I lived nearly the first half of my life without the internet but there’s no going back now. I could live perfectly well without television but would miss my ipad. Like bumblebeez, I used to peruse the catalogs, dog earring the pages with interesting items. No customer reviews, though, which are helpful.

Getting through the pandemic would be so much harder, waiting for news and not being able to stay in touch.

However, i am grateful there was no internet when my kids were growing up. They got in enough trouble without that! No worrying about screen time. Nice.

I must admit that our IT team was truly impressive in getting hundreds of employees at our corporate offices ready to work from home almost immediately.

Without the remote work, I would have had zero choice but to go into the office which would have been nerve wracking given my suppressed immune system. We now have increasing numbers of team members that are coming up positive so I am very glad to be camped out in my dining room aka new home office.

I hope *somebody* is still working 'on site'. I don't think 'a cloud' maintains its .) own physical working parts.

I suspect we will have higher prices and a much more limited selection of everything, regardless of how we receive it. Some person has to make all our 'stuff', let alone sort it, transport it, handle the ordering and billing.

I remember when I could always find a bargain in a retail clothing store because a buyer would have ordered every piece of clothing in a wide range of sizes. There were almost always markdowns on my Size 8. (Today's Size 2 or 4.) If Marshall Field's or Bonwit's couldn't sell these, they 'remaindered' them to discount stores like TJ Maxx. Then came 'just in time' orders and delivery. My bargains almost disappeared. I also stopped seeing many bargains in high end, luxury items when fewer ladies shopped as a hobby.

I've seen more empty shelves in grocery stores recently. Who is picking, packing, transporting. We never had such choice at such low prices in the past. Almost nothing is 'seasonal' today.

There are definitely some roles that MUST be on site - about 10% of our office. Thankfully I am not one of them!!

I'm retired, but I'm still wondering how Special Ed is going to work come August! Everything is so "hands on". No zooming there!

I'm very inept at the internet. I go here, FB, e-mail and things like nextdoor and freecycle.

When I was working with the kids at home, I had a weekly menu written down to the smallest ingredient, and went to the store once a week (occasionally I forgot to write something down or ran out of milk and had to do a quicky)

Then, when I retired, that all went out the window, so I could get out of the house every day!

Now I'm back to meal planning, hoar......I mean stocking up on food for the freezer and only going once a week or so.

I like to compare on line recipes ... so that would be most challenging. My RL job evolved with the internet ... so, times would be simpler and the r&d much more time consuming ... finding reliable sources without a spin is truly harder in the last 18 months ... plus things are now being scrubbed from the internet/utube etc if it doesn't fit a certain narrative ...

I didn't include work because Lars didn't call out e-mail, and I can use dial-up acoustic quality e-mail for that. :) I think I even have an acoustic modem around here, and a 1980's computer that will work if the boot batteries' contacts aren't fried. :)

But what I was thinking about this afternoon was the evocation of WWII. That's a whole different set of parameters of how life was lived. The question Lars posed made me think of what if we lost the internet/cable/online connection we're used to now. If they weren't lost, but never there it would be different.

Work was often done by post, but it took a lot longer. We're used to instant, get done in a day, but people used to do it a day to get cross-town, two days to get it cross-state, a week to get it cross-country, and it all got done just fine.

Even when I was young, probably about the end of most such things, there was the milkman, the bread man, the water man, the laundry man (for the linens), the meat man, and the produce wagon. And, of course, the ice cream man. The difference now is that some would be women. The assumption then, though many housewives had cars, there were supermarkets within walking distance (but not comfortable carry distance) and some grocery stores delivered orders place by post or telephone, that the convenience of deliveries would generate enough business, and it did. The department stores and pharmacies also delivered, as did some smaller shops. Shopping on the 'net is new, but not delivery. And several uptopic mentioned mall order catalogs, which still exist even with so much delivery shopping moved online.

As it is, there are young entrepreneurs jumping into the shopping/delivery economy serving those who aren't as good at internet shopping. Nature abhors a vacuum and all of that.

I think we'd be in a similar place as we are now, with maybe more charades, cards and sing-alongs at home, instead of binging zombie shows and rewarmed Star Trek.

I think it would be freakin' fantastic! Just think how much less stress in the world there would be without all this social media stirring up conspiracies and lies! I wouldn't miss on line shopping one little bit!

