As a young student living in the 415, I know how valuable and limited space can be. Since I’m not some well-off socialite, I’ve learned to share. This includes a bedroom, silverware, hopes, fears, and toothpaste – although, some might consider that one snatching. I think that feeling cramped is a necessary part to any San Francisco experience. Please hop on a crowded MUNI bus, visit Fisherman’s Wharf, or eat at one of the city’s many Indian buffets if you want to feel slightly uncomfortable.
In any case, I know that my privacy can be somewhat limited. My roommates have the opportunity to overhear my phone conversations, see what I’m writing for a homework assignment, or listen to what music I’m playing. Not such a terrible thing, right? That is until I reveal my hatreds toward them—unknowingly—while on the phone, leave my credit card out amongst my HW paraphernalia, or play sounds that aren’t music at all and can really lower their opinion of me. It’s hard out there for a San Franciscan.
Should I be worried? I guess I should be if I did something to warrant their vengeance. Like eating all their tofu, maybe? There’s just as big a risk by being online. If some clever, tech-savvy person wanted to, they could probably compile a background sheet on me based on what I’ve revealed online.
There’s MySpace, Facebook, and even this blog—all of which can reveal something about me. I’ve been pretty good about limiting what info about me is out there. No address, no phone number, and no e-mail on any of those social networking sites. No birth year either (I do enjoy those birthday messages, though).
People should just be careful about what they plaster on the web and consider that their information could be swirling around forever. Protect yourself. Watch those inappropriate photos. Don’t post your apartment number. San Francisco is all about sharing but be wary of those that go overboard and snatch.
I guess I should make it official: Muni equals City.
There are many SF points to be scored when choosing the San Francisco Municipal Railway. You get to learn the streets (+1). It’s green (+1). Locals use it (+1). You encounter homeless people, which can always be an interesting experience (+1). Those homeless people smell like urine (-2).
Muni gets me where I need to go and NextBus is extremely helpful (unless it bears the bad news that I’ll have to wait 30 minutes for the next 28 bus). Reliability can be an issue. In that way, it has the power to be convenient while also being super inconvenient. It’s a love/hate kind of thing.
This oh-so-city feature, combined with my “net neutrality” topic, got me thinking about how the two can be related. Based on the fact that San Franciscans are smitten by public transportation and the Internet (just imagine the explosion when combining the two), I have decided to unite the two in a giant analogy that can explain part of the network neutrality situation.
First, the net neutrality idea is based on the belief that networks should not restrict the communication of users based on what they use the Internet for and how much “space” they use. People should receive the same broadband service for the same price whether they’re just checking e-mails or running a highly visited website. For the progression of the Internet, the providers (phone and cable companies) shouldn’t charge more for businesses that use/do more, even if customers are receiving a better service. That makes it harder for emerging companies, like Google and Yahoo! once were, to compete on the same level. Imagine if those two were discouraged from developing because of elevated fees. Instead, that higher quality service should be available to everyone at the same price.
Back to the road. The 28 is moseying along 19th Ave., transporting its precious human cargo. Out the window, I can see the super-28-line zoom past. Why is that fair? It can be argued that the people on the bus paid more to get that faster service. That means that those riders are easily accessible because of the super-line—consumers can meet with them (or they can meet producers) sooner and more often. If they wanted my services, it’d take a bit longer because I’m on the slower vehicle. There’s a definite advantage, which isn’t very fair and can deter those with creative ideas but not enough bankroll.
The best-case scenario for everyone not named Muni/Verizon/Comcast would be to make every bus a super bus with regular transportation prices. Or in the case of actual Muni, I’d be alright with a personal grooming regulation.
[Note: With the MLB playoffs underway, I can’t go against my team (-1).]
Posts
