What would you do if the lights went off?

Question

Can you imagine living without electric light?

Answer 1

Not at all I would just start using candles or propane lamps that's all, most people are simply not prepared for those possibilities, where I live in Saskatchewan Canada I am totally self contained if such a thing were to happen, I know my family will survive just about any catastrophe, out here I can see my dog run for three days, so I get to see what is coming at me in lots of time, I simply refuse to be a city dweller, I truly have heaven in my back yard.

Answer 2

If the lights go off we either sit around with some candles on listening to the radio or go round someone elses house who has got power! If it's late go to bed or have a nice candle lit bath, hmmmm lovely.

Yes I can imagine it, but it would be awful, well at least until you got used to it. What's worse would be living without electric full stop. Last time it happened to me it was a nightmare cos I don't keep the phone book as I use the Internet to find numbers, the phone is digital so wouldn't work and the laptop wasn't charged or the mobile and it was late & stormy. I had to go charge the phone in the car and directory enquiries to get the number for the electric board :o( thank goodness for the car or I'd have been scuppered!

I guess we just have to remember how lucky and privileged we are. There are plenty of people in the world who haven't even ot fresh water, let alone anything else.

I feel humble even thinking how bad it would be without electric, what about everyone else?

Comic Relief on Friday in the UK, please give generously.

Thanks.

Answer 3

I have a wind-up torch, lots of candles and hundreds of books. I am planning on getting a windup radio and anything else that winds up that can enttertain me. I was watching Upstairs Downstairs the other day and thought it must have been boring, sitting there, in silence, sewing, reading the paper, doing other things that didn't require massive amounts of electricity.

They, however, wouldn't have known any different so although they might have been bored, it would have been normal. We sometimes get bored and that's with the many entertainment outlets we have.

Just think, in the future, they may think the same about us. They may have direct neural interfaces that take them anywhere in the universe they want to go from the comfort of their home. They might be able to actually play a part in their favourite book whereas we are passive observants to the narrative.

What's the betting they look back to the early 21st century and wonder how we didn't go out of our heads with boredom?

Answer 4

I'd carry a fully loaded gun! Because most people would start to rape & pillage when the lights go out. Personal safety should be a persons first priority in a situation like the one you have described! BACK TO BASICS & SURVIVAL SKILLS should be #1 on your list is things to do!

Answer 5

Mm hm. I have candles and battery powered lanterns. Our lights go out around here every now and then, especially in windstorm.

More importantly, the furnace also quits, so we get cold in winter. AC quits, so we get hot in summer. Can't use my pc, can't watch TV nor listen to radio. Can't vacuum... Can't even cook dinner, so we have to have cold cereals or sandwiches.

Answer 6

I think it would be difficult to adjust to, but cool after the shock. I would be happy not to pay for an electric bill.. But then I would be paying for kerosene or candles.

Answer 7

Easily. I often sit home by candlelight, its just so much more alive than electric lighting.

Answer 8

light a candle and sit by the open fire in the sitting room
the only difference is that the telly wouldn't be on

Answer 9

No, but generations before us did, and survived OK. I have my candles ready in case of a blackout. Be prepared I always say.

Answer 10

I'd go to bed...

of course, if they didn't come on again, I'd change the bulbs, check the meter... check the fuses...

then I'd get ready to go out and hunt wild animals for dinner!