How Would You Deal With A Global Bandwidth Crisis?

lopy writes "First Google claimed the internet infrastructure won't scale to provide an acceptable user experience for online video. Then some networking experts predict that a flu pandemic would bring the internet to it's knees and lead to internet rationing. We used to think that bandwidth would always increase as needed, but what would happen if that isn't the case? How would you deal with a global bandwidth shortage? Would you be willing to voluntarily limit your internet usage if necessary? Could you live in a world without cheap and plentiful broadband internet access?"

Comments

Re:morning of 9-11

[that this is not und]

Truth of the matter is, the way I first heard about 9-11 that morning was that somebody posted a comment about it (off-topic, I might add) in a thread on Slashdot. I went and turned on the TV set. It was between the first and second plane.

One point I could make to bring it on topic was that: I turned on the TV set. I didn't navigate to websites to read about it.

Re:"Global bandwidth crisis" is a crock

[Score Whore]

You are particularily weak at arguing. To answer your first question, perhaps those people look at their lives and think "I could certainly use a vehicle that I can occasionally haul stuff in" (maybe not trash they've collected from dumpster diving), and they think "but other times, I'd like to be comfortable". So they add up 1+1 and get 2, ie. buy as luxurious SUV as they can reasonably afford. Afford being defined as payments, gas, insurance and maintenance. Maybe it makes no sense for them to purchase both a comfortable car and a utilitiarian vehicle.

Now you show any actual scientific reference to little dicks and flashy/expensive cars. I mean other than bitchy whining from losers who can't afford to indulge a whim once in a while.

Also, I'd be fascinated to see your citation for guys who buy Navigators have $10,000 in credit card debt. I don't think you have one. I think you are a liar.

Re:"Global bandwidth crisis" is a crock

[StikyPad]

I agree that the GP's post turned into a irrelevant rant, and his logic was flawed at that, however:

Bend the car analogy into an angry, frothing rant against SUVs... or rather, against the people who drive them... or rather, against the people who can afford them.

Implying that people arguing against SUVs are simply jealous poor people and/or that something is okay just because you can afford it is ridiculous. If I can afford a nuke, does that make it okay to use it?

Obviously most people, SUV owners included, can and will rationalize their decisions, and are unlikely to change their position in the face of facts. I accept that. But that doesn't make them right, it just makes them obtuse.