Very telling correlation between internet usage and knowledge of the issues

[lunatica]

Especially when a percentage of Americans don't know how to use computers and have to rely on 'the news' from tv. Here's an article from 2005 with data gathered from the Census. The demographics break down as we would imagine. The percentage and demographics of ignorant people pretty much matches the percentage demographic of people who don't own computer or who don't have internet connections. This is something I've thought about for a long time. How can a pretty steady number of people be so ignorant and stay so ignorant in spite of all the facts out there?

http://www.clickz.com/3559991

Most Americans Have PCs and Web Access
By Rebecca Lieb, ClickZ, Oct 28, 2005


Sixty-two million U.S. households, or 55 percent of American homes, had a Web-connected computer in 2003, according to just-released U.S. Census data. That's up from 50 percent in 2001, and more than triple 1997's 18 percent figure.

Home Web use continues to skew toward more affluent, younger and educated demographics. Both computer ownership and Web use are lower in households comprised of seniors, among blacks and Hispanics and among households comprised of people with less than a high school education.

Conversely, nearly all households earning over $100,000 -- 95 percent -- own at least one computer, and 92 percent are online. In homes earning under $40,000, the online figure plummets to 41 percent.

Children have benefited enormously from the growth of home computing. In 1993, only 32 percent of children had access to a computer at home. In 2003, 76 percent of school aged children had access to a home computer, and 83 percent of America's 57 million schoolchildren used a PC at school. Again, these figures skew when ethnic and economic criteria are applied.

In 1997, only 7 percent of adults said they used the Web to get news, weather and spots. That figure spiked to 40 percent in 2003. Those seeking government or health information grew to 33 percent from 12 percent in 1997, and over half (55 percent) used the Web for email and instant messaging, up from 12 percent 10 years earlier. Eighteen percent banked online; 12 percent looked for a job; nearly half sought product and/or service information and 32 percent purchased online, a radical jump over 2.1 percent in 1993.

Of the 45 percent of households without Web access in 2003, the most common reasons given were: "don't need it/not interested (39 percent); and costs too much" or "no computer/computer inadequate" (each 23 percent). Two percent cited Web access elsewhere. Issues of privacy, child safety and security concerns were rarely cited, each accounting for only one percent of the reasons.

Homes in the West are the most wired at 67 percent, closely followed by the Northeast and Midwest. Southern households had the lowest percentage of online computers at 52 percent.

This is the entire article...

[notadmblnd]

1. They want to be. Ignorance is bliss

in answer to your question. "How can a pretty steady number of people be so ignorant and stay so ignorant in spite of all the facts out there?"

[lunatica]

2. Well knowledge is something most of the present majority have sought out

My point is that gathering the truth has become something that we can choose to do as individuals and that the number correlate to the use of the internet as a personal search tool. The majority use it. And that was in 2005. This article correlates the demographics of percentages that vote one way or the other. Evidently the high use of computers and the internet equates with the rise of the Democrats in the last few years in spite of the concerted effort to keep us ignorant. The media is still the propaganda arm of the Corporate/Republican party, but it's losing it's grip precisely at the same time the use of the internet is growing.

And I don't believe that inner city schools choose the bliss of ignorance, nor do the poor. They would be as savvy as anyone else if they were given the same tools. Poverty doesn't equate with stupidity or some choice to be ignorant.

[notadmblnd]

4. I guess I wasn't looking at it the same as you.

I wasn't looking at it from an economic/social aspect. I thought your question was asking; why, in spite of possessing access to the technology, do people continue to be ignorant. That's all.:shrug:

[lunatica]

5. Sorry if I didn't make myself more clear about my point initially

It's just something I've been very curious about because I've believed for a long time that the internet has created a very profound revolution that's systemic in our ability to gather information and to communicate. It's been a silent revolution although it's happening very fast in terms of years. It's changed our society in quantum leaps, and there are a certain percentage who are being left behind through either social choices such as religion or personal lack of incentive or through economic hardship and unequal educational opportunities.

[justabob]

8. why net neutrality is so important

Don't forget that. Big media et al are trying their damndest to change that.

[lunatica]

3. kick so it doesn't sink too fast

[lunatica]

6. .

[Wednesdays]

7. K&R

:kick:

[csziggy]

9. K&R