My DH’s job revolves around technology, so there is no telling how he’d work, because his current job wouldn’t exist with the internet, online Media, etc.

I do know that when my great-grandparents’ family was quarantined due to measles, not long after they immigrated here, my great-grandfather had to stay somewhere else while his wife and 6 children suffered through the illness, because he had to go to work to support them. He had to stay away for several weeks until the measles had worked its way through the building, plus extra time for the contagion in the building to abate. This was in the 19teens.

Skipped down to say I'm thinking I would just go old school and order over the phone for pickup or delivery.

Going back up to read now...

Okay, now I will add that I'd probably be getting more stuff done around the house, rather than sitting on my butt in front of my computer, or on my phone, browsing, reading and commenting 😉

I'm also retired and so don't have to worry about working on line. I am the Township Clerk and so I've managed to do everything necessary from my home.

Because we have a farm, my pantry and freezers are full, but I'd be doing without my Diet Coke, and I order my green coffee beans on line, so I guess I'd be drinking Maxwell House or something similar.

We don't have cable or satellite television, so we basically get the local networks and a PBS station anyway. We do have Netflix but I'm too impatient to watch movies.

We seldom/never ate out before the pandemic, and neither of us drink, so we don't miss bars or restaurants. The nearest Trader Joe's is 50 miles away and the nearest whole Foods is 120 miles away, so shopping there was a couple of times a year anyway.

As has been mentioned, I'd probably talk to friends on the phone more, in lieu of email. I don't "Facetime" or "skype" or anything similar, and don't participate in any social media like Facebook or Twitter so I wouldn't miss those either.

So, not many things would change for me, but I'm sure glad we are at a point in time where technology IS available for all those people who were/are able to work at home, have ZOOM meetings, Facetime their families, have their groceries delivered. I'm sure it has made a terrible situation somewhat more tolerable for a lot of people.

Annie

I don't order food, I go to the store and buy it. If I need non food items I go to the store and buy it. As far as shopping on the internet during this mess the only thing I used it for was birthday presents for my grands and plant fertilizer. Since toys r us closed there isn't any large toy stores around here and i can only get the larger size plant food on Amazon.

If this was 30 years ago the population would not be drinking the koolaid. The whiny baby adults wouldn't be around yet or would of been kids. There was still enough WWII and Korean war vets alive that wouldn't give up their freedom so easy. They and their spouse went through a lot and wouldn't play chicken little. 30 years ago reporters investigated a story to find the truth. They didn't report half truths, twist a story, or were biased. They didn't stoop to Hollywood rag reporting like now.

I would miss the ease of booking vacations if their wasn't any internet though. I just was on the internet last night inquiring when my balance was due for our family/friend vacation in July.

Maybe you can find a cruise to take for your summer vacation?

I go and buy food and household essentials as I have always done. It is just more time consuming and takes more trips to get everything I need or want. The masks are annoying and the lack of social distancing and rude behavior by some who seem to think it's not needed just because hey they have a mask. I've always found shopping with a bunch of other people annoying anyway. I used to shop late at night to avoid the crowds but now all the stores are closing early.

I have always been a big Amazon user for other types of purchases before this virus thing so not much has changed there. I find myself talking on the phone more than before.

My social connections are at the ranch. It's like a different world. Relatively normal there, except for common sense practices. We keep a respectful distance and don't breath on one another but that's it. It's my new current family since we are still unable to be in direct contact with my own.

We visited the grands the other day from the truck. They were all masked up because they are ill. Not with the virus but other stuff that families with young kids tend to get.

We do take out from the same places we used to, pizza, Mexican, BBQ and Chinese along with fast food. I don't care to bring finer food home. I will wait for them to reopen fully. I do go to a family owned drive in and eat there. You can't eat indoors but the outside tables are there. The customers actually talk to one another. Another tiny slice of normal.

Before the internet I don't believe their would be so much panic and anxiety induced. We would be listening to our own doctors and not the media. Nor would we be listening to data scientists over actual medical professionals. We certainly would not be telling healthy people to quarantine. Function is correct. Past generations would not put up with this. Maybe not 30 years ago but for sure 40 years ago people would have made their own choices based on the real world and real life and death, not some fantasy of staying in until magical fairy dust came along to make it all safe and cozy again.

