Live like it’s 2005
Offline Mode Activated!
"What is this guy talking about? Has he lost it completely?"
Maybe… lol. But hear me out.
If you remember 2005, think back to how we lived. How did we meet up with friends? How did we listen to music, watch movies, or get anywhere?
There were barely any smartphones. Blackberries were king. The iPhone didn’t exist yet. If you wanted to buy something, you went to a store. If you needed directions, you got lost and figured it out.
And somehow, we all survived.
I look back at that time fondly.
So, where am I going with this? I recently watched a video of someone unbundling their iPhone, stripping away the non-essential apps, and rethinking their relationship with tech. That got me thinking:
What if I did the same?
But first…
Side Rant: The Gross Display of Wealth That Makes Me Want to Quit Tech Entirely
I’ll keep this short, but holy hell, have you seen the wealth gap lately? Our government is basically a broligarchy (bro + oligarchy, you’re welcome), and I’m over here contemplating my own spending habits while some billionaire is strapping his penis-shaped rocket to a yacht and watching the world collapse from space.
So yeah, part of this whole "going offline" thing is about NOT feeding that economy. It’s about rejecting the subscription-based trap that keeps us handing money to the same handful of companies who, in return, just mine our data, wreck creative industries, and pretend to innovate.
But okay, back to the fun part.
Step 1: Bringing Back the Camera
The first thing I did was stop using my phone for photos. Instead, I started carrying a real camera.
This fully unlocked the joy of actually taking photos instead of just snapping and sharing. Our phones optimize for effortless, perfect shots, but they also strip away the fun of learning, experimenting, and being present.
When the photo just exists on the camera, there’s less social compulsion to post it or share it. You take the shot, look at it, maybe take another, then put the camera away.
This all ties into my IRL theme this year—a continuation of last year’s goal.
IRL just means doing things in real life instead of through a screen.
No pulling out my phone for maps, photos, restaurant searches, or notifications.
No filtering my experiences through a lens.
Just being present.
Side Rant: Social Media Addiction Is Just Another Revenue Model
You know why social media sucks us in? Because that’s the entire business model. The second you take a photo, your phone basically whispers:
"Hey, buddy. Maybe post that real quick. Get some likes. Little dopamine hit. Come on, just a peek!"
And we fall for it. Every. Single. Time.
But why? We don’t need validation every time we see a cool sunset. We don’t need to document every moment. What if we just… let a moment exist?
Step 2: Music, Baby!
Music has always been one of my favorite things. But today, algorithms do all the work.
Every song in existence is available, but somehow, music discovery feels less personal.
What happened to buying an album, popping it into a CD player, and listening to it from start to finish? What happened to trading mixtapes and discovering music through actual people?
Streaming has flattened the creative space. AI doesn’t explore the fringes—it sticks to the middle of the bell curve. The safe stuff. The easy stuff. The stuff it knows you’ll like.
But what are we missing?
What if you found an entire genre you never knew existed?
What if you heard an album that changed your entire perspective on music?
That’s why I decided to opt out.
Instead of streaming, I’m going back to physical media. Buying CDs. Finding MP3s. Listening intentionally.
Side Rant: The Algorithm Is Making Us Boring
Without getting too geeky, this is basically an explore vs. exploit problem in engineering.
Do you search for something new, risking disappointment?
Or do you stick with what you know and stay in the comfort zone?
AI exploits what’s familiar. It serves up predictable choices, so we keep streaming. But what if you only ate food you liked? Only went to places an algorithm suggested? You’d never experience anything new.
That’s why I’m fighting back. No more algorithmic music.
Step 3: Cutting Out Streaming
Here’s where things get crazy.
No more Netflix. No more endless scrolling.
Instead, I’m buying DVDs and choosing movies intentionally.
Yeah, I know. Sounds extreme. But remember how we used to ask friends for recommendations instead of relying on whatever garbage Netflix pushed to the front page?
I used to work at Blockbuster, and back then, movie culture was real. People actually talked about films, shared their favorites, and dug deep into different genres.
Now?
Streaming platforms don’t even care about quality.
Most of Netflix’s content is mediocre because they know we’ll watch it anyway.
Subscription prices keep going up, but we own nothing.
Side Rant: Streaming Has Ruined Everything
Netflix raised prices, then cut production budgets, and now fills its library with junk. And we still pay for it.
It’s the same vicious cycle that happened with music—except now, movies are suffering too. The money isn’t going to artists. It’s going to tech billionaires.
We don’t own anything anymore. We just rent our digital lives.
Step 4: Ditching Google Maps & Getting Lost Again
The next step in my offline experiment?
No more GPS.
I want to get lost. Be late. Read street signs. Find new places by accident.
I know, I know—this is weird coming from a technophile. But I truly believe these products are messing with us in ways we don’t realize yet.
Side Rant: We’ve Outsourced Our Brains to Google
There was a time when we actually memorized things. Now? If Google Maps disappeared tomorrow, most people couldn’t find their way home.
That’s not an exaggeration.
What I’m Using
Here’s what I’ve switched to so far:
iPod Classic (5th Gen)
iPod Classic v5.5
I haven’t received it yet, but this is the holy grail of MP3 players thanks to its warm sound quality (audiophile nerd stuff, but trust me).
AirFly Pro Bluetooth Transmitter
AirFly Pro Bluetooth Transmitter
If you want to use wireless headphones with the iPod, you’ll need this. It also works on planes, cars, and any audio jack.
Sony A6000 with a 50mm Lens
Sony A6000
Heather had this sitting around, and I finally put it to use. Fantastic camera.
External Blu-ray Disc Reader
Because who still has a DVD player? (Me now, apparently.)
Rasputin Music (Bay Area)
This place is nuts. CDs for 50 cents, DVDs for a dollar. You could spend all day digging through their collection.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, slowing down is actually more fun.
Just try it.
Leave your phone in your pocket.
Take pictures with a camera.
Buy a physical album or movie.
Experience things without an algorithm deciding for you.
And who knows? Maybe we’ll start mailing each other handwritten letters instead of texting.
Let me know if you’re trying this too—would love to hear how it goes!
TL;DR:
✔ Using a real camera instead of my phone
✔ Buying CDs & MP3s instead of streaming music
✔ No more Netflix—only DVDs
✔ Ditching GPS and getting lost like it’s 1990
Let’s bring back real-life experiences.
