Do We Really Need The Internet?

As someone who earns their living entirely online, I nconsidered myself the last person I ever thought would ask nthe question, "Do we really need the Internet?" However, the extended power outage of almost 4 days, ongoing nloss of Internet access, combined with many other events nsurrounding the recent Hurricane Isabel caused me to nreassess my priorities. When "high-tech" business gets into a head-on collision with na natural or man-made disaster, we all need to ask, "Do we nreally need the Internet?" Well, when you're in line for 3 hours to get gas so you can nsiphon the tank to run your father-in-law's generator in norder to save $1,000 worth of food in three freezers - you ndon't need the Internet, you need the expectation that nyou'll find gas. When you're driving around for 2 hours trying to find ice so nyou can have a cold drink and make your family more ncomfortable on a 90+ degree day - you don't need the nInternet; you need patience and a sense of humor. When a good friend of yours falls 30 feet off a ladder while nhelping his neighbors cut a tree off their house, fractures nhis back and neck, punctures a lung and must be airlifted to nthe hospital in critical condition - you don't need the nInternet, you need faith he'll be okay! When the hurricane's destruction threatens to ruin the nsurprise 50th wedding anniversary party you've been planning nfor over a year for your parents - you don't need the nInternet! You improvise and set up a human communication nnetwork that spreads the word to dozens of people who still nshow up and throw a party that creates memories that will nlast a lifetime! When you can't turn on your computer to get work done, you ncan still grab a good old-fashioned pen and legal pad and nget more work done in the peace and quiet without phones, nfax or email to distract you than you could ever get done nwhen things get back to "normal." It struck me last night as I struggled to get my high-speed nInternet connection going again that I was much more nstressed over getting a stupid piece of hardware to function nthan I was over driving 50+ miles to find gas just two days nbefore! In fact, looking back, I was more proud of the fact that on nSaturday I found what was probably the last cold six pack of nbeer in all of Southeastern Virginia than I was about my nlast successful online product launch! And after spending many days and nights in the dark, I nrealized that the Internet represents the ultimate nconvenience, but it's also the ultimate business risk nbecause so much can happen to shut the Internet down or nprevent you from accessing it. If recent events taught me anything, they taught me these nthree truths about life: 1. Life is fragile and valuable - don't take it for granted. 2. Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being nof family and friends. Sometimes it takes a calamity to nremind us. 3. Anyone who depends on the Internet for their entire nlivelihood should seek to diversify how they make their nmoney - just in case the Internet disappears one day when nyou least expect it!n