 rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | For these folks, is TV the cat's meow? So 20% of the population think the Internet is irrelevant and half of them also think the same of print media (10% of the general population)?
Although I don't think the print media is a lot better than TV, at least one can still find various left/center/right print media and get some diversity. It might be in the form of a neighborhood press but it's usually there.
Regarding TV, channels whose entire focus isn't so called "news" generally have news programs with a left/liberal interpretation. Channels whose entire focus is so called "news" are nothing more than 24 hour editorials. When I hear the word panel of experts, I'm no longer getting news. I'm getting opinions. That's OK and sometimes it's entertaining but it isn't news.
In regards to being an informed, independently thinking member of society, those who only use TV are probably as informed and independently thinking as the health of someone who eats nothing but fast food.
Of course I've only considered print media with respect to news. Since they said "printing press", that also means 10% of the population thinks books are irrelevant.
Maybe we're missing something here. Perhaps these folks all own e-readers and use their office or local library's connectivity to get new content. Yeah -- that's it. They aren't Luddites after all! | |
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 |  Noah VailSon made my AvatarPremium
join:2004-12-10
Lorton, VA
kudos:2
 ·Bright House
| Re: For these folks, is TV the cat's meow? said by rradina:So 20% of the population think the Internet is irrelevant and half of them also think the same of print media (10% of the general population)? Neither my sister nor brother-in-law would touch a computer.
They're CDs, TVs and Books/Newspaper and that's worked for them.
I haven't owned a TV in 20 years or subscribed to a paper in 10.
If I read a newspaper's online content, I'm going to want the relevant details they've omitted.
The more complete picture is usually a different story than the one published by the paper.
With just newsprint and TV, there isn't any way to fill in the blanks.
Viewers/readers are limited to the news that Editors decide they should have - which are usually the same stories as every other Editor.
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The Dark Tower's Skynet evolves from 4chan. | |
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|  BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by rradina:So 20% of the population think the Internet is irrelevant
No 20% don't use the internet and half of those think the internet is irrelevant. So it's 10%. I suspect most of those are over age 65. And there opinion doesn't matter much in my book. | |
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| | rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | Re: For these folks, is TV the cat's meow? Oh I see. I completely read that wrong. The printing press comment just seems to be sarcasm and I got that mixed up with the 10%.
That makes me feel better. At least this no longer rules out gaining access to information from print media. My original reading had me assuming 10% of the population as TV addicts who didn't want/need the Internet or print media. | |
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| | Not so much income issue I see loads of welfare / low income households with internet. Its more of an issue for senior citizens that don't understand HOW to even get internet service. Most seniors that have internet have it because a son / daughter / family set it up for them. | |
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| | | Re: Not so much income issue Agreed. My parents never got online when they were alive. I tried to set them up with Internet once, but they never used it. However, they were avid newspaper readers, taking two papers from two different cities. They also didn't have cell phones or even an answering machine. They said that, if someone wanted to reach them badly enough, they'd call back. And they managed just fine. | |
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| | | Not everyone (young or old) gives a crap about the internet or a smart phone. Similar to how there are some of us who have no use what so ever for farcebook. I hear from friends almost daily who try and convince me that I NEED to be on farcebook. I feel it's no one F***ing business what I am doing.
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I do not, have not, and will not work for AT&T/Comcast/Verizon/Charter or similar sized company. | |
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| |  The Dv8orJust call me Dong Suck Oh, M.D.Premium
join:2001-08-09
Denver, CO | Re: Not so much income issue Hey genius, no one said Facebook is the entire Internet. And I love how you're SOOOO clever by calling it "farcebook". I'm gonna post about it in my blog.
There's tons of benefits on the Internet for every class of people. The availability of information, even if it's just the newspaper from the place where you grew up, which seniors can read in large print simply by zooming in, is just about endless.
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You're so vain... I bet you think this post is about you. | |
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| | | openbox9Premium
join:2004-01-26
japan
kudos:2 | Re: Not so much income issue said by The Dv8or:There's tons of benefits on the Internet for every class of people. The point is that a portion of our society doesn't care or want to be a part of the Internet. I'm sure that percentage will decrease over time, but for now ~1:5 people appear to be content with not having access to the Internet. | |
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| | | | | | Re: Not so much income issue It's not about them "not" wanting to be on the internet, it is about the expense and the availability of it all.
