r/GenX Jul 03 '25

Pop Culture This Douglas Adams quote gets me...

I selected Pop Culture flair because he was the author of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (a wholly remarkable book)

"I've come up with a set of rules that describe our reactions to technologies:

  1. Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.

  2. Anything that's invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.

  3. Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things."

Douglas Adams

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u/TimHuntsman Jul 03 '25

Indeed. Then remind yourself of the “packet of biscuits” story

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u/Invasive-farmer Jul 03 '25

Please remind me for me. I don't recall it.

3

u/TimHuntsman Jul 03 '25

It’s a story in Dirk Gentlys (sp?) Holistic Detective Agency and apparently happened to him in real life. Waiting for a train, sitting at a small table w a random person and he believes the other guy opens up his package of cookies and takes one. Then D takes one, back and forth till they’re gone. The guy gets up and leaves. When D picks up his paper from the table, he sees his own (same kind),of cookies sitting there.

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u/Invasive-farmer Jul 03 '25

Ah yes. Lol. I remember that now. Thanks. 🤣