Comments on: So, just who DOESN’T use the Internet?

By: Steve Swartz

Steve Swartz — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:53:18 +0000

C’mon Steve- in order to create another huge government entitlement* we have to create err sorry “discover” a problem/issue/crisis to “solve.”

In order to levy an(other) internet tax and exercise federal control over this newly-declared “public good” the administration needs to create . . . The Digital Dvide! Between the “haves” (DSL) and “Have Nots!”

The horrors . . . Something Must Be Done . . . it is so unfair . . . only those born to privilege . . . winners of lifes lottery . . . shouldn’t be able to enjoy their ill-gotten gains of DSL . . . we must level the playing field . . . and implement Net Neutrality [sic] immediately in order to prevent the misuse of this (now publicly owned) resource . . . !!!!!

P.S. How much is Verizon donating to which politicians in order to make this happen?

Sheesh.

Ya heard it here first . . .

* (translation: taking the “sweat of my brow” out of my pocket at gunpoint to give it ot someone who contributes less value to society)

By: Leslie Green

Leslie Green — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:53:52 +0000

Hard as it may be to believe, I have learned that of my company’s eight Executive Officers, only two have internet access at home, even though they do check email, voicemail, etc. on their BlackBerries. One of them did not even use email at all or know what an internet browser was until this year when she asked one of the Directors on my team to mentor her on using technology. In those cases, I think they don’t have access because they expect and can afford to be hand-fed everything they need to know.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s one of my friends and her husband. They’re tree-hugging, dirt-worshipping hippies who won’t let the internet or computers into their home because it keeps them from experiencing nature and each other to their fullest extent (the husband moreso than the wife). She had to fight to have a TV.

Then there are some cases of religious extremism. At least two colleagues of mine refuse to install internet capabilities because it’s a distraction from serving Jesus, easier access for their children to unholy content, or they believe that it’s just part of the Devil’s plan to bring about Armageddon.

In most cases, though, I think those who don’t elect to keep broadband in particular are met with cost concerns or just a general lack of interest in using the internet, perhaps stemming from a general lack of curiosity in the world itself, which I find sad.

Off my soapbox now. Great topic!

By: Kayla Dawson

Kayla Dawson — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:40:57 +0000

I thought everyone used the net until my boss did not know what social media was and thought Myspace was just for high school kids.

Now I am in the process of taking out company online.