what would you do if the internet went down tommorrow?

[John Durham]

I'm staying for short time in a little town call Lamar Arkansas, to look after my Grandmother...

Yesterday a huge terrible storm came over lamar and knocked out the electricity... after ward I drove around and witnessed some of the worst destruction I had ever seen in my life... Cops were scanning the streets for looters, gas stations were closed down and had the roofs torn off, hundreds of trees literally twisted in half and strewn about the whole town, telephone poles twisted into pieces and electric lines laying all over the street, car lots having half their inventory destroyed by flying objects, trailor parks just ripped to shreds... homes destroyed...everywhere you looked peoples faces were gripped with despair, lines of cars trying to get out of town... all the factories, and businesses were shut down...

It became like a ghost town within one single hour... We all suddenly felt so vulnerable.

The whole town was just sent back to the pioneer days in an instant!

The overwhelming thing was: I felt so spoiled...

My big city sense of "I'm so much smarter..." went down about 100 notches.

I suddenly realized how, even our best laid plans could easily be brought down by a natural disaster or a war. I had to wonder, what would I do for a living if there "were" no internet or phones or even electricity?

What if the machine just suddenly stopped?

What would "you" do?

[yonaswedo]

Uh. I can't imagine it. So far, I depends on internet deeply. I suppose that only a few of you are making their money working on the Internet which might mean that it is not tragic if you cannot connect to the Internet for a few hours.

But if this really happen no internet in the future then I will return to plant paddy rice in the fields and farming a cow.

[Srikanth D]

Human's are nothing in front of the power of nature. Such incidents only make us realize how insignificant we are in the entire scheme of things.

Makes me wonder at times: Do I really know the purpose of my life??

[eCovers4uGfx]

I know one thing for certain if the internet went down tomorrow my wife would soon have a list as long as my arm filled with chores.
Special mention: Dear wife sorry my butt is glued to this seat

[indexphp]

Grab my .45 and start hunting/fishing. You know, living off the land and getting all viking drunk off homemade alcohol. Come to think of it, I'd like for that to happen.

[Kevin Riley]

Two years ago, my building took a direct hit from lightning, which fried our cable booster. For two days I had to schlep to a nearby Internet cafe to check my business. Hell.

Rieko was going nuts - not able to check restaurants, get online coupons, see the TV listings, check train schedules, study at her favourite BBC site, etc.

We are definitely hooked up to the Internet umbilical cord, and having it cut for just a few days was terrible.

[John Durham]

Originally Posted by Brian Robinson

Have to buy porno magazines again?

Lol!

...But what if the publishing companies were affected too and the store? You couldn't even buy porno's! I'm talking EVERYTHING shut down!

[Kevin Riley]

Originally Posted by kadensnga

Cops were scanning the streets for looters

I find this to be so sad. What has happened to society?

When we had a destructive typhoon hit us here about 8 years ago, there were no looters - just people going out and starting to clean up or help neighbours.

[Brian Robinson]

Okay, maybe I was too flippant with my prior reply. Yes, I must learn to stop stream-of-consciousness posting.

Your experience reminds me of a story, "The Machine Stops":

THE MACHINE STOPS ... E.M. Forster

I think Pink Floyd ripped him off with the song, "Welcome to the Machine".

About 15 years ago the power went off on the west coast of America. A lady in Toronto screwed a broken light bulb into a socket and the entire left coast went black. I remember being in a movie theater and the film dieing. Blah, blah, blah, blaaahhh, blllaaahhh. I went outside and it was quite. I drove home on the freeway and saw cars trying to buy gas but couldn't. I got off the freeway and had to negotiate two miles of lightless intersections. I turned on the TV and it was off. I turned the battery-powered radio on and only a Spanish music station was on the air.

Indeed, the machine stopped.

Very eerie.

[Brian Robinson]

Originally Posted by kadensnga

Yes. What if the machine stopped? That's the question.

Well, to be honest with you, if that happened -- when it happens (and yes, it will happen) -- the LAST thing on my mind that day will be the internet.

