What do you guys think about this?

Question

In this beautiful forest near my house, there's this old man who lives in one of those really ancient-looking houses. From the outside, you'd think it was deserted, but a guy does live in it. I've met the man before and he seems quite pleasent. However, I was absolutey gob-smacked when my mother told me that this guy lives with no electricity or central heating. In other words, he has no telephone, no PC, no TV, no lights or any other wonderful luxuries we all take so much for granted. My mother told me that he chooses to live like this & even cooks his food outside. Although it's unbelievable, I have great respect & admiration for this man as he seems to be really living a very environmentally-friendly lifestyle. Also, he seems to be living a very natural and traditional form of life.

I would just like to hear your thoughts on this man's choice of living & also if you think that if everyone lived like this, would the world be a much healthier place against climate change.

Hi guys. Good answers so far. I've actually tried something like this before. It was only a small thing though. I tried to copy the movie called 'The Others' and stopped using my bedroom lights for a whole week and depended on lots of candles in my bedroom instead. It was fun but I had to be careful that nothing caught fire and that there was plenty of ventilation in the room. Otherwise, you get a big headache. I would actually like to try that again very soon.

Answer 1

That's incredible, I've read stories about people who have given up on society and live on their own. So good for him that he's doing it and enjoying it! It's probably rather peaceful for him, because he has total freedom, doesn't have to worry about money, taxes, anything... Good for him! I think if we all gave up some of our "luxuries" we could make the world a better place! Or if they would develop them differently, like work more on electric cars and such... :)

Answer 2

Give the idea a little more thought-- it really isn't that unique in this world--most of the world population lives without electricity and running water, we are just rather fortunate when we live where we have such modern convienences. I grew up sleeping outside all summer since we did not have air conditioning ( and temps of 95-110) so it was strange to me when I started living in a home with air conditioning. My church did not have a well, so no bathrooms either--we used outhouses. But considering most of rural America did not have electricity until the 1940s and 1950s, living the way your neighbor does is not that surprising for older people.

Answer 3

I live in rural New England, where there are a number of people who, for a time, live "off the grid." The choice to live as people did 150 years ago is a bit eccentric (would you like to have the medicine, prejudice, jobs, and sex roles from the 19th century), but the experiment has some social value.

Today we have fewer struggles for our food, we have at least the opportunity for a great deal more leisure time, and the openness of society has liberated peoples who suffered almost constant oppression in the past.

So I believe that our current society has a lot going for it. The consumerism driving the economy, though, means that the choices that we make are far more driven by a larger society than the local needs. That may harm the local areas by the mere act of distracting us from our immediate surroundings.

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Answer 4

I admire his resolve as well, and it probably would be better world if we lived like that, but it is too late to make that change now. We have depleted our natural resources so much and polluted our world so much that even if all of it stopped today it would take hundreds of years to bring it back to what it was. It is a great idea but just because Utopia sounds good doesn't mean it can happen.

Answer 5

To be honest, I wouldn't want to live like that. I admire his resolve, but that isn't for me.
I like indoor plumbing and electricity and heat and air-conditioning and my computer.
I do set my thermostat at the extreme ranges of comfort to save energy. I walk where I can for errands to save gas. But I do not want to give up modern conveniences at all.

I think we can make a difference to the planet by making small changes, but only if we ALL do it. And as we get used to the small changes, we make even more and things will progressively get better. Wishful thinking as I watch the huge SUV's drive down the highway......

Answer 6

i think he is living the way he wants and i think it is great. i would love to just buy a piece of land in the hills and be able to do that. so i say yes.....hes living a very admirable life.
just some advice...if you burn beeswax candles you wont get a headache. they are environentally safe and are like rain in that they create a negative ion so dust and pollen particles fall to the floor when you burn them, not to ,mention...they are the cheapest candle to burn by the hour, they smell great and wont give you a headache. parrifin candles are a diesel waste by-product. they bleach the sludge and thats how parrifin is made. i can tell you a site that i get mine from.www.naturecraft.net. hes got some nice stuff.

Answer 7

If somebody has no obligation to the "outside", including family, and has at least some assets (for house, food and taxes, health), it is a great way to return to the basics. But there are not too many people who can afford this "LUXURY".

Answer 8

its a good idea but im not down for it. Im glad it is working for him. I try thing to be more environmentally friendly, I recycle and I donate items, I also bring my own reusable bags to the grocery store.

Answer 9

I like camping, too. But this is a bit much for all the time.