Boycott International Shutdown Day!

It seems that a pair of men named Dennis Bystrov and Michael Taylor -- bitter victims of the bubble, we suspect -- want to perform a social experiment wherein people all over the world boycott computers for an entire day; willing participants are encouraged to click a pledge of sorts on the International Shutdown Day website promising to forgo any and all PC usage on March 24th.

Hold on there, big guy. You want us to STOP using computers for a day? How about we all decide to hold our breath for 24 hours, too? Yeah, that's right, we're not giving up our gadgets for anyone. We know that some day our computers will kill us (either by rising up against us or by getting us so sucked into a six day-long WoW marathon that we forget to eat), but hey, you gotta die from something right? At least we'll go out knowing we spent every waking moment indoors doing something worthwhile like reading RSS feeds and downloading porn. Those are truly the hallmarks of a life well-spent, wouldn't you agree? Anyway, we're going to show the Blame Computers First crowd what's what and use our computers TWICE as much on March 24th -- even if that means grabbing two machines and then typing with our fingers and toes at the same time.

[hp540 @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:48PM]

Morons.

Not using a computer for a day? Might as well not drive your car, use ANY electrical device (I'm sure there are many computers involved in running the grid), watch TV, withdraw money, etc etc etc. bla bla ba

[Stephen Kassinger @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:52PM]

Mind your own business dudes. You can pry my cold dead hands off the keyboard.

[Kev50027 @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:40PM]

Why do they want us to stop using computers? To save power or what? I'll do it to save power, but otherwise.. why bother?

[some person @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:55PM]

I heard that someone came up with an idea to save energy by making clocks go 3 weeks ahead and 1 week behind sometimes in March, but that might glitch up consumer electronics.

[Josh Blomberg @ Mar 16th 2007 12:02AM]

It's to prove that society isn't totally dependent on computers. It has nothing to do with blaming computers or saving power, it's actually pro-computer if you think about it.

[Travis @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:47PM]

This has to be the dumbest boycott I have ever heard of.

[Ivan @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:43PM]

How about we meet halfway and put our computers on standby for 12 hours?

[Electromodo @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:46PM]

If they have my favourite band playing that Saturday, I would support this initiative with my friends in the club and in the bar afterwards.

Wait... I still need computer to buy tickets, print out directions and... nevermind

[Eli @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:50PM]

I don't see anything wrong with this. It's on a Saturday, so unless you're working you really have no reason not to at least give a halfhearted attempt to participate.

Unless you live in some craphole like New York where there's nothing to do that isn't computer related.

[Matthew Ryan @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:53PM]

...so EVERYONE stops using computers, sure its a saturday.... sounds like a terror plot for the government to stop using their computers and let their guard down

touchè but im on to you...

[andy @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:52PM]

I think we should all support this to our friends and relatives.



And queue a LOAD of torrents the night before because that's going to be a good day for downloads.

[Cozmoz @ Feb 23rd 2007 5:37PM]

Oh no! Where have all the seeds gone!!!!!

[Reginald @ Feb 23rd 2007 8:03PM]

Queue a load of torrents on a Saturday night?

How would that be any different than any other Saturday night?

[GadgetGuy @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:54PM]

Don't you find it ironic that the article prior to this one is abotu children going though Shock Therapy to get them off of th addiction of the internet. Meanwhile this article is about 2 guys who want to abstain from PC's for a day, but you guys laugh at them. Don't get me wrong, I am one of the last people to turn against electronics (even though they will kill us someday). I do think it is a good idea in theory, yet very unrealistic.

[scoville @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:56PM]

Let's just kill off all our hospital patients who rely on monitoring and life support through computers as well.

[jd @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:58PM]

blame computers first crowd. hilarious

[akintz @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:58PM]

I realize it's a Saturday and all, but do they just expect businesses to just come to a screeching halt or something?

"I'm sorry, I can't check our inventory right now, I'm particapting in Shutdown Day! Try back on Monday."

"Oh, no, I can't take a credit card today. The company that validates them has decided to turn off all of their computers for a day."

[Wes @ Mar 4th 2007 10:34PM]

be realistic, no company that needs a computer is going to participate, they're aiming it at the casual computer user mainly. the people that sit in front of their screens watching blogs about stuff. i'm so sure that a doctor is going to unplug a patient because it's shutdown day... 9_9

now, if you ran an internet business that makes revenue mainly off of banner clicks, then i'd understand why you're getting all bent out of shape, but come on, be realistic.

[ThePete @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:02PM]

In America, today, it's damn near impossible to not use a computer for 24 hours. You'd have to move to Amish country or find the most orthodox of Jews to hang out with and convince them to do the sabbath thing 12 hours longer than usual.