Higher up on that day's priority list will be bullets, water, tuna fish and gas.

[John Durham]

Originally Posted by Brian Robinson

Well, to be honest with you, if that happened -- when it happens (and yes, it will happen) -- the LAST thing on my mind that day will be the internet.

Higher up on that day's priority list will be bullets, water, tuna fish and gas.

Indeed. That's what I was thinking. My "anti-gun" mentality was suddenly challenged a bit.

Originally Posted by yonaswedo

...But if this really happen no internet in the future then I will return to plant paddy rice in the fields and farming a cow.
[/LEFT]

From what I saw yesterday, we might ALL be doing things like that.

[Will Edwards]

I'd switch over to my backup

Will

[John Durham]

Originally Posted by Sweely

If I had no access to the internet, I would commit suicide. Really.

PM me if you need to talk.

[mywebwork]

Originally Posted by Sweely

If I had no access to the internet, I would commit suicide. Really.

Probably a good thing that you don't have my ISP (Oceanic Time Warner Hawaii) - you probably wouldn't be with us anymore! We were "off the air" again last night from 11 PM to about noon today. This is a regular event.

My entire livelihood depends upon the Internet. I do the majority of my communication and socializing on the Internet. I get most of my news and entertainment from the Internet. Although I live in the most remote place on planet Earth I still am part of a global community thanks to the Internet.

I can't imagine a world without the Internet. Come to think of it I can't imagine a world without Google either.

I'm getting chills just thinking about it...



Bill

[MarkMilan]

A couple of days ago a French court described access to online services as a human right, which stuck me as a little odd. For those of you who feel lost without the internet, perhaps that explains it.

To answer the OP, I think I'd take some exercise, or read or write something.

[John Durham]

Originally Posted by mywebwork

My entire livelihood depends upon the Internet. I do the majority of my communication and socializing on the Internet. I get most of my news and entertainment from the Internet. Although I live in the most remote place on planet Earth I still am part of a global community thanks to the Internet.:

Bill

Yeah, when I'm in Nashville it's not so bad, but here in LAMAR ARKANSAS it's pretty much my whole social life...I did meet a pretty cool little farm girl a few weeks ago though who I've been seeing here and there...

Haven't seen her since the storm...hope she didnt go "wizard of oz" on me!

[embrown]

I depend on the internet so much. I email and IM more than I actually talk on my cell phone. Heck, I owed cox so much they turned it off for a few hours a few days ago. I went absolutely bonkers.

[artwebster]

If the internet went down tomorrow I would be grateful that it was not something important like my drinking water supply.

That is a real problem that just might be closer than we think.

[dnka]

If there is no internet and electricity, there are always lots of household chores to be done.

[John Durham]

Originally Posted by dnka

If there is no internet and electricity, there are always lots of household chores to be done.

Yeah, in the DARK!!

Originally Posted by artwebster

If the internet went down tomorrow I would be grateful that it was not something important like my drinking water supply.

That is a real problem that just might be closer than we think.

That's what I mean, if electricity went then so would our water delivery and purification systems...

[Bobru]

If the internet went down tomorrow, I'd mow the grass, clean up the yard, have a yard sale, and walk all the dogs.....I suppose I should really do a couple o' those things anyway.....nah!

And after I did all that I would start my chicken tractor building business! ;-P

[igorhelpsyousucceed]

suicide..nah

I would probably be shocked at first...went down?
It is practically impossible however if it did, I would
probably move on to the next big thing...

Igor

[TelegramSam]

Our area has had a number of power cuts in the last year or two.

I would relax, take the day off and go for a walk or whatever.

Never mind the internet per se, it's amazing how much we rely on electricity!

I really must get round to hooking up my cow-dung powered generator.

[JohnMcCabe]

Several years ago, I lived in rural Nebraska. It wasn't exactly in the middle of nowhere, but you could see the middle of nowhere from our back patio...

Anyway, we wanted a place in the country, so we bought an acreage with a farmhouse. The first winter, an ice storm knocked out the power for almost a week.

