> > You're kidding, right? My mutual fund doesn't send me paper statements > anymore--the $20 per year fee is waived if you get electronic > statements. My bank doesn't even have a branch in Utah. My paycheck is > put into my bank account by direct deposit, and the paystub is only > available online. My employment requires me to be online. Many of my > classes have online resources, and I need Internet access to do any of > my projects. Several resources relating to my Church calling are only > available online. > > So pretty much the only aspect of my life that doesn't depend on > connectivity is my family life. Granted, I can get by by using my > connection in my office or in a library rather than in my home, but > Internet access is definitely a necessity.
I think you're confusing necessity with convenience. I think Jon's point is (and a correct point it is I might add) to make it a necessity, you would have to have no off-line alternative to the things you listed. - Your mutual fund CAN send you a paper statement. - Your paycheck CAN be delivered to you in paper form, which you CAN then deposit at the local branch of a bank (you are not required to use an out of state bank). - I think it is debatable whether your employment really REQUIRES you to be online, but if so you CAN seek other employment. - Your classes may have online resources, but you CAN access them at school. - I guarantee that your church calling does not require you to have internet access at your home. You CAN obtain church materials from other sources. There is still a large degree of alternatives available to anything you do on the internet. In fact, I would argue that the state of the internet is such that IT is still considered the alternative. Though I don't argue that the trend is changing. Jeremy - /* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