(heh, farcebook...I call it facebroke) *chuckles*
that 20% is a BIG number. Considering what percent have access to broadband (not dialup, not DSL, not sat) that are on fixed incomes (SS, pensions,...), the internet is prime financial drain to them (monthly cost, premium apps, content, ...)
They aren't in any hurry to lose money on their investments! 
(Irony about the newspapers...I read more information on my iPad on aggregated news sites, blogs and more in 2hours then most folks do -traditional sources- on a given Sunday..)
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Splat | |
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| | | | | openbox9Premium
join:2004-01-26
japan
kudos:2 | Re: Not so much income issue The expense is only one factor of several for the not wanting it crowd. | |
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| | | | | LOL Looks like I struck a never with one of the farcebook fanboys. | |
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| | | |  mgbaker
join:2000-05-14
Charlotte, NC | Re: Not so much income issue Some folks seem to get so bent out of shape when they can't understand why there are those who don't really care about the latest tech gadget or the life changing internet or some new wonderful website, or some ridiculous download speed. I use the internet every day and a smartphone, but these things are simply tools, and do *not* define who I am. To many people- the internet, their internet "speed", facebook or whatever site of the year, some gadget or smartphone- is their nut butter of life. | |
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| | | | | | | Re: Not so much income issue Yea, I know a lot of people that are not seniors or close to being seniors who would rather have a fishing pole in their hand than they would an iphone. Some people simply do not give a crap about technology. Why this is such a hard concept to grasp is beyond me.
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I do not, have not, and will not work for AT&T/Comcast/Verizon/Charter or similar sized company. | |
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| | | | | | mgbaker
join:2000-05-14
Charlotte, NC | Re: Not so much income issue Absolutely agree, and know plenty of people like you describe. I also know those who seem glued to some device.... constantly. I see people in my neighborhood walking, head tilted slightly down, never taking their eyes off the device in their hand. I've noticed how it seems to take some folks 5 or 10 minutes to get out of their cars now after they park, they're sitting there on a phone texting or whatever. I was walking my three dogs the other day and my next door neighbor pulled up, sat there, and when she got out I said hello and asked her how her day was, and she mumbled something about letting me know after she checks her facebook. Like I said, I've been digging tech for decades, been coming here for almost 14 years, but I do, completely, understand why some folks could care less. I certainly don't let the internet or tech consume me... many people are consumed by their devices, the internet, "social" sites, and I find this much sadder than those who could care less about the internet. | |
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| | | | | | | | | Re: Not so much income issue I was at Steak n Shake yesterday and I noticed a family of five where not one of them ever looked up from their device between the time they ordered and the time their food arrived.
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I do not, have not, and will not work for AT&T/Comcast/Verizon/Charter or similar sized company. | |
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| | | | | | | | mgbaker
join:2000-05-14
Charlotte, NC | Re: Not so much income issue Yep. So many connected, smart and "informed" people, and yet they actually know very little about their kids or parents, because they haven't had a real conversation in a long time.... face to face, eye to eye conversations. | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | Re: Not so much income issue sounds to me like you're projecting.
how could you possibly know anything about said alleged family from an anecdote made up of a single run-on sentence.
for all you know they were texting each other, likely wondering why some creepy 'battleop' dude kept staring at them from across the restaurant. | |
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| | | | | | | |  XiodenPremium
join:2008-06-10
Monticello, NY
kudos:1 | I used to do the same with a book when I was younger. The books were more interesting than my family. The same applies today, except the internet appeals to a lot more people. | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | Re: Not so much income issue said by Xioden:I used to do the same with a book when I was younger. The books were more interesting than my family. The same applies today, except the internet appeals to a lot more people.
At least with books you were learning something... Btw... Love the av, lol... KSP FTW. Bob rocks! | |
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| | | | | | | | rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | They were probably texting each other and using this approach, they might know a great deal about each other. So quick to judge. If the kids are growing up with basic ethics and the family supports itself without government assistance, why should we care if they are glued to their portable electronic devices?
