I’m Not Old-Fashioned.

I’m Not Old-Fashioned. I’m Quality-Controlled.

People sometimes call me old-fashioned as though they have discovered a character defect.

I prefer quality-controlled.

Some old things lasted because they were made properly. Some old customs survived because they made life more pleasant. Not everything from the past deserves to return, but neither does everything new deserve a standing ovation.

I remember when products came with printed instructions instead of a QR code. You could open the box, read the booklet, and figure out how the thing worked without downloading an app or creating an account.

I remember customer service involving an actual customer and some actual service. You called a business, a person answered, and that person attempted to solve the problem. Nobody thanked you for your patience while keeping you on hold long enough to reconsider every decision you had made since breakfast.

Manners were useful too. People said please, thank you, and excuse me. Gentlemen removed their hats indoors. Children were taught not to interrupt. Neighbors looked out for one another without calling it a community engagement initiative.

Were the old days perfect? Of course not. We had plenty of foolishness. We simply lacked the internet to preserve and distribute it worldwide.

Old-fashioned doesn’t have to mean stubborn, outdated, or afraid of change. Sometimes it means we tested something for several decades and discovered that it worked.

If a new idea works better, I’ll consider it. But don’t expect me to discard something reliable merely because it doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi.

The Old Curmudgeon

PS: Respect never needs an upgrade, and good manners are compatible with every operating system.