Have you ever done it? Do you remember life before the net? Is the internet a casual part of your life, or would you curl up and die without it? Do you think you'd get more done? Reconnect with real-life friends? Or would you be lonely and bored?

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

Answers

well, it's been weird only getting an hour a day of online time... but hanging out with Daisy is by far more entertaining than even the biggest train wreck. :]

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

I was unemployed for a while, and when I got a new job, it was one without a computer. So for eight months, I had very limited access to the net. I could get on once in a while when I was at a friend's house. And you know what? I survived. I could do it again.

Yeah, right.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

Yay! Beth's back!

I've never gone a month without the internet - I've only gone, at the most, a week. Which is kind of fun, 'cause I always have tons of email waiting for me.

If I were forced to take a month away, I think I'd be able to do it, after a few days' withdrawal. I'd probably be reading all the time, not to mention pacing the house looking for things to do...

And no doubt I'd get into the soap operas again!

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

I would probably be bored beyond belief at work.

I read all of the journals, do my shopping (such a better selection of stores online than in my hometown), and all of my research online while at work. They don't care if I am actually doing work--as long as I look busy so the powers-that-be can feel mighty when they walk past my office.

I would really be bored at work. I thought I was going to snap if I didn't find an entry here today.

Well, not snap, but you know what I mean.

As far as my computer at home, I'm usually all finished up with computer goings-on by five o'clock and my email at home is spammed to hell and back so I never check my mail. Once I set up a filter I will probably get back on. My computer at home is slowing giving up on its electronic life so it is very frustrating to use. It freezes. It resets my desktop. It can't decide whether it likes to boot floppys or not. It can't decide if it wants to let me access my drives or not. It won't get offline and once it does, it won't let me back on.

Until I fork over the dough for another computer, I could definitely live without it at home but never, never, never at work. I need it.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

When I go on vacation, I usually go sompeplace like the hot springs place where there's only one phone. So I live without the internet. It's okay. I read and do other things and vaguely wonder what's going on. when I go home, I catch up.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

I'd be on vacation. And now that you mention it --

Rocky Mountain National Park (up the road from Estes Park in Colorado) is my favorite place in the United States. Maybe the world. It's just so beautiful. We met an official US National Park photographer last time we were there, and he called it the "jewel" of the park system, and said he thought it was the most beautiful park, so I can now rest assured that it is, even though I haven't seen most of them, of course.

Or I'd be in England. Oh, to be in England for a month. Be still my heart.

If I were home -- and w/o the Internet for a month? Read lots more books. (I already read a lot.) Watch lots more television. (I don't watch half what I'd like to.)

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

My name is Jim, and I am an internet addict. Getting DSL at home was the final nail in the coffin for me.

I'm on the net about 12 hours a day, between work and home. It would be more except I let my wife and son get on at home sometimes. A few days ago I installed a LAN in my home, so one phone call to my ISP and I can put our all 3 of our computers on line at once (my cover story is that we "need" the LAN for file sharing and so Son and I can play multiplayer games). At that point, I will never be offline except for essential body functions. I'm trying to be strong about this, but I have a lot of self doubt.

I think a lot of the time I now spent on the net used to go to reading. Now that I'm 48 my eyes, which have been good all my life, are starting to let me down. I find myself wishing books had a "large font" buton. I guess I ought to get reading glasses, but I haven't yet.

In my own defense I still read about 2-3 books a month, but in pre- internet days I read that many a week.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

I spend part of every day online at work, reading magazines and journals. So much so that I don't do that at home, in the evenings, after work. Although I do check my email at home. I write, and post the day's entry at my Web site.

If I didn't have a job, I'd surf the Internet at home. I'd probably do it later in the day, after my first writing session. Then I'd write about what I read, online.

If I was away from my computer, and my job, I'd write every day, I just wouldn't upload it, and I would react to things I read in the papers, heard on radio or television, saw at the movie theater, or read at the public library, browsing in magazines and new books, or talking to Brenda or the boys.

I have been writing the same amount (a book a month), in the same form enema verite, or crank-lettres), for the last four years, and only putting it at my Web site for three months.

I couldn't take a month away from writing books. That limits my social life, considerably. I have to be where I can spend several hours a day writing, and thinking about the writing.

For me, the Internet is a cheaper way to get my work out to people than printing up and mailing out pamphlets, at my own expense, or copying, and mailing out, whole manuscripts.

I don't get much of a response, on the Internet. But I never got much of a response from my pamphlets, either.

Every once in a while find out someone had been lurking, and enjoying what I wrote, without contacting me.

In New York Stories, Nick Notle vows to quit painting, and be a nicer person. I laughed, because I used to do that, in fits of remorse, over bad behavior attributed to my frustration.

Once a reader wrote and said, "Please don't quit."

