# Bri1600BV Has Shown Me The Light! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 18, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898 "2009-08-18T23:43:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/41 "2009-08-20T03:10:33Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Anyone notice these things? Posting to an internet message board from the library? > [@Guinastasia](#): > > What the HELL is wrong with people going to the fucking library, and using the internet there? Or are they only supposed to check-out boring, dull books? > [@curlcoat](#): > > Do not they have to have an account that they are paying for, so they have access? My local library provides internet access free of charge. There is one day a week they have various classes, but every other day of the week you’re allowed at least an hour of access and, if there is no one waiting for a machine, you can stay on all day. So no, you _don’t_ need an “account” requiring money to pay for internet access. There are e-mail services available for free. Some people are posting on the SDMB without need of paying for the privilege. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/42 "2009-08-20T03:16:45Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Do not they have to have an account that they are paying for, so they have access? How much did the library charge you for your library card? ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/43 "2009-08-20T03:18:18Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Shhhh! **curlcoat** doesn’t like it when we talk about her and her disability check. Yet another thing you are wrong about. [QUOTE=DocCathode] Not that I know of. I don’t pay for e-mail (yahoo is free). I don’t pay for the SDMB. If I use a library computer, I don’t pay for anything. [/quote] Yahoo gives you a dialer to sign on with and software for a browser? I’ve had Yahoo email addresses, but since I’ve also always had a pay-for isp account, I’ve never had Yahoo offer me a way to get email or surf the web for free. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/44 "2009-08-20T03:21:51Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Yahoo gives you a dialer to sign on with and software for a browser? I’ve had Yahoo email addresses, but since I’ve also always had a pay-for isp account, I’ve never had Yahoo offer me a way to get email or surf the web for free. Note that I said “If I use a library computer” in which case the library provides internet access and a browser. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/45 "2009-08-20T05:46:12Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Note that I said “If I use a library computer” in which case the library provides internet access and a browser. Oh, then you were describing something rather rare, if not unknown. How often would someone who had no internet access other than the library join a message board such as SDMB? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/46 "2009-08-20T05:53:08Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Oh, then you were describing something rather rare, if not unknown. How often would someone who had no internet access other than the library join a message board such as SDMB? I don’t have numbers, but I do know it’s non-zero. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/47 "2009-08-20T06:20:22Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I don’t have numbers, but I do know it’s non-zero. One then? Out of how many people that call themselves poor yet are still paying for internet access? Do you not understand how frustrating this sort of thing is? ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/48 "2009-08-20T08:59:26Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Oh, then you were describing something rather rare, if not unknown. How often would someone who had no internet access other than the library join a message board such as SDMB? Me for one, the first 3 years I was a member I used the Library as I couldn’t afford a computer of my own. Also most Libraries don’t charge for a card unless you live out of their taxing area. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/49 "2009-08-20T10:12:31Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > One then? Out of how many people that call themselves poor yet are still paying for internet access? Do you not understand how frustrating this sort of thing is? Internet access is free at most libraries. Have you ever been to a library? And the SDMB has been allowing Guest accounts for some time. And how dare you accept disability pay? You don’t live in the street. You own animals–why didn’t you sell them all before you applied for “help”? Do you not understand how frustrating your absolute bone-headed ignorance is? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/50 "2009-08-20T11:28:36Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > Let’s not go the other way and make food stamp and welfare recipients some sort of heroic oppressed underclass, either. Right/ Because advocating that those on food stamps deserve anything other than non-flavored nutrient rich protein slurry is making people on welfare into heroes. And remember, if you’re on assistance, don’t you dare pay the extra $0.35 for vanilla slurry. Flavors are for welfare queens. > [@](#): > > If we’re honest, a lot of poor people are poor because they don’t have priorities that fit in with financial success in our society. I can’t count the number of food stampers I’ve seen buying shiny rims or spending hundreds on lottery tickets or simply having 5 or 6 kids in as many years. Actually, I’d like you to do that. Let me know how many food stampers you see buying shiny rims or lottery tickets. I’m going to guess that it’s a very small number of those on welfare, but I’ll wait to see your results first. