[greenyoda]

> Before the internet, if your county library didn't have it, it didn't exist.

Inter-library loans existed long before the internet.

> Before the internet, you had 3 TV channels, and you watched what the advertisers would pay for, not what you were curious about.

Cable TV with lots of channels existed long before streaming video was available on the web. Also, you could rent videos at Blockbuster (or borrow them for free at the local library). And you had ad-free public TV stations.

[robbrown451]

I've never done an interlibrary loan. Obviously, some did, but still.

Cable and video rentals weren't available till I was in college.

You're right that some of these things became available in limited quantities, or were available with a lot of effort, but overall the gist of what OP said captures the idea. Things are very different from when I grew up in the 70s/early 80s.

[agumonkey]

I wonder how book search systems were used, surely large library indexes existed but how efficient and how often they'd be used..

In a way, book searching is probably the only cool thing about internet IMO. The rest was already nice enough as it was. You don't need ultra high bandwidth and ultra low latency to find a VHS for a night with friends... it won't make the memories better.

[asark]

Without the Internet: between rentals, purchases, and the library, more than enough media to keep me 100% happy and occupied my entire life for very little money.

With the Internet: Same but now I have way more than I need rather than just more than I need, to the point that picking something to enjoy is kinda hard because there's so much and it's all about equally hard to get—i.e. not hard—all the time. Total expense kinda high, actually, since you can't reduce the base cost of Internet access by checking more movies out from the library, even if you manage to replace Netflix and friends—to use it at all, there's a high monthly price, so if you occasionally need it for work or whatever you're just stuck.

Also, for those who didn't grow up without the Internet, here's a fun one: passing thoughts about trivia didn't used to bug us. In fact they'd often not even reach the level of conscious thought. It was difficult enough to find out the answers to "when was that actor born?" or "who produced [album you don't have on hand]?" that we just... didn't even think about it, most of the time. If we did and no-one within yelling distance knew the answer and there wasn't a relevant coffee table book around to consult, that was it, rarely did anyone go to the effort to find out or feel any kind of nagging sensation that they really ought to go look that up. In short, it was wonderful.

For those who didn't grow up without smartphones (they're old enough to be on here now!): we used to often do one thing at a time, not one thing plus being on our phones. Oh and kids—even ones old enough that they all have their own cell phones now, like 8 or 9 years old—used to just have to find something to do if they got dragged somewhere by their parents and got bored. Usually games with other kids around, if there were any. The games would be imagination-based or use improvised playing equipment—cup ball, for instance, which was like baseball but with a wadded up cardboard concession cup for a ball, and makeshift bases. Seriously.

[agumonkey]

paradox of choice

[mirimir]

> Inter-library loans existed long before the internet.

And used bookstores. I loved those. You could find anything.

[nine_k]

You could find anything, but mostly by chance. Looking for a particular thing was hard.

And, of course, you had to allocate 2-3 hours for the adventure, and traveling there and back again.

[mirimir]

Sure, but people spend at least that much time browsing random stuff. Also, many stores did organize their collections, at least somewhat.

When I was ~13, discovering New York City, I found a copy of Fortunes in Formulas for Home, Farm, and Workshop. And an ad in a comic book for a chemical company in Texas that sold fireworks supplies. Years of fun followed.