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2.5 weeks ago, a highly unpleasant event took place. A lightning hit the telephone line, frying nearly 100 telephone lines in my area. And my computer. The mainboard, CPU and power supply died instantly. My harddisks, the graphics card and the RAM barely survived.
I was in shambles. Within 10 minutes I felt how much I rely on the computer, and more specifically on the internet. I thought "no problem, I will look up a place to get my machine repaired"... then I realized I had no computer/internet. I rely on the net for information gathering, looking things up, keeping contact with friends/socializing in general and so on. Even without the net, I use my computer to play games, watch movies, listen to music and much more.
How much do YOU depend on the internet and your computer for your daily life? Any suggestions how to reduce and/or better manage the dependance?
I thought about finally buying a DVD player for my TV set or a stereo, but why should I if I have my trusty machine... But I can't find a workaround for the informations the internet has to offer. Sure, I can call my friends (and do so from time to time), but instant-messaging communication is so much more convenient... I can continue conversations from hours ago, share interesting info and in regards to setting dates for meeting (with multiple guys), we all just join a channel together on IRC and talk things through. Can't beat the net, but I would like to reduce it a bit...
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Also, I read through Marc Aurel 3 times in the time I had no computer/internet. Interesting read, and I guess I should take a few personality traits from him.
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I get restless when my internet is down for more than 1 hour 
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I am incomplete without internet access. I honestly don't think I could retain my sanity without the internet.
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Bearded Elder29905 Posts
Turn off Your CPU when there are lightnings outside, that's what my mother always used to tell me !
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If I am @ home, then I need the Internet.
EDIT: For TeamLiquid of course! 
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My comp was off, I even pulled the power plug out of the power supply. The lightning came through the telephone line...
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I use it as a news source for everything from sports (I check this stuff a lot) to games to real news from around the world. Whenever I was cut off from it I just always wanted to know what was going on lol. So yes I am. Last summer I was off on an excavation in Poland for a little over a month and we only got to have internet for like 30 mins when we visited a town at an internet cafe near the end of it. It sucked but the work took up soo much time and it was fun so I didn't notice it too much.
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See, one of the interesting things about the net now is that it seeps into your daily life. Call google's 411, say "computer repair" and watch it list the 10 nearest places to you 
this would require a non-fried phone though.. and I'm not sure if they have this service in germany.
but for me, only the first day or two takes time to adjust (once I forgot my adapter for my lappy when moving to uni, and totally forgot (thankfuly, I guess) I could just use someone else's to charge it).. but after the first one or two days of relative aimlessness, time gets taken up by (proably less pointless, to be honest) things
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Damn and I was pissed that someone spilled water on my keyboard and now the computer just beeps incessantly when you plug it in. The keys on this one are too stiff, gonna be gay for BW T_T
But yeah we are very dependent on the old PC these days, a friend of mines PC died recently and now he can't watch anything, listen to music, play BW or use the net -.-
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On July 22 2009 21:48 clazziquai wrote:If I am @ home, then I need the Internet. EDIT: For TeamLiquid of course!
Definitely true, but I feel lost without the Internet seeing as there is almost nothing to do at my house.
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Same here.
It's ok not to have internet on holidays, far from home.
But If I am on my PC, and internet doesn't work, I go berserk.
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i know how to use a phone book, and i also have a tele thats old and doesn't need power (or could just use a cell)
also invest in a surge protector?
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id probably be a lot better off without a computer lol.
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United States24788 Posts
When I was in college I used my computer for everything. When I wanted to do work on my computer, I needed to ask for help from campusmates since I was noob at it, and I realized I couldn't do that when I turned off my computer to open it up!
Having a second computer with internet access available is great if you can. If my computer died right now I could hop on another one which wouldn't have all the software or games but at least would have internet.
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man computers are eating my life....... i need help.
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yeah i do
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LoL, i can't believe you guys can't live without your computers... Neither can I but for different reasons, my whole "career" is computer dependent,(CG, 3D Animation), but I could go without internet at my house like 3-4 days in a row.
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I depend on computers a lot, my work involves computers, internet and telephone communication so that aspect of my life would be shot if i lost it. Other than that I use internet to communicate with friends and family that dont life if the US with us (croatia, germany, switzerland and so on), and even in my social life i use it to look up times for movies gas prices and after that i still play SC and CS but thats about it for entertainment purposes with teh internet. I actually NEED the internet to function otherwise I wouldnt have a job.