I'm a bit confused by those who say that people 40 years ago wouldn't have heeded a quarantine order. Forty years ago was 1980. Carter was President, followed shortly by Reagan. I think people trusted both Carter and Reagan, in general, to be good leaders and would have followed guidelines issued by them.

I also would be in a fetal position with my thumb in my mouth without internet! I remember WW II and the no sugar, meat, rubber or leather goods, no gasoline and blackout lights everywhere....and saving tin foil from gum and cigarette papers and making a ball to turn in for meat "points"....but those left home could socialize.
I am high risk....so I don't shop, nor go out to eat or socialize with friends. But I do daily bake bread and go out in my car and deliver it to friends with no contact and maybe a little conversation from 6 feet away through the car window....so that is some face to face contact.

Those who sacrificed so much during WW II would have understood much better the need to sacrifice during a pandemic. And would have done so without hysteria.

Did they Lacey, did they ALL step in line? I watch old movies and each town had people whose job it was to "encourage" enforce the black outs/recycling orders etc. Americans have always had trouble in the space between personal choices and government mandates. There are just a lot more of us now and we have the ability to be soo much more vocal. Lets not be too judgmental. When history is looking back there will be those AMAZED at how everyone wore their masks and stayed home during COVID-19.

I guess I would take a deep sigh and revert back to my childhood or young adulthood behavior. Antenna TV with the locals would not be so bad as I watch very little TV. Paper books would be OK. I could shop with a mask on a weekly basis and have all that I need which is more than many people in this world have. It would be like stepping back into Mayberry.

I sure hope my landline would have unlimited local and long distance as I would be on it constantly.

I'd be thrilled to see the end of Facebook and Twitter and any other 'media' that is not held to journalistic broadcasting standards. Too Much "Entertainment" masquerading as news. All that hearsay and gossip has been a cheap substitute for many in lieu of substantial, in-depth reporting. Not there wasn't 'yellow' journalism in newspapers -- with more to come. For instance...

...A hedge fund, Alden Global Capital, is currently taking over the board of Chicago Tribune Publishing, with three seats on the seven-member board (until next June, when they can gain a majority). They are vultures -- slash and burn, creating record profits -- and they have political agendas. The fund's co-founder, Randall Smith started buying distressed papers in 2007. They now own 200 publications through an operating company, Media News Group (formerly Digital Media) including the Denver Post, San Jose Mercury News, St. Paul Pioneer Press.

In buying into Tribune Publishing, they gain Baltimore, Hartford, Orlando, Annapolis, Allentown, Newport News, and Norfolk.

I'd be reading a lot more science fiction (which DH has collected his whole life) or re-reading many of my books.

chisue, without buyers for failing newspapers, they'd go under and stop publishing. It's a legacy business from a bygone era. We need them but no one knows what the undiscovered secrets may be for them to have enough revenue to cover operations.

What would you prefer - their having what you view as undesirable owners trying to make a go of it, or no owners and no newspapers?

If there were no internet in these times, I would not have the experience of reading people whining about people whining.

Another laughable moment. When I was taking the paper I used to read the Letters to the Editor. People complained about something in every issue. Complaining either on line or in print is nothing new. Only thing that has changed is that people can see the complaints more quickly or at least until they are flagged and removed.

Came back to add that the people who lived through WII and Korean Wars also lived through the quarantines of Polio. While some complained most followed the recommendations and quarantined themselves. If you have older relatives who lived through polio summers you should ask them about those times.

DH and I lived through polio summers. Although some public places like pools and theaters were temporarily shut down and some schools in areas where there were a lot of cases, the whole country and it's economy did not shut down for polio. People who were sick were quarantined, not the healthy. DH had a mild case as a baby. I remember a summer when we were told not to swim in a local creek due to fear of polio. But life continued normally for most day to day. People went to work, people socialized and kids played together.

The economy of the country never closed down until now. Life went on.

"The economy of the country never closed down until now. Life went on."

Because of morons pretending to be president, governors (in Florida, Tex and a number of other states) opening up too soon, ignoring experts, and failing to act decisively as in other countries, we get to set the clock back to as if it were March and do it all over again. THAT'S what's causing economic problems. Countries with effective governments are moving on while we're getting worse. A human tragedy caused by a few small handfuls of people in elected offices whose not too difficult job demands are nevertheless beyond what they can do.

The economy of the country did shut down for the Spanish Flu back in 1918.

Social distancing in 1918.

