The Essential Internet

[KenW]

The primary ingredient for being able to navigate the forum and website is to be able to get onto the internet.

 

I have just returned from 5 weeks in Australia on a holiday of sorts which turned out to be quite hard work, as a result of doing family, which was my aim for the visit. But the place I was staying had no internet access. Can you believe that in a so-called first world country in this day and age? I had to journey to public places to access available wifi. This proved quite trouiblesome also, as it meant travel by hoof and bus of about 45 minutes minimum, heading to a shopping mall or a public library.

 

Hence in 5 weeks I was only able to get on the internet about 5 times, and then for limited stays. I logged on to LBR about 3 times I think it was, but had neither time nor energy to do any posting except for one short comment I recall making on something or other.

 

Significantly the time has taught me - to my surprise, as I'd never thought about it before - how crucial the internet has become to my life. Every waking day I am online, often for hours on end in bursts of 2, 3 or 4 sessions. I read news and current affairs, sport, and general stuff about life, as well as doing research, both serious and fun, I email and lay about on forums, both LB and otherwise, contributing nonsense and comment, I download a bit of porn occasionally, and all the other usual things we all do.

 

But never before have I tried to do without it longtime. Sure, we all lose our ISPs now and again, but only for short times. This is the first time since we all became familiar with it, that I have been forced to be without it for a week or more at a hit.

 

I felt totally disconnected from the world. I took to watching 24/7 TV news trying to keep up with events, but that aint the same. You can't control that the way you can go where you like on internet. For me it has shown up as being absolutely essential in my life, something I now cannot cope with having to do without.

[rxpharm]

I agree KenW, it's an important part of many people's lives now. There is a solution to this, as I face a similar problem when I visit my parents - they don't have internet since they've never used it and don't want to learn (age the ages of 86 and 81 - I'm not going to press the issue!).

 

Many ISPs will offer a prepaid combination of USB Wireless Modem stick and sim card. I'm attaching a screen grab example from T-Mobile.

 

In the early days, most people didn't secure their wifi routers and one could easily poach a signal, but those days are pretty much gone. Using the mobile internet stick is a good option for a reasonable cost. The only drawback is the speed isn't as fast, but it's still much better than the old days of dial up.

 

[SiamSam]

Ahhhhh Ken. So happy to know you're connected again. We all missed you during your disconnect. Missed your contributions. I can't wait to hear about your 5 week visit with family. Given its duration I can only assume it went well or at the very least, better than we expected. 

[bumblebee]

I am surprised it's over 5 weeks since we were having that wonderful Sunday afternoon beer with good friends.  I know it's a cliché like most things we take for granted now, but how did we get by without the internet before.

 

A laptop these days is your travel agent, guide book, bank, video phone to the world and more, all which make travel so much easier and which we did not have even up to maybe 16 years ago.

[KenW]

Yes bb, I was surprised to learn that about myself. I am now totally dependent on the bloody aether. I was like a lost soul withut it. And yes, time does fly - another cliche. Those afternoons in the PBG do seem like just a few days ago in many respects.

 

Sam, it was OK, that's how I'd describe it. Some of it was fun, some of it argumentative and a bit weird. Typical mix in complex situations. I'm glad to be home, and back on the air.

[KenW]

Thanks for that tip rx. Being the dinosaur I am, I'd never heard of such things.