While we probably don't fully understand the future ramifications of electronic socialization vs. the more old-fashioned kind, eventually it will probably be more normal than not. Although this is Hollywood, in the Demolition Man future, they outlawed physical intimacy and used a virtual substitute.
What "grinds my gears" is when folks try to say Internet access should be a "right" and start lobbying for government grants or corporate welfare. I'd love nothing more than for everyone to have cheap, affordable and unlimited high speed Internet access but let's figure out how to do it without printing more money and handing an even bigger IOU to our great, great, great, grandchildren. | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | Re: Not so much income issue regardless of what they were texting, that's not the point. having no face to face communication is unhealthy. common sense tells you that. | |
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| | | | | | | | | rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | Re: Not so much income issue Based on history I can see how that seems like "common sense". However, I don't think we know the ramifications of electronic socialization.
I read an article yesterday discussing the end of viral disease. It asked the question, what if we attained it? Would it be bad for the human race? It touched on the elimination of natural selection as a potential negative but in a world without disease, do we need the gene pool to pass on natural immunity? Based on historical fact, it said that the elimination of most bacterial and parasitic threats from Western worlds has not had a negative impact. In fact it mentioned that there are likely positives and pointed to Africa where significant numbers constantly battle Malaria and AIDS. They said a population that spends a lot of time being sick, seriously impairs productivity. They postulated that ridding the continent of killer bacteria and common parasites would likely enable millions to address other problems and might make put the continent on the road to being self-sufficient. It closed by saying that the elimination of virus from the planet is unknown. It questioned whether or not some virus contributed to the development of our organs as we grow. The article admitted there's no way to know until we eliminate them and "see what happens".
Bottom line: Is there really enough R&D/fact/proof regarding whether or not mass electronic socialization is good or bad? I think we might be trying to throw social media contact into the same bucket as general lack of human contact, which I believe has been proven to be negative. However, the two are quite different. When I grew up there was fierce competition for the telephone. Then came the kid line because mom and dad were tired of folks trying to call and always getting a busy signal (this is before call waiting). Is there any proof that kids raised 30 to 40 years ago are social deviants (not necessarily in an evil way) because they spent too much time on the phone? | |
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| | | | | | | | Reviews:
·Choice Cable TV
| Some time ago I went to a theater to see a show. I was seating about the middle of the room and the slope of the floor was steep enough for me to see that most people in the rows in front of me were glued to their phones before the show. I could see all those bright screens everywhere. | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | Re: Not so much income issue is that a problem? they're about to sit in a dark room and watch a loud film for approximately 1.5 hours. what difference does catching up on your email for 5 minutes make? should they instead be intently focused on the advertisements presented on the screen before the feature presentation?
i suppose they could organize a debate society and discuss current sociopolitical news. but that seems unlikely. | |
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| | mgbaker
join:2000-05-14
Charlotte, NC | Agreed. | |
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| |  rchandraStargate Universe fanPremium
join:2000-11-09
14225-2105 | I'm not on Facebook either. I happen to be a Google+ user instead. It's not a matter of updating my status every half hour like some people do. I use it as a publishing tool. I put things up there that are happening to me or what I'm thinking about which I do not mind telling anyone/everyone. That way, I don't have to call or email 10-20 different people; if they've Encircled me, fine, if not, no big deal. It's there for anyone who cares to see. (BTW...I quite dislike "friend" being turned into a verb; there was a preexisting one, "befriend," which was just fine before FB. likewise "Circle" and "Encircle" in the Googleverse.) I still have sooo much in my life which is not at all for public consumption, so it's not like some people who just do a brain dump to FB. And if there were certain aspects which I wish to publish but aren't for public consumption, I can choose people or Circles limitations. (still would be careful about what I post w/r/t "what if it was compromised")
...but I do understand your sentiment. A lot of people overdo their social media.
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English is a difficult enough language to interpret correctly when its rules are followed, let alone when a writer chooses not to follow those rules.
