What would you do without the internet? What would your life be like? \ stacker news ~tech

What would you do without the internet? What would your life be like?

2260 sats \ 67 comments \ @k00b 27 Jun tech

zaps forwarded to @Natalia (50%)

@Natalia asked a great question in the saloon.

If we never had the internet, imagine you're living before its invention, what do you think you'd be doing? How would your life be different?

If the internet were to go away forever tomorrow, having lived with it, what would you do then? Would your answer be different?

Without the internet, I'd probably be carpenter/painter. Before I found programming, I intended to go to college for math, then not use the degree, and be a carpenter/painter type. Having lived with the internet, valuing it as I do, I'd probably try to rebuild it in some way.

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203 sats \ 24 replies \ @kepford 27 Jun

Before I went into programming I worked in construction and many physical labor jobs. I learned enough skills that I could probably become an electrician or plumber in a short time if I decided to today. Practically and financially that's probably what I would have done. I know many in the software engineering field like to think of us as being scientists. Some are for sure, but most of what I have done over the years is closer to a skilled trade than doing science. And despite the culture of the day that looks down on skilled trades as less respectable they can be quite rewarding and lucrative.

But if I were to go back and just go for something I think I might give music or stand up comedy a go.

177 sats \ 2 replies \ @0xbitcoiner 27 Jun

I know many in the software engineering field like to think of us as being scientists.

71 sats \ 1 reply \ @Bell_curve 27 Jun

Office Space is a great movie because it’s timeless

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford 27 Jun

Yep. Its great.

156 sats \ 18 replies \ @Bell_curve 27 Jun

Engineers are more mechanic or architect than scientist. Of course engineering is very specialized so fields will differ slightly

Any software engineer who calls himself a scientist is already insufferable

Try finding a window repair man in Southern California right now. 4 weeks for earliest appointment

159 sats \ 16 replies \ @kepford 27 Jun

I remember learning years ago that if I could show up on time sober and not lie or steal I'd be at the top of most labor jobs. Our society is screwed up. Entitled and depressed. We need people that can fix our stuff. We need to respect people. For several years I worked as the tech guy for training programs that trained teachers in the skilled trades. Its ridiculous how everyone is pushed to universities vs. what they are suited for. Trades are needed and should be respected but instead are treated like fast food work culturally. Its absurd. I think there is hope it will change. Mike Roe is a great advocate and has influenced many in a positive direction.

55 sats \ 15 replies \ @Natalia fwd 27 Jun

Trades are needed and should be respected but instead are treated like fast food work culturally.

I don't know how to explain knowing some of the tradesmen spent years mastering one skill yet not even earning what they deserved.

21 sats \ 14 replies \ @kepford 27 Jun

Skilled trades pay quite well in the US. The biggest issue I continue to hear is there are not enough people going into them. It is stupid and shows the power of propaganda and stigma.

55 sats \ 12 replies \ @Natalia fwd 27 Jun

I guess it's supply and demand:)

The biggest issue I continue to hear is there are not enough people going into them.

interesting, here is the same, but due to these trades not making much money anymore.

55 sats \ 11 replies \ @Bell_curve 27 Jun

Too many teenagers are going to college

21 sats \ 10 replies \ @kepford 27 Jun

The ROI doesn't make sense for everyone to go. It never did and it sure doesn't today. That was never the idea. Its a rigged system. That's not to mention the quality and cost being insanely off.

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55 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 27 Jun

Welders can make a nice living especially in Texas

76 sats \ 0 replies \ @Natalia fwd 27 Jun

Try finding a window repair man in Southern California right now. 4 weeks for earliest appointment

I'm happy that still quite easy to find these tradesmen in Turkey.

94 sats \ 1 reply \ @kepford 27 Jun

I grew up without the Internet. This world is not one I find hard to imagine. Even with all the problems that the Internet has contributed to I wouldn't turn the clock back. I think humans just need to learn how to handle everyone being connected. Nostalgia is seductive but also deceptive. The grass is always greener. There is no way but forward. This is a great time to be alive. We are simply far more aware of how much evil is in the world. What crazy things people believe, and how much of what we know is based on lies. We are still learning how to deal with all this. Its a lot to figure out. Most people still believe the answer to our problems is to vote every few years and try to use force to make others live their lives the way we think they should. We have a long way to go.

