# Despite modern technology, I still....\[fill in activity of choice\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 3, 2013, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938 "2013-01-03T10:19:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/1 "2013-01-03T10:19:29Z")
I was making some pancakes (from scratch) the other night, so got some flour, egg and milk, put the flour into a bowl with a ‘hollow’ added the egg and some milk, and proceeded to mix the pancakes as I had been taught by my Home Economics teacher circa 1972 (Hi Mizzuz Young, if yer’ still alive)! The idea was to avoid ‘toughening’ the flour by mixing with a wooden spoon in a circular motion from the inside to the outside. I refuse to use a mixer or a blender because the old lesson has stuck hard in my brain. Now I have certainly eaten pancakes made by a quick whiz in a food processor, and they are identical to mine, so there is no logical reason why I should take 10 minutes to do the mix instead of 20 seconds, but _still_… And I will NEVER use a microwave to cook anything that is meant to be eaten. Microwaves are for heating up the cup of coffee I have left to go cold. Pots and pans on the stove and in the oven are for cooking stuff. Got any examples yerselves?? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/2 "2013-01-03T10:42:00Z")
I make bread by hand. I could just get a breadmaker, but I prefer hand crafting it. I actually do that sort of thing quite a lot - I love rediscovering old skills and crafts - it’s a way of really intimately connecting with history. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/3 "2013-01-03T11:10:26Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Now I have certainly eaten pancakes made by a quick whiz in a food processor, and they are identical to mine, so there is no logical reason why I should take 10 minutes to do the mix instead of 20 seconds, but _still_… Sure there’s a reason. You might save ten minutes with the food processor on the pancake making, but you’ll lose it all again in CLEANING the bloody thing. (hate food processors. I do have one, but there has to be a REALLY good reason to use it) Despite computers, if I have to do a longish bit of writing, what I really need is to curl up in bed with a biro and good old fashioned paper. No doubt some day there’ll be a tablet that gives me as much flexibility, but it ain’t yet. And I don’t have to worry about saving. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/4 "2013-01-03T12:28:19Z")
I still wash my dishes by hand. Even when I was married and had my kids in the house I washed them by hand 90% of the time. I will run the dishwasher from time to time just to make sure the rubber seals haven’t broken down yet but that’s the only real reason. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/5 "2013-01-03T12:37:04Z")
If you’re spending 20 minutes stirring your pancake batter, you’re doing something very wrong. All you have to do is whisk the batter for 10 seconds, and then walk away. Just… walk away. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/6 "2013-01-03T12:38:58Z")
I still write things on a wall calendar (as mentioned in another thread recently). I’ve just never been able to get into the habit of using an online calendar, although I do now use my phone calendar to make a note of dates if I’m out (but only to then copy them onto my proper calendar when I get home). ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/7 "2013-01-03T12:53:34Z")
We have an electric can opener. I’ve never used it. If we only get an inch or two of snow, I probably won’t worry about the snow blower. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/8 "2013-01-03T13:24:35Z")
I enjoy making my own cookies, but this is more of a necessity since the selection from the local stores is quite limited. Back in the US, I still have an old [rotary lawnmower](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ReelMower.png) that I use when we stay at our ranch. There is a guy in town that will sharpen the blades as necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/9 "2013-01-03T14:48:37Z")
Wall calendar? Check. Manual Can Opener? Check. Don’t use snow blower? Check. Writing longhand versus computer? Check. Using microwave for reheating (or heating) tea/coffee only? Check. Still prefer landline phone? Check. Still use the check register in my checkbook for keeping track of bank balance? Check. Still prefer cash to debit card? Check. I’m hopelessly out of date, folks. Hell, my husband and I still have not only an 8-track player, we have an 8-track RECORDER! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/10 "2013-01-03T14:59:38Z")
Despite Facebook, I write my most private musings in longhand, in one of those composition books with a black and white cover, with a cartridge fountain pen. I’ve been doing this for over 40 years now, though I’ve managed to lose some of the notebooks during moves and leaky roofs and whatever. Believe it or not, there are some things that I just don’t want to share. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/11 "2013-01-03T15:00:07Z")
I use a wall calendar. This was the first year we used the snowblower, though, and honestly you can pry it from my cold dead hands. Neither my SO nor I are getting any younger and shoveling a 40 foot driveway is HARD WORK. I hate writing longhand. But I do so love baking from scratch, and never a mix. It never occured to me to make pancakes from scratch. I never liked pancakes much until I figured out I couldn’t stand the Bisquick stuff my SO loved. I started buying better pancacke mix, and liked them better. I bet I would love from scratch pancakces. Recipe? ---
