79% of adults everywhere believe internet is a right...

[Tristicus]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/09/79-percent-of-adults-believe-web-access-is-a-fundamental-right/

The BBC World Service has conducted a poll of more than 27,000 adults across 26 countries to answer one primary question: is internet access a fundamental human right? We can skip right past Finland and Estonia who've already made laws to that effect, and take a look at what the other nations thought. Mexico, Korea and Brazil lead the way here with all having greater than 90 percent agreement, while Pakistan, India and Kenya -- countries with a slightly different perception of what fundamental needs are -- offer the least support, though they're all still above 50 percent in agreement. Other interesting stats include the claim by 85 percent of Japanese internet users and 81 percent in Mexico that they would not be able to "cope without the internet," while 55 percent of Brits and most other European nations believe that the internet should be regulated by governments in at least some way. Ghana and Nigeria are most worried about fraud (ha!), while people in the Philippines see explicit content as the web's biggest threat. Hit the source for more such pearls of wisdom and do let us know what you think in the comments below.

That's utterly stupid...

 

[Fear No Evil]

I think we need a trillion $ entitlement program for it now.

 

[yllus]

I don't know about entitlement, but it is pretty much essential (in the first-world sense) at this point.

 

[Genx87]

Just pile it on China card. We earn miles.

 

[Tristicus]

I don't know about entitlement, but it is pretty much essential (in the first-world sense) at this point.

No, it isn't. You do not have to have a computer to live your daily life. By this logic, we should all be entitled to cars as well.

 

[yllus]

No, it isn't. You do not have to have a computer to live your daily life. By this logic, we should all be entitled to cars as well.

Actually, personally, as a software developer, I actually do need to have a computer to live my daily life. So do students and professionals of all types who work and communicate off-hours. Not to even get into the social drawbacks of being unplugged.

I'd actually argue that for many (most?) Internet access is much more essential than a car is. Are either as important as food, water and shelter? Obviously not, but in a G-8 nation where those things shouldn't be much of an issue anyways I can see this being among the second-tier essentials for any citizen.

 

[fleshconsumed]

No, it isn't. You do not have to have a computer to live your daily life. By this logic, we should all be entitled to cars as well.

And by the same logic you don't need phone, electricity and running water either. Internet has become essential to our productivity. I dare you to live without internet for a year, you'd be surprised how hard it is. No more email for you, you have to use snail mail for everything. No more google maps for you, you'll have to buy plain old paper maps at the gas station. No more internet shopping, you'll have to buy everything B&M. No more looking up information on a company over internet, you'll have to call around. Trouble with your car? Sorry, can't use internet forums to ask what's wrong or google for how to fix it. Going for vacation? Can't use internet to research local landmarks, can't compare airfare, can't check out local hotels in the area, can't check out rental prices. Well, theoretically you could, but think of how much man hours you'd have to spend on your phone to get all of the same information you could get in a couple of hours over the internet?

So go ahead and try living without it for a couple of months at least, then come back and tell us about your experience.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

How can free speech be a right if freedom to listen isn't? The internet is the ultimate in free speech, accessing that has to be a right.

 

[Tristicus]

Actually, personally, as a software developer, I actually do need to have a computer to live my daily life. So do students and professionals of all types who work and communicate off-hours. Not to even get into the social drawbacks of being unplugged.

I'd actually argue that for many (most?) Internet access is much more essential than a car is. Are either as important as food, water and shelter? Obviously not, but in a G-8 nation where those things shouldn't be much of an issue anyways I can see this being among the second-tier essentials for any citizen.

In reality, no, you don't need a computer. You made the choice to work there, yes. But to live, you do not need a computer. It is not essential.

And by the same logic you don't need phone, electricity and running water either. Internet has become essential to our productivity. I dare you to live without internet for a year, you'd be surprised how hard it is. No more email for you, you have to use snail mail for everything. No more google maps for you, you'll have to buy plain old paper maps at the gas station. No more internet shopping, you'll have to buy everything B&M. No more looking up information on a company over internet, you'll have to call around. Trouble with your car? Sorry, can't use internet forums to ask what's wrong or google for how to fix it. Going for vacation? Can't use internet to research local landmarks, can't compare airfare, can't check out local hotels in the area, can't check out rental prices. Well, theoretically you could, but think of how much man hours you'd have to spend on your phone to get all of the same information you could get in a couple of hours over the internet?

So go ahead and try living without it for a couple of months at least, then come back and tell us about your experience.

You don't need those things to live. They are privileges, things that make our life easier. I don't want to live without internet for a year, and I'm not going to- just because I wouldn't be as entertained as I am now does not mean it is a right.

 

[Double Trouble]

At this point the reality in the US is that it's pretty much a necessity for everyday life. Not that I think anyone should be entitled to it, just like I don't think anyone is entitled to a car even if (in most areas) it's absolutely vital to have. People should have to pay for it themselves, but the government needs to make sure it's available and open to all.

 

[Jaskalas]

If you have a right to talk that does not mean the government has to pay you to talk. It could merely mean the government should not / can not bar your access.

Perhaps it means government cannot restrict content.

