How We Used To Talk
@howweusedtotalk.bsky.social
Artifacts of almost obsolete communication technology—mailboxes, home landlines, payphones—as launchpads for funny, poignant, and culturally rich discussions about where we're at right now.
Initially written weekly by me but any submissions welcome.
Initially written weekly by me but any submissions welcome.
We didn't always trust our neighbors with our correspondence. Our mail was segregated for a brief moment.
The efficiency of the newfound mailbox impact was felt, and some asshole said we should combine some together.
You can thank him the next time you awkwardly check your mail next to someone.
The efficiency of the newfound mailbox impact was felt, and some asshole said we should combine some together.
You can thank him the next time you awkwardly check your mail next to someone.
November 24, 2025 at 10:35 PM
We didn't always trust our neighbors with our correspondence. Our mail was segregated for a brief moment.
The efficiency of the newfound mailbox impact was felt, and some asshole said we should combine some together.
You can thank him the next time you awkwardly check your mail next to someone.
The efficiency of the newfound mailbox impact was felt, and some asshole said we should combine some together.
You can thank him the next time you awkwardly check your mail next to someone.
Reposted by How We Used To Talk
Day of the Dead 2025, Mexico City, outside Café Tacuba. #dayofthedead #diademuertos @miblogestublog.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Day of the Dead 2025, Mexico City, outside Café Tacuba. #dayofthedead #diademuertos @miblogestublog.bsky.social
Reposted by How We Used To Talk
#AlphabetChallenge #WeekUforUnloved #EastCoastKin #NorthernIreland #photography
Kearney
Once essential to the rhythm of daily life
it now stands unloved and forgotten
swallowed by time
Kearney
Once essential to the rhythm of daily life
it now stands unloved and forgotten
swallowed by time
November 23, 2025 at 8:30 AM
#AlphabetChallenge #WeekUforUnloved #EastCoastKin #NorthernIreland #photography
Kearney
Once essential to the rhythm of daily life
it now stands unloved and forgotten
swallowed by time
Kearney
Once essential to the rhythm of daily life
it now stands unloved and forgotten
swallowed by time
Reposted by How We Used To Talk
"While other universities report that the humanities are shrinking, at Berkeley, the opposite is true. The music major is the fastest-growing major on campus. We are finding bigger classrooms because film is exploding. English is back to the numbers we saw 15 years ago. We are hiring" bit.ly/4ohKuOe
"The humanities really are a resource — a confidence for living in our times.” Dean Sara Guyer on the modern utility of humanities degrees
This interview originally appeared on the Division of Arts
bit.ly
November 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
"While other universities report that the humanities are shrinking, at Berkeley, the opposite is true. The music major is the fastest-growing major on campus. We are finding bigger classrooms because film is exploding. English is back to the numbers we saw 15 years ago. We are hiring" bit.ly/4ohKuOe
This artifact is the perfect metaphor for most of our holidays (and life?) now.
2 people standing next to each other in real life communicating with someone else located somewhere else entirely. This sad predicament we're in isn't new.
Put down the device and kindly look a neighbor in the eyes. Easy
2 people standing next to each other in real life communicating with someone else located somewhere else entirely. This sad predicament we're in isn't new.
Put down the device and kindly look a neighbor in the eyes. Easy
November 21, 2025 at 8:28 PM
This artifact is the perfect metaphor for most of our holidays (and life?) now.
2 people standing next to each other in real life communicating with someone else located somewhere else entirely. This sad predicament we're in isn't new.
Put down the device and kindly look a neighbor in the eyes. Easy
2 people standing next to each other in real life communicating with someone else located somewhere else entirely. This sad predicament we're in isn't new.
Put down the device and kindly look a neighbor in the eyes. Easy
Usually only one a week, but to celebrate week 1:
"If I've to explain what dial up is to you, then you're too young to date."- Uncle Roger/Nigel Ng
In all my years around people that were there for it, the hellscape of a sound that commences of an internet connection is apropos in retrospect.
