I miss 2012. Things were simple. Cartoons and movies were really good. All I would do is skate and hang out with the kids in my apartments. Video games were peak. Comcast OnDemand? True luxury. I was still using a slider phone. It really couldn’t get any better than that. And honestly it hasn’t.

It seems like the evolution of technology no longer gives us that “wow” factor. Everything is normal to us. We spend half our day looking at a screen. Social media doesn’t feel like it used to. What used to feel like such a remarkable way to connect with people is now mostly depressing and overstimulating. Screens now have the most intense colors and detail. It hurts my brain. I really feel like we’ve gone past that sweet spot.

The human urge to disconnect from technology is at an all time high. Not that I necessarily want to sit barefoot in a field of sunflowers all day, but stripping my technological needs down to the bare minimum just helps me enjoy life more. The fact that the device in my pocket provides me with a nearly unlimited amount of utility is like, “Oh that’s cool. I think I’ll stick to google searches and using the phone app,”.

I don’t know why, but Water World just feels like 2012. I can’t describe it. There’s still an element of everything being a spectacle, but it doesn’t feel dystopian. Mountain Dew and Doritos were the peak combination of all combinations at that time. And frankly nothing has been the same since. I honestly can’t imagine going to Skate City and seeing everyone with their phones out while they’re skating. It’s been that long for me. I just want to hear the synthesizers come on from “She Will” by Lil Wayne and feel the magic of knowing I have my whole life ahead of me. At this point.. I am truly Ray Charles to the bs. 

-k fontes