Can you do without your electronic gadget/s for 6 months?

Just ordered this book after hearing an interview with the Author on our Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) local radio.

How long would you last without Major Geeks, iPods, iPhones, TV, etc.?:-D
Mum even disconnected the Electricity, but that only lasted a week or so.

Title: The Winter of Our Disconnect:

http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Our-Disconnect-Teenagers-Technology/dp/1585428558

NB: My spacing, for easier reading.

Bazza

 

I am not sure how i would fare, trying to fill the day without the use of techi stuff sounds a bit hard after getting used to it over the years.

TV would not be a great loss to me and i threw away my mobile phone 5 years ago (so no problem there), the PC is a bit different because of my years of heavy meds my memory and attention span have deteriorated so reading a book (i used to read a lot ) is not an option, the PC gives me answers to all my questions and if i get bored i can always play a game.
I suppose the next hardest thing to give up would be my espresso machine,going back to instant coffee would be really hard.

 

I'd really miss Majorgeeks. I think this 6 monthly disconnect only applied to home use. Work and school use still continued, apparently. I wonder if they "cheated"? :-D

Bazza

===

 

I could do it, but I would have no income. Seems impractical.

TV...no problem whatsoever. It doesn't occur to me to turn it on if no one else does. Cell phone would be a PITA, but I could deal. Computer...no way. My supplemental income comes from writing for a tech blog, and darn near everything we use at work involves some kind of gadget.

 

I couldn't agree more Bill. I don't have a cell phone, don't watch TV, but I am a huge gamer, PC PS3 360 PSP, nintendo, hell any type of addictive game, you can bet I'm playing it. And the internet.... I don't think it could ever be replaced by anything. I can think back just 20 years, whehn I was 9 or so and remember all the questions I had about.... stuff. If I'd have had google back then, I'd could have looked up the answers to ANYTHING!!!! :cool Not a bad idea for a book though... do something different, write book about it.

 

I could do it. I might not like it, but I could do it.

But only if it's the summer months. In winter the computer runs it's best and I'm not giving it up then. So there.

 

It looks as if i will find out.
I have fallen out with my ISP over their billing practices, they charge directly from my bank and lately i have had to claim back overcharging on 4 occasions that they tell me is a computer glitch but they are not so forthcoming at returning the money so i have told them to stuff it as i am so P****d of with them and have contacted another provider who will install everything on Monday/Tuesday so i hope my current provider does not cut me off before Monday or we are without TV/internet or phones.

The only pain i will feel is that i will need to change my E-Mail address but if i get a satisfactory service that is a small price to pay.

So here's hoping all goes smoothly.

 

It would be tough, if work related uses is allowed *maybe*. My phone is part of me, no I am not one of the texting maniacs but it is integrated into my work life. The TV part I could live without, mine is always on but only for background noise, sometimes I don't even notice what is on. Computer for personal use... hard, very hard.

 

I'm not sure I can. No computer, no tv, no electric razor, no gas heat or water cooler, no washing machine or dryer, dishwasher. Nope, I don't think I can do that.

 

Thanks folks, for your replies. :cool
Some very interesting reasons as to why (why not) you could do without electric gadgets.

@BILLMCC66

I use http://www.gmx.com as my email provider. It is accessible from any ISP provider anywhere in the world. It is not tied to any ISP, or email program.

Bazza

 

I would barely be able to last 2 hours without tech. I have my computer, cell phone, video game systems you name it. I would be going thru some serious WD symptoms heheh

 

the wife wouldn't be able to function for more than 2 days.

'THE' only appliance I don't think I could do without is a radio. always got that going in the background.

 

I refuse to be without TV for six months, since the NBA off-season is shorter than that.

As for being without phones and internet... WTF? That's like asking someone to be without electricity in today's day and age. It's such a ridiculous notion that I really don't care what anyone would be willing to pay me, I would just laugh in their face. What's next, daring people to go without soap and clean underwear? Please... rolleyes

 

No. I consider the few *gadgets* I have as *essentials*. :-D

 

My internet went down for an hour today.:eek As to gadgets, I use nothing except for my computers. Can't deal with no computer.

 

And, anyone who replies to this thread, can't do without their gadgets. :-D

Back to Witcher 2......

 

I could, I'd miss my games but I could manage.

It's funny, one night I will always remember very well is the night before my hernia operation early last year. We had a power cut at around 4pm(ish). One of the most pleasent nights I've had, I lit up some candles and myself, my girl and our boy sat in the living room and just talked. We even played yahzee. no phones, no PC's, no tv.
I t brought us back to a family unit for a short while.

It's happened a few times since but none of them seemed the same.

6 months no doubt would bring a fair amount of bordem admittedly but I don't think it would be as bad as many of you think it would be. It's only because we've got used to it, you don't NEED a mobile phone, you don't NEED a computer, these things are pretty new on the grand scale of things. For the fundementals and essentials, the digital age simply makes life easier.

I've often said I think it would be interesting to see the end of "Escape from LA" come true, I think it was that movie, might have been New York, but anyway, Kurt Russel hits a button and detonates a massive EMP, destroying every electronic device on the planet.

Back to basics... could you survive?

 

Easily. But life is more than just survival.

And it was Escape from LA, not New York... as long as I have books and something that can help me make music I can always get by and stay sane. But it's easier, not to mention far more enjoyable, if I have my gadget toys.

 

TV I could do, but not during hockey season. I'm not giving up my computer, my GPS, or Sirius (Octane:cool) anytime if I don't have to. I don't have a cell, so I'll give that up.
I rely on a computer and various scan and diagnostic tools at work,so if they'll pay me to stay home then I'll give those up too.

 

No. Just no. :-D

 

Now I can't imagine how people lived without their cell phones, navigators, tv and all consumer electronics. I would never agree to live without them. Moreover I wonder what will be invented soon?

 

Well, I had a power cut all day yesterday so that the power company could upgrade the lines, so going without tech for one day was bad enough.:cry

 

I am barely able to last 6 minutes. I am either on my computer or on my phone, don't tell anyone, but I even sleep with my phone. My excuse for sleeping with it is, my son stole my alarm clock and now I have my phone alarm to ring exactly as my old alarm, it also is my self defense if someone breaks in while i'm asleep, I can grab it and smash them in the face. My phone has an awesome flashlight and for some silly entertainment we turn on the speak feature to use voice text and it comes out with the funniest stuff, try it some time! My 13 year old son and I laugh our heads off. "My phone of goodness" does everything except for washing the dishes and the 3 S's of bathroom duty.

So no way no how would I last. Now if only I could find a never ending battery to charge both my laptop and my phone 24 /7 on the go.

 

http://www.megatechnews.com/npower-peg-never-leaves-your-batteries-flat/

:-D

 

LOL, should have known , what an awesome idea!! Do you know of any solar chargers that work on the same premise?

 

LOL

http://www.megatechnews.com/scosche...red-usb-charger-and-battery-backup-solbat-ii/

 

No!!!:-o:-D

 

My wife and I were tent camping the last couple of weeks (road access not backcountry). Here's the list of electronics my wife has on her reminder list to pack.
Phone, phone charger, handheld GPS, dashboard GPS, Canon camera, Olympus camera, DS and charger, IPod and charger, Sirius receiver, speaker.
Ahhh back to nature.rolleyes

 

And ironically, the only thing you actually need... is a knife :-D

 

roflmao Well played Ned, thanks for the laugh.