I am putting this in the travel section, first because it is affecting travel:

Quote:Flights in Afghanistan grounded after internet shutdown

Afghanistan's main airport is at a standstill as the country grapples with the fallout of a nationwide internet shutdown imposed by the Taliban government.

The Taliban has yet to give an official reason for the decision, which took effect on Monday, but did say it would last until further notice.

Communication within Afghanistan, and out to the wider world, has been severely impacted, as have essential services - including banking and payments - and access to online education, a lifeline for many women and girls...

—

The Taliban government have for weeks been severing fibre-optic internet connections across several provinces, saying this was part of an effort to prevent immorality.

It began in a handful of provinces, but did not impact the capital Kabul until Monday, with several people telling the BBC their fibre-optic internet stopped working towards the end of the working day, around 17:00 local time (12:30 GMT).

And on Tuesday, many awoke across the country to find essential services paralysed.

Najibullah, a 42-year-old shopkeeper in Kabul, told news agency AFP that residents felt like they were left "blind without phones and internet".

"All our business relies on mobiles. The deliveries are with mobiles. It's like a holiday, everyone is at home. The market is totally frozen."...

—

A spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Balkh wrote on X earlier this month that the ban on fibre-optic internet was meant to curb "evils". He added that authorities would explore alternatives.

It is unclear exactly what the reason for this week's shutdown is.

The shutdown is the latest in a series of restrictions which the Taliban have enforced since returning to power.

Earlier this month they removed books written by women from the country's university teaching system as part of a new ban which has also outlawed the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxqdy5nrlqo

Now obviously this is the Taliban doing Taliban things. Well, at least I think it's of their own choosing. But part of me got a tiny bit wistful at the thought of no internet. As a holiday. Not like I'd choose Afghanistan for that though. But I used to take summer holiday in at a retreat that was civilized in that it had catered meals, flushing toilets, and a dress code that discouraged the slovenly, but did not have cell phone or Internet access. If anyone wanted to get in touch with you, they would have to telephone the main office land-line, and they would take a message and leave a note at your table, which you could then happily ignore. But in recent years they've had to recant that policy, and now there is, alas, Wifi and 5G access. It's depressing, in a way. So I am wondering if there is any place left "off the grid" that isn't premised on sharia and sand, where one can party like it's 1880 so to speak? I do not want to "rough it", that can chafe or make one sweat, but I would like to escape modernity, at least for a little while.

I was watching this video the other day that was likening the internet to the Gutenberg press as far as the availability for an individual to access information such as the Bible, and to read and understand for oneself the word of their God. It is, as it has always been, about control...

@UB "A spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Balkh wrote on X earlier this month that the ban on fibre-optic internet was meant to curb "evils". He added that authorities would explore alternatives."

They could always do with North Korea is doing in regards to internet and TV programming.

"Internet access in North Korea is highly restricted, primarily controlled by the government, and available only to a small elite group."

As this restricts men — maybe they’ll stand up and do something.

(09-30-2025, 06:58 AM)UltraBudgie Wrote:  It's depressing, in a way. So I am wondering if there is any place left "off the grid" that isn't premised on sharia and sand, where one can party like it's 1880 so to speak? I do not want to "rough it", that can chafe or make one sweat, but I would like to escape modernity, at least for a little while.

I do believe they are having more problems with residents trying to break the rules but its still there...

Quote:The "Green Bank Quiet Zone" refers to the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ), a 13,000-square-mile area centered on the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia. The zone restricts radio transmissions to protect the observatory's sensitive radio telescopes from human-made radio frequency interference (RFI). 

(09-30-2025, 12:58 PM)Martin75 Wrote: I do believe they are having more problems with residents trying to break the rules but its still there...

Sounds grand! That's where Zendik Farm was. And they had a neo-Nazi compound too!

But sigh, it look like this place, which is right next to the Observatory, still has Wifi. They found the exact edge of the zone, it looks like.

(09-30-2025, 12:19 PM)ANNEE Wrote: As this restricts men — maybe they’ll stand up and do something.

How... Please tell me how... This was a post about men? 

I mean, I was under the impression that this was a topic regarding Afghanistan, religion, tribal culture in general, and the raging against potentially differing views... And yet, somehow? You want to make it about... men?

Forgive me, but it is starting to seem like you have an agenda.

(09-30-2025, 01:47 PM)MalevolentTwitch Wrote: How... Please tell me how... This was a post about men? 

I mean, I was under the impression that this was a topic regarding Afghanistan, religion, tribal culture in general, and the raging against potentially differing views... And yet, somehow? You want to make it about... men?

Forgive me, but it is starting to seem like you have an agenda.

Actually it's a little experiment of mine, oh-hoho! I wanted to see if people latched on to the Taliban bit or the anti-technology anti-modernity bit. But I guess anti-chauvinism is in the mix too! To each their own.

Please just don't flamewar spiral folks.

(09-30-2025, 01:55 PM)UltraBudgie Wrote: Please just don't flamewar spiral folks.

Very well. In the interest of the continuing conversation, would you do me the kindness of defining; Spiral Folks...? That is very much a new term to me and I don't wish to offend anyone.

And then we should probably get back on topic... I have a 'tism regarding thread drift.

(09-30-2025, 02:01 PM)MalevolentTwitch Wrote: Very well. In the interest of the continuing conversation, would you do me the kindness of defining; Spiral Folks...? That is very much a new term to me and I don't wish to offend anyone.

Yes of course, I forgot a comma! "Please don't flamewar spiral, folks". I said "folks" so as not to imply I'm saying anything specific to you or anyone else! And well I guess everyone knows what "flamewar" is, that's when you get hot and bothered and the gif with the kids playing football comes out! But to "spiral" is sort of newish (I guess??) slang that means... um, well here is what AI says!

Quote:In slang, "spiral" often refers to a situation that is getting worse or out of control, such as emotions or circumstances deteriorating rapidly. It can also describe a person's mental state when they feel overwhelmed or anxious.

So there. Wait, wasn't this mean to be a thread about avoiding technology (at least in part)? Oops! I have use AI, oh the irony!

(Please excuse too many exclamation points I have had much coffee!)