darkguy Report post Posted March 4, 2007 On 24th of March 2007 there is going to be an event called shut down day. You won't start your computer for 24 hours. Here is what they say on the website; It is obvious that people would find life extremely difficult without computers, maybe even impossible. If they disappeared for just one day, would we be able to cope? Be a part of one of the biggest global experiments ever to take place on the internet. The idea behind the experiment is to find out how many people can go without a computer for one whole day, and what will happen if we all participate! Shutdown your computer on this day and find out! Can you survive for 24 hours without your computer? So can you keep your computer shut for 24 hours? Here's more info about this: Shut Down Day-Frequently Asked Questions And the website: Shutdown Day Website On the website there is a funny video called "Shutdown day 2007-Alternative uses for your Laptop" I suggest you guys to watch it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scarr Report post Posted March 4, 2007 i dont see the reason to shut it down Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkguy Report post Posted March 4, 2007 All the answers are at the FAQ.. What is the purpose of the experiment? The purpose is to get people to think about how their lives have changed with the increasing use of the home computer, how society is changing and whether or not any good things are being lost because of this. It is obvious that computers are an extremely important and vital part of society these days. Quoted by Michael Taylor, Shutdown Day co-founder: “I certainly could not and would not want to live without my computer. However, I am often drawn into spending hours chatting on MSN, simply because my friends are online instead of socialising face to face. I am often too busy to cook a proper dinner, because I want to see the latest news on digg.com, the latest YouTube video or to see who has commented on my MySpace. I know parents who are so addicted to the computer they spend little time with their children and I also know children who do not spend time with their parents because they are always using the computer. This is not necessarily wrong, shutdownday.org is not against the use of computers, but it would be nice to take time off for one day, to reflect and remember the other things in life that maybe we sometimes forget because we have come accustomed to a life dominated by our computer. It is unquestionably easier to do this on a day when everyone else is also signing off instant messengers and chat rooms, etc. We are not preaching to anyone to turn off their computers, just suggesting that people might like to take part in this experiment, and see what happens. See if people think differently after a day without their computer...” Hence the idea for Shutdown Day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Acelon Report post Posted March 4, 2007 I HAVE done this already before, I don't need a day to tell me to when it might affect me negatively. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tanyia Report post Posted March 5, 2007 Lol that's on my birthday...how sad Unless I need my computer for schoolwork, which I often do, yes, I can keep it off for 24 hours, no problem. I get a little bored, but I can survive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnTheWarder Report post Posted March 5, 2007 One more reason not to go to school on march 24th, thanks for the info Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jhlightning Report post Posted March 5, 2007 (edited) Well.... At school, in English, we're reading the Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. My teacher wanted to show us how it felt to be unable to use the computer, watch TV, use any modern technology etc except for the radio for 2 years, which was what Anne Frank went through. So as homework, we were not allowed to use any modern technology, even the phone except for emergencies, for a whole week. And we were to record our experience. To cheat and use any modern technologies would result in a "punishment". And of course, no one wanted to find out what my teacher's "or else" was. I got really bored, of course. But I realized that there was more to life than the computer and EL So yeah... After going through that, 24 hours without the computer isnt that much. At least, we could watch TV ~Jh~ #EDIT: Fixed some grammatical errors. Edited March 5, 2007 by jhlightning Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlacKat Report post Posted March 5, 2007 Yeah dont hold your breath on that. You'll never see the stock market shutting down its computers, all the airports in the world (not to mention planes), whole industries, secret services, military IT brances and so on...Maybe you and me can live without a computer for a day or two, but the rest of the planet cant. Computers do alot more than let you check your email and play some game. With the amount of things they control these days, things that otherwise would be impossible to command, we are definitely dependant on computers. So a global shutdown day will never happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jezebelle Report post Posted March 5, 2007 unless I am on holls..I never shut my puter down.its online 24/7.. My computer tends to decide on its own when its time to shut down..*sighs* and does so, in the most inconvienient moments, I may add..