I vehemently opposed getting a smartphone until 2014 or so, because I knew what it would do. Fried my brain, no attention, constantly listening to podcasts, no longer reading, no longer energy for seeing people, my sleep changed.

:horror: :wonder-who-thats-for:

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And gaming? If you were stuck on a level that was it. Maybe hope an older sibling can help you out. I remember all the guys from my class rushing to hang out at one kids home, because he had beaten a difficult boss and finally reached the next level.

If you had a dial-up connection, there were a ton of video game walkthroughs online even in the 90s. Still, there'd be those times where you're at the beach or the playground with some kids you've never met before and they clue you in about the secret exit to some StarFox level.