Something that deeply worries me (or am I just paranoid?)

[Richard D]

I love the internet, the ability to get information that isn't available anywhere else, the ability to be connected to people I may never meet, the ability to have a diverse community of like-minded people.

A place like DU provides an amazing amount of discussion and information. Viewpoints that have changed the way I look at the world. A place where truth speaks to power. A place where campaigns are instigated and completed.

Same thing for email, etc.

Now, at least I, and probably many others have become dependent on this tool. What would happen if the baddies pulled the plug? How would true information be spread?

Would it not be a good idea to create person to person networks, nation wide or even world wide that would be able to function as communication channels should the current channels be subverted?

Just some thoughts open for discussion.

[Bridget Burke]

1. The Internet is also used for commerce....

Individual users are not the only ones who would suffer if someone "pulled the plug."

[Richard D]

2. I don't mean . . .

. . . that the internet would be shut down, just that sites like DU, Kos, Truthout, etc. could easily be taken down.

[SteppingRazor]

3. The same way information has always spread...

before there was an Internet, people still exchanged information, y'know :)

Newsletters, chain letters and a more-developed leftwing media would take the place of the Internet, I think.


But, for the record, yes, I think you're paranoid. Maybe it's healthy paranoia, I don't know, but I say the likelihood of the government banning sites like this as being pretty much nil.

[northzax]

4. then you move it to the Caymans

and force them to play China and block international traffic.

That's the beauty of the internet, you really can't block anything without the cooperation of everyone, and I mean everyone.

[applegrove]

5. I don't think they can pull the plug. But they will try and make a

profit (profiteth) off it - just like they have plans for rain in the sky or parkland.... all of it has to become the domain of some corporations. And they can slow us down - those of us that cannot pay alot. Would work like the health care system. In the USA. Of course corporate and GOP messages would get out there.. they have more money. That is the way democracy is supposed to work. :sarcasm:

Remember those days when money was free.... err... well... when the have cash - didn't cost you more than it was worth. So $5 cost you exactly $5? Well banks started to charge fees for each transaction with ATM cards.. and now banks fork in millions. For the convenience of you not having to go to the bank or hold cash - they charge ya every time you buy or sell something.. and they saw that it was a good.

Apparently layers of regulations by government on health and safety and equality... well those are just big wastes of everyone's time. But charging ya for the rain that falls out of the sky, or for seeds every year(India) when the old ones produced seeds for next years crops for free... I guess they are planning on transferring wealth to the poor... well when the meek shall inherit the earth which is good cause apparently the poor don't own any part of it today - or should not.

[yurbud]

6. they're already working on this with ways to "prioritize" access to sites

so sites they don't like could get slower or no connection.

You could still post or visit. It would just take longer to get here, and fewer people would see it or maybe no one.


That would be more effective than outright blocking and more insidious.

[bikebloke]

7. Short wave radio

Before the Internet, I used to get my news via short wave radio. Still do, just to keep my ear attuned. Sometimes, it was supplemented with the Guardian Weekly read in the library.