Comments on: Can We Keep Human Rights Up To Date With Technology?

By: James Duthie

James Duthie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:19:48 +0000

Interesting discussion Corvida and I have to agree with you. I came across a truly bizarre situation recently in which I saw a homeless person stop begging to answer a mobile phone. I made a mental note never to give that person change again… :)

But regardless, I suspect the ongoing need for food far outweighed their need for mobile communication.

By: James Duthie

James Duthie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:19:48 +0000

But regardless, I suspect the ongoing need for food far outweighed their need for mobile communication.

By: James Duthie

James Duthie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:19:48 +0000

But regardless, I suspect the ongoing need for food far outweighed their need for mobile communication.

By: VesperMix

VesperMix — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:26:26 +0000

In response to Alec's comment regarding national legislation about telephonic service, I must say a few things about basic human needs, shelter is one of the three (clothing and food the remaining 2/3rds). For quite some time, this human necessity- shelter- has included a way to be contacted by the government, and ideally, by a company or companies intending to hire a person at a residence. While some companies may contact a person via USmail/post, most companies require a person or persons to be available via phone to be gainfully employed. In fact, some companies expect a person to be available to be reached outside of normal business hours.

Alec points out, rightly, that the FCC mandates telephone service for each individual. While perhaps unnecessary to have a mobile phone, it does reflect the changing times, especially as mobile phones have been increasingly instrumental in making businesses efficient, and when 66% of the US population has one, it does appear that one is at a distinct disadvantage.* Especially, if an individual is already distinctly economically disadvantaged in finding or keeping a job.

It is still debatable whether it is a necessity, although in these severe economic times, where people are scrambling to find jobs, I find that is can be more of a solution to the issue of so many unemployed individuals, rather than a hindrance.

And a note to Corvida: Your RSS Feed is on my site because my blog covers everything from human rights, politics, philosophy, and technology.

P.S. My day job is in the IT industry.

*Statistic from: http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/forums/cell_phone...

By: Shey

Shey — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:26:26 +0000

Ridiculous, I think. Even in Canada, we still have people who live in the worst of conditions yet folks are talking about cell phones as a human right? Ugh.

Sometimes I think that we're so engrossed in technology that we forget about humanity the REAL LIFE struggles of those less fortunate.

By: Alec Saunders

Alec Saunders — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:34:46 +0000

Not that I want to take away from the importance of healthcare as a human right, but I have a simple question to ask. The FCC, through its Universal Access Fund, is charged with ensuring that everyone in the US has telephone service. In fact, many countries throughout the world have similar legislation.

So... why does it matter that the phone is a landline? Why, when youth are rapidly abandoning landline's altogether, does it matter that the phone that the FCC regards as a right is wired or wireless?

Cheers, A