Before cell phones.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by FreakyStyley69

[snip]

Anyways sometimes at work there is downtime. Lots of it. I honestly, It got me thinking. What would I do without my phone. Like literally.if you were at work with absolutely nothing to do. What do you do? It is now the norm for people to reach for their phone play a game text someone etc.

[snip]

So anyways.. Really what did people do to pass time when there was nothing to do AT WORK.

Interesting that you observe this. I've found that in professional life, I am never, ever caught up. There's always more to do than there is time to do it, so the best one can do is keep up with the "must do" list. Occasionally one gets to dip into the "nice to do" list and deal with something you'd like to get to, but usually can't spare the time for. I haven't been without something to do at work for 30+ years.

I'd say that if you have lots of time with nothing to do, you are under-employed or not realizing that there is the opportunity to do a lot more than you're doing.

I confess that I take "mental health" breaks throughout the day and drop into sites like this (and make comments), but it's not because I need something to do - it's because I'm taking a momentary mental break.

Before there were cell phones or the internet, I had a longer attention span and probably spent more quality time on work.

[Marial]

Originally Posted by FreakyStyley69

I almost made a new screen name to post this as I knew I was going to get the old guys flamin about this generating and day deir Facebook. Then I realized I have no reputation to lose.

I got my first cell phone when I was 18 that was around 2006 since started my career at 20 I have always had an iphone. Bosses come to me to for all sorts of information from random to work related. Seems knowing how to search is a skill?

Anyways sometimes at work there is downtime. Lots of it. I honestly, It got me thinking. What would I do without my phone. Like literally.if you were at work with absolutely nothing to do. What do you do? It is now the norm for people to reach for their phone play a game text someone etc.

I don't know what I would do. I am always learning looking up random stuff. Just constantly learning. People are surprised at my expertise on so much that I wouldn't have if it weren't for my phone and the Internet.


So anyways.. Really what did people do to pass time when there was nothing to do AT WORK.

I still don't dink around on my phone at work.

The biggest difference that I've experienced between pre-cell and post-cell is that back in the day when you made plans with someone you stuck to them, and if there was a hiccup people were more patient. Now it's like having a combination of get-out-of-jail-free card and electronic leash.

I have a major love-HATE relationship with cell phones.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Downtime at work?
What's that?

Damn You lazy-butt youth .

Originally Posted by FreakyStyley69

I guess I'm the only one who may be in a position say 100 foot up in the air, tied off to a beam can't go anywhere nothing else I could possibly be doing.

Sleep.

That's what I'd do.
And did as well if the situation called for it.
Weather permitting of course.
If it's below freezing, keeping warm kinda takes the priority.

Regards
Sam

[Oneirogenic]

With my current child care job I have two hours give or take where I am watching kids sleep. I can't really do detail cleaning or maintenance because of the piles of sleeping bodies so I am stuck doing quiet things. I am often using my phone for research or TB but before I had a smart phone I would read books, write out ideas, quietly play my guitar I used for music time, or meditate. There a few jobs out there where you truly have nothing to do. This is only job I have had with this much actual down time.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

I'm an in-between as far as age goes.

For me, there is always something to do at work. Even if it means picking up a broom or doing a spot check of inventory.

I was a manager and wasn't impressed by other peoples knowledge of technology. You could be more social as long as it didn't become a problem. I'm far from a hard ass. If you would rather be on a cell phone I'd keep an eye on you and give you task to do.

There is always down time especially this time of year. I don't understand your situation I guess.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Lonnystingray

You could try actually communicating with people/co-workers? Kike, in the real world, not via Facebook or text messages..

i think he meant "Like".

[MX21]

I never get enough time to read, so I just picked up a kindle at staples for $44. I put all sorts of stuff on it. There's plenty of free books on Amazon. I can plug it into my PC and just drag all sorts of PDF files to it so I can catch up on articles, datasheets, music theory and other docs. I had kindle on my smartphone, but the physical kindle device is so much easier for linear reading and gets about a month of battery life.

[Caca de Kick]

Originally Posted by FreakyStyley69

This literally isn't an option sometimes!

I guess I'm the only one who may be in a position say 100 foot up in the air, tied off to a beam can't go anywhere nothing else I could possibly be doing.

Crane repair or operator?

My wife's cousin does repair work on tall cranes and towers. Sometimes just sits and waits up high for smeone else to get things going.

[Factor88]

OK, read your post(s).

If I was in your situation, years ago, I would have read. They did, even back then (perhaps especially back then) make books that would fit into your back pocket.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Binoculars...

[Bloodhammer]

I guess I'm old at only 30 years.

I'm the only one in the room not playing on my phone at any given time. I have an android, but it's just not entertaining to me like it apparently is to everyone else....

When work lulls, I start searching for food.

[Bloodhammer]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Binoculars...

I actually have a pair of binoculars in my truck. When traffic turns to gridlock, I stand up in the bed and look for the wreck up ahead to see if it will be moved out of the way soon or has just occurred. That way I know whether to turn around or wait. If it looks like it'll be awhile, but faster than detouring, I'll do a little sightseeing.

[dieselbass]

if I'm forced to wait on someone, I enjoy the time to myself. Usually very little downtime at my job. At lunch I check news sites and TB.

[darius8]

I used to have to wear a beeper 24 hours a day 7 days a week when I was in the Air Force. Now, I don't even have a cell phone and I'm very happy.

[Sav'nBass]

What's free time at work? Never heard of it.. Oh!! You must mean weekends.. weekends I'm not working..

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by FreakyStyley69

I could tell! I still run into an old timer every now and then..oh so little they know

I'm 59 and have been using every evolution of the cell phone way before 2006.

My kids had cell phones when they 12 years old.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "old timers"

Blue

[RustyAxe]

If I caught someone who worked for me playing games on their phone on MY time, he/she would have a LOT more free time on their hands.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "old timers"

Based on his OP, my guess is anyone who was alive when the Freaky Styley album actually came out.

[Horny Toad]

Originally Posted by FreakyStyley69

I almost made a new screen name to post this

I recommend "Meev"

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I'm 59 and have been using every evolution of the cell phone way before 2006.

My kids had cell phones when they 12 years old.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "old timers"

Blue

Picked up my first cell phone (army style) in 1986. Paid $1300. Used it for my PC business accounting software consulting. Paid for itself in about 3 months or less. I used an small external wired speaker/mic that I ran up and over the sun shade so I could do hands free. Took care of a lot of business that way.

Had one ever since. I had small very small ones that clam shelled into a keyboard. Before texting, etc. Used it to take notes at an event that I wrote and article for.

My current phone is not too smart. Basic internet, text, phone, GPS. Does okay for what it is. Will be upgrading next time around. Actually, I bought HTC Android Smart Phones for my wife and me about a year ago. Terrible sound quality. Returned them and kept using the ones we had. For now.

As Blue stated: I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "old timers"