Homework Page

Week 5

Facebook and Privacy

These two articles are very critical of Facebook. What do you think about it? Here are some of the things (not necessarily all) I’d be interested in hearing from you:

Please first let me apologize to all Facebook users that may be offended by my opinion, it is of course, just my opinion. I think Facebook is a sad attempt by some individuals who really think that someone cares (other than the movie marketing producers) what their favorite movie is. How narcissistic a society we have become that we have to let people know all of the minute details of our personal lives and then woefully think that someone really wants to know other than data collectors.

Do you feel having a profile on Facebook offers too much personal information about yourself?

Absolutely. I liken it to standing butt naked in front of a picture window at your home with the curtains wide open, then getting mad because someone looked. We place personal information out there in a public forum then worry about what has been collected. How silly is that?

Are you worried about the information a place like Facebook may be collecting on you?

I guess this probably isn’t a surprise, because like Tara, I am one of the 4 individuals on the planet who is not a Facebook patron.

Do you think Facebook is a safe place for kids (11 - 16 years old) to play on?

Again, it should not be a surprise that a certain percentage of people who visit Facebook, probably have an agenda. Facebook gives the deviant members a place to ogle little kids from the privacy of their own homes and not worry about the Feds breaking in. Anyone who thinks that letting your kids put info about themselves and their families out in public is a sane idea should quickly seek medical attention.

Should groups with controversial views (pro anorexia, radical politics, racially discriminating, etc) be allowed to use Facebook as a communication’s platform?

I think that Freedom of Speech is Freedom of Speech. What I think is controversial may be mainstream in other sections of society. You cannot have a free society without allowing all members to have a voice (even if it’s a disgusting voice).

With the exception of MySpace, are their any Facebook alternatives?

There are a large number of general interest sites likeTribe.net, Wasabi, Bebo, Google Buzz. There are also a large number of specific interest websites for music, movies, genealogy like Geni, Flixster and Buzznet.

 

Network Neutrality

I am embarrassed to say that until this assignment I had never heard of Network Neutrality, which is surprising when you consider the importance of the issue to each and every web user..  I am definitely not a big believer in government oversight but I can certainly imagine the many evils that Corporate America network providers can get in to without somebody keeping them in check.  Allowing companies to slowdown or possibly block sites that may interfere with their bottom dollar on a system that was designed for freedom of access is just wrong.  However, that being said, I understand that government should not be telling big businesses how to run themselves.   The government certainly does not specialize in how to make a profit.  Looking at this policy, Network Neutrality, I can see that the intent by the authors appears pure and is aimed at what is best for the general public.  The fact that American companies are having a hissy fit is not surprising and only makes me more convinced that this will be hitting them in the pocket book.  Although I am torn on this issue I was pleased to read that Canada has implemented a form of Network Neutrality in their country and it seems to work just fine.  The Canadian companies didn’t make a fuss and the rules seem very similar to the Network Neutrality rules for the United States.  In my humble opinion, The World Wide Web is a gift from God to the people of earth (very War of the Worldsish) so to speak, and although it is a wonderful way to make money, it is an incredible way for the people of the world to learn, communicate and understand each other.  We just shouldn’t let a gift from God get screwed up.  Praise Network Neutrality.