Turn on a light switch and technically you're using a computer because the power that lights that bulb comes from a computer controlled energy distribution system. Most cars these days have computers in them. God forbid you have a pacemaker--don't those have microprocessors in them? And what about the folks that use automatic insulin injectors--those have processor chips in them.

Do I really need to go on?

[Earl @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:10PM]

Is this specifically targeted towards PC type computers, or EVERY computer? If we were to stop using EVERY computer we might as well light some candles and sit in the closet all day. I can't think of too many items that don't have some sort of computer in it.

[F1ghter @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:13PM]

Obviously he's talking about PCs, ThePete.

This is a very interesting boycott. I know that I can easily go without a computer for 24 hours (though I prefer not to), but I wonder how feasible it is for even an entire community. It would be an interesting experiment to see if anything would happen on a day in which the Internet were emptied and all computers were turned off. Would there be some type of meltdown? How would it work with emergency crews and weekend workers? If actually carried out (it never will be) it could have strange and unexpected repercussions.

As for me, the only valid reason I can think of for this is to remind us that we can live for a day without our precious email. That is a good exercise for those who spend most of their lives connected (myself included).

[Hannah @ Feb 23rd 2007 4:00PM]

They only mean PCs? Whew! I have a Mac, guess I dodged the bullet there.

[Tim Burns @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:15PM]

It should be interesting to see if their own website is still up that day.

[Grant @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:18PM]

so.... does my moto Q count or even an xbox360/PS3... cause those are nearly computers. so many items are in a grey area these days as to what they are, so how do you classify a computer anymore?

[Homer J @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:19PM]

I thought we were suposed to give up things to show our selves how we can live without them. Just how should I exist without a computer. I can run through 10 iterations of a set of financial statements with a client in Germany in a day using a computer. My other option is to write the statements out by hand and then mail them...and wait to receive them back - sure sounds like an improvement to me. Lets not forget all the fuel and resources needed to cut down the trees, fule the trucks and planes, as well as the labor required to to deliver the mail. Boy, sounds like an improvement to me...how come no one thought of this sooner...

[Matt Brydon @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:21PM]

Is it only me that thinks this could have catastrophic (not sure if thats spelt correctly) consequences, ok, assuming this just relates to computers in the most obvious formm, (excluding pacemakers, cars ecu's etc)i ask but one question.... where are the contents of the internet held, on computers, its only through that massive network of nodes and servers that the internet exists and functions, if EVERYONE participated in this it could take decades to rebuild the internet to the level it is at today!, anyone else agree?
well, i've had my 2 cents....... in summary.....BIG MISTAKE!

[Brian @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:24PM]

This just goes to show how screwed humanity is if computers "dissapeared"...
And god forbid the rabid WoW gamers are let loose into the streets.

[Dark Helmet @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:23PM]

It was scary reading this the first time, as soon as the page finished loading, my power went out.

[Todd @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:25PM]

I will consider participating if there will be a "Give up DRM, bandwidth limits and long distance charges Day" that the RIAA and phone companies will partake in.

[meist3r @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:29PM]

Why does this boycott thing sound just like the things drug addicts always tell you? "Yeah sure I can quit any day." The whole idea behind shutdownday is not to get people off computers for good but to make them think about their dependency on these machines. So engadgeteers can you live without gadgets for a day? Just think about what will happen to you when the power is out some day... would you commit suicide then or do you have a generator handy to supply you with electricity until the rest of the world has figured out their problems? I don't know if I will be able to do it but I will surely try to abstain from using my PC on March 24th just to see how many things I will come up with that I miss (like ATMs, cars, cellphones, traffic lights, cash registers, videogames, television etc.). I totally understand your point of being a techie-lover (otherwise I wouldn't be reading engadget at all) but if you just think about the fact that it's only 2% of the worlds population of 6 billion people that have access to broadband internet then I wonder how the other 98% of the people around me are doing so bloody well. While it is absolutely amazing what possibilities this technology has granted us it can't be the only thing that we do with our lives. When a big war comes (and it will, mark my words) then many many people will sit at home without power and NOTHING will work because people like Mr. Rojas have handed over our control over our existence to electronics. Comfy=yeah ... secure or reasonable=hell no.

[Frank @ Feb 23rd 2007 3:19PM]

Ah this is no big deal. No PC for a day? We did just fine in NYC during the blackout in August of 2003. And to be honest.. I never saw so many nice drivers. People were just waving you on when we all stopped at the lights.

[Je2037 @ Feb 23rd 2007 3:03PM]

Engadget! Dont you know that bad publicity = good publicity?

[Taylor @ Feb 23rd 2007 3:12PM]

Well, it's really not a terrible idea... to be honest sometimes i feel like i'm addicted to my computer, so at least walking away might be good for me.. Of course, i don't know what to do about my smartphone... At any rate, I have plans that day anyway to go to a party and a concert, so it shouldn't be too bad...
-Taylor

[Je2037 @ Feb 23rd 2007 3:24PM]

Good point about the blackout in NYC. I was there - it was awesome and no big deal at all.