Lars, the economy took a beating due to lack of workers, not the closing of business. The Spanish flu target age group was 20 to 30 year olds. There were some cities that restricted schools and churches, but the majority of businesses stayed open. There wasn't any state wide shutdowns of business.

Elmer, you know what I have a hang nail and it is Trumps fault. You know the "it's Trump fault " is getting old. He is awful powerful for everything to be his fault. Trump gave the control of covid 19 to the individual governors. They are the screw ups, not Trump. The 10 highest states per 100,000 people deaths are all run by democratic governors except one. When are the Democrats going to start puting blame where it belongs. On themselves. The 5 governors that committed senor genocide were all Democrats. At least the other 45 governors had enough brains to realize you don't put inflected patients in with high risk patients.

I don't know how true it is ,but I read that your fellow Californians are leaving the state in mass.

What a mass of non-sense.

Function, the few remaining republicans are leaving California en masse (good riddance) - only the Catholics are leaving in mass, but the state is still gaining population. We don't need any more growth, unlike some states.

Covid cases are starting to come down in New Jersey and New York, thanks to democratic governors who are defying supposed leadership from Trump. Thanks a lot Trump, for providing a national standard for how to slow infection.

"Trump gave the control of covid 19 to the individual governors. "

No, that isn't what happened. This is a national crisis that has been handled at a national level in every country except here. The federal government did little about it (remember in Feb when Trump said it was a Democratic hoax to make him look bad?).

In the absence of White House leadership and its efforts to stymie federal action, and with continued denial from the White House, governors were left to act individually with the limited resources and options that they have. The federal government still has options to act but won't do so.

On Thursday, our sycophantic VP said, when on a visit to a state with out of control disease increases, "I want the people of Florida to know we’re in a much better place thanks to the leadership of President [Donald] Trump"

Only a moron could hear a lie like that, in the face of overwhelming facts to the contrary, without laughing.

Let's discuss. Tell me what I have wrong.

And let's look at the big picture. Infection rates and case number are down everywhere in the world except in the US, where they're skyrocketing. American travelers have been banned from going to Europe (although Chinese are permitted). Might we be doing something wrong, or anything differently?

"but I read that your fellow Californians are leaving the state in mass."

I think you mean en masse.

Keep reading, that's a good thing. Be careful of the sources, this sounds like false political propaganda, something that's become daily fare from the White House and its ninnies. It isn't the case.

Oh, and something that needs to be said that I know you're not hearing for the first time - the pandemic is a health problem, not a political problem. There has been a lot of lying going on for the past 3.5 years. I'm sure you won't admit it but you should by now know where most of it is coming from.

My work would not be possible without technology right now. We usually perform our reviews onsite, but that's not possible now.

I know I've seen my mother's WWII ration book somewhere in her photo boxes.

I've also been thinking about public health actions like the polio vaccine distribution. I remember sugar cubes at the community center in my home town. Dang, I must be ancient.

Elmer J Fudd

"The economy of the country never closed down until now. Life went on."

Because of morons pretending to be president, governors (in Florida, Tex and a number of other states) opening up too soon, ignoring experts, and failing to act decisively as in other countries, we get to set the clock back to as if it were March and do it all over again. THAT'S what's causing economic problems. Countries with effective governments are moving on while we're getting worse.

look to those in charge of your state and the mayors of the cities you live in.

A human tragedy caused by a few small handfuls of people in elected offices whose not too difficult job demands are nevertheless beyond what they can do.

give your governor and mayors a call and set them straight.

How would life be different now w/o on line shopping & internet?

Elmer J Fudd

"but I read that your fellow Californians are leaving the state in mass."

I think you mean en masse.

unfortunately too many of them are coming to AZ.

Keep reading, that's a good thing. Be careful of the sources, this sounds like false political propaganda, something that's become daily fare from the White House and its ninnies. It isn't the case.

the propaganda comes from the left.

Oh, and something that needs to be said that I know you're not hearing for the first time - the pandemic is a health problem, not a political problem. There has been a lot of lying going on for the past 3.5 years. I'm sure you won't admit it but you should by now know where most of it is coming from.

doesn't matter if it isn't political, the left will make it that....

the lies from the left started long before that, long before Trump was elected. even long before he decided to run.

