Apr2015_NETWORK TOPIC

INTERNET:  Does anyone else find it odd – the advertising for “internet.org” . . . with the aim to get Internet access into these third world countries?  

 

How exactly do they intend making it “affordable” for people living a hand to mouth existence?

 

Well . . . they might well get over the hurdle of making the access to the Internet more affordable . . . . AND WOULDN’T THAT BE NICE TO HAVE FOR EVERYONE HERE IN AUSTRALIA TOO!! (and YES I did mean to ‘shout’ that out!)  Apart from having the access to Internet services, there is also the not-so-small matter of being able to find the funds to purchase the actual hardware to be able to make use of that service.  

 

Although we may have more Internet enabled devices than we have people in this country . . . . don’t confuse that with thinking that everyone in Australia has an Internet enabled device, not to mention access to the Internet!  (With computers, iPads and ‘Smart” phones, my household upsets that balance for starters!)

 

ALSO, there is the fact that the scenario presented smacks of being a western concept of what would be best for these people . .  rather than what will actually be best.  Exposing other cultures – especially those ensconced in a more traditional, grassroots-type lifestyle – to our ways has not always resulted in the best outcome for the people involved.  There will always be the element of them embracing the worst aspects of our ‘culture’ and lifestyle . . . and isn’t the Internet the fastest, and most unfiltered, way to be exposing them to all that we have going on today? . . . . Including the ‘seedy’ side of things??

 

Let us look at our “home” situation first and ‘unleash the potential” of everyone in rural and remote communities in our own country before getting too carried away with the rest of the world.  After all, don’t they say that “Charity begins at home”.

 

Did you know that we have people in our own local community unable to get decent Internet connectivity?  Are they and their children not entitled to expect what the rest of Australia enjoys?  

 

Fast Internet access is mainly available in our more densely populated coastal regions.  It is that same ‘lucky’ population sector that also receives the fastest mobile Internet and is getting NBN first – before the already disadvantaged inland regions.