To me there is no more depressing sight than a five-year-old staring at a screen, unsmiling, mouse in hand. Besides whatever dreadful things this prolonged exposure to screens is doing to their brains, computer games tend to be solitary affairs, and produce little laughter. Tom Hodgkinson affairbraincomputer share on social
When walking, you see things that you miss in a motor car or on the train. You give your mind space to ponder. Tom Hodgkinson cargivemind Change image and share on social
Computers tend to separate us from each other - Mum's on the laptop, Dad's on the iPad, teenagers are on Facebook, toddlers are on the DS, and so on. Tom Hodgkinson computerdadfacebook Change image and share on social
I originally welcomed the mobile phone, as it seemed to me that it would enable you to work from anywhere. On the mobile, who was to know if you were sitting on the branch of a tree or sitting in an office? But it instead had the opposite effect: instead of freeing us from the office, it allowed the office to take away our freedom. Tom Hodgkinson allowbrancheffect share on social
On bikeback, there is a delightful sense of self-direction and autonomy. Lately, I have taken to cycling slowly, more fun than the fast, competitive commuter cycling I used to do. No longer do I jump lights or attempt that irritating wobbling thing that semi-professional cyclists like to indulge in. Tom Hodgkinson attemptautonomybikeback share on social
I'm not sure if I could bear to go on an aeroplane again. It's not my concern for the welfare of the planet. It's not even the long check-in times and queuing. No, it's the humiliation of the security process that has finally done it for me. Tom Hodgkinson aeroplanebearcheck share on social
Of all the depressing abuses of language in business, there is none that gets me so incensed as the rampant overuse of the word 'passionate' in company slogans, marketing blurbs, mission statements and on the sides of vans. Tom Hodgkinson abuseblurbbusiness share on social
I've given up email. Well, almost. At the weekend I set up one of those auto-reply messages, informing my correspondents that I would no longer be checking my emails, and that instead they might like to call or write, as we used to in the olden days. Tom Hodgkinson autocallcheck share on social
Alongside my 'no email' policy, I resolve to make better use of the wonderful Royal Mail, and send letters and postcards to people. There is a huge pleasure in writing a letter, putting it in an envelope and sticking the stamp on it. And huge pleasure in receiving real letters, too. Tom Hodgkinson alongsideemailenvelope share on social
One aspect of fast London life I have never understood, for example, is the custom of the gym. Why do people go to gyms? Tom Hodgkinson aspectcustomfast Change image and share on social