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Meanwhile people say "But the homeless people will just use public wifi for porn!" Like... okay, and what are you using your wifi for? Regardless, removing th
by warent 3y ago
Meanwhile people say "But the homeless people will just use public wifi for porn!"
Like... okay, and what are you using your wifi for?
Regardless, removing this would just make them more stressed and irratic. There are worse things than legal porn on public wifi. If this tradeoff means 1% of them feel relaxed enough to actually do a job search afterward, and get motivated to get money for a more comfortable, more private place, then it's worth it.
But this is all a red-herring and not the real issue.
The lack of a panacea--a silver bullet solution to homelessness--does not mean all our resources are just a suboptimal waste. These incremental improvements are worthwhile when the cost tradeoff is so tiny (e.g. an internet modem with a properly configured firewall basically runs itself)
- michaelt 3y ago> what are you using your wifi for? Pretty sure it's more a matter of location. Normal people only masturbate in the privacy of their own homes. I know San Francisco is a very progressive city, but I don't think they're yet ready to embrace homeless people jerking it on the sidewalk outside the library.
- warent 3y agoI agree that we need to be mindful about our approach. Homeless people can't be given unlimited luxuries because we can't afford it as a society. That being said, your comment comes across as reductive to the homeless population as being nothing more than a snide, tongue-in-cheek joke. This "Normal people" messaging is what allows us to abstract homeless people into this "other" group, which is dangerous and inhumane. Like it or not, these people with all of their problems are a part of us all.
- michaelt 3y agoBut was my comment more snide and reductive than your "okay, and what are you using your wifi for" quip? I mean, I get that you want to see homeless people better supported. But championing their right to masturbate in public is I think going to get your cause more opponents than supporters.
- seanmcdirmid 3y ago> reductive to the homeless population as being nothing more than a snide, tongue-in-cheek joke It is only a joke until you actually see that, then it is no longer a joke, just sad reality.