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Comment by reilly3000 | Hacker News Reader

31% of the world’s adults are ‘unbanked’ and rely on cash and dark credit. In the 1970’s a similar amount lacked electricity. It’s global ways of living are remarkably diverse, and I for one hope they stay that way. Homogeneous is bad for our species.

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Having access to banking, electricity, and the internet are inherently good things. I hope 100% of people have access to these things and use them as freely as they would like to. When people have limited access to resources they are most vulnerable to being treated unfairly.

> 31% of the world’s adults are ‘unbanked’ and rely on cash and dark credit. In the 1970’s a similar amount lacked electricity. It’s global ways of living are remarkably diverse, and I for one hope they stay that way. Homogeneous is bad for our species.

Are you willing to give up those things in order to reduce homogeniety (or do you just want others to forego them)?

I’m not asking anyone to do without something they would desire or benefit from. It seems rather colonial and paternalistic to say it’s needed for an acceptable quality of life. I can’t speak to global experiences with any authenticity, but I can say my uncle from Idaho hasn’t had any internet access by choice at any point in his life, and his is no lesser than mine. He takes pride in that choice and hasn’t really missed out on too terribly much of what matters to him.

To your question, I don’t think I would be willing to disconnect fully; my career is based around the web and my way of life is and always has been quite electrified and banked. If it hadn’t been I might feel very differently. I recognize the privilege I enjoy, but I can’t presume the pleasure of not having bank ads, overdraft fees, and power dependence is entirely inferior to my experience. Maybe. Probably even, but not definitely.

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