**Author:** ![Oedipus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/12 "2013-01-03T15:00:46Z")
Despite being ahead of the curve in most everything in Electronic Dance Music, I still have a nice vinyl collection full of Sinatra, Dean Martin, and old 70s albums with silly covers. I also like to listen to Mumford and Sons, Arcade Fire, or even DJ Shadow on vinyl when I study because it provides an automatic break every 30 minutes or so to flip the darn thing. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/13 "2013-01-03T15:40:19Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I make bread by hand. I could just get a breadmaker, but I prefer hand crafting it. > > I actually do that sort of thing quite a lot - I love rediscovering old skills and crafts - it’s a way of really intimately connecting with history. I have a bread machine, and have not used it more than perhaps 5 times. My roomie will use it. I prefer to make bread by hand, there is something very satisfying in the kneading and watching it proof. Last time I broke a shoe lace, I got my lucet loom and wove a pair of cords the correct length, though I think that was more not wanting to leave the house in heavy rain. I find it easier to sew medieval and renaissance clothing by hand rather than machine except for the really long seams of hemming the bottoms of the skirts. I can sit and watch TV and box pleat almost faster than I can do it on a machine. I make almost everything we eat from scratch as it is less expensive normally and really not that much extra work. It also lets me avoid accidentally eating something I am allergic to. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/14 "2013-01-03T15:44:23Z")
Write a letter, longhand, to my parents once a week. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/15 "2013-01-03T15:49:02Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I hate writing longhand. But I do so love baking from scratch, and never a mix. It never occured to me to make pancakes from scratch. I never liked pancakes much until I figured out I couldn’t stand the Bisquick stuff my SO loved. I started buying better pancacke mix, and liked them better. I bet I would love from scratch pancakces. Recipe? Dunno what kam does but my pancake recipe is 1 [sup]1[/sup]/[sub]4[/sub] cup flour 3 tsp baking powder 1 tablespoon sugar [sup]1[/sup]/[sub]4[/sub] tsp salt 1 cup milk 1 egg 2 tablespoons veg. oil Sift dry ingredients and add the wet. Mix til everything’s moistened. The batter will be lumpy. Cook like any other pancakes. I usually double this recipe and get about 10 large pancakes. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/16 "2013-01-03T15:49:06Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > If you’re spending 20 minutes stirring your pancake batter, you’re doing something very wrong. All you have to do is whisk the batter for 10 seconds, and then walk away. Just… walk away. I take it you don’t have a cat. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/17 "2013-01-03T16:00:22Z")
…budget using two handwritten check registers, sometimes even doing the addition and subtraction in my head, although that can be dangerous and I will switch to a small solar-powered calculator when necessary. …pay cash whenever possible, use handwritten checks for bills, and use a credit card only online. …keep my schedule and most of my records in a physical datebook, writing everything by hand. …make phone calls on landlines. I have an emergency cell phone, which I pull out and make a call on once a month to keep it activated – which reminds me, I try to do that at the beginning of the month, and I haven’t yet made a January call. …have only analog clocks in my home. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/18 "2013-01-03T16:04:02Z")
I use a Daytimer to write down appointments, phone numbers, whatever. With a pen. Even though I have a computer, a tablet and a smartphone, I use none of the calendar functions. Although sometimes I’ll set up an alert on my phone to remind myself of something. Never have seen the point of electric can openers. Prefer standard shift to automatics. I have actually darned socks (it’s my only sewing skill) if they’re nice ones and worth darning. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/19 "2013-01-03T16:07:02Z")
Mine is mostly having to do with saving money. Don’t have a smartphone – data plans are too expensive. File taxes by hand – when it’s completely free (not even having to buy a tool) then I’ll consider it. I _would_ feed my pennies into a counting machine if they were free, or very cheap, and convenient, but I will probably always still roll my other change. After all, if I don’t roll it how will I know how much I have? ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938/20 "2013-01-03T16:08:15Z")
I still read books (I don’t have an e-reader). I also still write in pencil. Even though I work in IT, and I’m almost always in front of a computer, 99% of my notes are pencil-written in notebooks. I also pay cash for almost everything. The only time I use a card to pay for stuff is when I travel (Corporate AmEx for business travel, Debit card for personal travel) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/despite-modern-technology-i-still-fill-in-activity-of-choice/645938.md?page=2)