The Computers are Down
By Jo Ann
@akalinus (40789)
United States
December 14, 2016 3:38pm CST
Yesterday, I was in a hurry. It was a hurry up and wait sort of day. We caught every light and traffic tie up.
We got to the bank and there was a long line. The computers were down. Harried tellers were writing hand written receipts and jotting information on paper.
I started wondering what would happen if a solar flare or other disaster wiped out the internet and made computers useless. I remember living perfectly well without them but we now depend on them.
Do you think we would do okay if the internet suddenly disappeared for good?
13 people like this
13 responses
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
14 Dec 16
I think the world would have major issues if we lost internet one day.
4 people like this
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@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
16 Dec 16
no ma'am, t'would be a disaster 's there's very lil'n regards to a 'paper trail' these days. heck, e'en cashiers 't the stores've nary a clue how to give change without a screen tellin' 'em how much.
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
21 Dec 16
@akalinus yes ma'am, i recall those days's well. didn't e'en've a cash register, jest a drawer with change. 'd to figure the sales tax'n all by hand. kinda bothers me that these days most aint any inklin' e'en how to give change...
2 people like this
@akalinus (40789)
• United States
22 Dec 16
@crazyhorseladycx You can't do anything when the computers are down because the clerks can't cope with it.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118795)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Dec 16
Every now and then we will have our network go down at work, sometimes for a day or longer. It is so funny (or sad, depending on your opinion) to watch everybody at the office just mope around without a clue what to do (myself included). It's like, without our computers, we completely forget how to function! We have no idea what to do! We can't even remember how we did business back before we had computers. We all laugh and say we get to go home because we can't get any work done without our computers. Sadly, it's true. We depend too much on them.
2 people like this
@akalinus (40789)
• United States
21 Dec 16
@moffittjc I get mad, yell at it, say naughty things to it, and then read a book or clean something.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118795)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Dec 16
@akalinus we are definitely too dependent on them! I am completely at a loss for what to do when my computer is not working!
2 people like this
@annierose (19491)
• Philippines
24 Dec 16
I think that once it happened, many will be frustrated. Most of the people depend on it not only for their studies but also for their job. Some also depend on their computer and internet in order not to be bored. We all know that internet has been giving many benefits for us all. I have observed that as time goes by, many people work as freelancers at home. That is really a good thing especially for mom who need to be at home for their kids.
2 people like this
@annierose (19491)
• Philippines
24 Dec 16
@akalinus Yes, in my part that is what I do as well. But there are people who depend on the internet to make a living. I think those people will be the most affected once we got a trouble with the internet.
2 people like this
@akalinus (40789)
• United States
24 Dec 16
I work at home. I don't make as much as I used to but still can buy books from Amazon with cards I earn online. If the internet goes out, you can always read a book or have a real conversation with someone. It is best to take advantage of whatever there is at any time.
2 people like this
@akalinus (40789)
• United States
24 Dec 16
@annierose Yes, you are right. A lot of people would be scrambling around trying to find something else.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
5 Jan 17
I think it would wreck havoc in many industries. My husbands machine at work was computer operated and think of accounting these days not to mention banks, they would have to employ lots more people!! Hey this might be a good thing but think of the lines at the grocery stores!! And what about getting gas, maybe not such a good idea lol
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
24 Dec 16
LMAO! People in the highly industrialized societies would be in a major hurt if anything happened to destroy our computerized way of life, Jo Ann! Even the simplest things we take for granted every day would fail.
Suppose one of the nations on Earth set off several atomic bombs in our upper atmosphere. That would deliver an EM Pulse that would send a massive electrical surge through every exposed device that uses electricity we own. This includes the electrical transmission towers/wires/switches. (The key word here is exposed.)
A device can be considered "exposed" if it plugs into an electrical outlet, is not held in a lead box with no outside power sources and is not part of an electrical producing device or, in some cases, is not plugged in or receiving power at the time of the EM Pulse. This does mean anything, including the power stations, wind generators, solar power frames, nuclear power plants, etc. ANYTHING that produces electrical power or uses it.
This includes all modern cars, planes, computers, trains, cell phones, home phones, radios, televisions, appliances, etc.
ALL these things and more would suddenly stop working. Not only stop working, but could potentially turn into slag from the intense heat given off by the conversion of the EM Pulse into electricity. Railroad tracks would melt, electric wires would melt, pace makers would explode.
Our present way of life would simply stop.
The fun begins when you consider what would happen at the moment those bombs explode.
Anyone who sees the bombs explode will be blinded. Anyone close enough to large metal objects when the Pulse arrives may be killed by electrical shock. Most powered electronics will simply stop working. Even some un-powered electronics could be damaged beyond repair.
People who survive the original dangers from the Pulse would be reduced to living as we did 50 or so years ago. Horse and buggy or shanks mare would be in vogue. Some of the antique/museum quality vehicles would still start and run but most new cars/trucks/vehicles wouldn't work.
Here is an article that busts some of the EM Pulse myths and gives realistic expectations of what would and would not still work.
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
10 Jan 17
@akalinus Well, unless people are trespassing on posted private land, they won't locate those caves. The way we have them hidden will cause a potential miss for looters or hijackers, too. Then they have to get past the fortifications we spent two summers building...
None of us are worried about anyone finding or taking over those caves.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (40789)
• United States
9 Jan 17
@DaddyEvil You should keep those caves a secret. People will be looking to loot them or take them over and keep you out.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
20 Dec 16
I like computers too much to be happy if that happened. It reminds me of the movie "Transcendence" with Johnny Depp
2 people like this
