Moronic Idea of The Day: Why We Should Get Rid Of The Internet
Mike Masnick at TechDirt posts what should be a piece from The Onion but is actually columnist Robert Samuelson in the Washington Post with, as Masnick puts it, "what might be the silliest, most lacking-in-thought argument for why we should get rid of the internet."
A quote from Samuelson's piece:
If I could, I would repeal the Internet. It is the technological marvel of the age, but it is not -- as most people imagine -- a symbol of progress. Just the opposite. We would be better off without it. I grant its astonishing capabilities: the instant access to vast amounts of information, the pleasures of YouTube and iTunes, the convenience of GPS and much more. But the Internet's benefits are relatively modest compared with previous transformative technologies, and it brings with it a terrifying danger: cyberwar. Amid the controversy over leaks from the National Security Agency, this looms as an even bigger downside.
Masnick writes:
Leaving aside the anachronism of GPS (er, that's not the internet, Robert), this makes no sense. Samuelson brushes aside the vast benefits of the internet, and the fact that "instant access to vast amounts of information" leads to all sorts of opportunities for positive change in the world, including social and cultural enrichment, as well as economic growth. But none of that matters, because of the threat of an undefined "cyberwar." Samuelson, later in the piece, even seems to admit two things: that there's no evidence that "cyberwar" has done any real damage to date, and that many people think that it never will.No matter, just because it might possibly happen and might possibly cause some problems, we should ditch the entire internet and everything that came with it.
Adam Thierer's response. David Weinberger's brilliant rewrite of the Samuelson's opening paragraph, replacing "the Internet" with "the First Amendment."
via @veryjackie
Of course, the obvious is that Samuelson should never write again because his stuff is read on that evil Internet. If it should be repealed, then nothing he says should appear on it.
Aaron Dyer at July 1, 2013 1:34 PM
brings with it a terrifying danger: cyberwar
I'll admit, I'd like to find the person(s) who though connecting the control infrastructure of say, an electric utility to the commodity internet, and give them a thorough beating while yelling what were you thinking?
I R A Darth Aggie at July 1, 2013 2:10 PM
Same old same old: "Things were better when the NY Times and CBS News told everyone what to think."
dee nile at July 1, 2013 2:19 PM
No internet? Then how will I met busty sluts in my area looking for no strings attached sex (and a credit card number)?
lujlp at July 1, 2013 2:25 PM
I started to read the article but lost interest almost immediately. Sometimes I wish there were no internet, but only because I would probably start cleaning my house again. And gardening, stuff like that.
I have allowed myself to get wrapped up in the seductive, sticky threads of the interweb. And I like it. Sometimes it's even useful.
Just my old desktop, though. No cellphone, let alone Ipad, etc. So I don't have a picture of the two raccoons that were on my porch when I opened my door last night. Oh, well. It wouldn't have been in my hand anyway.
Pricklypear at July 1, 2013 3:12 PM
And now folks, exclusively here at Amy's Advice Goddess Blog... the great revelation of truth... the REAL reason so many MSM types want the internet permanently unplugged:
...Because the WRONG people are having an influence on how to behave and what to think, dammit! ;-)
qdpsteve at July 1, 2013 6:31 PM
"the convenience of GPS"
What on earth does GPS have to do with the Internet?
david foster at July 1, 2013 6:59 PM
The problem with his idea is that "cyberwar" is not real.
Basically every single military system is built so that it can be fired independently of any network and is keyed to the original shooter only.
Why do you think ballistic sub captains and their staff are so closely watched. Just watch the movie Crimson Tide (www.imdb.com/title/tt0112740/), it's in the ball park.
As far of taking out the grids -- they may act as a grid, but each one can be independent of the rest at need.
But the thing that scares me is what an EMP attack would do.
Jim P. at July 1, 2013 7:44 PM
I wish I could make small EMP's with a range of one or two cubic feet, toss em on the cars of asshole blaring their effing music
lujlp at July 2, 2013 1:55 AM
Formerly serving on the ballistic missile boat USS James Madison, I detest Crimson Tide. The only thing right about it is that there are submarines.
Radwaste at July 2, 2013 2:37 AM
Masnick seems to realize that connecting SCADA* systems to the internet is a Bad Idea, but he takes an awful long time to say it.
*The little networked machines that run many industrial operations
kenmce at July 2, 2013 8:18 AM
It's always amusing when the people who hate technology decide that they are qualified to comment on technical issues. There's a meme circulating on Facebook right now claiming that "studies have shown" that cell phone towers cause cancer. Even if one gives them a pass on the whole R-squared thing, the article claims that this has been known since the 1970s. Of course, there was no such thing as a cell phone network in the 1970a.
Cousin Dave at July 2, 2013 10:30 AM
But the thing that scares me is what an EMP attack would do.
Frank Gehry attacked us with an EMP in Seattle.
This was the result.
JD at July 2, 2013 6:21 PM
I know a former navy member who was on a missile destroyer with a rather large radar system. They were cruising by the south end of Puerto Rico. He told his lieutenant we need to back off the radar's output. The lieutenant ignored him. The south end of Puerto Rico had numerous blackouts as they blew out the transformers.
Jim P. at July 2, 2013 10:17 PM
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