What a Tangled Web We Weave
I'm not getting points for originality, I'm sure, with this entry's title. But for an English teacher NOT to use it . . . wouldn't I be missing out on a teaching moment? It's a line often attributed to Shakespeare, but it's from a poem by Sir Walter Scott:" What a tangled web we weave / When first we practive to deceive."The Internet (no one calls it the World Wide Web anymore) isn't so much tangled as it is wild, as in the Wild West of America's past. Justice and fair play is all relative. Modern gunslingers infect others with viruses, operate phony web scams, hack and steal confidential information. All from the privacy and protection of their homes.
Despite the lurkers and the lawlessness, one, equipped with firewalls, virucides, and a healthy dose of common sense, might navigate the technotrail without serious harm. There are, after all, many reasons that we love the Internet. For me, and I suspect, most people, using the web daily has become second nature, but none the less exciting. Instantly, I can e-mail, IM, blog, read message boards and the news, bid on EBAY, buy books and CDs, etc. Instantly. With the push of a few buttons. Though I'm always wearing my protection against hackers and evil-doers, and I always keep both eyes on the road, careful where I'm about to stray.
Despite the thrill of the speed, I have taught myself patience and have learned some Internet responsibility, learning from the mistakes of a few minor fender benders. I compose, edit, read, re-read my e-mails before I hit the send button. I dispose quickly of spam e-mail and don't talk to anyone on line if I don't know them. I send important e-mails to the "draft" pile and let them chill a day before their final editing. I take care to write meaningful blog entries, and I quickly commend anyone who responds to them with positive comments of my own, even when people disagree with me. I am careful with all of my comments online, adhering to the dictum that you should only say and write in cyberspace what you would say and write on terra firma. I know, that's NOT a very wild approach, is it?
Without speed limits, law enforcement, manners and morals that come naturally when human beings communicate face to face, many people race the information superhighway at Audobahn speeds and New Jersey Turnpike aggressiveness. Or worse still, they lurk to pounce on innocents like predators in a back alley. Be careful. Be safe.
Keep both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road. This is my web version of a SmartDrive lecture. Note: I started this entry about a month ago. I'm not so prolific that I can knock out blog entries like a batch of Christmas cookies. I've posted it now in case you want to respond for one of your journal entries.
posted by JTF @ 10:50 PM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Ahh, I agree with you entirely about how dangerous this computer can really be. For me, its not all about the speed and convenience that's all that unhealthy, but the addictiveness. There is a current 'blog' for teenagers these days called Myspace, that most of them use for meeting people, leaving comments, just a source of communication. Sometimes I'll befriend teens on Myspace, and run into them at the mall the next day. Actually, I met my homecoming date on Myspace. But its not the meeting people or waiting for comments thats my problem on this site. Its the constant journaling of my day, what I got out of it, and the emotions I felt. The changes I've been noticing in the world and society. Prayers, inspirations, hopesd, dreams. And its not the journaling that is so risky, its the time spent into it. And yes, hopefully it will help me with writing in the long run, or maybe even bring me to a better understanding of some things in the world and within myself by actually writing them down, but its so time-consuming. But I suppose there are more 'dangerous' things to do, and if journaling online is the worst, well then I think I'll be able to live with it.
-Kelly Muldoon
sparkellyism,
You make a good point about the inordinate amount of time that some people might spend on the computer. As you many know, the big push in education is to use the computer even more, hence, the creation of my blog. Your response here has made me rethink whether my encouraging students to read and respond on-line might be counterproductive in some way. Not that I'm going to quit this gig anytime soon, but you've got me thinking from a different point of view. All things in moderation, I guess. Interesting.
Today the Internet can be very dangerous to one's safety. Just by typing in a person's home phone number in Google you can find out exactly where they live. MySpace, another one of those online diaries/journals/whatever, is basically stalker-status. People are able to see how old you are, what city and state you live in, and whatever else you choose to include. Not to say I'm against MySpace, because yes I have one just like every other person in the U.S., but there are definitely precautions people need to be aware of to protect their safety.
Going back to the whole MySpace/Xanga/Blurty/etc. craze, the people who create these things are incredibly smart, and I think sometimes that we all tend oversee that. This is how these people make a living, and I presume they make quite a good amount for it as well.