Everything on the place relied on electricity - electric furnace, well pump, everything. When the power went down, we were back in the pioneer days.

What really surprised me was how quickly and easily we slipped into the rhythms of nature. We did the chores that needed doing - securing firewood for the stove, melting snow and ice for water (both drinking and flushing toilets), cooking and cleaning up. We also dug out board games and card games we hadn't touched in years. We read actual books, sometimes out loud.

The truth is, we barely noticed when the power came back on.

Since moving to Florida, I've talked to a lot of folks who went through similar things after Hurricane Charlie and others. People went about the business of living. Looters were rare, but that had something to do with some of the laws Florida has on the books about deadly force and self-defense...

On a less dramatic note, this spring we spent a week cruising the Caribbean. Left the lap top home. Never went near the Internet cafe'. The truth is, I never thought about it until I got home. I will admit I checked my stats and email before I unpacked, though.

So if the Internet went down tomorrow, I'd find another way to spend my time.

[Kenneth Fox]

I would email everyone I know to make sure
they were aware of it.

[WinsonYeung]

Wow, damn it! I'm can't live without the internet! it's has been my dear since years ago. On top of that, my internet business has already make me inseparable with it. Just hope that internet won't be down, and no virus (skynet) too

[billbarrett]

If internet stops tomorrow, I am going to start leading live seminars about how to overcome the absence of internet. ))

LOL

[dvduval]

I would think that would mean that all banks would go down as well for at least a month or so, and we would have something close to total anarchy for a few weeks in many places throughout the world. So I would go to the mountains and hang out there for a while.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Upon reading the title of this thread, I thought, at first, that you were just
referring to the Internet. I now see that you are referring to everything on
the planet.

What would I do?

Pointless to even think about it.

The world we live in is not prepared to go back to the days of the caveman
where heaven knows how they survived. We certainly cannot.

So if the day comes, I will just pray for the end to come quickly.

[John Durham]

Originally Posted by WinsonYeung

Wow, damn it! I'm can't live without the internet! it's has been my dear since years ago. On top of that, my internet business has already make me inseparable with it. Just hope that internet won't be down, and no virus (skynet) too

I know. I was going crazy, it cut off in the middle of a really important email...I drove 25 miles away to my brothers just to see if it had sent. My grandmother was looking at me like "Boy, you have problems" ! lol

Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe

.What really surprised me was how quickly and easily we slipped into the rhythms of nature. The truth is, we barely noticed when the power came back on.

We were only out for a day or so here, so I never quite made it past the step of denial, thinking "it's gonna be back on any minute..." It's nice to hear you say that. As I was reading your post I thought "I guess when you come to that place of acceptance, things start feeling a little less uncomfortable..."

Originally Posted by billbarrett

If internet stops tomorrow, I am going to start leading live seminars about how to overcome the absence of internet. ))LOL

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a true entrepreneur in the house!

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

The world we live in is not prepared to go back to the days of the caveman where heaven knows how they survived. We certainly cannot.So if the day comes, I will just pray for the end to come quickly.

That's what I seriously thought yesterday. Then I thought about teaching my big strong grandson to be a renaissance man, chop wood...Got to feelin kinda MANLY!

I believe that boy could do ANYTHING. He eats like a horse. I jokingly call him "Jethro Bodeen" sometimes.

Originally Posted by dvduval

I would think that would mean that all banks would go down as well for at least a month or so, and we would have something close to total anarchy for a few weeks in many places throughout the world. So I would go to the mountains and hang out there for a while.

Might as well huh! All kinds of wonderful things you can grow in the hills ...I'm talking about asparagus people! You might just forget all about the internet! lol

On a serious note: Your quote reminds me of Kahlil Gibron's book "The Prophet".

[Christa_Regalado]

Reminds me of Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged". What if the machine stopped?

It's a scary thought as everything, almost everything, we use now is hooked up to the computer. As for the internet shutting down, I don't know. It's unimaginable.

[Brian Robinson]

Originally Posted by Christa_Regalado

It's a scary thought as everything, almost everything, we use now is hooked up to the computer. As for the internet shutting down, I don't know. It's unimaginable.

