Would your life be more ideal without your computer?

pianoforte · Post by **pianoforte** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 6:24 am

This is a copy of a post over at the Live Nirvana forums - I am not the OP, however I thought it would be interesting to bring some of the discussion over to twoism.

Posted by Oscar Olszewski of San Antonio, Texas, USA at http://livenirvana.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37068

Remember life before computers were personal? I was 8 when we got our first one in the house and it completely changed my life. But I can't help but to think what would be different if only the upper 10% in wealth could still afford one of these machines.

Would nihilism change? Would anti-social and dissociative behavior be any different? I don't know, but what I do know is that we'd be in contact over addresses provided over magazine ads. Maybe Live Nirvana would be a fanzine by this point in age, and not a web site. I know that I wouldn't have an encyclopedia available on 99% of the subjects I want to know.

Which addiction did these machines replace? OCD, ADD - enhanced or reduced? I know that I always feel the need to be 'plugged in' in some way. Either on my smart phone avoiding work, on my iPad on the run, or on my NASA computer at my house. It's pathetic, in my opinion.

What are your feelings on computers being personal for 20+ years?

I don't know what my answer to this is. In a way, I want to throw my laptop out the window and enjoy the rest of my life without electronic stimulation - perhaps go up into the mountains and breathe some fresh air for a bit - but I know I will never do that, because although computers can become addictive, used in moderation they are a truly amazing resource.

What are your guys' thoughts on this?

Jonse · Post by **Jonse** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 4:44 pm

Hell no. Virtually everything important and stimulating I do involves my computer. Besides using it just for fun and playing all the games I built it to run, it also contains my DAW's and everything I've ever made with them. It also contains word processors and everything I've ever written. It also allows me to have conversations with people who I see eye to eye with, unlike these dreary, boring people that live nearby me. It also allows me to gain knowledge on pretty much anything without having to subject myself to a library.

I appreciate in some aspects the ideas people usually have when they talk about abandoning their computers, usually having something to do with a desire for a greater outdoor life social life and connection to nature. For a lot of us though, since we've already been introduced to the computers doing such a thing would make life extremely boring and establishing a middleground between the two is a much more effective thing to do. Keep in mind just because you have a computer which can provide equal amounts of entertainment using pixels doesn't mean you shouldn't take a break every week or so and go hike up to the mountains (if you have some nearby).

Also, I need to say that whoever posted this original proposition has a somewhat biased mindset. The statement of needing to feel "plugged in" to something being "pathetic" is bullshit. It's obvious he simply doesn't like a lack of available information at any time. I see nothing pathetic with desiring this...and also, Nihilism going away? Even rhetorical I don't at all know why someone would equate Nihilism which has been around for a very long time to exposure to computers.

Cryabetes · Post by **Cryabetes** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 4:44 pm

It's never been a problem to walk away, for me. I feel like my life is enriched by me and basically everyone I know having a computer.

mouse_bums · Post by **mouse_bums** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:22 pm

No way, I listen to my music on my computer and I love messageboards and facebook. Too much of a loss for me. There are bad things though that I could do without like pr0n.

pianoforte · Post by **pianoforte** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 5:43 am

mouse_bums wrote:There are bad things though that I could do without like pr0n.

This kind?

(Isn't it ironic that this animal's latin name begins with "Penaeus"?)

Betacord · Post by **Betacord** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 5:28 pm

What has been said already is very much my sentiment as well...

It's nice to get out sometimes when the weather is good, and see folks in person when both you and they get the chance. But seeing as where I am, there's no places of interest around here and no friends nearby, I'd have my options severely closed down without the technology - it opens things up socially and creatively and allows a vital connection to places and people I would otherwise never manage to reach.

If sans-PC was the case, I'd mainly be listening to music and recording telly (and I still do those, so it's not as if I'm losing out on something great - computer has added to my options, not detracted)... But if the question only applies strictly to personal computers, then I get the feeling I'd still be a serious console gamer now if I wasn't online - instead I've stopped buying consoles and ended up being involved in more interesting and open projects, all worked on from a central computer.

