# Where would you be without computers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 23, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705 "2004-05-23T23:10:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![remisser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@remisser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/remisser)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/1 "2004-05-23T23:10:25Z")
A simple question, one I’ve pondered for quite some bit: In a world devoid of computer and the internet, what do you think you would be doing right now with your life? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/2 "2004-05-23T23:18:04Z")
Well, I had plenty of adult life behind me when the Internet came to me. If I think of what that was like I’d guess I’d be either a.) not single or b.) in a bar. Possibly both. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/3 "2004-05-23T23:18:09Z")
Watching TV. Well, it’s midnight on Sunday - what else could I do? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/4 "2004-05-23T23:20:22Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Watching TV. Beaten. (I was going to add ‘downstairs’) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/5 "2004-05-23T23:34:26Z")
I’d probably be out of a job. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/6 "2004-05-23T23:56:53Z")
Actually, to be serious about this, I may be a LOT happier if it wasn’t for computers. You see I chose computing as a career because I knew I was a natural and had potential. But what I failed to include into the decison was whether I actually _like_ doing computer related work. I also failed to reconsider when it became obvious that the life of a programmer (or at least the life of a software engineering student, because maybe what follows doesn’t apply to employed programmers) is not spent sitting and churning out code. There would be a shitload of boring crap to do before you get to actually write code. About 2 years into my course I could have come up with 20 things I’d rather be doing (and would find more fullfilling) such as psychology, law, medicine, media, etc… All of which, in hindsight, I would have probably done ok at, and which would have led to an interesting life. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/7 "2004-05-24T00:21:58Z")
No job, no girlfriend, not in NC, very few friends… Probably dead, actually. I credit my friends from various online places with getting me through the depression of my teen years. ---
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/8 "2004-05-24T00:30:25Z")
Building canoes for a living, I think ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/9 "2004-05-24T01:04:10Z")
Outside ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/10 "2004-05-24T01:37:07Z")
I’d definitely be out of a great job (it was my audio editing skills that landed it for me), and my lifelong ambition to hear many of my old, not-issued-on-CD records without scratches would have been impossible to achieve. I’d probably be vegged out in front of the TV. Hooray for computers! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/11 "2004-05-24T01:54:16Z")
I suppose I’d be a social worker, although I might’ve ended up as more of an office-managerial type. I’m a secretary at heart, whether I’m organizing data flow by constructing databases or using grid paper and filing cabinets and designing procedures for intake or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/12 "2004-05-24T11:13:14Z")
I’d be freakin’ bored. The Internet is the coolest invention ever. That and video games. I suppose I might be a librarian or a historian or a scientist or something, but as it is I’m an unemployed former tech support dude, who spends too much time playing online games. ---
**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/13 "2004-05-24T11:17:37Z")
Dead or in jail ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/14 "2004-05-24T11:53:11Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I’d probably be out of a job. I would _definitely_ be out of a job. Let review the Clanger record: Rock Musician - Small proves to have enough sense to forget this as a career option. Audio technician - sacked Seismic Survey technician - laid off PA sound guy - not enough money to live on White van man - walked out, I only did it for pocket money to study as a. . . Lumberjack! OK not really. Analyst/Programmer. **Lobsag** some of us like it here in code-monkey land. ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/15 "2004-05-24T14:56:18Z")
Well, since my first real job introduced me to computers in the 1960’s, they’ve been my life. I’d probably have been stuck in some uninteresting job somewhere. On the other hand, there have been times when I’ve been consumed by my “interesting and challenging” career to the point where I envied people with routine 8-hour days who had time for hobbies and recreation and actually had a **life** outside of work. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/16 "2004-05-24T21:47:25Z")
I’d be doing exactly the same thing. Granted, the computer has made my job easier and expanded the number of things I can do, but I worked without computers for years, and I still have a typewriter in my basement if I ever need it. ---
**Author:** ![mallocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@mallocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mallocks)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/17 "2004-05-24T21:53:19Z")
Doing the revision I need to do, and getting better marks at school. I’d also be a better pianist I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/18 "2004-05-24T22:21:34Z")
Dunno where I’d be. Probably still in college. One thing’s for certain, though. My handwriting would be _much_ better. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/19 "2004-05-24T22:28:30Z")
Auto-mechanic full time instead of a hobby. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705/20 "2004-05-24T22:46:19Z")
Well…I’d probably be more isolated for one. And I’d still be doing lab tests but without computers and walk-a-way instrumentation I’d be doing them manually, which is a _lot_ slower. I’d bet the doctors would be very unhappy as well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-be-without-computers/246705.md?page=2)