And arcy-gw regarding WWII...Iw as there...I remember...and I heard of no one grousing and complaining like I hear today. The people enforcing blackout rules were called "air raid wardens" and people weren't purposely shining lights etc....but sometimes a shade was not pulled properly. The country was together in doing what wa best for all. Everyone knew that lights in the darkness mad the town a target...I lived very near an airplane plant....so it was a prime target....always covered with camoflage netting and paint.
During those times there were strong leaders....Roosevelt and Churchill. They inspired confidence. So very unlike things today!!

Not worth responding to, you don't understand a lot. Night!

Suppose this epidemic happened 30 years ago, before Smart phones and widespread internet connection.

When we had paper & ink magazines & newspapers, wrote real letters to family & friends, had 1-800 mail order and only one 24/7/365 news source to amp up our anxiety & only IF you subscribed to cable. When we were 30 years younger & thought we were bulletproof? When we weren't on a cell phone tether & could disappear for a few hours or a couple of days if we wanted to?

I'm all-in!

If this had happened 30 years ago, even +/5 years, the pandemic in the US would have ended or nearly so after 3-4 months.

No matter which party was in power at whatever year is picked for the hypothetical comparison, we had an effective federal government and capable leadership in the Executive Branch.

"Lars

How would life be different now w/o on line shopping & internet?"

Back on topic:

It reminds me when Michael Jackson was alive, he dreamt of being able to shop in person in a supermarket.

Finally he did.

I enjoy shopping in person also.

dcarch

There is a good reason that the EU has banned visitors from the U.S.

Personally I think, it would be good for me. I only have antenna tv, and am totally find with that. No internet, would mean, I wouldn't sit here for hours... I would read a book, or knit instead.

I don't do much online shopping, nor get deliveries. I had one grocery delivery in all this fun time.

I spend a lot of time on my bicycle, or in my garden. Have loads of fresh veggies... but also spend a lot of time tending them.

I think, I need to go up and read other peoples responses.

Moni

Ok, I went up, and read... and decided to leave my post as I first wrote it.

Moni

There used to be mail order catalogs, so if there wasn't internet, it would be mail order catalogs. People would phone in or mail in their orders.

If not by mail, people would be going to the store to shop- perhaps even calling in orders or picking up the newspaper to find out what the sales are going to be.

Weirdly enough, 30 years ago is when the internet and computers were becoming a thing, so I bet some folks would be learning computers and the internet with all it's limitations and noise making.

My parents never had internet (or smart phones), and so my mother would order from catalogs. After a certain age, she stopped shopping in clothing stores, I think, and she stopped going to church after her church was burned down by arsonists in 2010. I think that is the same time she stopped going to clothing stores.

We could look back 50-60 years and find simpler times and some frustrations. By decade. Fine print contracts, shipping AND handling charges. Cell phones charged by the minute. The first texting, both parties were charged.

NYC was disgusting in the 80's. Phone companies in shambles, garbage workers on strike...gum stuffed in pay phone coin slots. etc. 'Germ-a-phone'.

My first gardening order was an advertisement in the back pages of OrganicGardeningMagazine. 20cent seed packets. They would send a (hard too read) fax page, then check boxes. Send a 10 or 20 dollar bill wrapped around your order. Simple envelope. I do miss some of that time. (I think they are still in operation at 25cents per pack).

My mother at 90 still wants to get off the phone in 3-5 minutes.

We lost internet last week for 4 days. Fine by us. I have a personal hot spot set up by work. No real need for TV/cable.

The real suffering are my younger co-workers in small apartments with roommates...or anyone younger with debt. No savings. Paycheck-to-paycheck. Or any of our fellow Americans/world wide peoples suffering... caught without the ability to provide for their families. Sickens me. Post covid hospitalizations with maybe years of rehabilitations costing so much in suffering. And $$costs.

Years of medical rehabilitation costs.

I could live without online shopping. Saying that though I just placed my first grocery order online for pick up. I didn't need to do it, just thought I would give it a try for convenience and most likely I won't do it again. haha I just missed doing the shopping myself and to see what was in the store. I was getting tired of putting the same old groceries on my list for other house members to pick up. We will be eating different food items for the next 2 weeks haha. I have all the stores to shop in for everything I need within a few blocks of my home. If my internet was gone I would just have to go back to reading more hard cover books and getting back to cross stitching and doing real jigsaw puzzles on my kitchen table and using my telephone more. I have antenna tv and I have a radio for music. I would miss the immediate contact with family members and friends though that I do get through internet usage