$1,000,000 vs The Internet

I think I would do it. It would be hard to remember how I used to find out things without the Internet though.

But that would mean giving up emails, smart phones, (can we still text message), and seeing a lot of pictures of cats.

I'd take the money, hire skilled assassins to kill him and anyone that knows about this, and then click happily, sitting naked on my billion dollars. 

You know, without the internet, I quite honestly wouldn't know what to spend my money on. I'd have to say no. The money would be wonderful, but having access to the internet brings so many amazing people and great opportunities into my life that it's worth far more than money.

MLKatz said:

I think I would do it. It would be hard to remember how I used to find out things without the Internet though.

But that would mean giving up emails, smart phones, (can we still text message), and seeing a lot of pictures of cats.

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Hehe, and how can we resist the cat pics, right? I swear I'm addicted to Youtube cat videos... *guilt free*

Nathalie Hamidi said:

I'd take the money, hire skilled assassins to kill him and anyone that knows about this, and then click happily, sitting naked on my billion dollars.

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LOL! I had said something similar to the SO. I'd only mentioned 'dispensing' of the person who gave me the money, but you're right. Gotta do a clean job of it and get rid of everyone involved.

After taxes, that isn't a lot of money. I couldn't retire on it. Then I would have to pay someone to run my business for me (as it is an ONLINE company!). And it isn't like I could hire some college kid for minimum wage because it would need to be someone I could trust to handle my online accounts.

I would have to do my banking at a bank and go back to writing paper checks. I haven't written a check in over a decade. Heck, I don't know if I remember how to.  

I'm not sure how I would buy ebooks for my Kindle without going online. I can only by print books, in a physical store. So now I have to go to the damn mall to browse books.  

I'd say yes and live an "old school" lifestyle... read real paper books and enjoy nature... travel, etc.

Nathalie Hamidi said:

I'd take the money, hire skilled assassins to kill him and anyone that knows about this, and then click happily, sitting naked on my billion dollars.

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I'd do it the opposite way. Before the agreement is finalized, I'd look up all I need to know about faking my own death, and do that, then start fresh in a new, exotic location. I'd have my million and a spankin' new laptop.

Bards and Sages (Julie) said:

After taxes, that isn't a lot of money. I couldn't retire on it. Then I would have to pay someone to run my business for me (as it is an ONLINE company!). And it isn't like I could hire some college kid for minimum wage because it would need to be someone I could trust to handle my online accounts.

I would have to do my banking at a bank and go back to writing paper checks. I haven't written a check in over a decade. Heck, I don't know if I remember how to.

I'm not sure how I would buy ebooks for my Kindle without going online. I can only by print books, in a physical store. So now I have to go to the d*mn mall to browse books.

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lol this was funny to read because it's so true. I'm ashamed to admit I get a little confused with paper cheques. I often don't know where to write what. I much prefer online banking.

You would have to define what never using the internet really means.  Never opening an internet browser is one thing.  Not being able to ever use a credit card again because that's validated through the internet.  Never being able to watch anything on TV because its all generated and transmitted through the studio to the stations.  You're basically watching a stream.  Even your electricity and power bill is now reported from your house to the power company's network through the power lines network.

Money aside, could you actually get away from the internet if you wanted to?

I've been so poor I had to subsist on a bag of egg noodles, a few packets of ketchup, and frozen bag of green beans for a week... so yeah, I'd probably take up the offer if I ever thought I'd be in that boat again. Luckily that's not a concern at this point in my life so unless I could figure out a loophole out of the deal I'd have to decline.

It's a good thought experiment but the internet is pretty much indispensable at this point. You'd have to be desperate to consider such a plan.

I would do it. After all, the gifting party said that I couldn't use the Internet. He didn't say my wife couldn't use it.

"Honey. I need you to order a few things online for me, okay? Use some of that sweet million bucks."

"Sure thing, dear. I love you for being rich!"

"I love you too! Now go buy yourself something pretty."

This reminds me of that stupid party game.

Would you rather be kicked in the balls or tasered in the arsehole.

I'd take the money! Then I'd write to my hearts content and try to get published the old fashioned way.  My pay pal e-mail is available upon request.

A lot of you are coming up with some inventive and humorous answers.

I don't know. I'm trying to see whether I can really subsist on that million and do away with the Internet...

I guess I'll take up my macrame seriously. Knots day in day out. And fishing. And gardening. And reading (paper) books...

Bah! Fire on that million! Give me my internetz...my preciouuuusssss...

klayton said:

You know, without the internet, I quite honestly wouldn't know what to spend my money on. I'd have to say no. The money would be wonderful, but having access to the internet brings so many amazing people and great opportunities into my life that it's worth far more than money.

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I wouldn't know how to use my money. For one I keep using internet banks like ING Direct and online brokerages. Where would I put the money?

Tracy Leach said:

My hubby was asked this, his response: "Never! I will watch that million burn before I give up the Internet!" Then he asked me, and my response: "HDU ask me such a thing, husband?! There's no question to be answered. My Internet will stay." And now I ask you:

If someone offered you USD $1,000,000 (let's say some bored, conniving billionaire who possibly considers a million dollars pocket change...) to never, ever use the Internet again during your lifetime, what will your answer be?

What does this have to do with writing/book discussion? Erm...it's a...ahhh, plot for a new book. Right. Let's go with that.

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A million dollars ain't what it used to be, though people still regard a millionaire as wealthy. I can't think of anyone who I know in a personal sense who isn't a millionaire - asset-wise - and few of them would regard themselves as wealthy. It is what happens when houses reach such inflated prices. There was an article on retirement here three days ago and it suggested a minimum of au$960,000 (us$1000,906) for the average person to retire comfortably - presuming you owned your own home and vehicle - and that only allowed for twenty years.

Nope, not for a million, it would put my wife and me out of work and we will earn several million before reaching retirement age. For twenty-five million I would consider it, I would go back to living on my yacht and using HF radio for communications.

No way. Not even for "never have to work a day again in your life" kind of money. The internet's too useful, educational, social, and entertaining a thing for me to ever give up!

I'd sell my house first and keep the internet. And the way housing prices are going here, even the tiniest of houses will be worth $1,000,000 soon!
(Because hey, I *need* the internet for research and building my brand and stuff. Yeah, that's it ... research and career development.  )

I've just regressed to no TV and music on vinyl, so I could probably manage without it.