Peace. Keep your heads up. There's a lot to be grateful for. Stay humble, stack sats. I have to remind myself of these things pretty much every day. Focus on moving forward. Focus on what I can control. Be grateful I have what I have and work to make the world I exist in a bit better.

76 sats \ 0 replies \ @JesseJames 27 Jun

Well said. Agreed.

163 sats \ 5 replies \ @chovy 27 Jun

Well I’m gen x and was born in 1974. Long before any sort of internet went mainstream. We had things like compuserv and prodigy which were basically walled gardens like aol was.

As kids we spent most of our time outside. We weren’t allowed to watch tv. Back then I always saw myself snowing a small brick and mortar business. It’s what I went to college for as a business major. However around 1995 I got access to the web and decided that’s what I wanted to do. It was a hell of a lot easier to find work back then.

However now that I’m 49 and unemployable in tech I wish to open a 24-hour lounge with private membership

137 sats \ 0 replies \ @jgbtc 28 Jun

I'm exactly the same age and can vouch for this. I played outside all day and TV was a special treat, maybe one evening a week plus Saturday morning cartoons of course. In many ways life was better pre internet, but I think overall it is beneficial to humanity. Access to information is unprecedented and it's finally starting to get interesting with the total collapse of main stream media taking place right now, and obviously the emergence of Bitcoin. The calamity that is fiat money was put into motion ironically at almost the same moment the earliest experiments that became the internet were taking place. I can't help but feel that it is a kind of counter force for good against the evil of fiat, finally producing in 2009 the champion needed to defeat the monster.

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @Bell_curve 27 Jun

24 hour lounge is definitely a good plan

Generation X is the latchkey children generation

The least insufferable generation

31 sats \ 2 replies \ @freetx 28 Jun

I'm GenX so obviously biased.

However, I do see in general that GenX is least politically strident generation. Most GenX take fairly centrist positions (not really speaking for myself, since I lean very libertarian, but most friends my age are very centrist).

There is a weird similarity between Boomers-Millennials that both tend towards political extremism.

Perhaps GenZ is going to fairly centrist as well....who knows...maybe it goes in some kinda generational cycle.

28 sats \ 1 reply \ @Bell_curve 28 Jun

Boomers procreated most millennials.

Generation X parents are mostly silent generation.

Generation X is definitely the least strident. The latchkey kid generation didn’t grow up with helicopter 🚁 parents and smart phones and social media. Remember when having an email address in college was exciting? Or Netscape in 1994? This World Wide Web http dot com is cutting edge lol.

Generation X voting as college students? Almost zero

I can easily tell when someone is a millennial. If you disagree they immediately start with the ad hominem attacks.

Boomers were born during a time of prosperity. Same with millennials.

Generation X were mostly born in the 1970s: high unemployment and high inflation

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @freetx 28 Jun

Generation X voting as college students? Almost zero

Very true. The common feeling was they were all liars. It wasn't even a 'hatred' of politicians, it was just a complete ignoring.

Generation X parents are mostly silent generation.

Also true. Interesting that Boomers were from Greatest Gen:

Greatest Gen -> Boomers -> Millenials -> late Gen Z (or whatever next is called)
Silent Gen -> Gen X -> Gen Z

Gen Z is strange. You can see a difference of ones birthed by Gen X vs Millenials.

138 sats \ 2 replies \ @siggy47 27 Jun

Half of my life was pre internet. More in person and telephone conversations. After work was reading, watching tv (cable was a big upgrade), or going out to hang with friends( replaced by social media and tinder). Life wasn't so bad, but no doubt the internet is a net positive, by a long shot.

198 sats \ 0 replies \ @Coinsreporter 27 Jun

I only started using internet in 2006, so I would also say half of my life was pre-internet.

Really those days were not so bad. As a kid I used to read Newspaper daily. Most of my time went playing outdoor games. These days, I can visibly see that kids are more inclined to internet. This is one of the most negative impacts I can confirm with internet.

