what would you do if the internet was GONE?

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I'm not aware of this question being asked recently. just imagine, if you woke up one day and found it was the year 1965 and your PC or smart phone was gone and in fact there were no PCs and no smart phones, like they were erased out of existence, along with the last 50 years? and the knowledge of how to make them work is also erased. but you still have your memories of them. what WOULD you do should there be no internet or internet access devices or PCs or smart phones for decades?

I honestly don't know. My entire life is constructed around my consumption of music videos on YouTube. That is every day of my life, sometimes all day. Without YouTube, I do not know what to do. I cannot fathom what I would feel in this situation. As it stands, what happens when my Internet is cut is that I feel displaced and confused, but at least I know that the Internet will return some time and that if I go outside there will be wi-fi. But, I suppose it might be interesting if I were forced into a situation that compels me to re-invent my everyday life without the crutch of Internet use (provided it is a situation without its own constraints, for example being in hospital without Internet for weeks was not fun at all. I would have to have the freedom to re-invent my everyday life).

It would be a period of readjustment for sure. While the music would be great with the British Invasion, Garage rock and Motown happening the music would be in mono on my transistor radio with the same songs over and over again in between 20 minutes of commercials every hour. Only 5 channels on the probably black and white TV. No DVR, streaming etc so it is back to watching what the networks want me to watch when they want me to watch it. No remote, got to walk up and switch the channels. If I want to see a movie better see it now or wait until the heavily, censored chopped up version comes on TV around 1970. No knowledge of the Autism spectrum of course but because of the booming economy I would be making a living wage with pensions and good health coverage. Work would be a routine 9-5 Monday through Friday with full evenings and weekends to do what I want.

^^^
back then, the movies at least in America [not so much in Europe] were also heavily censored, there were almost no adult entertainments available back then outside of the major cities. there WERE CB walkie talkies, mobile CB radios [in vehicles like trucks] and CB radio, which was the internet of its day, on a small scale.

If I went straight back to 1965, from the present time, I would find it suffocating. And not having any internet would be the ultimate symbol of why it would be suffocating, because there wouldn't be the kind of exchange of information that we have now.

I would have a more immediate concern though, that the house I live in now did not have an indoor toilet or bathroom yet in 1965.

I know from experience that if I had no Internet, I would get a lot more things done, I would exercise more, and I would read books. Because what I do on the Internet is mostly to goof around and waste time.

The only thing I would miss about not having access to the Internet is that I couldn't find information I might be looking for right away - and maybe I couldn't find it at all.

I cannot say that I would miss Facebook and smart phones.

I just had a thought - I'd prolly be spending MUCH more time at the local public library and even making trips to large big city libraries to read material not available in local libraries at the time. I directly remember how it used to be back then.

Back in 1965? When I was ten?

Hmmmm....

I would have to listen to my Dad talk about how he was a victim of the Great Depression, and to both of my parents explain about how "in our day radio was what TV is today- all of same stuff: sitcoms, soaps, game shows, westerns, variety shows, and news, were without pictures ,and were on the radio". Even some of the exact same programs we watched (like Dragnet, and Gun Smoke) got started before my time as radio shows.

And I would hear my Grandparents explain about how in THEIR day they didn't even have radio, nor even movie houses to go to.

So...for starters I would be damned grateful that I live in 1965 and have a black and white TV set, have five stations to choose from (with that few, and no VCR you dont need a remote-you can walk across the living room to twist the dial)! And that we have Hollywood wedded to the radio in the form of TV. And that we have electric lights powered by switches, and don't have to light kerosene lamps. And the horseless carriages we drive - start with an ignition key, and not with a hand crank.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Don't use my cell phone very much actually.

But I do go on the net.

I waste alot of time on the net, but it also saves me a lot of time. Prolly about balances out. But the biggest time user on the net is one particular site - THIS site.

I wouldnt be able to go to Wrongplanet. So that would be a big change. Might end up hanging out in some bar just to find folks to chew the fat with.

I met my partner online. When I got the internet and started posting on it when I was 10 or so, it was like I suddenly had a voice and could say the things that were in my head. I allow myself to be a different person when I'm alone, and I think that that might be the only reason I fell in love. Like, I communicate the -way I want to- and can feel the -the way I want to- while doing so. I would be so much more lost without the internet.

I guess I'd just write things down a lot by hand. I used to journal nearly everyday in fact. But there's a lack of communicating to someone else that way.

That said, my problems might -feel- worse because they would be worse without much of an outlet, and that might have spurned me into seeking therapy and sticking with it, sooner.

I could see myself suddenly becoming 'productive', since I actually spend a lot of energy online too.

edit: Yes, I could see myself putting up with school just so I could read articles and have access to things because I actually have access to a lot of that stuff now without needing to have further education behind it.

Get up...have my morning coffee, cigarette and smoke some weed as usual. Then figure out stuff to do that does not involve the internet, listen to some vinyl....go for a walk, hang out at the park, maybe go for a drive if I could find a vehicle since driving laws where a little more loose back than from my understanding. IDK there would be lots of stuff to do.

I don't think I'd ever survive, LOL.

But I'd guess I'd just do some reading and stuff.