Ask questions via twitter! Message any question to @answers on twitter. We'll publish the question and send you a reply each time there's a new answer.
Next Question

Answered Question

 
M$1 January 28, 2009 08:57 PM

Do you believe people in the US should be born with a website and a birth certificate?

Do you believe that people should be born with a domain name so that everyone is on the Internet when they are born? Do you believe that everyone's birth certificate should somehow be accessed on the Internet? Why or why not? What would be the benefits of being able to securely access your birth certificate on the Internet? Why do you believe it's 2009, and we still have people that are born without a presence on the Internet? Do you think this will ever happen? Is there a way for the government to mandate this in the future?
Interesting Question?  Yes (1)   No (0)   
RSS
 
 

Best Answer  Chosen by Asker

 
January 28, 2009 09:19 PM
There is no such thing as "secure" on the Internet. As it is, everyone either has a choice whether to be a very public person, or as Nativenerd says, are too remote to use it much.

Having everyone be born with a domain name and birth certificates on the internet would necessitate government oversite of naming practices. The first time I heard that a Scandinavian country forbade naming children for animals, when a popular name there was Bjorn, I was both amused and sad. If I want to name my child Frizty Handheld Crankwassle or Magdalena Babblejack (real name) that's my choice.

It could either be the end of what Remarkable Names author John Train dubs the "American Freeform Nutty Name", or it could bring on ever more unique names, as people try not to have www.JohnSmiththe3685903.com as their domain name.

That's not nearly as big a concern to me as the involuntary chance of exposure/privacy issues, and the potential disenfranchisement of a good portion of the country's citizens.
Asker's Rating:


Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)    Tip tracebooks for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
 
January 28, 2009 09:27 PM
What if everyone had a name and birth certificate, and there was a way to make it secure online (ie. www.JohnSmith.birth/314) and it would only be accessible by this person?

Report
 
 
 
January 31, 2009 11:45 AM
easye, i guess you've never had an account hacked.

Report
 
 

Other Answers (2)

Sort By
 
January 28, 2009 09:08 PM
Can you imagine the domain name issues? One of these times, look in the phonebook for a Mike Smith, or other common name...then multiply that by 50 states. It would have to be accessed via their SSN, or some other method which could be individualized a little easier.
Now, the next and maybe bigger question. Yes, there are a huge number of people born without a web presence. There's a huge number of people born who will never have adequate access to technology. And, there are a number of people who are born, in some of the more impoverished areas of the country, without access to electricity and running water, nevermind the internet. It think if your looking to mandate something like this, then there really needs to be a push to figure out how to make it truly accessible to everyone. Funding for libraries and school computers, even in rural areas...school-books that aren't 20 years outdated...or more importantly, some form of hope. If not, then you will leave droves of people even further behind, and that is what will eventually cause the bust of the tech-bubble.
Source(s):
My own $0.02


Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)    Tip nativenerd for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
 
January 28, 2009 09:14 PM
The President is working on making the Internet accessible to everyone in the US.

Report
 
 
 
January 28, 2009 11:08 PM
This question has multiple parts that I want to address separately.

Do you believe that people should be born with a domain name so that everyone is on the Internet when they are born?

Such is most easily accomplished if the domain name resolved against a Social Insurance Number (Canada) or Social Security Number (US). Not all nations have such systems, though, which would make such resolution biased to the west.

Do you believe that everyone's birth certificate should somehow be accessed on the Internet?

No.

Why or why not?

While it might not allow for identity theft of people with "born digital" birth certificates, differing levels of quality in digitizing records would make such possible for earlier records.

What would be the benefits of being able to securely access your birth certificate on the Internet?

I cannot quite think of any. Unless I have a physical certified copy for various purposes such as applying for a driver's license or passport, it would be nice but impractical.

Why do you believe it's 2009, and we still have people that are born without a presence on the Internet?

This world is fallen and not perfect. In some situations, having an Internet presence is hardly essential. In the Pacific Rim where bandwidth is fairly limited, the Internet is a quite ancillary part of life if it is even present at all. Considering that American Samoa, a United States territory, has only a T-1 line link to the outside world with less than half of the link devoted to uses beyond government and telemedicine, people are still more likely to have a shortwave radio than an Internet connection.

Do you think this will ever happen?

No. Look at the nightmare of the Digital Television transition. If we cannot get that executed effectively without excessive fear, uncertainty, and doubt then something like this is beyond bureaucracy's capability.

Is there a way for the government to mandate this in the future?

No, not in a manner that would equally serve all Americans.
Source(s):
I served as an academic librarian in American Samoa at a government-run educational institution. I coped with only having dial-up speeds ranging between 26k and 31k being routinely possible.


Helpful Answer?  (2)   (0)    Tip stephenk for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
 
January 28, 2009 11:18 PM - Fact Refuted
So, you believe that every American should be born with a paper birth certificate? There is no reason why we would not be able to make birth certificates available to the holder online.

Report
 
 

Answer this Question

How tips and payments work

This question has already been resolved. You may add an answer to it but you will not be eligible to win best answer or any associated tips.

Ask a Question


140 characters left
Top of Page
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal

Top Members

This Week All Time
  • cfinke
    cfinke
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    29143 Points
    M$29.75 Earned
  • bunnyphuph...
    bunnyphuph...
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    21921 Points
    M$775.99 Earned
  • opher
    opher
    Purple Belt with a Brown Tip
    6588 Points
    M$248.34 Earned
   See All
 

Most Popular Tags

mahalo(1826)
music(520)
iphone(495)
google(398)
online(379)
food(354)
money(301)
beer(297)
movies(293)
apple(265)
health(235)
aotd(235)
video(233)
free(233)
dog(219)
games(213)
   See All
 

Categories

Welcome New Members


 
 
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.

Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.

Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More

 
 

Please log in to use this function.