<story><title>Off the Grid, but Still Online</title><url>http://motherboard.vice.com/read/off-the-grid-but-still-online</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>ecobiker</author><text>(Disclaimer: Slightly off-topic. Also, it&amp;#x27;s not my intention to belittle their lifestyle. I hope I don&amp;#x27;t come across that way.)&lt;p&gt;Some of the things they need even in this disconnected lifestyle - like the mobile home, laptops, books, solar panels, batteries and even the slippers have to be made by someone doing a 9-5 job somewhere. The idea of civilization to me is to take advantage of these specialists who are really good at doing or manufacturing some of the things I need and in turn I become a specialist in something (probably one thing) which I contribute back to the society - it&amp;#x27;s a barter. That I don&amp;#x27;t have to do all the things I need to do to survive, seems efficient and effective. Also, not all of the jobs are going to be able to afford this &amp;quot;luxury&amp;quot;.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>OneOneOneOne</author><text>Right on.  When considering lifestyle choices I ask myself how many people could live the same way.  If it turns out to be a small minority before collapse, I reject it as a path for myself.  To me off grid lifestyle seems a retreat from the goods of society without a commensurate benefit to self and others.  As an art movement or experiment I say fine.</text></comment>
<story><title>Off the Grid, but Still Online</title><url>http://motherboard.vice.com/read/off-the-grid-but-still-online</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>ecobiker</author><text>(Disclaimer: Slightly off-topic. Also, it&amp;#x27;s not my intention to belittle their lifestyle. I hope I don&amp;#x27;t come across that way.)&lt;p&gt;Some of the things they need even in this disconnected lifestyle - like the mobile home, laptops, books, solar panels, batteries and even the slippers have to be made by someone doing a 9-5 job somewhere. The idea of civilization to me is to take advantage of these specialists who are really good at doing or manufacturing some of the things I need and in turn I become a specialist in something (probably one thing) which I contribute back to the society - it&amp;#x27;s a barter. That I don&amp;#x27;t have to do all the things I need to do to survive, seems efficient and effective. Also, not all of the jobs are going to be able to afford this &amp;quot;luxury&amp;quot;.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>sliverstorm</author><text>There is definitely an irony to people who make a show of disconnecting, but do so on the largess of society. In this piece, the guy who gets free electricity and shelter from his friend&amp;#x27;s shed. Or what I used to run into frequently, the rebel wanderer who eschews The System and couch surfs at the houses of his office worker friends.&lt;p&gt;I don&amp;#x27;t mind people who want to disconnect, but when you&amp;#x27;ve got a campstove, a phone, a laptop, photovoltaic panels, a car... you&amp;#x27;re still enjoying the fruits of progress &amp;amp; society with the rest of us.</text></comment>