1. I disagree that websites like Youtube should be responsible for doing the copyright "scut work." I believe that if you are the one who has a problem with copyright infringement, you should be the one to find the infringe-rs yourself.
2. I think that Network Neutrality needs to be monitored. Phone companies and Internet Service Providers are using this to their advantage and it's influencing the way people think rather than letting them decide what they want for themselves. Of course, some web pages just load much much slower than others; however, there is a difference between "the Wireless Internet is super slow today," and "This page takes 10 minutes to load every time I try and access it."
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Ethical Behavior
1. The argument could be made that maybe ethical behavior is declining in our generation; more people are plagiarizing, cheating on spouses, not reporting crimes. With the Internet, plagiarizing, and meeting people are easier. With the ability to communicate easily, more and more people are doing unethical things without honestly realizing it. The argument could also be made, alternatively, that maybe because of the internet people are just getting caught more.
2. I think schools should just find a way to motivate students more. If students were intrinsically motivated, students wouldn't be lazy and just cheat on their book reports. And if students are motivated earlier in life, that motivation carries on (just like unethical behavior early in life leads to unethical behavior later). If kids have the right kind of motivation while they're young, they'll continue that behavior. For example, instead of cheating on his wife, a man will want to solve his marital problems and take the time to talk them through with her.
2. I think schools should just find a way to motivate students more. If students were intrinsically motivated, students wouldn't be lazy and just cheat on their book reports. And if students are motivated earlier in life, that motivation carries on (just like unethical behavior early in life leads to unethical behavior later). If kids have the right kind of motivation while they're young, they'll continue that behavior. For example, instead of cheating on his wife, a man will want to solve his marital problems and take the time to talk them through with her.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Fear and Privacy
1. Everyone knows that the fear of the unknown is what is truly frightening, which is why people fear the dark the ocean, and space. I have absolutely no doubt that the reason why the Baby Boomer generation is reluctant to be a part of the social media movement is because they don’t know about it. All they know is what they hear, and after all that Myspace craziness with pedophiles and whatnot they all got freaked out.
I’ve also learned that Baby Boomers are very strong headed and close-minded. Once they have an idea about something, it’s not going to change.
I’ve also learned that Baby Boomers are very strong headed and close-minded. Once they have an idea about something, it’s not going to change.
2a. In NY a kid got suspended from school for creating a group on Facebook about a teacher. He and all the 25 people who joined it got in trouble. I think he should have gotten into more trouble, personally. He has the right to think and say really whatever he wants, but when it becomes a game to make fun of someone it’s rude, hurtful slander.
In the article about the teachers getting suspended for things they posted on facebook, I only agree with the punishment of the first one. He shouldn’t have been posing shirtless. However, the second one, where the teacher said he liked drinking and that he taught in the ghetto, shouldn’t have been punished at all. As long as he isn’t coming to school drunk what he does outside of that building is his own business. And for the record, he does work in the ghetto.
The last one with the special education teacher was just plain silly. She got suspended for saying she was angry and didn’t like her students? That’s pure opinion. She’s entitled to her opinion, and it wasn’t really hurting anyone.
I absolutely disagree with how the college students who worked at the hospital were punished. They were put on academic probation just because they emailed a couple pictures of some guy who got mauled by a shark. I’m pretty sure that at the beach, while he was getting mauled, there was someone who whipped out their phone and started taping it. I can only assume that video was then put online for everyone in the world to see, rather than a personal email.
In the article about the teachers getting suspended for things they posted on facebook, I only agree with the punishment of the first one. He shouldn’t have been posing shirtless. However, the second one, where the teacher said he liked drinking and that he taught in the ghetto, shouldn’t have been punished at all. As long as he isn’t coming to school drunk what he does outside of that building is his own business. And for the record, he does work in the ghetto.
The last one with the special education teacher was just plain silly. She got suspended for saying she was angry and didn’t like her students? That’s pure opinion. She’s entitled to her opinion, and it wasn’t really hurting anyone.
I absolutely disagree with how the college students who worked at the hospital were punished. They were put on academic probation just because they emailed a couple pictures of some guy who got mauled by a shark. I’m pretty sure that at the beach, while he was getting mauled, there was someone who whipped out their phone and started taping it. I can only assume that video was then put online for everyone in the world to see, rather than a personal email.
2b. I agree with the Hermitage school district completely; Layshock was way more than completely out of bounds by creating that profile (humorous as it was). I disagree, however, with his punishment. They sent him to an alternative school among other things for a silly prank. The kinds of kids who go to alternative schools are the real trouble makers – drug addicts, 14 year old pregnant girls, 16 year olds fresh out of juvy. He shouldn’t have been stuck there! Especially if he didn’t have any sort of record before. Maybe a suspension would have been reasonable, or even just not letting him graduate with his class or go to school activities would have more than sufficed.
Friday, February 4, 2011
What If?
All of us are pretty well accustomed to the Internet; it makes our lives easier. It makes research more efficient, networking faster...we can even shop online. You don't even have to leave your house anymore. The entire world comes to you. Personally, I can say that I don't watch the news on television anymore. It's much faster for me to read about what's going on the world online and then move on, not waiting for the other half of the story I'm listening to between weather and "How to Save Your Money" slots.
Without the Internet, keeping in touch with people would be much slower, and far more expensive. Of course there would always be 'snail mail,' and the obvious telephone call. But what if you have friends in Georgia? New Zealand? China? Long distance and out of country phone calls rack up cash fast. With an Internet connection, one can simply pay a monthly bill and send as many Facebook posts, emails, or pictures as is possible. Instead of going on Ebay and buying a case of tennis balls and having it shipped to your house, you would have to actually leave, go to a local sporting goods store, and pay there.
Americans are very proud of our right to be this lazy and impersonal. We take great pride in our freedom of speech, and thus our ability to be cowards and post on someone's wall what a loser we think they are. If the US pulled an Egypt, even for a day, you can bet there would be trouble stirring. There would surely be an uprising.
Unfortunately, the thing most Americans don't know is that yes, they have the right to post and say what they please, but people are still punished for it. On top of that, what we see on the Internet and even on television every single day is censored. Things are made up. Propaganda is spread. Things are blown out of proportion.
Most Americans take advantage of their first amendment rights, but how many are really aware that their rights are being taken away from them anyway?
Without the Internet, keeping in touch with people would be much slower, and far more expensive. Of course there would always be 'snail mail,' and the obvious telephone call. But what if you have friends in Georgia? New Zealand? China? Long distance and out of country phone calls rack up cash fast. With an Internet connection, one can simply pay a monthly bill and send as many Facebook posts, emails, or pictures as is possible. Instead of going on Ebay and buying a case of tennis balls and having it shipped to your house, you would have to actually leave, go to a local sporting goods store, and pay there.
Americans are very proud of our right to be this lazy and impersonal. We take great pride in our freedom of speech, and thus our ability to be cowards and post on someone's wall what a loser we think they are. If the US pulled an Egypt, even for a day, you can bet there would be trouble stirring. There would surely be an uprising.
Unfortunately, the thing most Americans don't know is that yes, they have the right to post and say what they please, but people are still punished for it. On top of that, what we see on the Internet and even on television every single day is censored. Things are made up. Propaganda is spread. Things are blown out of proportion.
Most Americans take advantage of their first amendment rights, but how many are really aware that their rights are being taken away from them anyway?
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