Blog post #9

            The view that this article takes on is one I can only sort of connect and agree upon. There is one concern that threw me off a bit, and that Is connecting internet with other human rights such as freedom of speech, and even asking the question of “when will we finally define Internet access as a basic human necessity, one on par with food, water, and medicine?” I do not think that Internet is of such importance and a necessity as to compare it equally to food, water and medicine. Which are three clear necessities of staying alive. The Internet is something someone can live without. Maybe without it this day in age, without Internet life can be more difficult. I compare this to my grandparents and parents trying to learn about Internet and other technologies. My generation was born into this technology world. Our elders had to learn after growing up without it, then using it now because they have the freedom to learn.

            To compare that to prisoners is the same way. They have been out of the technology loop and have to learn about it when they get out. I think Internet use should be seen as not a life necessity considering it can be lived without unlike food and water. The right time for them to learn is what can be afforded in prisons, but the restrictions make sense. Most prisoners are there for a reason, and losing privileges such as Internet use should be in effect. I find this fair in a way that they committed a crime and lost the privilege to most daily life items.

            The topic freedom of speech was brought up. Prisoners should still have the same right as civilians that are not in prison. I agree. Yet without the access to the Internet they do not get to use that freedom of speech. “All that said, prisoners do have freedom of speech — and isn’t access to the Internet an integral part of modern speech?” The Internet is a part of an integral modern speech, that does not mean everyone has the right to access the Internet. This is not up to par with freedom of speech. There is a line between freedom of speech and having access to the Internet to say certain things. The Internet is use by people who are able to find and have access to it. When in prison that is not the only thing that is taken away from them, and is certainly something that is not of that high importance in my mind.

            I do not want to come into a biased standpoint because I grew up into the Internet world. But watching my parents and grandparents, helping teach them myself about the Internet, It did not take that long to grasp its concept. I think the ability to use the Internet is natural for people. Something likes muscle memory. The prisoners may be behind a little after they are released which could give a good point to helping the ones who can make something out of learning about the internet into the real world once they are out. This goes a long with the privilege line, which is something that can be earned.