Jeopardy! replies and randomcaps REALLY suck! | |
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| | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Ironic that someone who distains the internet is posting that on a internet messageboard. | |
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| | | rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | Re: Not so much income issue Yeah -- I had similar thoughts. DSLR's message board OK, Facebook bad? Other than Facebook being more popular and DSLR having a higher "tech" factor, there's not that much difference. Granted, folks on DSLR don't "check in" to every place they go but I've been here for nearly 12 years and back in the day, lots of folks ran speed tests that were a quasi check-in and certainly a mechanism for bragging rights. | |
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| | | | | | Re: Not so much income issue I really don't want everything I have to say being stored for ever for anyone to scrutinize. Sometimes you want to say something but for some reason or another you may not want it associated with your name for ever.
I can't post here and use my real name? Why? Because anything I say about the ISP business will probably come back on my employer no matter how many disclaimers I throw out there. Part of my agreement with my employer and my ability to post my views freely in a public forum is that I don't reveal who I am or who I work for.
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I do not, have not, and will not work for AT&T/Comcast/Verizon/Charter or similar sized company. | |
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| | | | | rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | Re: Not so much income issue Well, that is one significant difference between FB and DSLR. However, I read your opinion as more a total indictment of social media -- especially since you used the term "farcebook". I misinterpreted your comments. I didn't understand you were referring to anonymity. | |
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| | | | | | | | Re: Not so much income issue I am referring to Facebook it's self not other social media sites. I've seen too many friends get sucked into facebook that eventually leads to a total meltdown of relationships because people can't seem to understand how public facebook can be.
I am way to opinionated and I know without a doubt that if I am posting on facebook I will end up hurting feelings because I made some blunt, unsugarcoated comment.
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I do not, have not, and will not work for AT&T/Comcast/Verizon/Charter or similar sized company. | |
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| | | | | | | rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | Re: Not so much income issue But I think anonymity is the key. Exchanging impromptu ideas where you are known and what you say is permanent does make a big difference. Facebook requires real names and I agree, that's huge compared to more casual social sites that allow "handles".
When CB radio was wildly popular in the 70s, everyone used a "handle". Even though some in the inner circle might know the real name behind the handle, it was pretty anonymous. The obvious other difference is your words didn't reach a world-wide audience and it was rare that they were recorded. Even if recorded, there was a remarkably remote chance that anyone could prove it was you using the handle. (CB radios didn't have an IP address ) I suppose voice analysis could be employed but given the quality of the narrow-band AM, I don't know how successful that would be. | |
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| | | | | Where did I say that? I recall saying I don't like facebook and I have no use for it personally.
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I do not, have not, and will not work for AT&T/Comcast/Verizon/Charter or similar sized company. | |
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|  thegeekPremium
join:2008-02-21
right here
kudos:2
·Suddenlink
| said by norbert26:I see loads of welfare / low income households with internet.
Yes, brand new computer, fastest internet, every cable channel, and a cupboard full of free government food cause they can't afford dinner.
Murrica! Fuck yeah! | |
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| | | Google seems to think low income can prevent at least some users from getting access. The Google Fiber project in KC is partly about getting lower income hoods online - more ad clicks for Google. American low incomers and the 3rd world might be their final frontier for grabbing new users. | |
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| | | I would disagree to this extent: If you are having to work 16-20 hours a day at multiple minimum wage jobs just to get by, the internet may be irrelevant, or at least a luxury. Not everyone who is poor is on welfare.
Facebook is even more irrelevant. | |
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| BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by norbert26:I see loads of welfare / low income households with internet. Its more of an issue for senior citizens that don't understand HOW to even get internet service. Most seniors that have internet have it because a son / daughter / family set it up for them.
This is where having internet connected device that one can use on a TV would help. Most younger people think surfing the internet on the TV is pointless or dumb. But older people often don't know how to use computers and when something inevitably goes wrong can't fix the issue. I know this from personal experience with my 65 year old mother. A modern version of the old WebTV device would be perfect for someone like my mother. No fuss no muss. | |
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| | Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: Not so much income issue said by BF69:This is where having internet connected device that one can use on a TV would help. Most younger people think surfing the internet on the TV is pointless or dumb. But older people often don't know how to use computers and when something inevitably goes wrong can't fix the issue. I know this from personal experience with my 65 year old mother. A modern version of the old WebTV device would be perfect for someone like my mother. No fuss no muss. check out the new samsung tv's wicked good pic quality and apps similar to a phone wifi built in etc.
