Noticing Privilege, Part #3,902

I am attending an event soon and I was asking one of the people familiar with the higher-education venue about the WiFi arrangements.  Because, as you know, the true Maslow hierarchy has connectivity just above oxygen and water.

Well, he said, you can easily join the "$VENUE_guest" network.  But it will require you to verify your phone number.

What? I asked, You mean it will send me a text message with a code?

Yeah.

What if I don't have a phone?

I suppose you can create a Google Voice number.

And look at it how, without access to the WiFi?

Um, go somewhere with free WiFi?

. . .

I think it's quite the privileged outlook that led someone to the assumption: anyone who might need the venue's WiFi will of course have a phone in their pocket.