[empire @ Jun 20th 2007 1:19PM]

Engadget, your humor is getting way too close to that of thoes punks that make adult swim.

[Thecompkid @ Feb 23rd 2007 10:54PM]

I was playing PS2 in my car when the lights went out. I didn't even realize anything happened until I was back on the road.

[elise @ Feb 23rd 2007 3:31PM]

if the goal to save power, they should instead advocate for boycotting stand-by mode and shutting down at night (or when not in use). giving up computers for a day for no apparent reason is stupid (sorry, it's what pays my bills). Great American Smokeout, it is not...

[Mattso @ Feb 23rd 2007 3:35PM]

Well played, Peter... well played.

By the way... some of you people take life way too seriously.

[Joshua McBride @ Feb 23rd 2007 3:36PM]

I think this boycott was more intended for home users getting all pasty on Saturdays wasting their lives away..it's not a bad idea..

[PEZ @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:45PM]

How about we boycott RIAA labels for a year instead. Gee, where have I heard this before today? Hmm.

[awong @ Feb 23rd 2007 3:39PM]

It seems kinda hypocritical that they would advertise such a day on the internet where you'd have to view it using a computer...I mean, the friggin' experiment wouldn't even exist without the computer, and you want us to boycott it??? It's like having a peace rally at a tank factory...or something.

[JC @ Feb 23rd 2007 4:02PM]

How about this... why don't they shutdown an extra day for everyone who don't want to, uhmm, shutdown. So if I don't want to shutdown my PC, they turn off their PC for 2 days, for 1 billion pc not shutdown, I better not see them online for 1 billion and 1 day. Nice deal eh?

[erictbar @ Feb 25th 2007 11:02AM]

"They only mean PCs? Whew! I have a Mac, guess I dodged the bullet there."

Me too! Woot!

[Michael Taylor @ Apr 4th 2007 4:46PM]

Hi Peter,

Thank you for your interest in the Shutdown Day experiment.

Great article! I love my computer too and couldn't live without it. Shutdown Day will be tough but I'm gonna give it a try and just see if people's views change at all. The discussion leading up to the event is certainly stimulating, with many different viewpoints.

Wishing you fast download speeds and a clutter free internet on the 24th,

Michael Taylor
www.shutdownday.org co-founder

P.S. To those asking "What Counts as a Computer?"

Our main aim is to get people just to stop and think about the issues that this experiment addresses, so it is personal to each individual. If your wife often suggests to you that you are having an affair with your PDA, then try switching it off for the day! If you need your cell phone to arrange fun things to do on Shutdown Day, please keep it on and use it. We think the internet is the thing that people will find most difficult to separate from for one day, so the main idea is that you keep your computers/laptops switched off, but if you use your PDA to access the net then perhaps you should switch it off too. We suggest you switch off your games consoles on 24th March also, but it’s a personal choice...

[Cozmoz @ Feb 24th 2007 3:13AM]

So people will still lounge in front of the TV all day, thats great ;)

[Amanda @ Feb 24th 2007 8:23PM]

I already did something like this back in July(Tornado). Not by choice but we were without power for 6 days. I think I've had my fill of no computer for a day ;)

[JoseV @ Feb 23rd 2007 4:46PM]

"We know that some day our computers will kill us (either by rising up against us or by getting us so sucked into a six day-long WoW marathon that we forget to eat), but hey, you gotta die from something right?"

Great argument, I agree!!!

LOL

[Boy Scout @ Feb 23rd 2007 5:07PM]

I heartily disagree with the whole boycott, but I will be the first to point out that, as much as I use and depend on the internet daily (I'm on the net nearly 15 hours a day), I have spend over 2 months a year for the last several years at a Boy Scout camp in the middle of a wilderness where I don't have electricity, or even a reliable telephone (cell or otherwise). I have managed to survive without the PC in that environment quite well.

On the other hand, I recognie the great benefit that computers are to society and am part of a group of volunteers that is working on bringing the internet (and consequently VOIP) to this remote location using radio links (900 Mhz point-to-point bridges). Technology is wonderful, but for those internet addicts out there, yeah, it would be a good idea to take a Saturday or two or three and let your bit torrents do their thing whilst you enjoy the outdoors or anything else that doesn't involve staring at a PC screen all day. (Yes WoW will wait 'til you come back).

[Predrag Stojadinovic @ Feb 25th 2007 4:42AM]

PEOPLE, its NOT about turning ALL the damn computers off, its only about people like all of us who spend 35 hours a day at a computer to NOT use them for that one day. Thats ALL.

[Z @ Feb 23rd 2007 5:01PM]

RSS feeds and porn, truly the hallmarks of a life well spent?


Um... no.