@augustus It was better and it was worse. Computers are better than library card catalogs, business is much faster now because everything is done on computer rather than paper. When I was a kid trying to learn to use my Commodore 64, I had no mentors and no world wide web to help me solve problems, so sometimes I would get stuck on a problem for months or just give up, what would be solved by a single forum post nowadays.

Computers and smartphones are a major distraction nowadays that we didn't have back then, you found more "human" ways to have fun or spend time with others.

no instant communication meant that distant places were more unique. there is definitely a homogenization of culture happening now.