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my site | |
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| | | Mele20Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
kudos:4 | Re: Not so much income issue said by boogi man:check out the new samsung tv's wicked good pic quality and apps similar to a phone wifi built in etc.
Almost impossible to use Samsung Smart TV as a web browser as it doesn't (except the most expensive of all one of whichever series you are purchasing) come with a keyboard. You have to buy the keyboard separately for $100 and it is very small, very difficult to use. Not worth it. Plus, you are stuck with a crappy browser and can't use the browser you like. The apps are a joke mostly. Even for something obvious like joining Hulu Plus or Blockbuster from your Samsung app you get redirected to your computer to join and then enter your membership number in Samsung app. Besides, you cannot watch more than 5% of your monthly viewing time in less than full screen 16:9, HD ONLY or you get burnin and void your warranty. (Actually, you can stretch the 4:3 480i digital broadcasts from your cable company so they fill the screen fully but then people look ridiculous because of distortion due to stretching, so with a Samsung HD TV you really can only watch what few channels your cable company offers in HD). So, the web browser is worthless. Samsung currently has some problem with Netflix app. If I were to buy my Samsung Smart TV today, I would not buy a model with a web browser.
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When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson | |
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| | | | Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: Not so much income issue said by Mele20:said by boogi man:check out the new samsung tv's wicked good pic quality and apps similar to a phone wifi built in etc.
Almost impossible to use Samsung Smart TV as a web browser as it doesn't (except the most expensive of all one of whichever series you are purchasing) come with a keyboard. You have to buy the keyboard separately for $100 and it is very small, very difficult to use. Not worth it. Plus, you are stuck with a crappy browser and can't use the browser you like. The apps are a joke mostly. Even for something obvious like joining Hulu Plus or Blockbuster from your Samsung app you get redirected to your computer to join and then enter your membership number in Samsung app. Besides, you cannot watch more than 5% of your monthly viewing time in less than full screen 16:9, HD ONLY or you get burnin and void your warranty. (Actually, you can stretch the 4:3 480i digital broadcasts from your cable company so they fill the screen fully but then people look ridiculous because of distortion due to stretching, so with a Samsung HD TV you really can only watch what few channels your cable company offers in HD). So, the web browser is worthless. Samsung currently has some problem with Netflix app. If I were to buy my Samsung Smart TV today, I would not buy a model with a web browser. the keyboard they provided on the otherside of the remote works just fine...apps also fine web browser does kinda suck though i will give you that much. LCD video memory in all reality not an issue for normal home use. honestly i don't recall the exact model number i got but i do know it's 2011yr 6000 series that i got around super bowl time. samsung is rapidly developing the tv's app capability so each successive generation that comes out and even a few releases in-between get better by leaps and bounds. it would be nice if the ARM SoC was upgradable though.
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my site | |
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| | | I'm a 71yr old & I've worked in the telcom industry since 1969 so I think I know as much, if not more, about data communications, DSL, cable internet, etc then most of the posters on this web-site....Mr norbert26.
Don't generalize..! | |
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| | my dad My dad has been dead a couple of years now, but he never had any desire to get on the internet. He'd make fun of me and my mom for wasting time on the net, until the day he figured out that he could connect to his office pc from home and get some work done. Then he was suddenly logged in all the time.
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Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty - Ronald Reagan | |
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Reviews:
 ·ooma
·Optimum Online
 ·Verizon FiOS
| inescapeable almost every time you make a purchase, use a credit card, write a check (do people do that much anymore?), pump gas, fill out a job application, etc.. they will come into direct or indirect contact with the internet. most credit, debit and even cash purchases are registered with automatic inventory updates which transmit over networks via the internet.
therefore you would have to have this definition as very narrow unless these people are homeless living under a rock they have some contact with the internet with the information they share indirectly by going about everyday life-- although it's very transparent.. you're not physically subscribing to a service such as dsl, cable, wireless or fiber... but the companies & governments you do business or interact with ARE..
