tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31518975.post4978222555489410081..comments2011-11-20T16:09:56.982-05:00Comments on There's a Quark in the Vent: Is Internet access essential?Evahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05633561820799244351noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31518975.post-78509511975422009862011-03-08T14:33:29.874-05:002011-03-08T14:33:29.874-05:00name: As for my opinion... I would probably focus ...name: As for my opinion... I would probably focus on hi-speed access available to the middle class, but it seems as arbitrary a measure as any. I guess ultimately I'm leaning toward a utilitarian focus for Internet access: What type of access will lead to the greatest good to the greatest number?<br /><br />digitally: Sorry to hear Blogger gave you the blue screen - makes you wish web browsers had an autosave function. <br /><br />You raise a lot of interesting questions. I'm intrigued by your statement that communication is an "absolute right" while access to information is not. I think many people would say humans have an innate biological need for humans to socialize. But not so many would claim that humans have an innate need to study and learn - why is that?Evahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05633561820799244351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31518975.post-8760290406451253772011-03-04T11:30:56.203-05:002011-03-04T11:30:56.203-05:00Wow, so after writing an extensive post, Blogger h...Wow, so after writing an extensive post, Blogger had an error and I lost everything. Hurrah. So, just for the record, blogger sucks...<br /><br />Regarding the topic... You are definitely right that "it depends" is the right answer. It's always the right answer to any question, because people need to agree on the a common definition and meaning of the question.<br /><br />"Is internet access essential?" I can interpret this in two ways:<br />1) Does everyone have an absolute right to access information made available by the world? (I answer NO)<br />2) Does everyone have an absolute right to communicate with family and friends? (I answer YES, because the internet is a common avenue of communication (via facebook, twitter, blogs, email) in today's time).<br /><br />The internet provides both things. And I suppose if any interpretation of the question merits the answer "Yes, it is essential.", then it doesn't matter what all other interpretations mean, does it? Unless the interpretation that yeilds "Yes, it is essential" is not the common definition.<br /><br />Are cars essential? What do cars do? They allow us to go to work, see family, and see friends. But they also run over animals and collide with other cars/people. <br /><br />But I think the internet has a common definition for all of us when we talk about it. We are referring to the ability to provide and acquire information, and sometimes that information falls in the class of communication between family and friends.<br /><br />(Personally, what's essential is food, water, shelter, and love. Everything else is just a luxury.)digitally404https://www.blogger.com/profile/12752668194555229366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31518975.post-23852443894616121742011-02-24T11:32:46.750-05:002011-02-24T11:32:46.750-05:00You raise a very interesting question of definitio...You raise a very interesting question of definitions, but don't answer it.<br /><br />In your opinion, what form of definition should be used (in the context of Canadian access to internet)?namehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04793510912636973538noreply@blogger.com