Is it Okay to Turn the Homeless into WiFi Hotspots?
A company recently came up with the idea of turning homeless people into wireless hotspots. Piloted in Austin this past month, the group allowed people wireless internet for 15 minutes for $2, a fee which went directly to the homeless person.
A huge debate erupted over the ethicality of turning the homeless into wifi hotspots. Both sides asserted pretty compelling points.
Is it immoral, inhumane, dehumanizing, or humiliating to turn homeless people into wireless hotspots? I actually really want to hear readers’ input on this. Personally, I’m ambivalent.
NO!:
They’re people, not routers. The fact that they have to wear those shirts is rather humiliating, too. The very diction “I AM a wireless hotspot” sounds almost like something from Huxley’s Brave New World. The whole thing is just so tasteless and contributes to the alienation of the homeless from our society.
YES!:
Why is this any less ethical than buying a newspaper from a homeless person? In both cases, you’re paying for information...
Goodbye, My Kony Island Baby...
My feelings on this Joseph Kony campaign? Mixed.
The Coolest Thing at the Coolest Place (in my opinion)
I don’t normally brag about how awesome Tufts is, but I thought I'd share my experiences with those of you who have an important decision coming up.
Take Up the Couch Sloth's Burden
With finals coming up, I can only dream about being lazy. What better way to envision dreams than through poetry? This one's a take on the classic "The White Man's Burden" by the Anglo-Indian imperialist Rudyard Kipling.
PROTECT IP ACT: The End of Artistic Feudalism
My friend Tracy recently asked me what I thought of the “Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011” (PROTECT IP Act). Here's what I think.