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There are some days when I wish that the Internet would just go away … for good!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Richard Weisser Realty

 

Life was simple in the good old days by Richard Weisser.There is an ever-increasing segment of the population that has no concept of what life was life before the advent of the Internet. And my guess is that about half of the people in business today have never worked in an Internet-less environment.

They have never heard the words “Mimeograph” or “Carbon Paper” although the term “CC” lives on in email nomenclature if not in realty!

And for whatever reason, parents seem intent on getting their offspring wired and connected at the time of weaning, with an eye towards attaining a competitive edge over the other three year olds.

Gone are the days when you could learn something once and commit it to memory and be done with it. In today’s fast paced high technology onslaught you must constantly learn and relearn or you will be crushed by those that would depose you.

Just a few years ago, it was a struggle for Internet dominance. Now, it is a desperate dance of flailing and thrashing just to survive.

I look back to the simpler times with fondness, when business was done over a cup of coffee and a handshake instead of a “tweet: or a “like.”

But if I spend more than a few minutes daydreaming about the "good old days," I will lose valuable ground so it’s back to work for me!

 

Comments (34)

Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Richard....

The person makes the post and not the post makes the person......too much technology can be used by people to hide themselves.....blogging and all the rest of it should be used to mine the depths of people and their subjects.....thank you

May 24, 2010 04:28 AM
Home Loan Search.Online
Home Loan Search Online - Newnan, GA

When I was in college the admissions office that I worked in used a typewriter with regularity. Also, my 16 month can't stay away from my laptop or Blackberry :)

May 24, 2010 04:31 AM
Steve Loynd
Alpine Lakes Real Estate Inc., - Lincoln, NH
800-926-5653, White Mountains NH

Richard, day dreams are still important...many an invention happens that way still. If I have an issue with my computer these days I ask my teen to solve it.

May 24, 2010 05:12 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Richard, the internet certainly makes our jobs easier.  Clients are always a fax or e-mail away.  I like sitting and having a cup of coffee.  I prefer that over a multitude of text messages.  I went to a marketing class this week and the presenter started out by saying, "Social media is not where it's at".  I almost got up and left the class.  She so wants to hang on to the way things used to be, that she's fighting what is and will be the future of doing business.  Be thankful that you recognize the direction that we are going and don't fight it.  I suspect, this woman will be out-of-business in a few years. 

May 24, 2010 06:20 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good afternoon Richard,

I like Chris had a contract (I might add perfectly filled out with the seller's disclosure initialed & signed plus the option& earnest money check includedand the pre-approval letter) delivered to my office. This was from a newer agent and I thought "when was the last time that occurred??"

May 24, 2010 07:09 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I will take the old days anytime!  Faster isn't always better and that is what our society has become

May 24, 2010 08:12 AM
Guy Thomas
WR Starkey Mortgage - Colorado Springs, CO

Richard, I can feel your pain. I, too, would relish a slice of the good old days of coffee and conversation. You are right, though, back to wirk now so I don't fall any further behind in the race to rule the digital netherworld.

 

May 24, 2010 11:00 AM
Melody Botting
Broker Associate PenFed Realty - San Antonio, TX
You Deserve The Best

That's right!  Get back to work.

May 24, 2010 12:06 PM
The Scott Loper Team Bux-Mont Premier Properties
Keller Williams Real Estate - Montgomeryville - Lansdale, PA

Hi Richard,

I don't miss ditto paper or fax paper or white out or the old typewriter I had to use for term papers.  Technology is overwhelming at times just trying to keep up, but it has done wonders for productivity!  How else could I be reading your post right now?

~Lisa

May 24, 2010 01:01 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Oh, I remember typing 1099s and w2s with many layers and carbon paper.  UGH.  And I recently had an email that said e-copy: *insert names here.  I found that funny.

May 24, 2010 01:46 PM
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

I forgot about carbon paper! I am a proud member of: I Remember When.... :)

May 25, 2010 12:09 AM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Richard, what I hate are the people who've become 'experts' at something because of what they read on the Internet.  Real estate being a good example.

May 25, 2010 12:24 AM
J. Philip Faranda
Howard Hanna Rand Realty - Yorktown Heights, NY
Associate Broker / Office Manager

When I was in college, the campus was flooded with people interacting in person. Now, when I took my nephew back to school, the campus was a ghost town. All the co eds were back in their dorm rooms on their computers. 

Nuts. 

May 25, 2010 03:58 PM
Tricia Pearson
Tricia Pearson - Pearson Real Estate - Texas Hill Country - Boerne, TX
Real Estate Broker, San Antonio/Hill Country Homes for Sale

My first computer class was FORTRAN and COBAL programming (way back in the dark ages). On punched cards no less; Lord help you if one was out of sync.  I still love the smell of the Ditto machine.

May 29, 2010 05:25 AM
Kristen Correa, Broker
Kristen Correa Real Estate & Reedy Creek Realty Services - Keller, TX
I love coffee & real estate. I am out of coffee!

... there are schools in my area with no textbooks -- tehno only. gasp.

May 31, 2010 05:10 PM
Gloria Todor
Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA
& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Richard, I remember one summer night driving around with friends, right after high school in my standard engine VW Bug without air conditioning and being lost with no GPS trying to find a payphone....

Gloria

Jun 04, 2010 12:59 PM
Kristyn Grewell
CENTURY 21 Goodyear Green Edmond, OK - Edmond, OK
Edmond, OK Homes, Oklahoma Relocation Services

Recently had a coversation with my 13 year old daughter about my taking typing as a class in high school.  I told her how the teacher would turn the lights off during our tests.  She thought that was the dumbest thing she ever heard.

Jun 07, 2010 01:22 PM
John Thomas
E3 Green HOMES - Boulder, CO
EcoBroker, MSEE, MBA

Amen...so very true. Sometimes I wonder if I can keep up. Just when I think I know what's going on something new comes along.

Jun 10, 2010 07:26 AM
Olga Diaz
COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON - Pullman, WA
Potter, Mng Broker, CRS, ASP, ePRO, ABR

Richard!  There are definitely days....the simple days.  Thanks for taking me back to so many memories!

Jun 15, 2010 09:11 AM
Valerie Baker
Exit Real Estate Professionals - Spokane, WA
Spokane Realtor

Somedays I think the computer is the biggest time sucker ever . . . I go on the internet to look up something simple, like a recipe, and end up viewing videos of some weird cat in Bangladesh . . .another hour shot!  Glad I never got drawn into online games!  As for those dittos . . .I wonder if they made us a little high . . .we sure did sniff them a lot!  :)

Jun 16, 2010 06:16 PM