compare this with the 1980s, even though there were computers.. no internet for consumer and business use. the start of everything was 1990s. fast-forward 22 years the internet is inescapeable, except in region-wide power outages when the world transitions to in-place electricity generation this will be a thing of the past too. | |
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| openbox9Premium
join:2004-01-26
japan
kudos:2 | Re: inescapeable said by tmc8080:almost every time you make a purchase, use a credit card, write a check (do people do that much anymore?), pump gas, fill out a job application, etc.. they will come into direct or indirect contact with the internet. most credit, debit and even cash purchases are registered with automatic inventory updates which transmit over networks via the internet. Those are indirect uses of the Internet that these "Luddites" don't care about or understand. They care that things work, and if the Internet enables that, then good. | |
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| openbox9Premium
join:2004-01-26
japan
kudos:2 | Re: 1 in 5 Americans Refuse to Go Online said by Mr Matt:I applied to one company for a job. The company demanded that I have a cell phone and use it for company business 24X7 with no reimbursement for it's use. Suddenly my cell phone number became their phone number. Furthermore I was expected to pay the expense of subscribing to an unlimited plan for corporates benefit. Sounds like one of the terms of employment to me. | |
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| |  El QuintronResident Mouth BreatherPremium
join:2008-04-28
Etobicoke, ON
kudos:2
 ·TekSavvy DSL
 ·WIND Mobile
·voip.ms
| Re: 1 in 5 Americans Refuse to Go Online said by openbox9:Sounds like one of the terms of employment to me.
Pretty much. It's not like you have to work for these people if the terms are unacceptable to you.
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Everything in moderation... Including Moderation --Oscar Wilde | |
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| | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by openbox9:said by Mr Matt:I applied to one company for a job. The company demanded that I have a cell phone and use it for company business 24X7 with no reimbursement for it's use. Suddenly my cell phone number became their phone number. Furthermore I was expected to pay the expense of subscribing to an unlimited plan for corporates benefit. Sounds like one of the terms of employment to me. Heck even working at walmart requires an internet connection.
If you want to know your work schedule you have to go online. If you want a paycheck stub you have to go online. If you want a W-2 to fill out your taxes you have to go online. Heck to even apply to work at walmart you have to do it online. | |
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| | |  insomniacOh YeahPremium
join:2002-09-22
Naperville, IL | Re: 1 in 5 Americans Refuse to Go Online Doesn't mean you need to pay to have it at home, though. Occasional use at the local library will do just fine for the things you mentioned.
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If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something. | |
|
 GlennAllenSunny with highs in the 80s
join:2002-11-17
Richmond, VA | So? A bunch of people refuse to go out of their way to find some reason to pay for a service that's "not relevant" to them. If they don't need Internet access, then they don't need it. BFD. | |
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See 6 replies to this post |
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mgbaker
join:2000-05-14
Charlotte, NC | So what?! So what?! If they don't want to get online, that's their prerogative. No need to call them names. Perhaps, some feel their lives are just fine without being connected, and some may not want/can't spend the money. I realize from constant media bombardment and spewing, one might believe everyone want or needs a "smartphone", I know plenty of folks who could care less, and even some who don't want a cell phone, period. And their lives seem to move on just fine. I've been a member of this site since its inception and I love technology. However, I also understand that feeling of those who just don't need the internet or newest gadget or internet speeds that way faster than most folks actually need.... I reckon, some reserve their nut butter for other things they consider exciting. | |
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Reviews:
·Shaw
| Will it become increasingly hard to avoid the internet? As someone who has been a big proponent of the internet since the 90s I don't quite understand the holdout.
From my point of view alot of commerce is moving to the internet. Companies are saving money by not issuing paper statements. Stock portfolios are managed online. Tickets to concerts/games are sold online. Many everyday items are cheaper to purchase from online stores than b and m stores.
We've seen this shift over the last 15 years. Imagine how much more commerce with rely on the internet in the next 15.
