How useless are you without a phone/laptop?

Bygumbo

Targeted electronic weapons that disable computer systems permanently are a reality. No doubt some R&D teams are already working on a wide scale version that could knock out an entire town/city. Maybe they have it already. Anywho.....

Supposing that all phones/communications and computers/laptops were disabled across the entire country for a year or more, how would you cope personally with everyday life?

Could you fix an engine without youtube instructions?
Could you make more than a couple different meals without internet guides?
Can you tie a bowtie?
Can you sew?
Do you know basic medicine/treatment?
Do you know the symptoms of disease?
Could you travel from A to B without computer guidance?
Would you feel the need to constantly look down at your lap (where your phone used to be)?
Would you go to libraries?
Would you have much more free time?
What would you do with that free time?
Could you work without computers (even if more difficult/slow)?
Would you feel lost having to completely rely on face-to-face interaction?
Would you collapse to the ground shivering in fear?


Has the internet created a wibbly wobbly platform of knowledge that collapses without it? ie we're all Neanderthals without it (maybe worse than before the internet).

I've never relied on the internet all the much, so I think I'd do okay without it (I try to learn as opposed to merely read) . But it would be weird not having all that information just a click away.

So, how useless are you without computers/internet? Would you be dead before lunchtime?

EDIT: To make it clearer, with all of the information available on the internet, have you become MORE independent as a person, or LESS independent as a person, overall? (when you dont have internet access!)

McMurphy

Would be straight back to the bras and knickers section in the littlewoods catalogue for the odd five fingered truffle shuffle for starters.

Ten of Swords

I'm confused op, are you envisioning the internet goes down and you suddenly have to seek out professionals to do work for you rather than use youtube or are you taking about an apocalyptic, end of days pandemic?

Bygumbo

Rick Shaw wrote: »

Would be straight back to the bras and knickers section in the littlewoods catalogue for the odd five fingered truffle shuffle for starters.

Never thought of porn. Sure that would kill at least 10% of the population straight off the bat.

Alf Veedersane

I'd probably win at table quizzes.

Is there supposed to be a downside?

Bygumbo

Ten of Swords wrote: »

I'm confused op, are you envisioning the internet goes down and you suddenly have to seek out professionals to do work for you rather than use youtube or are you taking about an apocalyptic, end of days pandemic?

You could get professional help for a lot of things, doctor, mechanic etc.

But would you find yourself completely reliant on others? Think of how many weird little things you might half check about your body/health using the internet. You wouldn't go running to the doctor with every little thing (I have an itch/a mole/dry skin/headache......)

Its a 1/4 apocalyptic scenario!

Also bear in mind that a lot of so-called professionals are probably over-reliant on the internet too.

Sam Kade

Bygumbo wrote: »

Targeted electronic weapons that disable computer systems permanently are a reality. No doubt some R&D teams are already working on a wide scale version that could knock out an entire town/city. Maybe they have it already. Anywho.....

Supposing that all phones/communications and computers/laptops were disabled across the entire country for a year or more, how would you cope personally with everyday life?

Could you fix an engine without youtube instructions?
Could you make more than a couple different meals without internet guides?
Can you tie a bowtie?
Can you sew?
Do you know basic medicine/treatment?
Do you know the symptoms of disease?
Could you travel from A to B without computer guidance?
Would you feel the need to constantly look down at your lap (where your phone used to be)?
Would you go to libraries?
Would you have much more free time?
What would you do with that free time?
Could you work without computers (even if more difficult/slow)?
Would you feel lost having to completely rely on face-to-face interaction?
Would you collapse to the ground shivering in fear?


Has the internet created a wibbly wobbly platform of knowledge that collapses without it? ie we're all Neanderthals without it (maybe worse than before the internet).

I've never relied on the internet all the much, so I think I'd do okay without it (I try to learn as opposed to merely read) . But it would be weird not having all that information just a click away.

So, how useless are you without computers/internet? Would you be dead before lunchtime?

Let me guess, you are 10 years old. Simple just think back to a time before we had all those things and how we actually managed without them. Just imagine the shock of trying to have a conversation with someone.

Bygumbo

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I'd probably win at table quizzes.

Is there supposed to be a downside?

I'd imagine that social life would be a lot busier/bigger? Maybe?

Take away the likes of social media and I'd say you'd have a lot more people going outside. More table quizzes too!

Sounds like more fun, but who knows.

degsie

Might start looking out the window again

Bygumbo

Sam Kade wrote: »

Let me guess, you are 10 years old. Simple just think back to a time before we had all those things and how we actually managed without them. Just imagine the shock of trying to have a conversation with someone.

Far from 10 years old! Its just that over the passage of time you might lose perspective of how reliant you've become on the internet.

Or put it this way. Would the population of today fare well in comparison to the population of the early 90's, say?

I have a feeling that we'd cope very badly without the internet, and it would take a long time to get used to life without it.

Bygumbo

Bygumbo wrote: »

Targeted electronic weapons that disable computer systems permanently are a reality. No doubt some R&D teams are already working on a wide scale version that could knock out an entire town/city. Maybe they have it already. Anywho.....

Supposing that all phones/communications and computers/laptops were disabled across the entire country for a year or more, how would you cope personally with everyday life?

Could you fix an engine without youtube instructions?
Could you make more than a couple different meals without internet guides?
Can you tie a bowtie?
Can you sew?
Do you know basic medicine/treatment?
Do you know the symptoms of disease?
Could you travel from A to B without computer guidance?
Would you feel the need to constantly look down at your lap (where your phone used to be)?
Would you go to libraries?
Would you have much more free time?
What would you do with that free time?
Could you work without computers (even if more difficult/slow)?
Would you feel lost having to completely rely on face-to-face interaction?
Would you collapse to the ground shivering in fear?


