The first world?

[Yorick]

I've ranted before about it, but nothing's changed.

How can America claim to be in the first world, when they don't even have internet at their biggest airports? JFK? Nope. Charlotte? Nah. Atlanta? Definitely not.

I get off the plane in Gatwick and it's like I'm back in civilisation. Next to payphones are internet booths. Further along, an internet cafe.

The easy everything on 42nd st. in NYC is quite simply the worst internet cafe in the world. I've had to readjust to liking Easy everything now I'm back in Bonnie Britain.

So... why is this? Why this propensity to ignoring the current state of world communications?

[ 03-13-2004, 06:33 AM: Message edited by: Yorick ]

[Thoran]

Internet cafe?

Well for me, when I'm out I tend to want to interact with people not a computer. When I think of spending time at a cafe I think of live entertainment, poetry or music.

When I'm travelling (at the airport), and need internet access I use my laptop, there are phones with data lines or more often I use my cell.

Never had any interest in internet cafe's, perhaps I'm not alone? If that's the case then they aren't around because of lack of market.

[Oblivion437]

These airports are private enterprises, they can install internet access systems into their communications block at their liesure. Really, their main problem has always been hijackings. Cargo moving around the airport and out has always been the target of gangsters ever since Idlewild Golf Course became Idlewild Airport (later Kennedy) and so, I doubt building a 20-50 grand internet access center would be such a good thing, especially with the fiber-optic cables that need to be layed down. The crooks will come and just rip the damn cable out of the wall and sell it back to them, and just pick up the computers and walk away with them. They've already got the guys in the security offices to doctor up the tapes or whatever, so the cameras are useless. It's simple, the guy watching through the Eye in the Sky is either indebted to the 'jackers, in business, or doesn't want to get himself killed for getting in the way. If you're not on the take, someone else is, and these people do talk to one another.

[Ilander]

Good Golly! Never visit Kentucky while in the United States, Yorick! You'd die, it's so primative! We don't have public water or sewage systems here...and...dare I say it...most of us still use dial up here in eastern Kentucky! AHHHHHHHHHHH!

Come on, now...we're not sooo uncivilized! And, remember, stuff like that takes demand, and as many people as there are in the US JUST discovering the internet, the demand is not there in large enough percentages (what the corp types generally look at) to genuinely care!

[john]

Who's paranoid here!?

[Sir Goulum]

What I think is sad, is that people have such a dependance on internet they require it at an airport, but thats just my opinion

[The Hierophant]

I think Yorick had his tongue placed somewhat precariously close to his cheek when he started this thread. Still, I know what he means, it can be frustrating when you are travelling via long-haul air flights and want to keep up to date with your friends, family and business associates via email, but can't due to a lack of equipment at airports. Widespread internet access is pretty standard in most technologically advanced cities in the world. So I feel Yorick's pain when he expects to be able to drop a quick email between flights, but finds that there isn't a net-connected public computer in sight.

However, maybe we're just spoiled. I know that instant telecommunications have become a huge part of my life over the last 8 years or so, to the point where I have built my lifestyle on the assumption that I will have access to them whenever I want. If I were to permanently lose my net access and cellphone I would have to totally restructure my daily life in order to cope with the loss of communication convenience. But that's just the way technology works. You can depend upon so much that it becomes an extension of your own body, but when that is the case, if it craps out, you can end up feeling like you've lost a large chunk of yourself. Best to keep grounded and not rely TOO much on your tools.

[wellard]

Originally posted by Sir Goulum: What I think is sad, is that people have such a dependance on internet they require it at an airport, but thats just my opinion

More than usefull for people to get in touch with you when on buisness. They dont know your hotel phone number but they can still leave messages for you. A great tool is the internet for traveling. And where Yahoo or Hotmail really come into play. And I'm guessing here that Yorick is spending some time on work rather than just the pub (could be wrong though) [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Originally posted by john: Who's paranoid here!?

LOL

[ 03-14-2004, 02:41 AM: Message edited by: wellard ]

[Djinn Raffo]

I like to white cranberry juice mixed with my stolichnya and a squirt of rasberry liqueor.

Rasberry Sour is my first world hammer time.

[Epona]

Having internet access at an airport is immensely useful! I've used it at Gatwick (where there is really good internet access) when flights have been delayed, to let people meeting me know I was going to be late - saves them going to the airport and waiting around.

Also airports are incredibly boring places to spend a couple of hours - using the internet there, it's not a question of wasting time while you could be doing something better with your life - it's a case of looked round all the duty free shops and still got 1 and 3/4 hours to kill - it's either sit and watch the departure screens or log on to the internet - I know which I'd prefer!