54 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 27 Jun

Let me guess: you would have been a lawyer with or without the internet lol

143 sats \ 0 replies \ @IamSINGLE 27 Jun

A tough one considering how internet has got so much big in our lives. But I'd you ask me, I will easily adapt to new world without internet. Just need to be a monk or a sage living without anything. As I already don't do anything as work. I would, i think have much more time to do what I love. I think learning music, cooking will be my priorities.

148 sats \ 2 replies \ @TNStacker 27 Jun

I grew up without the internet. We played outside and socialized in person. More books were read, as was actual newspapwrs with local news. "All politics is local."

I wonder if your question shouldn't say without transistors or computing, instead of internet, because I learned programming on a computer with a tape drive - years before Internet connections. I'd be involved in business and using computers as tools as I do now.

52 sats \ 1 reply \ @0xbitcoiner 27 Jun

Without internet, the only ones who would be up the creek would be internet programmers. Those left could go on living in their madness. 🤠

22 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 27 Jun

A world without JavaScript lol

164 sats \ 0 replies \ @Coinsreporter 27 Jun

Without internet, I would probably be a farmer. I've some land countryside and will be a fit to be there as the barter system is still there in Indian villages. For wheat or other grains, you can still get things.

I'm saying this because without internet, I don't think any type of monetary system will be there. We need to go back to the ancient days of things for things...

143 sats \ 2 replies \ @grayruby 27 Jun

We would probably all just go back to do stuff in meat space.

It wouldn't be that bad.

71 sats \ 1 reply \ @k00b OP 27 Jun

I'm not saying it would be bad, but many of us don't even know what meatspace-only is like. Some of us might even be relatively unsuited for a meatspace world if we are nueroatypical in some way that makes us more functional in an internet based economy.

121 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby 27 Jun

The internet is amazing don't get me wrong but life before the internet fueled digital Cambrian explosion was pretty good too.

142 sats \ 0 replies \ @0xbitcoiner 27 Jun

I'm from a time before the internet existed, haha. I'd probably be outside doing something. If I was home, I'd be playing Prince of Persia. 🤠

122 sats \ 0 replies \ @StillStackinAfterAllTheseYears 27 Jun

Like others, I grew up pre-internet. That said, every job I've had since 1996 has at least been internet-adjacent. I expect I'd have gone into computer repair (it was where I started), but I don't know if I'd have stayed there, or found another trade.

121 sats \ 0 replies \ @160ed04091 27 Jun

without the internet most of us from Africa, we will probably go back to our old way of life. for example. Subsistence farming, trade by barter, local craft. i personally will go return back to farming and fishing
they are still some countries in Africa with very low access of internet

121 sats \ 0 replies \ @quark 27 Jun

I lived when there was no Internet. And everything was so cool. But I was a kid. Everything looks cool as a kid.

Many times when I am taking care of my animals or my vegetables I have so many things to do that I forget to go to the computer or check the phone for a long time. I think I would be happy as a full time farmer :)

121 sats \ 0 replies \ @SilkyNinja 27 Jun

Without the internet, I'd probably be in the same work; while the 'net has been an incredible tool for networking in my field, all of my most profound inspiration and interactions have been more analog - save the television. Without the television, I might be really lost. Thank God for the television.

If the internet were to go away forever tomorrow, I'd probably continue doing the same as I'm doing now, although I'd be rather lost in many ways. I can imagine that I'd want to share and circulate some of my ideas, which is yet another signpost that it's about time to start a blog...I'd probably try to do more work to talk to people about the practical purpose of physical training as a method of liberating the self, and how I at least think that the liberation of the body is the gateway to the liberation of the mind and soul.

When I think about who I am and what matters to me, and how the television was so important in understanding that, it causes me to consider how much the internet matters and how it could be so much more. While I've been rather doom-y reading Surveillance Capitalism, the prompt of this post is net inspirational :)

Major edit: If the internet never existed, my life would be nothing like what it is. It's only because of the internet that I met the most important person in my life, and it's possible none of it would be the way it is. Yes, my work would very well be as I described. But my life? No.