Has the internet created a wibbly wobbly platform of knowledge that collapses without it? ie we're all Neanderthals without it (maybe worse than before the internet).

I've never relied on the internet all the much, so I think I'd do okay without it (I try to learn as opposed to merely read) . But it would be weird not having all that information just a click away.

So, how useless are you without computers/internet? Would you be dead before lunchtime?

You mean like going back to the first 35 years of my life?

Um, easy enough. Did have computers for work mind you. It has made things so much easier. Old enough to remember letters being fired out on a typewriter and retaining a carbon copy.

Alf Veedersane

Bygumbo wrote: »

I'd imagine that social life would be a lot busier/bigger? Maybe?

Take away the likes of social media and I'd say you'd have a lot more people going outside. More table quizzes too!

Sounds like more fun, but who knows.

I'll Google "fun" and make sure. Can't be making hasty decisions without getting the opinions of the Internet first.

whoopsadoodles

I'd have to look for a new job.

Alf Veedersane

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

I'd have to look for a new job.

Circling ads in the paper an' all.


Double whammy.

Bygumbo

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Circling ads in the paper an' all.


Double whammy.

Jesus, remember when youd look in the newspapers for jobs?! Seems quaint. Now its you versus the whole planet for the local job in centra :P

gitzy16v

It'd be grand.

Alf Veedersane

Bygumbo wrote: »

Jesus, remember when youd look in the newspapers for jobs?! Seems quaint. Now its you versus the whole planet for the local job in centra :P

It's how I got my job being ridiculously underpaid after my Leaving Cert. Good times

Bygumbo

Deleted User wrote: »

You mean like going back to the first 35 years of my life?

Um, easy enough. Did have computers for work mind you. It has made things so much easier. Old enough to remember letters being fired out on a typewriter and retaining a carbon copy.

Maybe a better way to phrase the question.....

With all of the information available on the internet, have you become MORE independent as a person, or LESS independent as a person, overall?

Karangue

Let's all quote the long op.

Bygumbo

gitzy16v wrote: »

It'd be grand.

Is that what you'd be saying to yourself without after hours, over and over as you rock yourself back and forth in the corner of an empty room?

Bygumbo

Bygumbo wrote: »

Maybe a better way to phrase the question.....

With all of the information available on the internet, have you become MORE independent as a person, or LESS independent as a person, overall?

Not sure about independence. Work emails aside, my use of the internet is largely recreational. So if it stopped tomorrow, and the world wound back to the days of going to the pub or staying at home to watch 3 or 4 channels, I'd put up with it. Mankind is very adaptable, there was a time we'd thought civilisation would end if people thought you'd have to take a flight without smoking, and definitely definitely end if you couldn't have a fag at the bar counter.

gitzy16v

Bygumbo wrote: »

Is that what you'd be saying to yourself without after hours, over and over as you rock yourself back and forth in the corner of an empty room?

I could do with an After Hours de-tox...like a lot of boardsies I reckon:D

Noveight

I could go without the internet but I would be very, very limited if I didn't have a mobile phone for calls/texts.

Bygumbo

Deleted User wrote: »

Not sure about independence. Work emails aside, my use of the internet is largely recreational. So if it stopped tomorrow, and the world wound back to the days of going to the pub or staying at home to watch 3 or 4 channels, I'd put up with it. Mankind is very adaptable, there was a time we'd thought civilisation would end if people thought you'd have to take a flight without smoking, and definitely definitely end if you couldn't have a fag at the bar counter.

I see my teenage cousin with his friends, and I kid you not, they were in the living room with me for a solid 3 hours the other day and all they did was stare at their phones, an odd grunt every few minutes.

"What are you doing?" I asked a good few times.
"Looking at stuff"
"What stuff?" I asked
"Just stuff, pictures on instagram"
What pictures? I ask
"Just pictures of selfies"

I suppose its one thing for people who remember life before the internet, but I swear that younger people like them would have a catatonic fit if they didnt have phones, and I seriously doubt they are learning anything (like, ANYTHING) from the internet.

Bygumbo

Bygumbo wrote: »

I see my teenage cousin with his friends, and I kid you not, they were in the living room with me for a solid 3 hours the other day and all they did was stare at their phones, an odd grunt every few minutes.

"What are you doing?" I asked a good few times.
"Looking at stuff"
"What stuff?" I asked
"Just stuff, pictures on instagram"
What pictures? I ask
"Just pictures of selfies"

I suppose its one thing for people who remember life before the internet, but I swear that younger people like them would have a catatonic fit if they didnt have phones, and I seriously doubt they are learning anything (like, ANYTHING) from the internet.

I can't pretend to understand that reliance myself.

On the other hand, tonight I was instantly able to access information about the Defenestration of Prague in the 30 Years War. I guess it all depends how you use it.

Bygumbo

sugarman wrote: »

It'd be great, nobody would be offended anymore and nobody would have the outlets to vent their outrage/offense.

The internet and social media have given too many morons a voice.

Thats another angle of it, lunatics living in their fantasy worlds were suddenly given a loudspeaker to the world. It was never going to be a good thing! Additionally, a lot of vulnerable people were exposed to and recruited by lunatics.

There was a reason certain people were shunned in reality before the internet, and ironically those kind of people usually dont work/have plenty of free time (in my experience), and therefore have EVEN MORE time to spew crap across the internet. Enabling environment, like setting the unstable town psychopath loose AND giving them a bag full of machine guns :P

Bygumbo

Deleted User wrote: »

I can't pretend to understand that reliance myself.

On the other hand, tonight I was instantly able to access information about the Defenestration of Prague in the 30 Years War. I guess it all depends how you use it.

Ah yeah, access......but did you actually learn anything? (joking, but you know what I mean)