Ignorant people.

[bre's dad]

my first tv was a b&w RCA (15-19" I think) portible my dad had fixed. I don't remember if he got it from grandma when she got a color tv of not, not that it matters. it was an old one even in the mid 70's. In the early 80's, someone gave my dad a 12-14" GE color tv that was broke. He fixed it (and many times thereafter) and gave it to me. It lasted until my parents bought a 19" Emerson for my high school graduation. I was in hog heaven, as it had a remote and my parent's tv didn't!!! It died a horrid and untimely death 6 years later.

I was in hog heaven when I was in college and found an old vcr w/ no remote at Radio Shack for something like $20... they were cleaning out the back of the store and found it. Good vcr too, not stereo, but good picture.

I was in Target awhile back and a mother was tv shopping for her kid. She was looking at your run of the mill 20" w/ built in dvd player for about $150. The kid said "No... I want this!!!" pointing at an lcd tv. Made me appreciate that old B&W RCA.

[Thyratron]

I think you really have to worry about this current generation of kids that are coming up not having known life without a computer, cell phone, etc. Will they know what to do if theirs breaks down or there is not one within reach of easy use? There comes a price to this "convenience," especially when it is suddenly not available.

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by Thyratron

I think you really have to worry about this current generation of kids that are coming up not having known life without a computer, cell phone, etc. Will they know what to do if theirs breaks down or there is not one within reach of easy use? There comes a price to this "convenience," especially when it is suddenly not available.

Out of all the people in my age group (20's-30's), I'm the only one who does not own a cell phone. The people I know could not function (or, they think they couldn't function) without one. And most of them don't own a basic phone. They have these fancy phones that will do everything but wipe your butt. Me personally, I have caller ID and an answering machine. If I'm not home, leave a message or call back. I've even been sitting in church and heard cell phones ringing during the service! Now, how rude is that! As far as computers, most retail stores couldn't do things "the old way" if the system failed. It's almost to the point where the idiots at our local fast food joint can't do anything right with a computer. I'll admit that my computer with Internet access has come in handy; but, I could do without it should a situation arise.

[dr.ido]

I've had internet access for 8 years now and it would be very hard to do without it now. There have been a few occasions where my connection was down for long enough that I had to throw the laptop in the car and go looking for WiFi.

I would dump my cell phone if I could, but here it's a lot cheaper than a land line when you make so few calls.

[NowhereMan 1966]

Originally Posted by Thyratron

I think you really have to worry about this current generation of kids that are coming up not having known life without a computer, cell phone, etc. Will they know what to do if theirs breaks down or there is not one within reach of easy use? There comes a price to this "convenience," especially when it is suddenly not available.

True. Not to get apocalyptic but what if a situation like "Jericho" (the TV show) happens where we are tossed into a 19th Century lifestyle overnight? We'd really be in a world of hurt by then.

[JimJ[VT]]

I've been in situations where I've needed to make phone calls and had to resort to "other means". I had a tire blowout a few years back on a remote section of road on my way to school...I was in the shadow of a mountain so my cell coverage kept dropping out. Got out a copy of a VHF/UHF amateur radio repeater directory, found one within range that had a public access autopatch, got on the radio and used it to call AAA to get help.

Same thing happens during any widespread emergency, pretty much; cell networks can't handle the extra load, and your Razr suddenly makes a nice paperweight. Meanwhile radio gets through...