The Internet Is The Internet Because Of The Inter Part
from the just-saying dept
The original idea of the internet is that it connected all of these networks. Hence the "inter-" part. However, as it's grown up, and we've seen things like China's "Great Firewall" and other countries trying to limit aspects of the internet, there's an increasing fear that the internet will get broken up into a series of separate networks, often country-based. It's certainly possible (if not likely), but it's not clear that it should really be a huge concern. Cutting yourself off from the larger internet seems like a strategy that's destined to cause problems long-term for those who choose to separate themselves from the larger network. Just like globalization is a pretty much unstoppable trend, so is a connected internet. You can cut yourself off from the world, but it doesn't make much sense to actually do so. It does a lot more damage to those who cut themselves off than to the rest of the network -- and should eventually lead to pressure to reconnect to the larger internet. Countries smart enough to recognize that they need to trade with the rest of the world, should also realize that communications networks are a part of that process and are unlikely to completely cut themselves off.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
like momma always said.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: like momma always said.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: like momma always said.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: like momma always said.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Interslice
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
interdependance..duh
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Ahem
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Ahem
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Ahem
Just as the PC has become an integral part of the "real" economy, so will the internet. I work for a software startup that is on the bleeding edge of what has been termed "Office 2.0". The natural progression of such markets is called Hypergrowth. Whereby the first set of users is technology enthusiasts, the second set is the visionaries of the industry being served, and the third are the pragmatists who demand obvious practical application before taking the plung and are the main buyers int eh world. Right now, the internet economy as a whole is still only selling to Enthusiasts and maybe some visionaries, but the pragmatists is where the real money is. When they begin to see the value of ditching thier old tools and moving to web-based ones, the internet will be an essential economic tool for the US as well as globally.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cutting yourself off from those who seek to oppress and silence is the exception to your rule and such situations do exist.
I am personally cutting myself off from a group of people who were preventing me from communicating so I can't see how you could possibly tell me that's a bad idea.
I can now communicate.
What did I lose exactly?
Nothing.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
BS alert on TechDirt
The other layer is about the latin letter basis of domain names. Big whoop. Let me put this simple: DOMAIN NAMES ONLY POINT TO THINGS ON THE INTERNET. If China wants to put up an independent DNS root and domain system based on their pictograms, fine. If the web site wants to be seen outside China, then register it on the domain system there too. By the way, which pictogram system is China going to use? Is Korea and Japan going to follow suit? Why don't we setup a Klingon DNS character system too? What about Arabian characters (we use their numbers)? Or ... nevermind.
What I read here is another whining, powerless UN entity that was created to whine.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Rights
Lately, it seems that the more power we give over to governments (to do our thinking for us, as in: what's best for us) just seems to lead them to wanting more. Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile. It's all about power and it's so out of control that people don't want to even be bothered voting anymore. There isn't anyone or any party who's worth taking the trouble vote for because they just aren't listening anyway. They do pretty much what they want and what we want hardly ever seems to fall under their [hidden] agenda.
I wonder if there's any way for the people to take back what's theirs and tell the PTB's to get in the back seat?
As another "aside" to this, during an Art History class, the teacher voiced the opinion that the government's involvement in the lives of the people of Rome, were directly responsible for the fall of the Roman Empire. When Ceasar told the people that they couldn't be artists anymore (unless so appointed) but that they had to pay taxes despite losing their jobs, he was forced to build the Colluseum to avert civil uprisings. Watching the Christians being eaten by the lions was his way of distracting the people by giving them an outlet for their outrage. It obviously didn't solve the problem, but are we headed that way again? Anybody remember the movie "Metropolis?"
Bottom-line: We probably won't have any "say" as to whether they cut themselves off. If they do, maybe they shouldn't consider coming here or trading with us either? It would be like one of those mirrors that you can see through into the next room, but they can't see you, only with us in the room and them watching. Or is that too paranoid?
Sorry. I never seem to be able to keep it brief.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
TO SPITE YOUR FACE
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
internet
sounds better.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
erm...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
They can Try
simple useless example.. a person wanting to watch some "international p**n" or listen to "international music" will not be willing to take it...
either they will not use the service anymore because there is nothing out there (hence no ISP revenue) or EVEN MORE LIKELY
if it is the "amish internet", where there is one connection to the outside world, hackers will come in to open holes in the wall to let the internet thorugh
enough rambling
ps....
Cutting off the nose to spite the face is an expression used to describe a needlessly spiteful or self-destructive overreaction to a problem. "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face" is a warning not to act out of pique or pursue revenge in such a way as to damage yourself more than the object of your anger.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
A wise man once said
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The Chinese were in the streets and their govt. decided to roll the tanks.
Anyone that thinks that they can understand all cultures, all motivations and the limit to what a govt. will do to retain power is just nuts.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Berlin Wall
In reality, countries may try to be isolated. But, as an example, China just unblocked Wikipedia. Another brick feel out of the wall.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What?
Since when is the global goal to be communistic? Every time I hear someone has a global goal, another war breaks out.
And if you think we're supposed to be working towards waiting 6 hours in line for bread with no butter, you're crazy!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]