Class exercise

So this post is a little late. I didn't get to it until the weekend and I felt like crap for most of it so here it is.
Basically what we talked about in class. The online conversation had its ups and downs. I still, for a class setting at least prefer an in person "interface" over anything. I can see the people I'm talking to, we can read eachother nuances, body gestures etc. Online, is alright, at least there you can review what you've said, plan out your thoughts reference back to things previously said. It can be useful, but the overall impersonalness of it kills me. It reminds me of like the stories or joke comics you see of people in the same room or house iming eachother. I mean, even I'm guilty of it, I've IMed my mom downstairs when I'm still in my pajamas or just really lazy. Or in school, which is a bit more understandable because at least there its becasue you CANT talk in person in the same room. I don't know. I still prefer REAL communication over online.

Anonymity, not just an internet luxury...

I was searching for more sources in my crossfire paper when I came across an article that outline a casestudy/story about a company that began to link virtual identities with real ones:

The article wouldn't post correctly for some reason- check it here under the title
B. DoubleClick- The Beginning of the Controversy?
http://www.ijclp.org/6_2001/pdf/ijclp_webdoc_11_6_2001.pdf

This is just further proves and shows how treasured and necessary the anonymity of the internet is. We practically define the internet as a place where we can become faceless, nameless or someone else entirely. Just another article I thought went well with class.

Interesting AU Action

So I was looking through AU Today and found an interesting article through the Office of Campus life- called Saving Face.


http://www.american.edu/ocl/vp/facebook.html
Here is an excerpt:



Here are some Face-saving Tips for reaping the benefits and avoiding the dangers associated with electronic social networking:

1. Don't expect privacy on social networking sites. Even "secure" sites can be hacked easily, so information you post is essentially available to the public - even if that was not your intention.
2. Discourage hackers. Create complex alphanumeric passwords, and make sure that they are unrelated to any of the information you have posted (i.e., your birthday).
3. Keep your identity as safe as possible: for example, to adjust your privacy setting on Facebook go to http://stedwards.facebook.com/privacy.php
4. Consider posting only information that is already available in the public domain when you create your personal profile.
5. Post general information rather than specific details, such as
* Birthday - September 19 (no year)
* Address - Washington, DC (no street address or residence hall & room #)
* Phone number - omit
6. Consider the image your postings project. What would a prospective employer think of you? A scholarship awards committee? De-tag or remove inappropriate pictures of yourself.
7. Watch what you say and post about others. False statements can subject you to charges of defamation or libel; photos posted without someone's knowledge 'and consent can be construed as an "invasion of privacy." Generally, follow the "Golden Rule" - Treat others as you want to be treated.
8. Use Facebook in moderation. Don't substitute the virtual world for the real world.

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The last one, 8, was the one I found striking. I couldn't help but think of our last few classes. "RL is just another window", the whole thing about China and "addictions". What do you guys think?

Internet usage

Inspired partly by Kellen's post on cell phones. I wanted to make a few remarks on internet usage. Think back to middle school or maybe even 4th and 5th grade of elementary school. Think of how much you used the internet and how much you use it now and how that has progressed. Maybe you had a few email exchanges with distant relatives but really you were only online to use AIM because it was the newest novelty in communication? Now how do you use the internet, spend maybe 10-15 minutes checking news and email then 2 hours on facebook and another 2 just surfing around? Go out, then comeback and spend another 2-4 hours? I'm curious, how many hours a day do you think you use the internet, what do you do during that time?