Believe it or not, there was life prior to the internet.

[blogginvixen]

If the Internet went down I'd certainly use that time to accomplish everything I've been procrastinating about. I'd also use that time to write out a few business plans and finish up a novel.

Now if the Internet stayed down for longer than a day, then that is when I'd probably become a nervous wreck.

I can only imagine how many times I'd refresh my network connections looking for a glimmer of hope!

[a1journo]

Originally Posted by Brian Robinson

Believe it or not, there was life prior to the internet.

Yeah but could you go back to life without it?

Its amazing how this technology has completely revolutionized life as we know it. Information is so much more accessible, its much easier to connect & communicate with the world.

I know whenever my net goes down because of a worker cutting a fibre optic cable or storms or blackouts - panic sets in...

It would definitely take a while to adjust if the internet were to disappear forever.

[John Durham]

Originally Posted by Brian Robinson

Believe it or not, there was life prior to the internet.

I'm lovin ya Brian, but I have to say "It sucked"!

[Marc Jager]

I've read your posts on here with much fascination... often wondering what kind of man you are..
And now I am dissapointed to see...
Steven Wagenheim: "The world we live in is not prepared to go back to the days of the caveman where heaven knows how they survived. We certainly cannot.
So if the day comes, I will just pray for the end to come quickly."
How sad for you that you see yourself as someone who cannot survive without modern technology. Such a defeatist.
I guess you're not a camping, surviving off the land kinda guy...
What a contrast with how JohnMcCabe views it...
Humankind is adaptable. Maybe you would sit down and pray, but a lot of the rest of us would get up and survive!

[Sam Rodrigo]

Internet down everywhere?

Time to start farming.
Sam

[JohnMcCabe]

Originally Posted by Sam Rodrigo

Internet down everywhere?

Time to start farming.
Sam

And fishing...

[frodoswami]

I would take a great loooong walk in the woods, connect myself with it, and appreciate the energy there. And really let go.....

Sometimes you know, you find yourself in front of the computer too much, then its smart to just DROP it.....

And have a off day....... just meditate....let go......and do whatever feels good :-)

Write down how your perfect day is :-)

Frodo

[bryce]

Originally Posted by eCovers4uGfx

if the internet went down tomorrow my wife would soon have a list as long as my arm filled with chores.

ROFL - Glad to see you have the wife's chores sorted,

[Brian Robinson]

Originally Posted by a1journo

Yeah but could you go back to life without it?

Absolutely.

News was slower, marketing was more expensive and accessing porn was more eventful but we got by. I think the greater challenge would be to get by without computers, not the internet. A lot of what online marketers do could be done with mail order. But having to go back to a typewriter... especially now that we have all completely forgotten how to spell (or do math), now THAT would suck!

[DonnaLeona]

Check out this book - it's about what life is like after an EMP attack on America (all electronic devices are destroyed):

"One Second After" by William Forstchen

Scary stuff.

[nicholasb]

I would be thankful that I invest all of my IM money into real estate silver, land and tax liens

[charles4]

If the internet were to go down for an extended time, I would begin to switch my business to print and mail.
Hope it nevers happen.

[Dave Patterson]

Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe

And fishing...

Yeah, fishing....THEN farming.

[Kevin Riley]

Originally Posted by Dave Patterson

Yeah, fishing....THEN farming.

Hey Patterson, you hillbilly, I haven't seen you in a long time. You still hanging out in OT?

[Dave Patterson]

Originally Posted by Kevin Riley

Hey Patterson, you hillbilly, I haven't seen you in a long time. You still hanging out in OT?

Hey...where's your manners...it's not hillbilly anymore...it's Appalachian-American...

Good to see you too MISTER Riley...

[gregdbowen]

Move to Costa Rica - Start marketing on paper bags.

[findtips]

I'm very fortunate in that I'm also a professional musician. I can play and teach full time if I need to and carve out a good living.

[juliana]

I guess the environment is telling you to relax and not spending your whole day in front of your computer.Seriously,i always cry when my internet connection failed.