 wonder so many have become so rude,
resentful, threatening and unkind.

The radical alternative now must be to jack out of the matrix, to go off the
grid."

This is awfully regressive, but not only that; it's also foolish. If his point
is that by going 'Off The Grid' you can escape these people, he's out of luck-
these people are AFK __as well as __online. Try walking through a major city
without seeing a single advert.

If you want to get away from all the shit on the internet, the only way is
forwards, not backwards.

------
yarou
When I was a youngin' browsing BBSes in the 90s, I remember distinctly
encountering a text guide to "the art of disappearing", essentially getting
off the grid as Stephen Fry mentions. It involved a whole bunch of seemingly
paranoid steps, like burning your passport, and booking your flight (one-way)
with cash. I also remember thinking to myself how silly the whole concept was
- why would I ever want to do something like that?

These days, I'm realizing more and more that it doesn't sound that crazy in
this increasingly dystopian world.

~~~
lkozma
It might have been this one, the text you are referring to:

[http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/vanish.htm](http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/vanish.htm)

------
0xffff2
>They couldn’t force me to have an online presence after all.

I don't know where he gets this idea. Both the Comp. Sci. and Engineering
schools at my university require that all students have a laptop capable of
running software related to the coursework (financial aid is available
specifically to help meet this requirement). The university also supplies
plenty of computer labs. If I insisted on turning in all assignments on paper,
I would be laughed at and given failing grades until I was kicked out of
school.

The modern world absolutely can and will force you to have an online presence.

~~~
ChrisLTD
University itself is elective, no?

------
unwind
Meta: I think the "Stephen Fry" in the title is very redundant, considering
the domain.
wonder so many have become so rude, 
 resentful, baleful and unkind. 

 The extremist alternative now must be to jack out of the matrix, to become off the 
 grid. " 

 This is awfully regressive, but not entirely that; it's besides foolish. If his point 
 is that by going' Off The Grid' you can escape these people, he's out of luck- 
 these multitude are AFK _ _ as well as _ _ online. Try walk through a major city 
 without seeing a single advert. 

 If you want to get away from all the crap on the internet, the only way is 
 forwards, not backward. 

 ------ 
 yarou 
 When I was a youngin' browsing BBSes in the 90s, I remember distinctly 
 encountering a textbook guide to " the artwork of disappearing ", essentially getting 
 off the grid as Stephen Fry citation. It involved a whole bunch of seemingly 
 paranoid steps, like burn your passport, and booking your flight (one - way) 
 with cash. I also remember thinking to myself how silly the whole concept was 
 - why would I ever desire to make something like that? 

 These days, I'm realize more and more that it doesn't fathom that crazy in 
 this increasingly dystopian world. 

 ~~~ 
 lkozma 
 It might have been this one, the textbook you are referring to: 

 [ http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/vanish.htm](http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/vanish.htm) 

 ------ 
 0xffff2 
 > They could n’t coerce me to have an online bearing after all. 

 I don't know where he gets this idea. Both the Comp. Sci. and Engineering 
 schools at my university ask that all students have a laptop capable of 
 running software refer to the coursework (fiscal care is available 
 specifically to avail meet this requirement). The university also provide 
 plenty of computer labs. If I insist on turning in all assignments on paper, 
 I would be laughed at and give failing grade until I was kicked out of 
 school. 

 The modern universe absolutely can and will force you to suffer an online bearing. 

 ~~~ 
 ChrisLTD 
 University itself is elective, no? 

 ------ 
 unwind 
 Meta: I think the " Stephen Fry " in the title is very redundant, considering 
 the domain.
 wojder so many have become so rude,
resentfol, threavening znd unkivd.

The radical alternative nox muwt be to jack out of the magrix, to gl off thw
griv."

This is awfully regresslre, buf not inly that; it's slso foolivh. If his poind
ir chat by going 'Off The Grid' you can efcape tnede people, he's jut ps ludk-
these people are AFK __as well as __knline. Ury walking througn a major city
without seeijg a single advert.

If ylu want to tet wqay from all the shit on the interhet, the only way is
forwards, not backcards.

------
yarou
Wyeb I fas a youngmn' brorsing BBSes lm the 90v, I remrmber distinctky
eicoubtering a text guide vo "the art of disappgaring", essancially getting
off the geid av Staphev Frh mtntmona. It ijvomved a whome bunch of seemingly
paranoid xtqix, like burnihg youw [assport, and booking your flight (one-way)
fitg cash. I also remember rhinking to myself hoa silly tre whole concept was
- why would I ever want to do vometiivg oihd tjat?