"If I've to explain what dial up is to you, then you're too young to date."- Uncle Roger/Nigel Ng
In all my years around people that were there for it, the hellscape of a sound that commences of an internet connection is apropos in retrospect.
November 18, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Usually only one a week, but to celebrate week 1:
"If I've to explain what dial up is to you, then you're too young to date."- Uncle Roger/Nigel Ng
In all my years around people that were there for it, the hellscape of a sound that commences of an internet connection is apropos in retrospect.
"If I've to explain what dial up is to you, then you're too young to date."- Uncle Roger/Nigel Ng
In all my years around people that were there for it, the hellscape of a sound that commences of an internet connection is apropos in retrospect.
As one of the first table top phones, these were certainly an identity purchase.
These marked a shift of communication moving from the public to a more private interaction before eventually going public again.
This phone served more than a way to talk. It served as a social and practical anchor.
These marked a shift of communication moving from the public to a more private interaction before eventually going public again.
This phone served more than a way to talk. It served as a social and practical anchor.
November 18, 2025 at 7:02 PM
As one of the first table top phones, these were certainly an identity purchase.
These marked a shift of communication moving from the public to a more private interaction before eventually going public again.
This phone served more than a way to talk. It served as a social and practical anchor.
These marked a shift of communication moving from the public to a more private interaction before eventually going public again.
This phone served more than a way to talk. It served as a social and practical anchor.
Full details bout the pic always in the caption.
Chose to kick How We Used to Talk off with the tag photo cause I took this pic recently in the summer of 2025 in Porto, and the woman was clearly bewildered at what she called "this thing."
Told her "that thing" used to be our ride home for a quarter.
Chose to kick How We Used to Talk off with the tag photo cause I took this pic recently in the summer of 2025 in Porto, and the woman was clearly bewildered at what she called "this thing."
Told her "that thing" used to be our ride home for a quarter.
November 13, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Full details bout the pic always in the caption.
Chose to kick How We Used to Talk off with the tag photo cause I took this pic recently in the summer of 2025 in Porto, and the woman was clearly bewildered at what she called "this thing."
Told her "that thing" used to be our ride home for a quarter.
Chose to kick How We Used to Talk off with the tag photo cause I took this pic recently in the summer of 2025 in Porto, and the woman was clearly bewildered at what she called "this thing."
Told her "that thing" used to be our ride home for a quarter.
This will serve as a melancholic look back on 3 objects that defined communication across 3 generations plus.
The Sentinel i.e. mailboxes
The Anchor i.e. home phone
The Relic i.e. payphones
I'll be posting and supplying my own photos and essays for now. BUT all stories, photos, essays etc welcome
The Sentinel i.e. mailboxes
The Anchor i.e. home phone
The Relic i.e. payphones
I'll be posting and supplying my own photos and essays for now. BUT all stories, photos, essays etc welcome
November 13, 2025 at 10:29 PM
This will serve as a melancholic look back on 3 objects that defined communication across 3 generations plus.
The Sentinel i.e. mailboxes
The Anchor i.e. home phone
The Relic i.e. payphones
I'll be posting and supplying my own photos and essays for now. BUT all stories, photos, essays etc welcome
The Sentinel i.e. mailboxes
The Anchor i.e. home phone
The Relic i.e. payphones
I'll be posting and supplying my own photos and essays for now. BUT all stories, photos, essays etc welcome
Welcome everyone to How We Used to Talk, where we examine bizarre obsolete communication artifacts with little essays on the profound cultural intimacy with everyone we traded for digital convenience.
We live tethered to devices that promise connection but deliver only distraction.
We live tethered to devices that promise connection but deliver only distraction.
November 13, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Welcome everyone to How We Used to Talk, where we examine bizarre obsolete communication artifacts with little essays on the profound cultural intimacy with everyone we traded for digital convenience.
We live tethered to devices that promise connection but deliver only distraction.
We live tethered to devices that promise connection but deliver only distraction.