And I think 'open' is the key word - the web is great means of communication and vitally, for an open exchange of ideas and resources on even the most obscure of topics with like-minded people.

If it all went down tomorrow in some mass system crash, of course we'd get by because that's what we do - but if it were a conscious choice... I think the positive outweighs the negative, and that's every bit do to with being online. To sever the link and stop this open communication, what exactly is so freeing about that?

mechanismj · Post by **mechanismj** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:12 pm

My life would be a lot slower and less organized without a computer.

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:40 pm

Rodheh pretty much nailed this one as far as I'm concerned. What he said.

Jonse · Post by **Jonse** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 7:29 pm

pianoforte wrote:
mouse_bums wrote:There are bad things though that I could do without like pr0n.
This kind?

(Isn't it ironic that this animal's latin name begins with "Penaeus"?)

Julian Candy · Post by **Julian Candy** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:15 pm

I don't think I could go on without my daily dose of Twoism, Youtube, music, and certain types of shellfish. I don't care if it leads to a life of seclusion, it's not like I had much one outside of it anyway.

fujee · Post by **fujee** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 3:32 pm

I've never really understood the perceived negative connotations of using computers. As long as people understand and take account for the sedentary hours they spend using a computer there shouldn't be any negative notions attached to the use of them.

They open up an entire world of information and entertainment which can only be a positive thing. I also see it as a logical progression from other technologies, for example before computers books, cinema and television were the primary sources of entertainment - these still all require hours seated not exercising. Computers perhaps get unfairly blamed for the health issues of today.

If you read predominantly on a computer, you are still reading and thus learning - the only negative point which could be blamed on computers is the demise of public libraries and the skill of sourcing relevant and reliable texts when writing academically.

With the integration of media formats into one machine they are also enabling a reduced environmental and resource impact, equipment made to do one task can now be incorporated into a computer, thus reducing the amounts of metals, plastics and woods being sourced.

Like everyone has said, it enables anyone to discuss and exchange idea's, goods and knowledge. It also provides a haven for people with obscure interests to explore more.

As long as you balance your life out, I can only see the use of computers as an enriching experience.

zeitgeist · Post by **zeitgeist** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 5:05 pm

guns don't kill people, people kill people with guns.

etc...

OverTheHorizonRadar · Post by **OverTheHorizonRadar** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:08 pm

zeitgeist wrote:guns don't kill people, people kill people with guns.

etc...

Actually, you're wrong.

Jonse · Post by **Jonse** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:19 pm

zeitgeist wrote:guns don't kill people, people kill people with guns.

etc...

The relevance?

OverTheHorizonRadar · Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:53 pm

Rodheh wrote:
zeitgeist wrote:guns don't kill people, people kill people with guns.

etc...

The relevance?

I think he means like computers don't ruin people's lives, people ruin their lives with computers.

Jonse · Post by **Jonse** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:13 pm

OverTheHorizonRadar wrote:
Rodheh wrote:
zeitgeist wrote:guns don't kill people, people kill people with guns.

etc...

The relevance?
I think he means like computers don't ruin people's lives, people ruin their lives with computers.

Ah, probably should have used the quote button.

portiss · Post by **portiss** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 12:37 am

I agree with Pianoforte. Living in the mountains with friends, growing our own food, no ''society'', always fantasised about that. Always think that would be the best for me, but that just is not going to happen. So I will have to get a 40h job to pay my rent. Sometimes I feel like life is just so wrong and fucked up. I should have lived 2000 years ago, hunt for my own food, grow my own crops, that would be the life.

novayshun · Post by **novayshun** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:59 pm

music woud be dull without computers

The Telepathic Kid · Post by **The Telepathic Kid** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:12 am

mechanismj wrote:My life would be a lot slower and less organized without a computer.

pretty much this;
Without a computer I think I'd be more introverted and even more boring,

A computer helps me keep a social life, as much of an oxymoron as that sounds.

zeitgeist · Post by **zeitgeist** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 3:04 pm

Ah, probably should have used the quote button.
Ah, probably should have used the quote button.
Ah, probably should have used the quote button.