It's going to be tough to hold out and a difficult position to be in if you have to catchup at an older age.... | |
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| Reviews:
·Choice Cable TV
| Re: Will it become increasingly hard to avoid the internet? Yes, it will become increasingly harder to avoid the Internet. "Paperless" billing is a good exaple. While I do all my payments online and absolutely all my utilities/banks/services/whatever have paperless bill as an option, I very much prefer the paper bill because it is far harder to forget a payment when there is a piece of paper there with a date. I use a program to remind me of my bills when the date comes but the paper bill is waaaay so easier to use from the consumer point of view. Only when a company starts charging for paper bill I switch to paperless billing. My cable company was the first and so far only company to do so but I expect the others to gradually follow suit.
And then I think it is unfair to charge for a paper bill to those folks who refuse/don't care to be online and don't have access to the electronic version of their bill. | |
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| | tkdslr
join:2004-04-24
Pompano Beach, FL Reviews:
·T-Mobile US
·Speakeasy
| Re: Will it become increasingly hard to avoid the internet? said by printscreen: Only when a company starts charging for paper bill I switch to paperless billing. My cable company was the first and so far only company to do so but I expect the others to gradually follow suit.
I expect some sort of discount for online billing and payment. It costs me a fair chunk of change to maintain email/internet access. Why should they get a free ride to extra profits? Kick back some of the savings and they'll see more online usage, until then I'll stick with paper.
As for the cable-co, in my area Comcast charges an extra $15 unbundling fee, among several other extra fees, so they won't see any of my business for a long time to come. | |
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elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA | Luddites? There is nothing on the internet that is essential to life.
Some people get that. | |
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 DataDocMy avatar looks like me, if I was 2D.Premium
join:2000-05-14
Greenville, NC | If you're not like me, you're stupid If that's what you think, then grow up. | |
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| mgbaker
join:2000-05-14
Charlotte, NC | Re: If you're not like me, you're stupid Couldn't help notice we joined on the same date and are both from NC. Oh, and your reply is spot on. | |
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amungusPremium
join:2004-11-26
America Reviews:
·KCH Cable
·AT&T DSL Service
| misunderestimate Interesting stats.
My grandfather (and our immediate family) was online starting somewhere in about 1993-1994. My other (surviving) grandparents can't get better than dial-up, and don't really care.
As for the rest of the (younger) human population...
Resistance is futile. | |
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Rekrul
join:2007-04-21
Milford, CT Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
| I know one... My friend who is a little older than me, refuses to learn how to use a computer. He has a couple that he's rescued from the trash, and he also has the one he inherited from his roommate when she died, but he won't use them.
He's always asking me to look up things for him. I keep telling him that if he'd just learn how to use a computer, he could do it all himself. Nope... | |
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 antdudeA Ninja AntPremium,VIP
join:2001-03-25
United State
kudos:4 | My queen ant... ... Err, my mom/ma/mother doesn't use a computer and Internet. She relies on my father/dad/pa and me for the computer and online stuff. :/ | |
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jophanPremium
join:2009-07-12
Jenkintown, PA | So what else is new.. There were still a couple of percent of Americans who didn't have a telephone, in the days before cellphone and VOIP substitution. | |
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 aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA | Telephone use never reached 100%.... So why would internet use ever reach 100%? | |
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 ctceoPremium
join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN
·magicjack.com
·AT&T U-Verse
| Perfectly do-able in this day and age. It is possible to live without connectivity. I know quite a few people who manage quite well without it. Class is not a factor here in reliable numbers.
Forcing people to "connect" is like asking people to change there (non)theistic beliefs in some ways.
As an Ignostic anti-capitalist, I'm not bound by violent oaths or selfishness and can see the pro's and con's in being "connected". Like a doctors RX, connectivity is good in moderation.
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As long as superstition prevails, we will fall short of eradicating war, poverty, and hunger. -J. Fresco
khanacademy.org
en.lernu.net
www.k12.com
churchofreality.org
kopimistsamfundet.se
zeitnews.org
thezeitgeistmovement.com
thevenusproject.com
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| | | Re: Perfectly do-able in this day and age. Then there's some of us who are online, but hunt out sites like this one for various and sundry reasons, don't use social sites, don't share information for all to read.
