3 ms·

Internet has become an essential right up there with housing, electricity, water etc. Everywhere around the world people are connected to the internet. Even in

Internet has become an essential right up there with housing, electricity, water etc. Everywhere around the world people are connected to the internet. Even in poor African countries.

bilbo0s 2y ago
Um. Yeah. The internet is important. But if you go some places in this world you learn in a very swift fashion that it is not as important as housing, food, and water. There's parts of the world that are not a fairy tale. Places where people have far more basic worries. That said, if there are parts of Africa where people want the luxury of internet, they should, of course, be allowed access. The mere fact that they want it is an indication that they are in a relatively well off area.
- ty6853 2y ago
  Counterpoint: in the third world some 3rd rate shack with a shitty well or water source may often come 'free' as it stays in the family. I have seen people in the third world blow most their paycheck on phone and internet related charges since food/water/shelter may cost a villager in a farm basically nothing and the internet is entertainment and communication for a whole month.
  - bilbo0s 2y ago
    If they had access to internet, you weren't in the parts of Africa I'm talking about. There is a difference between undeveloped, developing and developed. You go to an undeveloped place, you wouldn't be worried about phones or internet access. You just accept that you're going to be off the grid for the duration of your stay in that village. Alternatively, you bring your communications equipment with you so that you can stay in touch with your, "base", for lack of a better term. But I can tell you right now, that equipment better not be dependent on internet access.
    - ty6853 2y ago
      Well yes in places with no internet access people don't buy internet, but it's a bit tautological. People who survive by subsistence but come upon hard money somehow, in some place with towers, I have personally seen them blow a whole month pay on phone credits and it wasn't uncommon.
- soulofmischief 2y ago
  Just because some people are deprived of it doesn't mean it shouldn't be a right. And the fact that some of these communities don't even have time to consider it a priority when they're also deprived of other basic rights doesn't mean that it isn't also a basic right. It's not a fairy tale to expect basic human rights. The entire world could be connected if that's what powerful people wanted. Internet should not be a luxury in any community. That is against the ethos of the web, which should be free, open and accessible. Your comment is needlessly patronizing and dismissive without actually presenting any evidence that the internet shouldn't be considered essential for any modern community.
- nitwit005 2y ago
  Increasingly, you need the internet working to access your money or pay for things. I've found you unfortunately need to pay for food.
  - sexy_seedbox 2y ago
    So the problem is with the monetary system then.
hbn 2y ago
It's essential if you live in a place where it's essential. But there are plenty of places where everything hasn't gone all digital, which makes living without internet much easier than it is in e.g. America.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
Terr_ 2y ago
It's interesting to think that if the US Constitution had been created in today's technological environment, the founders would have authorized a federal United States Internet Service, as opposed to a postal one.
- rbanffy 2y ago
  Maybe it’s time to create one. On second thought, I’d wait 4 years before starting that.

Internet has become an essential right up there with housing, electricity, water etc. Everywhere around the world people are connected to the internet. Even in poor African countries.

bilbo0s 2y ago

Um. Yeah. The internet is important. But if you go some places in this world you learn in a very swift fashion that it is not as important as housing, food, and water. There's parts of the world that are not a fairy tale. Places where people have far more basic worries. That said, if there are parts of Africa where people want the luxury of internet, they should, of course, be allowed access. The mere fact that they want it is an indication that they are in a relatively well off area.

ty6853 2y ago
Counterpoint: in the third world some 3rd rate shack with a shitty well or water source may often come 'free' as it stays in the family. I have seen people in the third world blow most their paycheck on phone and internet related charges since food/water/shelter may cost a villager in a farm basically nothing and the internet is entertainment and communication for a whole month.
- bilbo0s 2y ago
  If they had access to internet, you weren't in the parts of Africa I'm talking about. There is a difference between undeveloped, developing and developed. You go to an undeveloped place, you wouldn't be worried about phones or internet access. You just accept that you're going to be off the grid for the duration of your stay in that village. Alternatively, you bring your communications equipment with you so that you can stay in touch with your, "base", for lack of a better term. But I can tell you right now, that equipment better not be dependent on internet access.
  - ty6853 2y ago
    Well yes in places with no internet access people don't buy internet, but it's a bit tautological. People who survive by subsistence but come upon hard money somehow, in some place with towers, I have personally seen them blow a whole month pay on phone credits and it wasn't uncommon.
soulofmischief 2y ago
Just because some people are deprived of it doesn't mean it shouldn't be a right. And the fact that some of these communities don't even have time to consider it a priority when they're also deprived of other basic rights doesn't mean that it isn't also a basic right. It's not a fairy tale to expect basic human rights. The entire world could be connected if that's what powerful people wanted. Internet should not be a luxury in any community. That is against the ethos of the web, which should be free, open and accessible. Your comment is needlessly patronizing and dismissive without actually presenting any evidence that the internet shouldn't be considered essential for any modern community.
nitwit005 2y ago
Increasingly, you need the internet working to access your money or pay for things. I've found you unfortunately need to pay for food.
- sexy_seedbox 2y ago
  So the problem is with the monetary system then.

hbn 2y ago

It's essential if you live in a place where it's essential. But there are plenty of places where everything hasn't gone all digital, which makes living without internet much easier than it is in e.g. America.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

Terr_ 2y ago

It's interesting to think that if the US Constitution had been created in today's technological environment, the founders would have authorized a federal United States Internet Service, as opposed to a postal one.

rbanffy 2y ago
Maybe it’s time to create one. On second thought, I’d wait 4 years before starting that.