^^ Jez Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LabRat Report post Posted March 5, 2007 As I see it, we mustn't shutdown our computers for a day at any cost. My reason: Businesses rely on past performance and information to plan ahead. If we all turn off our computers, then the first direct damage will be done to the power utility companies that will have a massive surplus of fuel they have because the drain on the power stations will drastically decline, meaning they will burn much less. Suppliers to the power companies will be forced to stockpile their fuel, and as suppliers tend to be sourced by price, their profit margin will be hit, causing share prices to tumble. Shareholders will panic, selling their shares and plunging the stock market into a downward spiral. The next day people will turn on their computers, causing a massive drain on the power companies, they will have to get their suppliers to give them the fuel to power the generators, but the miniscule profit margin suppliers will have bankrupted, meaning fuel prices will rise due to profiteering and bills will rise. I'll keep my PCs on, and keep the status quo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nidan Report post Posted March 5, 2007 I dont think my boss would like it if i tried to work a whole day without using my computer. Programming on paper is so... 1960's? I think 24 hours without an internet connection would already be kind of a challenge in my line of work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scarr Report post Posted March 5, 2007 Well.... At school, in English, we're reading the Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. My teacher wanted to show us how it felt to be unable to use the computer, watch TV, use any modern technology etc except for the radio for 2 years, which was what Anne Frank went through. So as homework, we were not allowed to use any modern technology, even the phone except for emergencies, for a whole week. And we were to record our experience. To cheat and use any modern technologies would result in a "punishment". And of course, no one wanted to find out what my teacher's "or else" was. I got really bored, of course. But I realized that there was more to life than the computer and EL So yeah... After going through that, 24 hours without the computer isnt that much. At least, we could watch TV ~Jh~ #EDIT: Fixed some grammatical errors. yeh but in the time of anne frank there where no computers, and a TV wasnt there always either, u cant miss anything you dont know,dont have or never had Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jio_bob Report post Posted March 5, 2007 OMG! so how will I spam EL forum? (joke) no way! eeeeky Jio Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlacKat Report post Posted March 6, 2007 After going through that, 24 hours without the computer isnt that much. At least, we could watch TV These days no media works without computers, including Tv stations. You need computers to get your information, program the show grill, not to forget the prompters, studios and command room also depend on computers. The best thing to do on a day without computer is to go out and enjoy nature as much as you can Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mugwump Report post Posted March 6, 2007 Lol! I don't think the poll results reflect the true consciences of the voters Including me! I can do it, and checked 'yes' but even though I don't compute for a profitable living, it would still be difficult not to play EL for a whole day! Get me drunk and tie me down, I'll be fine Going years without looking at television is no problem for me, probably also no computer related activies at all. A weekend camping trip up to Pine Meadow Lake would be just the thing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sithicus Report post Posted March 6, 2007 (edited) It doesn't matter that Anne Frank or my grandparents didn't even know what a computer was and could live with it (if you forget about the nazi threat for a moment). It is the fact that we're used to computers that makes it impossible to live without them. There'd be no food in the supermarket without computers within a few days. Never mind your bank account doesn't exist anymore either. It just takes a powerful EMP blast to end it all. Who knows, those might be a natural occuring phenomenon in this galaxy for all we know, we just never found out about it because the last time all electronics on the earth were fried was in 1900... Edited March 6, 2007 by sithicus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cho-yun Report post Posted March 6, 2007 bah easy.. i think i'm on a school trip then lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mugwump Report post Posted March 7, 2007 (edited) What happened in 1900, a bad case of sunspots? Wait a minute, there weren't any electronics in 1900!! (except for maybe my Atari 130XE) Edited March 7, 2007 by Mugwump Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ttlanhil Report post Posted March 8, 2007 (edited) would I shut my computer down? no, it's doing file sharing, downloading stuff, running vakana, a webserver, recording television, etc etc... could I go a day or a week(assuming I have time to tell people I won't be around for a while first) without using a computer? yes, though unless I have something else to do I wouldn't really want to Edited March 8, 2007 by ttlanhil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xbox360 Report post Posted March 8, 2007 24 hours without a computer! ahhh how about not. And im runnng a server. who could do such a thing! turn off a computer that is like killing it, lol! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mugwump Report post Posted March 20, 2007 I shall make the ultimate sacrifice and unplug the clock Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Llywar Report post Posted March 24, 2007 So yeah... After going through that, 24 hours without the computer isnt that much. At least, we could watch TV You obviously aren't using mythtv. I think that if I shut down the server the family would revolt... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MagpieLee Report post Posted June 5, 2007 I'm going to the IOW festival. My PC will shutdown for 48+ hours! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aphistolas Report post Posted July 18, 2007 (edited) Impossible, I need my Laptop :] Edited July 24, 2007 by Kieran13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vytukas Report post Posted August 16, 2007 When I'm on holidays etc I can survive 10 days, np Share this post Link to post Share on other sites