so, analog tech used to be pretty glitchy. TV "static", modem line noise, degaussing, flickering fluorescent bulbs, etc. I grew up in an era of identifiable, well-understood signifiers of malfunction; and, crucially, *partial* malfunction. things kinda kept working even if they were wonky.
but digital technologies degrade in much less legible ways. when your internet goes out, your streaming service probably just quietly pops up an elegant little error dialog box.