I won't. Not for a month, not for a week.

Not for a day. If I skip a day, owing to circumstances beyond my control, I make it up, later.

The same amount flows, every day. Unbidden and unstanchable.

This is both a blessing and a curse. A burden. Like owning a milk cow.

It's like turning on a faucet.

I don't have to do it at the same time every day (although I would much prefer to, if I had my druthers). But I have to do the same volume every day. Or I back up, like a volcano, and am irascible, until balance is restored, the tides allowed to crest, and ebb. Wax, and wane.

My circadian rhythm is peristaltic, almost. Involuntary. Inexorable.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

Once upon a time I never understood how someone could be addicted to anything. It just didn't make sense to me that anyone felt like they NEEDED something so bad they just couldn't carry on. I mean every now and then I got my wacky cravings for jolly ranchers, or a crazy wind to do something utterly stupid, but I never went looney tunes for lack of anything.

Then one day, a buddy of mine (already hooked) introduced me to the land of online. My life hasn't been the same. It's so weird to feel an itch to do something ALL the time. I spent more time on the internet than studying or in class while I was in college. I was uninterested in going out, or seeing any movies, or hanging with the non-addicted buds...I'd much rather sit in the lab getting my "net fix", along with the friends of mine that were also addicted. We'd walk around with a glazed look in our eyes from staring at scrolling text on the monitors... We no longer needed food, sleep, or "real people", all that mattered to us was MUDing and surfing.

Luckily, I now have a life that's more demanding of my time. If I could be online I definitely would, but with work, school, boyfriend (who hates me being online-hehe), and friends (who plan intervention sessions just to keep me off), and my reborn love of sleep....I just can't do it anymore. So, I now only get on a few minutes a day at work to check my e-mails, and maybe I'll have a long session once a week if I'm lucky enough to have the energy. So to answer the question I think I "could" do a month away from the internet, but I don't think I'd really want to. (I'd hate to start shivering, and running a fever for lack of nursing my habit). sad ain't it? -Z

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

I would write letters and read books.

I would clean my house more often.

I would curl up with my cats more often.

I would pay more attention to my hubby-type-companion.

I would cook wonderful meals and remember to clean up afterwards.

I would go for walks in the evening instead of surfing.just.one.more.site.

Yes. I think my life was better before the 'net.

But at the same time, I love keeping my journal and being able to look back at where I was and what I was doing on a given day X number of years ago.

And I love hearing other people's stories.

And I wouldn't have any pre-made friends out here in the Bay Area if I hadn't met so many folks online first.

Oh yeah. And if I took a month away from the internet I'd be out of a job.

However, in the last month I did have something close to a month away from the 'net.

Since we were still moving around and didn't have our DSL line set up yet, I didn't really log in at home between April 12 and May 22.

And yes, I did in fact like it that way. We also had no TV from the day after Buffy ended for the season, until last week.

In fact, I think that I like life without the TV than life without the internet. Life without TV is so much quieter and more ... reflective.

If there is no TV, there is no temptation to sit and veg instead of walking up to the pub for a pitcher of cider.

If there is no TV, there is no temptation to sit and veg instead of curling up with a book.

If there is no TV, there is no temptation to sit and veg instead of making a real dinner, but rather, settling for easy-eats like sandwiches.

On the other hand, if there is no TV, there is no Buffy and no FoodTV. Except that of course, ATT Digital Cable doesn't include FoodTV. Much angry me.

800 channels and nothing on. Hand me the mouse baby, I've got some journals to read.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

Uh, I have an embarrassing story.

So, two years ago three of my friends and I went on a road trip to Colorado. We saw some things along the way, but our final destination was Estes Park, Colorado. Yes, it is just as beautiful as everybody says.

And I found the one public internet terminal in the entire town. It was in the public library, and I went there to check it twice, because I just couldn't stand being disconnected anymore.

I'm such an addict, I really am. I'm trying to cut back, though. Today I unsubscribed from like 12 mailing lists, because I figure that if I know I'm not getting 200 messages a day, that's less incentive for me to log on. Also it's summertime and I've been doing more outdoors, so the net is looking less attractive anyway.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

I've gone a week, and HATED it. Not that I don't manage to find things to do somehow...but I -love- checking sites daily (ditto newspapers), and when I'm gone for awhile it takes hours to catch back up. I love having DSL and being on all the time. I'm always finding new material. (I find it a damn shame they don't have more Internet connections at work so I could be like Erin). And I'd -never- speak to my friends without the Internet...I hate phone calls and racking up the bills. Actually, those without Internet or that don't use it much never hear from me.

I'm (unfortunately) leaving for Montana and Oregon Friday and will be gone two weeks, and I'm dreading not having access for all that time. (Well, maybe Oregon would have a cyber-cafe, but not the godforsaken tiny boring-as-hell Montana town I have to go to).

