Homeless but Not Web-less

The Wall Street Journal has an article about how even homeless people feel the urge to stay online, with some even managing to acquire a laptop to stay connected. They may not have a street address but they have a web address, as well as the normal SocNet accounts such as Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Lisa Stringer, who runs a program that teaches job and computer skills to homeless and low-income residents, says some students who can't even read or write save money to buy computers at Goodwill. "It's really a symbol in today's society of being OK and connected," she says. She sometimes urges homeless students to put off buying laptops until their living situations stabilize.

This social change is empowering for the down and out: it used to be that not having a stable address / phone number on a resume virtually guaranteed a person would never get back into the job market. Now somebody who falls on tough times can remain equally responsive to potential employers through email and facebook - and here's the kicker: those are actually the ways a potential employer will call you back for a second interview.

most jobs still want a real phone number to call though. but thats why skype is so nice. at the very least, you employer wants to leave you a message that will be heard that same day.

No one can resist free porn.

This is very interesting.

regardless of how poor most people are... they can afford a cell phone.

I'd probably be more inclined to live out of my car or my tent before giving up the internet. The internet provides too good of means to finding work as well as giving moral support in having something to do during the times when businesses to solicit for work at are closed.

With public wifi and unsecured networks being near dime a dozen as well as old laptops showing up for dirt cheap in pawn shops and even for free in dumpsters it's not too difficult to get *something* that'll get you online, even if you're really hard pressed for money.

"Will work for more RAM"

its true! im sitting in a dumpster right now using a macbook with 68% battery running osx 10.5.6 that i found in the dumpster with a disk stuck in drive on my [H] account!