The Internet is supposed to be a place where we can roam freely without policing. These airwaves, so to speak, are for us to move around freely in cyber world, but at the same time we have to pay for the service to use it. I understand that there are certain websites that we have to pay for or services within websites, but shouldn’t we have free access to the web? Why do certain cafes allow us to access it for free, but they pay for it? And then others—I won’t mention the chain of coffee shops that exists on every single corner of New York City–capitalize on us humans who think that paying an arm and a leg for coffee and using an Internet hotspot is worth the charge. Can we just stop for a minute and think about the fact that we are being charged to use the airwaves? We already have to buy the computer and the technology to access the Internet. And now we have to pay a monthly fee? What a freaking rip off.
I want to first thank all of the local coffee shops that so selflessly thank their customers for their patronage by not only putting in that extra pump of caramel free of charge, but also offer free Internet.  I don’t think the coffee shop should have to pay for the service, but at least they are making it easier on their customers.
So speaking of having to pay for the Internet, ever since this whole wireless thing happened, we have become really possessive over our wirelessness. If you pay for wireless Internet in your home, there is NO WAY you are going to allow someone else to “steal” it from you. STEAL. Now we are using that word? “You can’t steal the Internet from me because I am going to password protect it!” This phrase goes through our heads when we talk to Lynksys tech support while we set up our wireless routers for a $20 dollar tech support fee (can you believe that they charge you to set up your device even after you have spent 50 bucks on the stupid thing. We know we can’t get much for free, but I don’t think tech support is too much to ask). Ok, so here we are on the phone with Lynksys. They say, “ok ma’am, would you like to set-up your wireless router password protected?” Hell yeah I do, you say in your head, but in an effort not to seem greedy, you say, “Well, sure, I think that would be a good idea.” Uh huh. Those bitches that just moved in down the hall making all that noise aren’t going to steal MY Internet.
Maybe I’m a little bitter. The truth is that a month ago, there were two young girls who moved into the all-adult-and-families building I live in, and after a few days, asked my roommate if they could have to password to our internet until they get theirs hooked up. OK, fine. She gave it to them, So two weeks goes by and my roommates computer gets all screwed up. Was it because we made our Internet available to the newbie’s on our floor? We’ll never know, but what we DO know is that they blast their music really loud every single night and slam their doors until 4 in the morning and we are paying for the Internet and they are not. My roommate and I decided, their privileges must be revoked. No more Internet for you! I called Lynksys (and after arguing with them about helping me without the 20 dollar fee, I was able to convince them to help) and I changed the name of our connection and the password. 2 days later, one of the girls showed up begging to get the password so she could make a deadline for a paper. Sorry bout ya, don’t care if you hate me. But I did manage to suggest a place down the street with free wireless Internet. A nice local coffee shop.