121 sats \ 0 replies \ @nerd2ninja 27 Jun

I would probably be reading books from the library written in the 90s for most of my childhood (which is pretty close to what happened anyway only difference being learning the windows command line from the built in help menu) and if I assume no internet means no computer, well I would be doing my best to study space systems, genetics, or neurons (the human connectome) and I probably wouldn't get very far because in both timelines I would take a hard guess that I wouldn't be college educated, but idk with this different path, maybe I would try way harder to try to get into college and even if not really research the best libraries that are out there to study more updated information.

From that point, its hard to know where life would have taken me. I definitely feel like I wouldn't get as far in those fields as I have with what I know (being that what I do know was so greatly aided by internet access).

121 sats \ 2 replies \ @JesseJames 27 Jun

Wow, a lot "old farts" in here, myself included :-) yeah, we actually remember how to sit down and read a book (you know the thingy with lots of pages in them), or go plant a tree, clean the shed, ride a horse, or Harley or both. Go fishing, or do absolutely nothing lie down on the hood of your car at night and stare at the sky ..... dang it... good old times.... The best thing was, you could get lost and no one knew where you were.... no street cams, no tracking devices.. actually real freedom to move around. So, yeah, I would miss the communication and instant information flow, but yes, we can do without it (for a while at last)

21 sats \ 1 reply \ @Bell_curve 27 Jun

We should distinguish between internet and social media

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @JesseJames 27 Jun

they kinda like "horse and carriage" tho :-)

121 sats \ 0 replies \ @Taft 27 Jun

I would probably continue to work as a translator (with the lack of translation engines would have been even better for me 😁).

121 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 27 Jun

Most likely I would have been a math instructor. That's the path I was on before the internet got me interested in economics.

If we lost the internet, I'd probably get a teaching job of some sort: ideally as a math or econ professor.

122 sats \ 0 replies \ @Natalia fwd 27 Jun

I would also keep exploring and sharing, but maybe in the form of books per internet time; then the interesting thing would be how ppl even discover my book then?

And how ppl supported themselves for all the travels before even releasing the work? which really goes back to what tradable skills one has, I guess I could be a translator or even a teacher to support it.

100 sats \ 0 replies \ @chaoticalHeavy 28 Jun

Before the internet: I was an engineer that was good at using mainframe computers and programmable calculators to automate my work and design manufacturing and business processes. If the internet goes away: Probably freak out for a few weeks and then adapt to whatever comes next.

100 sats \ 0 replies \ @SatsMate 28 Jun

Awesome question - I think I would be spending time playing poker, reading books, playing pickleball and sports.

I'm not one to watch tv endlessly, but I think I would be doing something challenging with my mind or body.

100 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 27 Jun

What was life like before 1996?

Imagine the OJ Simpson trial today lol

Julia Louis Dreyfus was asked what career or job if you didn’t act… her response was unemployed

32 sats \ 0 replies \ @BitcoinAbhi 27 Jun

I still remember those days. Life was very peaceful back then. You just did your work and enjoyed time with your family. Life was very happy. And happiness is more important than anything else in life. I would love to relive those days if there was no internet.

31 sats \ 1 reply \ @Car 27 Jun

Artist, but doing the same thing likely just on a different domain outside of the internet.

12 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 27 Jun

Different domain lol

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @Satosora 27 Jun

If more people were off the internet, you could actually have a conversation with them without them looking at their phone. It would definitely bring people closer together.

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @hasherstacker 27 Jun

I would probably just be doing artwork.

31 sats \ 0 replies \ @kristapsk 28 Jun

I started to learn to code without the Internet, in the 1990s, from the books. So guess that would be what I would be doing anyway.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Sirkay 28 Jun

Lovely question. Without the internet I will be teaching people the use of typewriter and shorthand writing as well as engage in farming. Life will still go on as normal. Technology steal the primitive life away.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 28 Jun

@k00b can you do one for fossil fuel?

What would you do if you emitted zero carbon? And rely solely on solar and wind? A world without gasoline and natural gas?

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Muuny 27 Jun

boomers wish

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Coinsreporter 27 Jun

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