4 ms·

This is probably mostly an age thing. I mostly agree that "nobody has to use the internet" because for most of my life there was no internet, at least no consum

by ams6110 10y ago

This is probably mostly an age thing. I mostly agree that "nobody has to use the internet" because for most of my life there was no internet, at least no consumer internet, and I have personal experience living a happy, productive life quite well without it. Many people over 60 today really don't use the internet much if at all. A younger person who has never known life without a mobile device and ubiquitous internet might well have a different view.

vijayr 10y ago
This is probably mostly an age thing Argued that way, nobody has to use phone, digital camera and a whole bunch of other things. Part of the job of being a law maker is to understand the needs/interests of all people, not just old people because the lawmaker happens to be old. A sensible person would find out the usage of the internet, its impact, privacy etc before making (even though he himself might not use) a decision. I don't drink, but that doesn't mean I should vote down any bill that has anything to do with alcohol without understanding what it is about, right?
- rayiner 10y ago
  > Argued that way, nobody has to use phone, digital camera and a whole bunch of other things. Part of the job of being a law maker is to understand the needs/interests of all people, not just old people because the lawmaker happens to be old It's not just because the lawmaker happens to be old, but also because voters happen to be old. He's a Congressman, so he has to get reelected every other year. Half of those elections will be midterm elections. Almost twice as many voters will be 65+ as will be 18-29.
maxxxxx 10y ago
I also grew up without internet but the definition of things you have to have to function in society evolves all the time. 20 years ago you were fine without internet but nowadays it's much harder to do without. 150 years ago you were perfectly fine without car, today less so in many areas. Same for phone, access to doctors, electrical power, running water, grocery stores and so on. Society evolves.

by ams6110 10y ago

vijayr 10y ago

This is probably mostly an age thing Argued that way, nobody has to use phone, digital camera and a whole bunch of other things. Part of the job of being a law maker is to understand the needs/interests of all people, not just old people because the lawmaker happens to be old. A sensible person would find out the usage of the internet, its impact, privacy etc before making (even though he himself might not use) a decision. I don't drink, but that doesn't mean I should vote down any bill that has anything to do with alcohol without understanding what it is about, right?

rayiner 10y ago
> Argued that way, nobody has to use phone, digital camera and a whole bunch of other things. Part of the job of being a law maker is to understand the needs/interests of all people, not just old people because the lawmaker happens to be old It's not just because the lawmaker happens to be old, but also because voters happen to be old. He's a Congressman, so he has to get reelected every other year. Half of those elections will be midterm elections. Almost twice as many voters will be 65+ as will be 18-29.

maxxxxx 10y ago

I also grew up without internet but the definition of things you have to have to function in society evolves all the time. 20 years ago you were fine without internet but nowadays it's much harder to do without. 150 years ago you were perfectly fine without car, today less so in many areas. Same for phone, access to doctors, electrical power, running water, grocery stores and so on. Society evolves.