***  Haus der Kulturen der Welt: Forum1 Archive  ***
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   [Date]: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 13:02:56 +1100
   [From]: "Dianne d'Alpoim Guedes" <guedes@thehub.com.au>
     [To]: Cultural Exchange via Internet <forum1@herz.kbx.de>
[Subject]: Re: [forum1] Internet levels the playing field

Paul du Toit wrote 24/12/99 :

> My access to the Internet forms the nerve-centre of my business. In South
> Africa the Internet levels the playing field. I have access to the same and
> sometimes more information, previously only available to a select few. It
> has given me the freedom to self-empowerment and to be independent without
> forcing any constraints on me.
>

  Re the above message,

You must live in a very isolated and secluded enclave in S.Africa where the
lives of the majority are either unknown to you or of no concern. The
'playing fields' of your business world may be more level between you and
other business 'players' as a result of your access to the net but the
playing field itself has been moved to a site inaccessible to the majority.
Self-empowerment and independence have become such shifting goalposts for
most South Africans, they don't even try to play any longer. The only
options are to play as "an outlaw" or to set up an alternative "game".

These are such complex cultural/socio/economic issues that I doubt we can
deal with them adequately here.