 

[rudder]

Actually, personally, as a software developer, I actually do need to have a computer to live my daily life. So do students and professionals of all types who work and communicate off-hours. Not to even get into the social drawbacks of being unplugged.

I'd actually argue that for many (most?) Internet access is much more essential than a car is. Are either as important as food, water and shelter? Obviously not, but in a G-8 nation where those things shouldn't be much of an issue anyways I can see this being among the second-tier essentials for any citizen.

If the internet could take my children to school or to sports activities.. I would agree. The internet is a convenience. I could live without it... of course I would spend a lot more time comparison shopping, researching an interesting subject, writing letters to my relatives, etc. So I choose to pay for internet access from my house.

 

[fleshconsumed]

In reality, no, you don't need a computer. You made the choice to work there, yes. But to live, you do not need a computer. It is not essential.

You don't need those things to live. They are privileges, things that make our life easier. I don't want to live without internet for a year, and I'm not going to- just because I wouldn't be as entertained as I am now does not mean it is a right.

Well, I'm just curious. Do you consider phone, water and electricity rights? And if yes why? What is your criteria for a right and a privilege?

 

[Tristicus]

Well, I'm just curious. Do you consider phone, water and electricity rights? And if yes why? What is your criteria for a right and a privilege?

No..I outlined that already. They are convinces. A right is something you are entitled to at birth, something that you need. Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, food, water. Those are rights to me, things that you are entitled to.

 

[yllus]

In reality, no, you don't need a computer. You made the choice to work there, yes. But to live, you do not need a computer. It is not essential.

And who is arguing it is essential to live? Hint: The BBC World Service didn't ask that question.

At this point the reality in the US is that it's pretty much a necessity for everyday life. Not that I think anyone should be entitled to it, just like I don't think anyone is entitled to a car even if (in most areas) it's absolutely vital to have. People should have to pay for it themselves, but the government needs to make sure it's available and open to all.

Agreed 100%.

If the internet could take my children to school or to sports activities.. I would agree. The internet is a convenience. I could live without it... of course I would spend a lot more time comparison shopping, researching an interesting subject, writing letters to my relatives, etc. So I choose to pay for internet access from my house.

Yeah, I just polled a bunch of coworkers on the "car vs. Internet" question and the result was split mostly along age lines. Lousy kids!

 

[Tristicus]

And who is arguing it is essential to live? Hint: The BBC World Service didn't ask that question.

Pretty much sounds like you're saying we need it in order to function in society, which isn't the case, and never has been.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

No..I outlined that already. They are convinces. A right is something you are entitled to at birth, something that you need. Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, food, water. Those are rights to me, things that you are entitled to.

If I am entitled to food and water why do I have to pay for them?

 

[Tristicus]

If I am entitled to food and water why do I have to pay for them?

Are you saying that you could not go and drink water from a lake or kill animals for food and live out in the wilderness?

 

[fleshconsumed]

Are you saying that you could not go and drink water from a lake or kill animals for food and live out in the wilderness?

AFAIK you actually need permits for that, both for hunting and fishing. As far as drinking from lake, two problems, one, what if that lake is on private property, two, I wouldn't drink from any lake or stream or river around here.

 

[yllus]

Pretty much sounds like you're saying we need it in order to function in society, which isn't the case, and never has been.

Why would you take that from what I said unless you had some agenda that required a twisting of others' words? You seriously think someone out there is going to argue that Internet access is as essential as food, water and shelter to remaining alive? I think that like most people I assumed that something that obvious wouldn't require stipulation.

 

[Tristicus]

AFAIK you actually need permits for that, both for hunting and fishing. As far as drinking from lake, two problems, one, what if that lake is on private property, two, I wouldn't drink from any lake or stream or river around here.

Because society has made it that way. You could go live in a heavily wooded area somewhere, and make a life all to yourself without being noticed for some time. The fact is, you can do it, and people DID do it.

We're not entitled to have anything handed to us on a silver platter, yet present day has made it seem that we are.

 

[BigDH01]

Are you saying that you could not go and drink water from a lake or kill animals for food and live out in the wilderness?

What if all the land and water that remained was privately owned?

 

[StageLeft]

There is no clear definition of a right but the internet is pretty high up on a list of virtual necessities in this day and age. It is absolutely an unbelievable invention, not just for youtube and pr0n. If you went back a hundred years and tried to describe to people how billions of people can exchange information to a very specific audience across the world including color video and picture and find out details about the most esoteric of topics you'd have a darn hard time at it.

Also unlike, say, a personal teleporter that could cost some crazy cost if it was invented, internet access is quite cheap. It may not be a right but really everybody ought to have it, and I suppose that makes it one. I still frequently am in awe and the overall awesomeness of it, I do think some people take it for granted. I could take a high resolution picture of something, say a leak in my plumbing, and within minutes have people across the world seeing this picture and giving guidance on how to fix it. The internet pwns me.

 

[Tristicus]

What if all the land and water that remained was privately owned?

When that happens you notify me.

 

[BigDH01]

When that happens you notify me.

You're dodging the question. What right takes precedent?