOME! - I am all for connectivity in CGs & visitor centers however for the rest of the parks, leave them be.
As a ham radio operator I have had the ability to make phone calls from my car or using a hand held radio since the early 80s, long before cell phones or internet, so I like tech stuff to a degree.
I also like being disconnected. We live in a sorry connected world now where the cellphone is no better than a drug. There is an obsession to be connected at all times. Even here on these forums, look at how many posts there are from people very concerned about cell service during an Alaskan trip.
Any day look at all of the pitiful people who cannot leave their homes without cellphones protectively in hand. - Disconnecting the national parks to the outside world will serve its purpose to people, which is to simply be with nature. Absolutely, hard for those who love real-time capture of their moments. But, I guess this is more beneficial to both humans and nature.
mjbenedict wrote:
All of this technology is making society soft. Our kids need to experience the disconnect, some adults do too.
FYI, I'm an Electrical Engineer that does automation and feel this way. I'm well versed in technology, not above watching movies and downloading them to watch in my RV. Just sometimes like to visit places with no connectivity.
Imagine having to plan meeting people for a get-together, missing them but hooking up with some others for some spontaneous fun. They will never have this experience.
Well stated - my feelings too!
I'm also an EE and pretty much understand what's going on in the world of electronic gadgets, and ... I don't like some of what I see. IMHO, some of it will not be beneficial to mankind in the long run.
Sometimes I think that some engineers and inventors have too much time on their hands ... or maybe it's that investors in gadgets have too much greed in their hearts.- All of this technology is making society soft. Our kids need to experience the disconnect, some adults do too.
FYI, I'm an Electrical Engineer that does automation and feel this way. I'm well versed in technology, not above watching movies and downloading them to watch in my RV. Just sometimes like to visit places with no connectivity.
Imagine having to plan meeting people for a get-together, missing them but hooking up with some others for some spontaneous fun. They will never have this experience.
