In a world overwhelmed by cellphones, laptops, and other screens, there is a growing space for the old school and analog – from landline phones to Walkmans and typewriters.
After reading the CSM article (link to the actual article), I was reminded of a simple question I don’t think I’ve ever asked around here: why do we use a typewriter?
I mean, beside its visual/collectible appeal why do we decide to use a typewriter and not just, say, a pen and paper instead?
They’re both ‘old school’ and ‘analog’ (I would say low-tech, and a great way to ‘resist’ that high-tech society), they’re both screen-less, they’re also both 100% offline (distraction-free, focused, update/upgrade-free), and they’re both privacy-respecting too. The pen is also a lot more portable, easier to travel and can be much cheaper too.
You’re not distracted by the machine itself.
Isn’t that at least as true with the humble pen(cil) ?
I do use typewriters, an Olympia SG1 + a much quieter (and much more portable ;) Canon TypeStar 220, but for most of my writing I use pen and paper—fountain pen and/or pencil—as most of my writing is done longhand.
But typewriters, they also say, are just noisily enjoyable.
I’m afraid oftentimes this will only be true for the person using it, not the people around. My spouse made it clear she would like for me to find a much quieter device for when I went to use a typewriter: in our small flat, it was really a noisy device (even to our neighbors). Hence, me getting my hands on the Canon TypeStar.
So, to get back to my original question: I know why I use a typewriter (when I will start working on a second draft, as I already have everything set up into place more or less firmly) but I was wondering about your motivations?
Or could it be because the younger generations never learned writing longhand, cursive, and do indeed need a keyboard?
For me, the reason is easy: my writing is horrible. I learnt cursive at school (and my children are learning only cursive at school, cursive is not disappearing in France at all) so it’s not the problem. I’m creative, but clumsy, so the typewriter is the perfect solution for me. Moreover, I have ADHD, so I need things to “launch” me if I want to do something. Often the typewriter do the trick. And there’s a pleasure in the act of typing that i don’t feel with a computer or a pen.
But maybe it could be a self standing post instead of a comment? You’d have more answers.
For me, the reason is easy: my writing is horrible.
Fear not, mine is as well (and I used to be a paid creative too, now I’m just creative because that’s what I am) ;)
But maybe it could be a self standing post instead of a comment? You’d have more answers.
Maybe, I just always think we’re such a tiny bunch most of us must be reading whatever is happening, even in a comment ;)
That’s an odd topic for the CSM?
I don’t know the CSM and I have a very vague idea about what Christian Science is. So before I shared this article, I read CSM Wikipedia’s article and it looks like a serious and balanced journal, not a proselytizing outlet defending a cult.
