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Africans Are Turning to Starlink

economist.com

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Re: Africans Are Turning to Starlink

#281

Post by ethbr1 »

rapind wrote: post #278
ethbr1 wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you think that was Elon's doing, read up on Stephen Miller^, who was talking about what he'd like to do to the federal bureaucracy even before Trump won a second term. Elon has some racist and oligarchical views, but was also a convenient, socially-awkward autistic guy to brand as the face of DOGE (and stupidly fell for that) while Miller et al. rolled out their preexisting plans. Then knifed him in the back and t…

Miller is the Antichrist, but I don't buy Elon as a victim for a second. I suspect he'll be spending some of that wealth on image rehabilitation and political influence though as the turns tide. The retcon will be entertaining at least.

I wouldn't say victim, but I would say ideologically-aligned patsy.

Watching Elon seem flummoxed at politics as usual was entertaining.

Like, yeah, of course this administration is going to try to dump the blame at his feet and cut him out as soon as it's in their benefit to do so.

And the only reason they're still vaguely nice to him is because he owns a strategically important rocket+telecom company and Twitter.

Re: Africans Are Turning to Starlink

#282

Post by grebc »

mikert89 wrote: post #40
grebc wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not sure regular internet access is changing the risk like you say, but I agree that people like connectivity and hence will do more risky things because they think it’s safer. Rescues even with EPIRB’s can still be difficult.

this is an absurd thing to say, there are so many situations that are way safer with more information. alot of bad situations happen when people make the wrong decision under uncertainty, or they are in over their head. access to the internet, and increasingly claude, is incredible and changes alot of outdoors risk for the right users

Ask claude to explain perception to you.

Re: Africans Are Turning to Starlink

#283

Post by grebc »

arcticfox wrote: post #35
grebc wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not sure regular internet access is changing the risk like you say, but I agree that people like connectivity and hence will do more risky things because they think it’s safer. Rescues even with EPIRB’s can still be difficult.

This seems like a crazy position to me. In what world is someone with connectivity not significantly safer in remote areas? Obviously doesn't help with immediately fatal scenarios (falls, drowning etc), but there are whole classes of getting-lost or losing-mobility disasters that just don't exist anymore with connectivity.

Not talking about day to day living. Talking about activities like hiking, mountain climbing etc and people perception of safety because they have a phone signal.

Re: Africans Are Turning to Starlink

#284

Post by ponector »

geoka9 wrote: post #273
ponector wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You also brought internet to the long range kamikaze drones enabling hunting mode there.

Yes, for a while Starlink was available to the invading Russian troops killing Ukrainians, but this is over now, thanks god.

But it is still used in Ukrainian kamikaze drones.

Re: Africans Are Turning to Starlink

#285

Post by grebc »

ryanisnan wrote: post #156
grebc wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not sure regular internet access is changing the risk like you say, but I agree that people like connectivity and hence will do more risky things because they think it’s safer. Rescues even with EPIRB’s can still be difficult.

As a former SAR technician, connectivity is a massive, massive game changer.

Sure, not disagreeing on that.

No one says car crashes are less risky because you can dial an ambulance.

Re: Africans Are Turning to Starlink

#286

Post by grebc »

SpaceNugget wrote: post #60
dudul wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is it not safer to have access to information and be able to contact people from your remote location? Does it make you absolutely 100% safe? No. Does it suddenly nullify any potential risky scenario? No. But it is pretty idiotic to say that it doesn't change the risk. It very clearly changes the risk and reduces it drastically.

I want to clarify that no, Starlink _really_ does not "drastically reduce the risk" of remote outdoor activities. Looking it up, Starlink doesn't even provide it's gps location to connected devices. And regardless, actually rugged communication capable handheld gps units already exist and have for a while. And they don't require that you bring a whole satellite dish and some kind of battery pack with you on your wild…

Exactly what I was talking about.

I’m all for expanding internet coverage, but people have a false sense of security because they have signal bars on their phone.

Re: Africans Are Turning to Starlink

#287

Post by grebc »

mikert89 wrote: post #98
dkbrk wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you actually explain what you disagree with? In my opinion, everything in the comment you're replying to is obviously correct. If you're going somewhere where there is a chance you might get lost, injured or trapped by weather, and need rescue, you should already be bringing something like a Garmin inReach. That's a highly ruggedized device with a battery that lasts for over a week without recharge, is small en…

There are infinite examples. Right now I am in an overlanding vehicle, but I'm not an expert in offroading. I drove down a 5 mile trail that was very technical. The car can handle it, but it needs caution and the way back is much harder. I was extremely hesitant about going back up that way. If I get stuck, I am solo and I am hours from town via driving. So I just pulled out starlink, and with a combination of claude…

The track you chose has always had the same risk, you did it anyway even with all that technology beforehand. Congrats, you are the example I’m referring to.

Re: Africans Are Turning to Starlink

#288

Post by libertine »

gruez wrote: post #237
libertine wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With the massive bot networks shoving misinformation and propaganda, it's also a new infrastructure that will destabilize a lot of countries unfortunately.

That just feels like status quo bias. Consider the reverse: should we cut off people's internet access because "that will destabilize a lot of countries"?

Not at all, just that tech companies should take action on this matter

Re: Africans Are Turning to Starlink

#289

Post by dreambuffer »

consensus1 wrote: post #269
dreambuffer wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No you misunderstand severely, some risks are unavoidable and unknowable. You need a telecommunications industry, you can't just eliminate all risks associated with it. So instead you make them pay a kind of insurance to operate in it, just in case the leader of the country you're allowing in one day decides to target your country (sound familiar?). Of course, another goal is just to empower previously disenfranchise…

I agree that lack of a domestically controlled satellite communication service is a national security concern. If SA had a domestically controlled service and required citizens to use that instead of Starlink that could be a real national security measure. But a reseller of telecom services is not a telecom industry any more than a car dealership is an automotive industry. The actual owner of the satellite constellat…

We barely have a space industry, how are we meant to compete with starlink? We need foreign investment. We also need protections against foreign investment. We also need to uplift south africans left behind by apartheid. That is the purpose of the law.

You are just wrong, the law says the local partner must be economically productive, and starlink is allowed to choose them, so if they don't contribute to starlink's business, that is starlink's fault. This is now the second time I have told you this, so you are wilfully misunderstanding me. Conversation over.

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