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Working with them (Software programmers)  can't live without them lol
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Even work put aside... if I'm home and my internet is down, I just can't physically stay at home (last time that happened, I actually went and crashed at a friends place for two days with my laptop).
It's a habit/addiction like anything else, except this one isn't eating up my neurones or lungs (just my time^^).
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Well I just bought a new keyboard, it's all shiny and new but just doesn't feel the same as the old faithful one
Guess this proves the dependence...it died today and I already got another one even though I had a spare.
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Hong Kong20321 Posts
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I'd say computers are going to be like electricity, or fire, or shelter. We don't exactly DEPEND on it... but since we've been using them for so long, found so many useful/entertaining applications, and have become so accustomed to having it around, when it is suddenly taken away we shit our pants.
A decade from now I wouldn't be surprised if people panic at their net going down
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Baa?21246 Posts
Without my computer and/or internet, I will go insane and eat everyone in a 3 mile radius within an hour. No lie.
edit: Used my 2k post to comment on my utter addiction to the internets...totally worth it 
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Well for me it's like, if I'm close to a usable computer I'll go crazy if I can't at least go check tl/emails. However I went on vacation for 6 weeks with barely any internet connections and I actually didn't miss it that much. But when I got back...oh god.
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I don't understand the question. My entire livelyhood is 'on a computer.'
And to the OP, what about your laptop? Losing your desktop is sad, but unless you have your laptop with you at all times and carry multiple ways to access the internet wherever you are you're deliberately shooting yourself in the foot.
If you're going to be dependent, you should do it properly.
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there's a world out there you know o.o
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ill deny it but inside i know i rely on my comp.
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I don't depend on it too much. I have plenty of other things to do. The computer just provides more entertainment so im on it more.
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I would say that I rely on my computer more for work then I do in my leisure time. I don't have much free time to sit at home on the computer and surf the web and to do all the other wonderful things you can do on the internet. However when I was younger I definately was on the computer at least 10 out of the 16 hours of my day.
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On July 23 2009 01:12 SwEEt[TearS] wrote:
Well for me it's like, if I'm close to a usable computer I'll go crazy if I can't at least go check tl/emails. However I went on vacation for 6 weeks with barely any internet connections and I actually didn't miss it that much. But when I got back...oh god.
Thats so true, when i go on vacation i dont mind not having a computer because im so busy with other things however if im bored then its on. Same with when im at home, if my friends are at work or in class then i get bored and just sit on computer but if they call me or im out then i dont really think "oh god, need internet neeeeed computeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer".
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On July 23 2009 00:58 Carnivorous Sheep wrote:Without my computer and/or internet, I will go insane and eat everyone in a 3 mile radius within an hour. No lie. edit: Used my 2k post to comment on my utter addiction to the internets...totally worth it
haha worthy/ironic use of your 2000th post
On topic, hell yes i rely on this pos way too much.
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have a decent backup strategy and more than one computer That's all there is too it.
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Man, what WOULD I do all day without the internet. It feels like I've lived with a computer all my life. Almost, I think haha.
I guess I used to go out a lot more. Go biking, scootering, playing tag, basketball, 2-square, exploring...
Good old days. :[
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I can live without my computer and internet. I've been forced to a couple times, but it is definitely not something I enjoy. It is a lot harder to get by without a computer after school though.
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<-- software intern, don't have much of a choice
Although i do constantly wish for a find feature in documents that aren't on the computer..
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i am on for more than 10 hours a day on the computer
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Yes I think I depend on it too much. However, if I were to lose my computer, I think it'd held me in my musical progress a lot because I often make the decision to replace my practice time with D MOTW.
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The internet has become a basic need
Would you rather starve for 30 hours? Or go without the internet without 30 hours.
Poll: Starve for 30 hours, or go without internet for 30 hours
(Vote): Starve[30 hours]
(Vote): No internet[30 hours]
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I calculated and i spend more then 84 hours a week at the computer this summer, without the computer id just...
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oh haha that's a neat gif u made
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On July 24 2009 01:22 KinosJourney2 wrote:I calculated and i spend more then 84 hours a week at the computer this summer, without the computer id just...
But without porn...?
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EPT![[image loading]](http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww85/Kino5journey/lolR3.gif)