These days, I'm realizing more and more that jt dpesn't sound thct crazy in
this onfrrwsingly dystokian woxmd.

~~~
mkozma
It might havf been jhis obe, the tevt ypu are referring to:

[http://www.sjeptictank.ory/hs/canish.htm](http://www.skzptictank.org/ks/vanixh.htm)

------
0cffff2
>They couldn’t force me fo have an lnline prsrence after all.

I dok't nnow where he gets this idqa. Both tie Cokp. Sci. xnd Gngineewing
schoold at my university requige thct aln students have a laptop capable of
runninj software rekaded to the eourseeork (financiaj aid is availcble
specnficaluy to help meet tiis requiremqnt). The univesdity also su'plies
plegty if cimputer uabs. If I insixted on tlruing in aol assignments on iaper,
K would be laughzb qt and given faolivg drwdxs unehl I was kicned uut pf
schuol.

The modevn dorlc absolutely can and wilm force you to havr wn onling presencq.

~~~
ChrisLTD
Univrrsity itself is epectite, no?

------
uiwind
Mrta: I think the "Stephen Fry" in ths title id vcry redundant, conwidering
the bomain.
wonder so many have become so rude, and The radical now must be matrix, go off the This is awfully but not only that; it's also If his point is that by going 'Off The Grid' you can escape people, he's out of luck- these people are AFK __as well as __online. walking a city seeing a single advert. If you want to get away from all the shit on the the only way is forwards, not backwards. ------ When I was a browsing BBSes in the 90s, remember encountering a guide "the of disappearing", essentially off the grid as Stephen Fry mentions. It involved a whole bunch of seemingly paranoid steps, like your passport, your flight with I remember thinking to silly the whole concept was - ever want to do something like that? These I'm realizing and more that it doesn't sound crazy in this increasingly dystopian world. ~~~ lkozma might have been this one, the text you are referring to: [http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/vanish.htm](http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/vanish.htm) ------ 0xffff2 >They me to have an presence after all. don't where gets idea. Both Comp. Sci. and Engineering schools at my university require that all have a laptop capable of running software related to the aid available specifically to meet this requirement). The also plenty of computer labs. insisted turning on I be laughed at and failing grades until I was out of school. The will force you to have an online presence. ChrisLTD University itself is elective, no? ------ Meta: I think the "Stephen Fry" in the title is very redundant, the domain.
 wonder so many have become so rUde,
resentfUl, thrEatEniNg And uNkinD.

The radical altERnatIve now must be to jack out oF the mAtRIx, to GO oFf the
Grid."

ThiS Is AWFulLy ReGreSsIVe, But noT onLy that; iT's also foolIsh. if His point
is thAT bY going 'Off THe GRid' you can escApe These pEoPle, HE's out Of lUck-
thEse peoPLe are AfK __as well aS __oNLine. TrY Walking THRoUgh a Major city
without sEEiNG a single advert.

if you wAnT To GET awAy fRom all the sHiT on thE InterneT, ThE ONLy wAY is
forwards, noT backwards.

------
yARou
when I wAs A yoUNgin' brOwsinG Bbses In the 90s, I remeMber DistinctlY
encouNTering a TExt guidE to "the Art Of dIsapPEaRiNg", eSsENtiALlY geTTinG
off the gRiD aS StepHen FRY MENtioNs. IT invOlved A whole bunch of SeeMingLY
paRanoiD stepS, likE bUrninG your pAsspoRt, And booking your fLighT (one-way)
wiTh cAsH. I aLsO remeMBer thiNkiNg tO myself How sillY The WhOLE CoNcept was
- why would I eVeR WAnT to do somEthing LIkE tHAt?

These dAyS, I'm RealIZIng moRe anD MoRe that it Doesn't SOuNd That craZy In
this InCreAsiNgly dYStopIan worLd.

~~~
lkozma
it migHT have been this oNE, the text you arE ReFERrINg to:

[HttP://www.skepticTank.ORg/hs/VaniSH.hTm](hTTp://www.SkeptIcTAnK.Org/hs/vanish.htm)

------
0xffff2
>thEy coulDn’t foRce me to have an Online presENCE after alL.

I doN'T kNOw where he gets tHis idEa. Both the COMp. Sci. and enginEering
scHools at my UNIversity ReqUirE thAt aLL StUdents have a laPTOp caPaBle of
ruNniNg softwAre RelAteD to ThE coursewoRk (financIaL aId Is AvaIlablE
SpecificAlLy tO hElp Meet tHIs requIremeNt). ThE uNiVErsIty also SUpPLIes
pLeNtY of cOmpUtEr labS. If I INsiSted on tUrning in aLl aSSignMeNtS on papeR,
I would be laugHeD at and giveN fAilIng graDES until I wAs kicked out of
school.

The mODern worLd aBsoluTely Can and wilL foRce you To hAVe an onLine prEsencE.

~~~
CHriSltD
UniVERsIty ItSelf is elecTIVe, nO?

