Technology, Schmechnolgy

I really hate labels, and "Boomer" is no exception.

Sadly, I do fit the Boomer profile in many ways. I prefer to read physical books.  I like to be home before it gets dark outside because I'm not comfortable driving at night. And I'm not quick to jump on the tech train.

That's not to say I don't know how to use my smarty-pants phone, stream shows or work with AI. I can do all these things, but I don't embrace new technology without hanging on to prior iterations. The problem comes when I don't consider that others may have moved on.

Case in point. I burned a CD to share with someone. Mr. Ginley said, "You know, that's a nice gesture, but how do you know they have a CD player?"

Honestly, it hadn't occurred to me, largely because the person I'm sharing with is also a Boomer. But he had a point. As if to sear that point into my brain, I saw the following headline in the New York Times today: Where Can I Buy a DVD Player?

I was gutted. While I do know how to stream movies, I still mostly watch them on DVD, because, contrary to what the youngsters tell you, not everything streams – or streams when you want to watch it. 

In a corner of my dining room are stacks of DVDs filled with some of my favorite all-time shows. I can pluck any one of these, pop it in when the mood hits and enjoy it commercial-free and without it pixelating when my internet connection is cranky. 

I should have realized that DVDs were on the way out when I worked for Axel, and we were starting to convert old VHS tapes to USB because customers didn't have a way to watch discs. 

Still, it makes me sad. Maybe I should go out and buy a DVD player or two. 

If I survive the apocalypse, I could make a fortune.