If your house is on fire, and you can only save one thing, what whould it be?

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except from human beings,of course.

― Burnett (emekars), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 15:58 (nineteen years ago)

my penis.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:01 (nineteen years ago)

my house

― Sir Tehrance HoBB (the pirate king), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:01 (nineteen years ago)

kitties and pups, of course

― sunny successor agrees: gay dad always trumps slutty mom (katharine), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:02 (nineteen years ago)

books

― emekars (emekars), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:02 (nineteen years ago)

Predictable and dull answer: probably laptop.

― The Long Grey And Overcast Tea Time Of The Soul (kate), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:03 (nineteen years ago)

my insurance

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:03 (nineteen years ago)

the bmx

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:03 (nineteen years ago)

i'm just being silly.

My artwork obv.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:04 (nineteen years ago)

An affectation that has stayed with me: my copy of Chesterton's The Napoleon of Notting Hill. Though my current room is an attic conversion with tiny windows which pivot in the middle, so actually I'd probably die.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:05 (nineteen years ago)

Hmmm. I hate these questions. One thing? There is no one thing I'd save, I think. I'd want to save my iMac, my hi-fi, my headphone rig, my music collection, my DVDs, my books. Maybe the MacBook just cos it's portable as a default choice. I hate these questions, why am I even bothering.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:05 (nineteen years ago)

I used to think about this matter all the time when I was little, too much time to ponder before falling asleep. Tho at the time I could have chucked most of the contents of my room out the window onto the lawn, where it would probably have been perfectly safe. Not so much from my NYC apartment now. Prob my purse, which goes in the same place in my bedroom every night, with wallet & cell phone & cigarettes in it. Guess I can skip the lighter!

― Laurel (Laurel), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:08 (nineteen years ago)

If you have a pet, you never have to think about this.

― kenan (kenan), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

Because the pet leaves first, leaving you to burn.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

"Prob my purse", "my insurance " ...

we live in a material world. and i am...

― bonafida (emekars), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:13 (nineteen years ago)

computer

― vita susicivus (blueski), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:14 (nineteen years ago)

what about fish?

crossP

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:14 (nineteen years ago)

one thing? fuck, i'd probably die flipping through my records and debating the relative merits of each of them.

― chicago kevin (chicago kevin), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:15 (nineteen years ago)

"Stone Roses, Second Coming?"
"*I* like it!"

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:16 (nineteen years ago)

I think actually nothing - it would be nice to have to start over, i've got so many films, books and other stuff and i've never got enough room but i'm too anal to chuck it out so this would be a good excuse.

― Edward Trifle (Ned Trifle IV), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:17 (nineteen years ago)

I have two dogs, a cat, and three fish. I can only pick one of them? I question this magic fire.

If I have to pick a 'thing', I pick my iBook. No, wait, my... no, my iBook. It's got all my stuff on it, plus you guys live in it.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:17 (nineteen years ago)

i'd get the hell outa there. fuck material things.

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:18 (nineteen years ago)

Oh please, I don't have art, I could never get enough of my books out to make even a DENT, the sewing machine that was my mothers is way the fuck too heavy to carry. My wallet has federal & state ID (which if you've ever been to the DMV, you know is a mobius strip of points and alternate forms of ID needed to obtain/replace OTHER kinds), soc security card, bank info with phone numbers to call for help/loans/replacement statements, cash/ATM card for water and food and clean underwear purchases for the next few days...cell phone to call friends to find someone to crash with, notify family, obvious things. Cigarettes for the STRESS, FUCK. I also don't have a computer, though -- that would def be my 1st thing otherwise.

― Laurel (Laurel), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:18 (nineteen years ago)

my fire extinguisher

― say it with blood diamonds (a_p), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:19 (nineteen years ago)

Cat, then clunky PC that has all my Cubase shit on it. I should really back all that up.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:20 (nineteen years ago)

Nothing but my purse (presumably since "other humans" are left out that means the cats can follow out on their own free will and don't need to be grabbed in this scenario, otherwise they will have to get into my purse)

― AllyzayEisenschefterBDawkinsFlyingSquirrelRomoCrying.jpg (allyzay), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:21 (nineteen years ago)

If it wasn't beside me at all times and portable, I wouldn't bother my arse with my iBook either. A warm coat would be my next pick. I don't want to be standing around mourning my worldlies and freezing my arse off.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:21 (nineteen years ago)

they will have to get into my purse

EW!

oops wrong thread

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

I'm not going to count pets, so the laptop. If a disaster is going to cost me buckets of money, I'd better save the means by which I make it -- as well as the one object in the house that'd most improve post-disaster life. Sentimental value waxes and wanes, and the knick knack that means the world to me now is bound to mean less to me in ten years, but no matter how those ten years go, I'm going to need to buy new shoes and I'm going to need to check my email.

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

who the fuck am i kidding? like i'd even notice if my apartment was on fire.

― chicago kevin (chicago kevin), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

I've lost/given up years of creative output so many times I could really care less if the computer goes up in smoke. I'd grab the cats and my wallet. fuck everything else. I'm going to assume my wife can take care of herself, mind!

― TOMB07 (TOMBOT), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

Assuming not humans and pets, then it would be a choice from :

1) my old denim jacket - years of wear, beer stains and general battle scars

2) my Telecaster - yes, I could replace it, but like the jacket it's totally worn in and sounds unbelievable

I guess whichever came to hand first.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:26 (nineteen years ago)

this would be a good thread in which to perhaps remind you all to get some renter's insurance if you don't have it!

