Is The Internet A Human Right?

[HK]

I still remember a time when there was no internet, but any children of mine won't. These days, every child in western society grows up connected to the world through the web. Even those of us who have lived without it now use it for everyday tasks like getting our news, catching up with our friends, looking for jobs. The internet is a huge part of our lives in many ways.

With that in mind, should access to the internet be a human right? Someone posted recently about government plans that involve being able to restrict access to the web. There are already countries like China that make it difficult for their citizens to access sites that aren't government approved, if not impossible. If you woke up tomorrow and there was no longer any access to the internet, would you be outraged or relieved?

Many millions of people also now make friends online. Some people sustain long distance relationships through it. If we had no internet, a good portion of us right here would never speak again. It's no longer just a personal, individual experience to be online - it connects everyone to everyone.

So should we have a protected right to internet access?

 

[HottyToddyChick]

I'd probably be initially upset, but I think it would be a blessing. We'd be MORE connected to people, and we'd be forced to work on our social skills.

And no, it isn't a right. It's a luxury. Not everyone gets to enjoy the luxuries in life.

 

[porterjack]

nope

i prefer to think of human rights as being more defined as a must for survivall and/or personal development and as such, food,water, shelter compassion and justice would top my list

 

[Diggin Deep]

We discuss this topic quite frequently at work..."remember when discussions". As far as work goes, it seems almost impossible to imagine how chaotic it would be without the internet. It is a very important tool of our industry. However, we did it before and we'd be able to manage again. As far as waking up tomorrow to find the internet was gone...I think the world as we know it would come to an end, at least temporarily. I know I'd be upset...heck I get frustrated when our service is out due to the weather. Could you imagine the gaming nation...I can see the riot now!

I agree with Hotty...it's a luxury and it's a luxury that many of us would find hard to live without. Although, if the end result was being more connected to people and everyone's social skills improved...it may not be too bad. Nah, who am I kidding...it would suck!

 

[HK]

It is a very important tool of our industry. However, we did it before and we'd be able to manage again.

I do wonder if the answer will be the same for future generations. Like I said before, most of us can remember a time when we didn't have the internet and we still have a lot of options like post offices instead of email and evening classes instead of online courses, but it'd be interesting to see if in the future people feel more vulnerable and cut off when faced with the threat of no web access!

 

[Zorak]

The internet is completely invaluable to me now. However, if it didn't exist, I wouldn't know about and it wouldn't be.

So... I'd say its a silly debate whether or not internet is a human right. After all, only people who have it appreciate it.

 

[Abcinthia]

I had no internet for over a month and I managed fine. As HTC said, it's a luxury.

It was initially frustrating to not be able to talk to people and it made me feel a bit isolated (I didn't really talk to anyone outside my family apart from three people) but I just got on with my life and spent my time reading and wrote some letters.

 

[HK]

The internet is completely invaluable to me now. However, if it didn't exist, I wouldn't know about and it wouldn't be.

I mean if it were taken away from us, or we lost it for whatever reason, not if it had never existed at all

 

[Diggin Deep]

I do wonder if the answer will be the same for future generations. Like I said before, most of us can remember a time when we didn't have the internet and we still have a lot of options like post offices instead of email and evening classes instead of online courses, but it'd be interesting to see if in the future people feel more vulnerable and cut off when faced with the threat of no web access!

You make very good points. Regarding evening classes instead of online courses...I am unsure how a lot of single parents or those who have to work full-time jobs would be able to cope. I'm torn on this topic. I can see the long-term good that could come from it, but I also see a lot of short-term negative. I definitely feel that some people would feel more vulnerable and cut off. Similar to when a child learns to give up their pacifer or security blanket...but the child learns to adapt and learns new ways of getting through things. I think we and the future generations would have to learn how to adapt, as well as learn new techniques on how to solve problems, and communication.

 

[Zorak]

I mean if it were taken away from us, or we lost it for whatever reason, not if it had never existed at all

I don't think that will ever happen, but for arguements sake, it would be no more than a mere inconvenience.

 

[dkwrtw]

lol I remember life without the internet too, and I have to agree with what someone else said, it's not a RIGHT, not a basic necessity of life, it is a privilege, a luxury like owning a car and having a driver's license, things are HARDER without it but you don't need it to get through life.

 

[Zorak]

lol I remember life without the internet too, and I have to agree with what someone else said, it's not a RIGHT, not a basic necessity of life, it is a privilege, a luxury like owning a car and having a driver's license, things are HARDER without it but you don't need it to get through life.

Freedom is considered a human right, but that's certainly not a necessity.

 

[dkwrtw]

Freedom is considered a human right, but that's certainly not a necessity.

Ever hear the expression "Freedom isn't free"? People have fought and died so that others could enjoy freedom.

 

[Peter Parka]

It's easy to wonder how you did without internet but somehow we managed without for thousands of years, hell, I did fine without it for the first 30 years of my life. So I say no, it's not a basic human right.

 

[Zorak]

Ever hear the expression "Freedom isn't free"? People have fought and died so that others could enjoy freedom.

Yes it's a very tired idiom I imagine, it makes it rounds everywhere. I'm not sure as to it's relevance here, however?
My point is, luxuries and necessities do not construct what are "human rights"

 

[dkwrtw]

Yes it's a very tired idiom I imagine, it makes it rounds everywhere. I'm not sure as to it's relevance here, however?
My point is, luxuries and necessities do not construct what are "human rights"

My point is I don't really think of it as a human right, it's something that people have had to work for.

 

[Dana]

no it's not.

 

[Rai Dimitri]

Well yea i think we do have human right but .. sometimes ppl use it the wrong/extreme way like they wud treat it as it being their whole life. So it really depends "how" you treat it and "why" you treat it.

 

[BornReady]

I'd be fine without the internet. I don't use it that much. I shop on Amazon now instead of going to Borders. Now the Borders near me is closing. It's kind of sad.

I'd miss my cell phone a lot more than the internet.

 

[Accountable]

Would the government then become the national IPC? Would they then decide what was and was not worthy of going over the cyber-waves?

No thanks.