New division: Those without internet?

Just read this article and it got me thinking: Special Report: Towns go dark with post office closings

Honestly, I’ve been following this post office drama with a little interest. I don’t know why, exactly, but I have. Maybe it’s because when I retire I wanted to work at one.

But reading the article, it makes me wonder…What about all those people who don’t have access to the Internet? I mean, a lot of daily life type stuff takes place here, and the ability to do anything via the Internet grows considerably every day. Bills, shopping, communication, everything. However, eventually a lot of brick and mortar places (i.e. the USPS or even Circuit City, etc…) will be largely phased out via e-commerce.

So what about those people who aren’t connected? Screw em’?

I know plenty of people young and old, rich and poor, suburbia and countryside who don’t have internet…whether because of price, disinterest, mistrust, or ignorance.

What’s to become of them?

reply to post by Juston


sorry i didn't read the story link yet, but I'm concerned. I use the net, obviously, but only at work . I know folks who use the net and those that don't: It's the people hooked up to the digital media(internet users) that are more messed up and getting worse. really what you have posed here is a transhuman argument. what is better or worse anyway? take your argument a step higher: what happens when your the only kid on the block without the performance enhancing brain implant chip??????????????????????????

Oh.....they will be forgotten and extinct

Ive been thinking about this too. Things like the internet are becoming necessities. For example, I went to apply for a job, and they said I had to do it online. My phone company refused to send me my bill without charging me $2 a month for a paper copy, they said I had to pay online, I told them I dont have the internet , so I wont be paying. THey sent the bill free of charge lol.

The fact is, if it is a necessity, it should be part of the public sphere, with the infrastucture owned by the governement. In Fredericton, NB, Canada, there whole city is wired to the web for free!

Originally posted by el1jah
I told them I dont have the internet

I agree with your demand for a paper bill without being charged for the "privilege", but how exactly did you just post that if you have no access to the Internet?

I think basic internet connection should be provided for everyone by the government for free, in this day and age. Nothing fancy, 1 mbit/s would be enough.

As for those who would not use it because of disinterest, mistrust, or ignorance, I say its their own fault. You can lead the horse to water.. etc etc...

reply to post by Juston

The Dutch government made it illegal to use open Wi-Fi Access Points. Probably in the Name of terrorism, child pornography and whatever other buzzwords were hip and trendy at the time, they outlawed it with pain of hefty fine. It's all about the gold and the monitoring. You think they aren't doing at least as bad to us as they purport China, Iran, et al are doing with their citizens personal communications?

I think what this illustrates and certainly for huge, stock exchange listed, profit making companies is that the owners want all the money for themselves and not for providing the same jobs with exactly the same revenues as they have done for the past however many hundred years. Corporate greed. In the 70's, 80's and 90's gov's worldwide sold off the last of what nationalised industries it had left for a quick buck. At least energy, transport, communication and manufacturing were all up for grabs. I could have missed a couple.

ETA The infrastructure for free internet is in place if it's any consolation. Mobile phone towers give good coverage here. Now we just need to convince them to open it up.

reply to post by AnonymousCitizen


This happened about a year ago, I went a few months without the net.

reply to post by AnonymousCitizen


I assume he was just telling them that in order to not have to go through the internet.

EDIT or not lol. Just saw the above post.

Originally posted by el1jah
The fact is, if it is a necessity, it should be part of the public sphere, with the infrastucture owned by the governement. In Fredericton, NB, Canada, there whole city is wired to the web for free!

I don't know how I feel about that though. Who would foot the bill? Would it be via taxes? How is it done in Canada?

reply to post by Juston


Having the ability to connect to the internet from your home is not a right, nor a basic need.
It is a convenience, like having a car instead of public transportation.

People need to stop whining.

Originally posted by Juston

Originally posted by el1jah
The fact is, if it is a necessity, it should be part of the public sphere, with the infrastucture owned by the governement. In Fredericton, NB, Canada, there whole city is wired to the web for free!

I don't know how I feel about that though. Who would foot the bill? Would it be via taxes? How is it done in Canada?

The only expense the Internet creates, is in the maintenance of hardware; which if it is initially designed well, is minimal. 98% of bandwidth revenue is entirely redundant; telcos generate it purely because they can, not because it is in any way necessary for continuation of the service. It's the sort of money that gets given to the proverbial corner office executives; worthless psychopaths who in no way justify their wages.

Wireless technology in particular, could very easily be used to create practically limitless bandwidth. It won't be done, however; and the reasons are greed and the craving for control.

reply to post by petrus4


What about initial expenses (loans)? Customer support? Upgrades?

Maintenance of hardware is not all there is to internet service providers.