Power cut - where were you when life ended?
Imagine for one moment, there is a power cut and that the electricity doesn’t come back on. Where would we be? Just imagine no TV and no Internet. What would you do? What would everyone do? Go to bed and hope the power would come back on in the morning?The fact is, as we all probably know, the magic boxes have taken over our lives and in many cases have become substitutes for friends and even family. We talk about the ‘virtual world’ and ‘virtual friends,’ and everyone raves about Internet friends but where would they be in a power cut - which never ended? God forbid! We’d have to learn to play musical instruments to entertain ourselves and we’d have to write letters on paper and then wait a week before we got a reply, and even worse – we’d have to talk to neighbours and relatives.
I’m not writing this to proclaim the evil of television or the Internet but that we substitute them for real people and that without them, so many people would suddenly find themselves very lonely indeed. No more jolly news presenters to talk to them over their cornflakes – a friend in the corner of the room; no more gooey entertainment to absorb and distract them; no more of anything to cover up their loneliness and inability to share their lives with others.
How can we ever really be real people again, if we don’t raise the level at which we communicate with each other? Human intercourse! I could say, we are in danger of becoming an extinct species in our own time; that we metamorphose into some sub species where only electricity keeps us alive. Am I being over dramatic? That’s for you to decide?
Comments (27)
I gave up T.V. for a month. It was just wonderful.... OK I missed some good series that I liked, I missed political programmes, and the NEWS .
However, I found I was sitting less, had no eye strain and was getting through some good books and also painting more. I believe T.V. has ruined family life just as kids having smartphones and other social media in their own rooms has really deteriorated family lilfe.
For those living alone, it can become a substitute for real living and there lies the problem. Ditto Fakebook [sorry facebook] , and other similar social media sites that are a fake impression of the life we lead and where people have over a thousand friends. Sad really.
Yes, I have thought about this, and it is frightening. The new generation will not be Creative as they are constantly entertained. They can not be still, mindful, they must be online, making contact with some film or somebody. Silence, being still is something that has become alien.
I went quite some time a few times in my lifetime with power.Look at what our ancestry did before all the modern things had been created.
Power cuts for one day..ok..not the end of the world.
A couple of days...no cash points for money...no shopping ...no petrol..
More than 2 days...no energy..no water..no flushing toilets...
Then...I'll let you imagine the rest....
I think that TV ..internet and cell phones would be the last of our worries!
What about people with pacemakers?
I think Americans would start shooting and raping each other after a few days, like in the superdome during hurricane Katrina some years back.
Most lives did not end with this tragedy and those with severe medical problems were evacuated to care facilities. Yes, it was stressful at times but what can you do. Most, I was pleasantly surprised to see coped with the situation as best they could. Yes, we did not have internet, or TV, or other electronic gadgets that attach themselves to our lives. The human spirit rose above this to win in the end. At least it did here.
I'm not watching any TV and can arrange the blessing of cutting out the internet completely my own person simply by just not renewing the internet subscription.
I can use the money not given for an internet connection to have lunch or dinner at a restaurant at least 3 times and meet someone in person at the restaurant instead of the internet.
One of the benefits.
If the electricity doesn't come back on, that will be another great blessing.
I will finally use the hundreds of candles purchased at a very good price enough to last for a whole week at least.
Sure, I am using the Internet to "propagate" my message but my message was not attacking TV or the Internet, just the fact that our human face to face contact is diminishing. If I could live in a community whereby I could speak and converse with many people each day and feel happy in the their company, I may not use the Internet at all, but I don't and this is difficult to find. I admit, I often feel lonely because I don't have others to share with and so I use the Internet to reach out but it's a poor substitute for real face to face communication.
So why do you use the Internet at all? Because it's there or because without it we'd be basically stuffed for communication on a meaningful level?
I think the Internet has definitely changed us beings and not so much in a good way. Sure, we can say what we like here and have communication and that may seem satisfying but how much does it add to our happiness about life?
Anyway, I just wanted to say this.
Unless you happen to live as a hermit and have your own power supply and are not dependent on anything which is run with electricity, people seem to forget that we need WATER and water has to be pumped up.
Also we use toilets and they have to be flushed...
Also, for people who use cars, where will they get their petrol when they´ve ran out?..
Also, when they´ve ran out of food, how would they buy in supermarkets without any tills working?
And what about getting money from cash points?
I´ve also mentioned people with pacemakers? Would that be romantic for them if there´s a power cut? Will they use their candles?
We don´t need a power cut to turn off our TVs... switch off our phones...stay off the internet.
Some people seem to live on CS almost 24/7, instead of having a normal life, go out in nature, socialise with "real" people etc..
Until I came to live in Spain, I didn't even have a computer, nor cell phones, and I got on perfectly alright without as.... you can´t really miss what you´ve never had, can you?
What about the sewage overflowing into the streets, no fresh water, rats crawling all over the place and feeding on human waste...
What about the poor unfortunates who live in high rise cities, are they going to walk up and down the stairs - possibly 40 floors?
What about vandalism and complete lack of law and order...
etc. etc. etc..
How romantic?
I was only responding to another comment made about being a blessing and finding it romantic to be without electricity without realising the consequences.
And I think that I have responded regarding being without technology.
For me it wouldn't matter a great deal as I've lived most of my life without.
There are times when I don't use the internet at all for 3 days in a row.
And where I've been on a mountain retreat for a weekend without a connection to a cell phone.
Did I miss it? NOpe...
As for friends...I am a very social person and I can make friends anywhere.
Btw..this message was directed to the OP.
This is supposed to be an interactive blog where people should feel free to express their opinion.
As for "face to face " human contact...I'm all for it!
Show me yours...and I'll show you mine.
For me internet communication should only be a temporary measure ...As far as writing is concerned..
Then I want to hear their voice...see their face..
And eventually meet...touch..feel..
I find many people on dating sites are only happy with long distance... behind a keyboard ...where they feel more comfortable and safe.
Many don't have any intention of leaving their comfort zone.
Then...what do they do if there's no power all of a sudden? Don't they have other hobbies? Friends?..acquaintances?