You seem to be taking the position that somehow privilege or “class” can be improved by creating artificial barriers to entry, but I can tell you for a fact that even back in the dim dark days of dialup BBS, long before the IP protocol, there were assholes and trolls online. Technical skills only made them more arrogant.

A lack of class and comportment online is not new, and the shiny accoutrements and signifiers of “class” can as easily hide malign intent as demonstrate worth. (also: people shared all kinds of crap online, even then).

If you limit the internet to people who can wire up a 300 baud modem, then you’ll just end up with trolls who can solder.

I’m happy that everyone can fly, and can get online. How else are they going to learn about the world? I don’t have to hang out where they hang out if I don’t want to. That’s why I’m on HN and not FB. But they have every right to take advantage of these things, and I still have faith in humanity.

Anyway, without travel and information, how else are they going to learn that the world is filled with artificial barriers intended to keep them in their place?