Hacker News Reader

Comment by fallmonkey | Hacker News Reader

28% know what it is? That's more surprising to me actually.

22% (6% answered not sure). But to be clear, 22% SAY they know what it is. I guarantee that if asked to explain what it actually is, some chunk of that 22% would get it wrong. Anecdotally, most people I talk to IRL believe it will either lower their cable bill or remove their bandwidth cap.

Or it's just more Government regulation that is trying to control the internet and prevent free market competition.

I think the counter one liner to that is something like: Net Neutrality keeps big companies from controlling what you can access on the internet. But not totally comfortable with that because "access" is overstating.

I would also counter with: The ISPs are where they are because they in the opposite of a free market.

Good point, I think this is important to highlight, and might appeal to people reluctant to support net neutrality.

If one supports competition and free markets, recognize that the ISP business is not free and open to competition, and used regulation to gain monopoly or duopoly status. We need some regulation to either try and create competition, or at least prevent abuse of their current monopoly/duopoly status.

I wonder what percent think they know what it is, but don't.

Looks like the question was simply, "Do you know what net neutrality is?"

Riveting questionnaire, really.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com