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/51 "2009-08-20T13:30:25Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > One then? Out of how many people that call themselves poor yet are still paying for internet access? Do you not understand how frustrating this sort of thing is? Frankly, I don’t, and I don’t see how any intelligent person could. Do you think poor people should not have phones? The best way to get out of poverty would be to find a better job, or to learn more about the world so that you could imagine other ways of making a living than you currently are. I wish more of my tax money went to getting internet access for poor people. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/52 "2009-08-20T13:59:09Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > One then? Out of how many people that call themselves poor yet are still paying for internet access? Do you not understand how frustrating this sort of thing is? What’s frustrating is trying to explain to you how library internet access works. Do you honestly think that one has to swipe a credit card to get on the 'net at a library? It’s really not a difficult concept . ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/53 "2009-08-20T14:02:46Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Someone thinks that limiting those that are living off of others (ie the taxpayer) to “only” necessities is causing them to suffer? Yes. Just because you pay taxes does not mean that you have the right to micromanage the lives of complete strangers. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/54 "2009-08-20T14:09:58Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Anyone notice these things? Posting to an internet message board from the library? A person on welfare is allowing her teen daughter to spend her seven dollars an hour on junk? A laborer already not really making ends meets has another child? Someone thinks that limiting those that are living off of others (ie the taxpayer) to “only” necessities is causing them to suffer? And you all wonder why there are so many people who are anti-welfare and anti-poor people? Oh, thank God **curlcoat** showed up. I was just thinking, jeez, we haven’t had a good 40-page flamefest for a while. What shall we do about this? And then, like manna from the heavens, **curlcoat** arrives to spew her logic-free babbling inflammatory nonsense into this thread! My prediction is about 5-6 pages of people trying to reason with **curlcoat** about just how wrong-headed her cruel and stupid assumptions about life are. Gradually, the more rational and reasonable members of the board will realize this is a lost cause and will abandon ship, leaving a few die-hards here shouting into the empty whirling blackness that is **curlcoat** ’s brain, until either the SDMB finally shuts down permanently or the heat-death of the universe occurs, whichever comes first. ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/55 "2009-08-20T14:48:35Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Someone thinks that limiting those that are living off of others (ie the taxpayer) to “only” necessities is causing them to suffer? You’re living on disability payments, right? Why haven’t you canceled your Internet service yet? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/56 "2009-08-20T15:04:49Z")
> [@LeeshaJoy](#): > > You’re living on disability payments, right? Why haven’t you canceled your Internet service yet? Bad analogy. Here’s a better one: Since I’m paying for her disability, I have decided that she can no longer eat, oh, say, any wheat products. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/57 "2009-08-20T15:08:32Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > I’ve been here at least as long as you, thanks. Pay to play was dumb. So you _and_ **Rand Rover** are now claiming that you’ve been lurking since 1999, but only joined in September 2008? And both of you just so happen to post in exactly the same kinds of threads, both claim to be lawyers, and both post using almost exactly the same language (and thought patterns)? No, nothing suspicious here. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/58 "2009-08-20T15:12:55Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > One then? Out of how many people that call themselves poor yet are still paying for internet access? Do you not understand how frustrating this sort of thing is? Not really, but I’m not willing to take the full blame for that. Communication is a two-way street, and I feel that you’ve done a very poor job of communicating the source of your frustration. I’m not advocating that you try again, of course. I suspect that the rewards of understanding your frustration would be outweighed by the pain-in-the-ass mind-bending I’d have to subject myself to in order to achieve it. I’ll accept full responsibility for losing interest, though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/59 "2009-08-20T15:24:25Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Oh, then you were describing something rather rare, if not unknown. How often would someone who had no internet access other than the library join a message board such as SDMB? I can think of five examples, including myself for a period, to my certain knowledge. As you enjoy spending the disability check my and their taxes paid for while sneering at them, do the math. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898/60 "2009-08-20T15:27:30Z")
> [@LeeshaJoy](#): > > You’re living on disability payments, right? Why haven’t you canceled your Internet service yet? No, **Leesha**. She’s entitled to what recreational activities she can have. And, presuming her story to be true, she deserves to draw disability. What she does not deserve is to live off the taxes of others while denouncing programs that help others in similar but not identical situations. That is hypocrisy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bri1600bv-has-shown-me-the-light/506898.md?page=4)