Solar Flare Takes Out Internet -- Then What?

I was just reading a post on how much DPer's like the Internet and I was wondering what I would do if a massive solar flare took out the Internet and the forecast was that it would be years before the infrastructure could be fixed. Of course, the solar flare would also knock out the power grid, but let's not deal with that. What would you do if all else remained the same, but the Internet was gone?

Most of my career has been with offline sales/marketing, so I would turn back to those techniques that served me and my family well for decades. I would greatly miss email because it has become the predominant communication form for business in my markets. I would also miss being able to research companies and people that I want to learn more about from a sales perspective. But that is about it for me.

The big change for me would be getting out of high tech and into selling something more relevant to the current circumstances. But I am really interested to hear what DP-er's whose businesses were "born in the Cloud" would do if the Internet disappeared.

 

Geez, that's a scary idea. D:< From where do you get those man!!?? LOL
And you are asking this question on the largest internet marketing forum.

For me, life for the most part would stop. Not that I am a net addict, but what I do for living depends heavily on it. Well, the good part is before I was a noob to the online world, I was doing all work offline. So I guess I would somehow be able to adapt, though with a lot of hassle.
I really scares the shit outta me to think about what will happen to generations that follow us. They've got these things in their bones! :X

 

LOL...it's a Saturday morning, my first cup of tea, and I thought that it would be fun to get an off-topic discussion going. This actually popped into my mind because I recently read a news item covering multiple scientists who say that a solar flare that knocks out everything electronic is not a question of "if" but "when." No electricity would be significantly worse than just no Internet, but that is too much to deal with in this thread. Thanks for your reply.

 

Well, sometimes the first sip of weekend tea also sparks off the devil in me.

On a serious note, I have heard forecasts about something like a comet or asteroid possibly hitting the earth time and again, but nothing really happens. Remember the '2012 doom theory'? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_phenomenon) There's also a movie starring John Cusack that depicts it. We are in 2014 now!!
Anyway, it would be interesting to read the news you mentioned. (Link please.)

If we're really out of internet and in worst case, also electricity, we would have the dawn of a new primitive age. Makes me wonder ….. Was Einstein already aware of this??? o.o? Didn't he say, “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”?

 

Isn't it funnily ironic? You are Googling 'survivalist strategies' to get an idea of how to deal with no internet and electricity!

 

Here is a recent story about it:

http://earthsky.org/space/scientist-warns-of-inevitable-solar-super-storm-propelled-towards-earth

 

Thanks for the link. It's 'inevitable' they say, but I am still skeptical.:/
My eyes popped out when reading this bit -

The sun has more energy than we could imagine!!:O

EDIT: Not really "inevitable". Here's evidence to the contrary in that very article -

 

I did take some solace from the fact that the article commented that we have the technology to "harden" our electronics against a solar flare; now we just need to get the will to do so. Maybe an ice bucket challenge?

 

First, I will take a week off to drink. I will drink heavily. Again, and again. Then I will think hard what do to next.

My wife and I could probably start a physical store to sell her sewing. She is an excellent seamstress.

Other than that I don't know what I'd do. Thanks for ruining my morning!

 

Thinking about this a bit more...it seems that the solar flare burns out copper wiring and circuitry. My cable business might start getting of lot of new customers as people try to replace burnt out cabling. Not sure if stored cables will be safe, though, so they could be fried, too.

 

You are obviously a pragmatic businessperson. I love it!

 

My sister, who used to be a registered nurse and is now a doctor, used to tell me that people are more like to survive drowning (if rescued), shooting, accidents, extreme changes in temperature, etc. in a state of inebriation. When the economy goes south being drunk will be a means to one's survival till better times come.

 

LOL...It may be me, but I am sensing a recurring theme with your posts on this thread. It seems like alcohol is part, if not all, of the solution.

Hard to disagree...

 

In fairness, I will drink with @qwikad.com at night and roll up my sleeves with @sarahk during the day. Can probably keep up that pace for a short time only, though.

 

In reality, I don't drink that much. It affects me differently today than it did when I was in my 20's. I feel really, really crappy even after a couple of drinks. Somehow it's still fun to joke about booze and getting drunk.

 

I rarely drink, myself. I did have a couple drinks sitting around an outdoor fireplace back in June with my wife and a couple of friends. My next drink may be during the holidays, unless we have to put our survival plan into action before then, of course.