With promotions like this, it's a fair bet to speculate that the
internet world is in more trouble than initially feared. AOL's
super-generous offer for up to 700 free hours in a month is just the
latest in a series of signs that the new economy is going through more
than a rough patch.
On first inspection, it looks as though an incredible amount of time is
being given away free-of-charge - enough to make any dedicated web geek
cry copious tears in gratitude.
But a closer look reveals that if the mean number of days per month is
30, then the average punter wanting to take full advantage of the offer
is going to have to surf 23 hours and 20 minutes a day. Which leaves
just 40 minutes for everything else like bathing, sleeping, eating and
going to work and working.
If that were not enough, NetValue has invited a select group of
journalists to lead a hippie life at a farm in the New Territories in
Hong Kong. The hacks have been invited to plant trees and flowers, bake
bread and learn the process of paper recycling.
"You're invited to hang out with us as we figure out how life might have
been different had we chosen farming as our daily bread rather than
tracking online activities," the invitation says. Just how much more old
economy than this can the new economy get?
