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A Coffeeshop's Weekends Without Wi-Fi
Glenn Fleishman writes "Victrola Cafe and Art in Seattle is a popular coffeeshop that offers free Wi-Fi--except on the weekends. In an experiment, the cafe started shutting down its Wi-Fi network on Saturdays and Sundays after watching their culture erode: the shop became full (and was turning away customers) with six-to-eight hour Wi-Fi squatters, many of whom didn't even purchase anything. Their second Sunday without Wi-Fi was one of their best revenue days in some time. I don't propose a Wi-Fi (or free Wi-Fi) backlash, but it's interesting how with some time under their belt, the clash of inward facing technology and outward facing culture hit these particular entrepreneurs' limit."
It's funny to see how everyone here is an expert in business, marketing, general human psychology, and the like. "Charge for this", "put up signs for that", "only allow this"...it's not that easy.
So I guess you are the appointed expert? If you disagree with people, state your case. But you don't need to pull out the "you're not an expert, so you can't express an opinion" line.
The whole concept of "experts" at least at most people see it is a big crock. Maybe you can have an expert in a field like science where there are testable theories and we can eventually get agreement. But who agrees on marketing, psychology, and business? You get me one "expert" that says one thing, and I'll find 5 other people that says the exact opposite. It's just a big dogfight, so let the people fight and don't pull out the "expert" line.
AccountKiller
I must really be out of touch.
When I walk down to "my" local coffee house, I go for their wonderful chai, and the nightly live music .
Only a complete loser would bring their computer to this place.
Coffee houses are crucial part of our social scene, and to fill them up with self absorbed loners by offering them free Wi-Fi, doesn't exactly help the social or dating pool.
dude, apparently I should have added the tag. you missed the point totally. I think it is comical that a group of people who ostensibly would vote into gov't politicians that basically promote socialism would be concerned about profits. hell, i'm all for capitalism. I'm a teacher, I think we should privatize schools as well. the socialist model they use know isn't working too well. but that isn't going to happen anytime in the near future, what with the federal takeover (NCLB) and all. i just noted the irony, that's all.
My problem? I was perfectly gruntled, until some numbnuts came by and dissed me.