If I have nothing to say, why in hell should I join a social site to say it? | |
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| | ctceoPremium
join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN | Re: Perfectly do-able in this day and age. Exactly. | |
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BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH Reviews:
·Comcast
| Disgraceful People need to get with the freaking program. My grandparents, aged 80 and 90 have cable internet, Macbooks, a Macbook Pro, and an iPad. They're not the best with them, but they can get online, order stuff, do some digital photos and music, etc. I can't think of anyone, with the exception of my 93 year old grandmother who doesn't have the mental capacity because of Alzheimers to use a computer, who isn't online. Even she has used Skype with our assistance. | |
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| | | Re: Disgraceful A little different up in Canada where you need at least two full time jobs just to afford either one of them. That of course being either Bell or Rogers in southern Ontario, Canada. The average working stiff in Ontario Canada can't afford the internet unless they subscribe to dial-up from America or 295.ca. | |
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| | BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH | Re: Disgraceful A) How much does it cost? Here it's $45/mo for most cable providers.
B) This is about Americans, not Canadians. | |
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4 edits | Stereotype I am a grandfather.
Older people are not all computer illiterate as some of the posts suggest.
That is a stereotype.
When one of my children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc., have malware on their computers that their AV doesn't remove, I am the one that fixes the computer. When one of them forgets the Administrator password for their Microsoft Windows computer, I am the one that resets the password to Null. I am the one that will install a Linux based OS on their computer if they ask me to do so.
If you want to assume that because I am 64 years old I am computer illiterate, then go for it.
I am looking at retiring soon. The cost of Internet access along with the cost of cable TV, FIOS TV, etc., could be a significant portion of what I can spend during retirement. I am thinking I will get rid of the TV service (Cut the Cord) and go with Internet only. I don't know if I will downgrade to DSL Internet right away.
I don't want to get rid of my Internet connection entirely; however, that could sadly become necessary. | |
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| Mele20Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
kudos:4 | Re: Stereotype said by OldGrayWolf:I am looking at retiring soon. The cost of Internet access along with the cost of cable TV, FIOS TV, etc., could be a significant portion of what I can spend during retirement. I am thinking I will get rid of the TV service (Cut the Cord) and go with Internet only. I don't know if I will downgrade to DSL Internet right away.
I don't want to get rid of my Internet connection entirely; however, that could sadly become necessary.
I hear you. But after having internet since 1999 and cable broadband since June 2001, I would cut the internet out. I didn't have a TV from Oct 2001 to Oct 2011. I was too interested in the internet to replace my old TV that died in Sept 2001 until last October. I have come to like the internet less and less after Web1. I loved Web1. I think Web2 is very dangerous to freedom, liberty and privacy. Web1 was the real internet. Web2 is the takeover of the sheeple by big corporations and government. So, if I was to have to give up something because of financial constraints it would be the web not TV. I also don't have a cell phone and don't want one (especially not a smart one). I may have to get one (non-smart, pre paid) though if pay phones disappear but that hasn't happened yet here. I have a corded landline because privacy, freedom, liberty mean a great deal to me.
A nice computer is expensive in addition to the cost of cable broadband (I can't get DSL here) and needs to be replaced every 5-6 years. I don't care for a $500 piece of junk. I'd rather not have a computer at all than have a junk one. So, yeah, a lot of my retired friends do not have the internet and they are happy that way. Most have prepaid cell phones, but not smart phones, and they lament the need for a cell phone.
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When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson | |
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 chrisretusnRetiredPremium
join:2007-08-13
Philippines
kudos:1 | It's just a survey... It is just another stupid survey taken from 2,260 adults age 18 and older, or so they say.
We have 313,723,933 folks in the US according to the US Census Bureau. That survey sampled 0.00072% of the population.
Time to move on to other things.....
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Chris
Living in Paradise!! | |
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1 in 5 Americans Refuse to Go Online
1 in 5 Americans Refuse to Go Online -> so big corporations can save money by sending all bills and communications via e-mail. Big business has a sense of entitlement. I applied to one company for a job. The company demanded that I have a cell phone and use it for company business 24X7 with no reimbursement for it's use. Suddenly my cell phone number became their phone number. Furthermore I was expected to pay the expense of subscribing to an unlimited plan for corporates benefit. Consumers are expected to pay what ever the ISP's demand in order to satisfy corporations needs. 
