QUESTION:

There is NO internet. No Social Media. What are you doing?

Our present world is divided into those born in the decades pre-internet and those born after it.

For those born before it, we have memories to fall back on. Maybe not enthusiastically, maybe not so eagerly- but we know: We can resume all (or more of) the things we did before it arrived.

Those born after- those like Dylan who oft says "Is this gonna be another 'I remember when, sonny...' thing?" (This, said in a croaky, old-woman voice.) - they will read the above and have no concept to apply it to. They will simply say, "This question is too hypothetical. It can't happen; therefore no use theorising about it."

My memories serve as mere amusements for him, or, with a hefty dose of disbelief, as a wistful lot of "...made up shit to offset the even shittier shit today." Quote.

I know what I'd be doing: Thinking up new ways to amuse myself. Or rather 'old' ways. More reading, more writing, (long as there was still a muse) taking up crafts and making stuff; talking to people out and about- in fact doing more. More of everything I do today and more of the stuff I stopped doing due to time constraints posed by this screen. So, out of the house more. (I do this anyway when I am infrequently outbound; the phone stays housebound- else it comes along as a camera.)

Dylan? Marcus?

What of them? Say the unthinkable happens: They wake one day to no internet and therefore no Social Media... their iPhones 'bricks' in terms of functionality. How will they cope without pre-internet memories to sustain them and help them adjust?

I've seen them. Times we've moved and had to wait a few days for the new connection. Or even when the net is down for an hour or a few. Know what they do? They still sit in front of the screens (if a temporary disconnect) and rummage among saved bits and pieces- else play games to while away the time till "It's back, mum!". During a relocation disconnect however- after a day or so, they turn to me.

"So what did you do mum? Seriously!"

My "...made up shit to offset the even shittier shit today." is no longer "Is this gonna be another 'I remember when, sonny...' thing?" It is - those times - a desperate plea from them for me to provide amusement and/or distraction. Because THAT is what the loss of internet equates to for them: Boredom. Only they don't quite view it this way.

Disconnection (for them) is akin to walking a vast, empty desert aimlessly and... alone.

Yet in some ways they are the fortunate ones- born after its inception but close enough to it to have watched it evolve and grow- they therefore have memories of 'pre-Social Media' days. And a parent born before it.

What of the next generations- introduced into an established (entirely connected) and thriving world wide web. What of them? My children's children. I'll be gone by the time they are of age to contemplate such things. They will only have my children's impressions of my memories- and the relics of videos and pics, viewed much as we view old things today: Curiosities but... meh- nothing of real relevance.

I'd do okay. I'd miss the ease, convenience and the 'all knowledge at my fingertips' aspect. I wouldn't miss Social Media. In fact- I might even be more social without it...

Or I might not. Since there'd be no pressure to attain social status.

Yesterday, a female friend of Dylan's sent him a pic on snapchat of her brushing her teeth. That was to tell everyone "I just woke up." It was just after 2pm.

I said, "There's no such thing as 'personal' any more huh? You guys share everything."

He nodded.

I winced.

What are you doing without internet?