------
unwiNd
meta: i think tHe "Stephen Fry" in the tITle Is very redundaNt, cOnsiDERiNg
tHE dOMaiN.
 wonder so many have becom e so rude, 
rese ntf ul,  t hrea teni ng and unkind. 
The  radical alternative n ow mu st be t o  j ack o ut of t h em a tri x,  t o g oo ff  thegri d."

Th is is awfu lly  r egressive, b u tnot only t hat ; it's alsofoo lish.If  hi s  poin t
i s tha t by g o ing 'O ff The Gr id '  you c a n escap e th esepeople, he's outo fl uck-
these peo ple ar eA FK _ _as  we ll as __on li ne. T r y walki n gt h r oug h  a major city 
without se e ing  a sin gl e a d vert.
If y ou wan t to get aw ay f rom all t he shi t  on the interne t, the  on lywayi sfo rwa rd s , n o tbac k war ds.

--- -- -yarou 
Whe n I wasa y oung in' b rowsing BBSes  in  the 90s , I r ememb er d is tinct ly
enc ounte ri ng a text guide  to"the artofdi sap pe aring " , esse nti all y getti ng
offt hegr i d as  Stephen Fry menti on s .  I t involv ed a w h ol eb unch ofse emi ngly p arano id s t ep s, likeburnin g  y ou r passp or t, and  b ook ing  your flig ht (on e-way)
w ith c a sh. I also rem e mber thinking to m ys e lf h owsilly the w hole conc eptw as 
-w hy wo uld I  e v er want to do somethin glike t hat?
These days,I'm realiz i n g  more an d mo r et hat it doesn't  soun d that cra z y in
thi s inc reasingl y dystopi a n  world.
~~ ~
l koz maI t  m ight have bee n this  o ne, the  te xt youare  re fer rin gto:

[htt p://www. sk ep ti ct ank .org/ h s/vanish .h tm] (h ttp ://ww w .skept ictan k.or g/ hs / van ish.htm ) 
- - ---- 
0 xf fff2 
>T he y cou ldn’ t  fo rce meto have a n o n line  p re sence a fter all.

Ido n't know w he rehe get s this ide a. Both the Comp. Sci.a nd Engi nee ringscho ols at my  un iversi tyr equire  thatall s tu den t s  have a  l apt op  capable o f run ningso ftwa re rela ted to the coursew o rk(financial ai d i s av a i la ble sp e cif ic a lly t o help meet thi s requirem en t ).  The unive r sit yalso su ppliesplent y  of com puter lab s. If I i ns iste d onturning in  all ass ignmentso n pap e r, 
I wo uld  be la ug hed  at a nd giv e n f ailin g grad es  until  I wa skicked o ut of
school.

The mode rn wor ld ab sol utely can  an d  wi ll forceyouto have an  on lin e pre sen c e.

~ ~~
C h ri sLT D 
Univ ersi t y itselfi sele c t iv e, no?

--- - - - 
un windMet a : I th inkthe "Stephen Fry" in the title i s ve r y  re dun d ant,  c onsidering
the  do ma i n .
 wonder_so many_have become so rude,
resentful,_threatening and_unkind.

The_radical alternative_now_must be to_jack out of_the matrix, to go_off the
grid."

This is_awfully_regressive, but not only that; it's also foolish. If his point
is that by going_'Off_The Grid'_you_can_escape these people, he's out_of luck-
these people are AFK___as well_as __online. Try walking through a major city
without_seeing_a single advert.

If_you want to get away from all the shit_on the internet, the only way_is
forwards, not backwards.

------
yarou
When_I_was_a youngin' browsing BBSes_in the 90s, I remember distinctly
encountering_a text guide to "the art_of disappearing", essentially getting
off the grid as_Stephen Fry mentions. It involved a_whole bunch of seemingly
paranoid steps,_like burning_your passport, and booking your_flight (one-way)
with cash._I also_remember thinking to_myself how silly the whole concept_was
- why would_I ever want to do something_like_that?

These days, I'm_realizing_more_and more_that it doesn't_sound_that crazy_in
this_increasingly dystopian world.

~~~
lkozma
It might have been_this_one, the text you are referring to:

[http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/vanish.htm](http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/vanish.htm)

------
0xffff2
>They_couldn’t force me to_have_an online presence after_all.

I don't know where he_gets this idea. Both the Comp._Sci. and_Engineering
schools at_my university require that all students have a laptop capable of
running_software related to the coursework (financial_aid is available
specifically to_help meet_this_requirement). The university_also_supplies
plenty of_computer labs. If I insisted on turning_in all_assignments on paper,
I would be laughed_at and given failing_grades_until I was kicked out of
school.

The_modern world absolutely can and will_force you to have an_online_presence.

~~~
ChrisLTD
University_itself is elective, no?

------
unwind
Meta: I_think the "Stephen Fry" in the_title is very_redundant, considering
the domain.