― TOMB07 (TOMBOT), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:26 (nineteen years ago)

My handbag. Which almost always has my purse (ID, cards), keys, spare contacts, diary, cardigan, camera and mobile stuffed into it.

Of course, ideally I'd stuff a load of things onto my bedsheet, wrap it up swag-style and run out of the house.

― marianna lcl (marianna lcl), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:26 (nineteen years ago)

Oh you know I probably ought to see if I can get my man-purse since it contains my badge and passport and checkbook and flashlight and leatherman and all that shit.

― TOMB07 (TOMBOT), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:28 (nineteen years ago)

Tep OTM.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:28 (nineteen years ago)

OK, srs answer...

The three drawers full of photos, right by the front door.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:28 (nineteen years ago)

Assuming my wife grabs the box of pictures in the living room, I'll take my Mac.

Actually, scratch that, my answer is One File Box (filled with my backup HD, a couple of important books, wallet and checkbooks, financial records, passport). If there was an emergency, I could get that all together in about 60 seconds.

― do i have to draw you a diaphragm (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 16:29 (nineteen years ago)

i'd take the opportunity to start fresh and save nothing. Maybe even dress up a hobo in my clothes and entice him into the flames.

― Slumpman (Slump Man), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 18:02 (nineteen years ago)

Entice him HOW, exactly?

― Laurel (Laurel), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 18:03 (nineteen years ago)

with DESPAIR

― Fleischhutliebe! like a warm, furry meatloaf (Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 18:07 (nineteen years ago)

Everyone knows this one. Hide in the fire and make a sound like a hobo carrot.

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 18:09 (nineteen years ago)

mp3 plz.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 18:10 (nineteen years ago)

slocki's penis

― geoff (gcannon), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 18:10 (nineteen years ago)

HARD DRIVE BAY

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 18:11 (nineteen years ago)

hobocarrot.mp3

― Fleischhutliebe! like a warm, furry meatloaf (Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 18:18 (nineteen years ago)

i would save slocki's laptop which was inadvertantly delivered to me today.

― chicago kevin (chicago kevin), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 18:19 (nineteen years ago)

"people collect objects in order to fight against death - the objects are immortal"

― magnificento (emekars), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 19:39 (nineteen years ago)

sunny and kenan otm.

don't really understand people who say 'puters. back up to off-site servers folx!

if not living pets than my other pets' ashes.

― Ms Misery (MissMiseryTX), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 19:49 (nineteen years ago)

1TB MTHERFKR

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 19:51 (nineteen years ago)

It's not just about the data (though it's partly that; what off-site servers? sometimes I email things to myself on gmail, but it's not practical to do nightly). The first things I'd need to do would all be made much easier both by getting online and by having the various personal data that I have stored on the computer; the laptop contains a hell of a lot more entertainment media than any other single object in the apartment, excepting maybe one of the DVD binders, which makes the whole "let me go replace everything I owned" process slightly less painful at least on one axis; and I'd absolutely need a computer to work on, because it's not often that I don't have a deadline somewhere on the horizon, and it'd be a bad time to say "can you give that assignment to someone else, I'm a little busy..."

And in practice, I tend to backup the things I need to backup, but if I lost everything, I'd wind up missing the things I didn't need to backup but wish I had -- notes on things I hadn't started yet, old drafts, that kind of thing. I back this stuff up to flash drive, but I'm not going to rescue that instead of the laptop and I don't keep the flash drive off-site because I am not employed by Cyberdyne Systems.

Compactness, multi-utility, ease of a dozen different things. It's like saying "Swiss Army knife" or the like when someone asks "you're on a desert island and can only have one tool with you..."

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 19:58 (nineteen years ago)

my favorite jeans

― phil-two (phil-two), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 20:00 (nineteen years ago)

(though it's partly that; what off-site servers?

your own web server space, ftp-ing stuff.

I don't do any freelance stuff anymore and always have my writing stored somewhere else. I guess I'm just not that dependant on my computer anymore. It's just a tool. which is good.

― Ms Misery (MissMiseryTX), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 20:00 (nineteen years ago)

My server space isn't physically under my control -- I don't like storing anything proprietary or protected by NDAs in places other people have access to, and I can't stop them (i.e. the people who gave me the space) from having access to it. It's just one of those things; I'm not going to get space of my own just for the sake of backup storage when I get the other for free, particularly given the unlikelihood of actually being in a "pick one object, any object, no you can't take two very small things instead" housefire situation. And FTP is so much slower than physical media that in practice I wouldn't use it often anyway.

It's no more a matter of dependence than we're dependent on pants! It's not a lifeline, it's a practical answer to a question that really only has two answers: practicality or sentiment.

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 20:06 (nineteen years ago)

then sentiment! srsly, most everything can be replaced. (though I understand some people's sentiment being tied to certain data)

― Ms Misery (MissMiseryTX), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

I'd probably take the garbage out.

― shieldforyoureyes (shieldforyoureyes), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 22:40 (nineteen years ago)

(though I understand some people's sentiment being tied to certain data)

"Oh tubgirl.jpg, will I see you again?"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 17 January 2007 22:42 (nineteen years ago)

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