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

I would die.

Just kidding (I hope.) I'd read, work in my garden, sew, cook, hang out at the library, and maybe watch TV at night.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

When I moved recently I had to go without at home for about a month. I still had internet access at work, but it still drove me crazy. I also didn't have a television - still don't - and it was winter which limits outdoor activity quite a bit.

I have gone for as much as a week without looking at the internet, and although I miss it, it's not too bad. I hate being without email though, since it's my primary link with my friends. Being without email makes me feel cut off and alone.

Joanne

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

I'd die.

I wouldn't be able to talk to family without it costing a fortune. I'd never know what's happening in the world. And I'd be without a job since I make websites for a living.

On the bright side, I'd probably finish a lot more reading.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

For the longest time I resisted - I was online at work for at least 8 hrs a day, five days a week, so having another connection at home would mean that I would be online 24/7. I finally gave in a few weeks ago. So far, I've been resisting temptation and only using it to download e-mail, but who knows how long that will last?

Anyway, I don't think I'd have a problem with being offline for a while, but I would need some incentive. A simple vacation wouldn't be enough (I'd probably go looking for an internet cafe on the second day at the very latest, if only to check my mail), let alone being at home reading a book or doing chores. I read loads of books and do my chores anyway, internet or not. A few weeks of island hopping in the Pacific, on the other hand.....

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

I would turn my freezer down(as in warmer) one notch. Consult your instruction book on the proper setting. Let Jeremy do it after asking him if he can "fix it". Guys love that, when "fixing" something means just turning a knob or tightning a screw. No work to do but we look like a hero.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Uh, Jason, I don't know what kind of relationship you have with the women in your life, but Jeremy wouldn't love it if I asked him to fix something that only required turning a knob. He would think I was an idiot.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

I'd read a few more books, probably read all of my magazines, and watch a LOT more television. I usually forget to watch my shows (except Buffy, Angel, and Good Eats) in prime time because I'm online. And even though I do spend whole evenings reading every week or so, I'd probably do it more often without the internet. I'd also save a lot of money without the ability to shop at 2 am. But really, I'd be a bit bored, and a bit frustrated, because I've gotten used to the ability to find information online.

When I was in Russia, I didn't want to go online at all in Moscow. When we got to St. Petersburg, I decided I did, and went and spent half an hour at an internet cafe. But what did I do? I checked Beth's page, I read enough of Jolene's journal to note the birth of Daisy, I tried to check my email, and I wrote a few brief messages. And that was enough.

I'd go a little bit nuts without the IMDB. I'd also be frustrated by losing the easy information searching and somewhat-unusual product ordering I've gotten used to. I'd have to find another way to keep in touch with my friends. Maybe I'd get out more, but probably not much.

Eh, I'll keep it. Though maybe, just maybe, I'll try to change the way I use it so I'm back to the level I was at a few years ago, when I was only on for an hour a day.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2000

Well I'm about too.... A month in Europe with my... well possibly my gf... long story suffice to say, I'm looking forward! but in normal day to day... apart from the fact I work in the web design biz and thus have to keep up with the net... I'd miss email LOTS and there are a few sites that I would want to check on for the first couple of days (weeks!) but I'd survive...no really I would! as for reading more...well I live in London and my connection is SO crap that, well I usually read while on the net...!

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

Sorry Beth, I was just tryin' to defrost you a bit. Sounds like Jeremy has a tough enough time as it is. Nevermind.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2000

Ooh, Beth... he meant that you were ICY, implying *frigidity*. Put-down! Hardcore 1950s put-down!

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

KICK HIS ASS!

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

A month off-line? I'd lose track of most of my friends, since I can't afford phone calls. And my sex life would go to zero.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

It wasn't a month off, but I went to India for two and a half weeks. It was a very weird experience. Our flight was delayed by 12 hours and the only way we could get in touch with relatives was to email them because they didn't have a phone. But, they could walk down the street and log on at the corner internet connection and check their email. Right off the main dirt road, with the cows and chickens walking by!

It was also an easy way to stay in touch with our family at home to let them know we made it to our destination in one piece. And a lot cheaper! 50 rupees for 15 minutes. (That's just a little over a dollar.)

We had to create a hotmail account because we couldn't use our account overseas, so we didn't have any email to check. But I still couldn't resist emailing work to let them know how much fun I was having while they were back home, slaving away!

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2000

I'd read books, go out for dinner, phone my family, go shopping, watch TV and hang out with Tristan.

Actually, it would be exactly the same as life now, except without 'lost' hours where I start off checking somebody's latest entry and then end up somewhere completely different two hours later.

Maybe I'd tidy the flat a bit more.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2000