I completely agree with your assessment of the internet. It has become not an option in most people's lives, but a necessity. In the world we live in that is fast paced, quicker is better, and nobody wants to take the time to drive to the library to find information. It is really a shame that like almost everything else in the world, people feel the need to abuse the freedom we are given by corrupting the experience of others. I liked your comparison of the Internet to the road. You can go just about anywhere on web, you just have to be safe about it.
I would like to add to this extended metaphor if I may. (i am such a dork and im trying to sound lizzie maguire momish so say it funny and maybe you'll laugh)
Listen to your parents. Operate this machine wisely! As an internet traveler, you must be careful not to turn down the wrong street. A virus might pickpocket you. "Imchaos" links will jump you! Chat rooms are full of strangers, luring you with their sweet candy words.
Reckless operation could lead to serious punishment. Like in snowy weather, your tracks can be followed! Rethink whether or not that website really needs to be visited ;).
Not all drivers are as careful as you that we know. So, no file swapping in the backseat, without knowing where the file came from!
If the modem stalls and you are typing a long email, you will just have to try and restart. It happens to the best of us and even to the most loyal computers.
Hover-crafts and double high speed highways may arise one day, but hopefully this advice will suffice for a while.
I'm not familiar with MySpace, though I've heard of it. I don't think I want to go there for the same reasons I don't chaperone high school dances. One Catholic diocese in the Northeast has instructed its students to stay off of sites like MySpace and even all blog sites. I don't know how they're policing this (generally students are more computer adept than adults), but it does show that caring adults are finally learning of the dangers out there and are attempting to do something about it. My old Gateway computer had a lock on it. My new emachine doesn't. Bet these locks become more popular. Can you imagine Mom or Dad grounding you and taking away the keys to the computer? Might just happen.
In today's world the internet, as you said, can be very dangerous if it is not taken seriously. But even though it can be dangerous and even life threatening it is now a necessity in life as we know it today. Without the internet many businesses would not be able to keep their business going. There are many positives about the internet and I feel that these positives outweigh the negatives. It would be wierd to think about life today without having the internet. Many activities that occupy a lot of our times consists around the internet, what would we do without it? As for the dangers though I feel that people need to watch where they go and what they post on the internet. It is scary to think that if someone really wanted to know every little thing about you they can do so with a click of a button.
Is there a free SMARTsurf t-shirt for all who respond to this blog??
The advantages that the internet brings us these days are amazing...things like instant research for that procrastinated term paper, communication between friends and teachers, a place to sell all your worthless junk. It's weird to think, "What would I do without the internet." It's kind of hard to answer. The whole Myspace deal has really concerned the principal of my old middle school, Corpus Christi. Apparently, Sr. Donna has made her own myspace to monitor the information students have on there and then she is forcing them to change it. Is that even legal? Rumor has it, out SMH deans have made calls to parents themselves about Myspace. It seems kind of silly to me that the internet, outside of school, is in the domain of a demerit, but without internet police, what else can they do?...................... I was not suprised to see a surge of blog responses due to journal entries, don't be afraid to come back, our classmates (and Fio) have some interesting things to say.
These days our society is so dependent on the internet and it has become such an ordinary thing that we rarely stop to thing about how dangerous it is. (of course, most of it's dangers dont even come close to cancelling out its usefulness--term papers done with out visiting a single library, instant communication, etc.) While I agree about the dangers of viruses and sharing information on myspaces, I think the biggest danger of all is our dependence and addiction to the internet. Our society would practically fall apart without it and most teenagers would agree how much more difficult our lives would be without it. Furthermore,I know some teenagers that spend hours daily journaling and instant messaging and it just seems like such a waste of our youth. Then again I'm not turning in my computer anytime soon. I have to admit I don't take it quite as serious as you though. By the way, i like the comparison to a road.
this reminds me of what I was listening to on npr last night (which included the kitty spies). IT was on Fresh Air with Terry Gross, a show that I find particularly interesting. (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5128181)
One thing said totally just defunked something said a few years ago. Think about this: Historians of the future have so much to work with. Emails that are sent out are harder to get rid of than paper memos. Tons and tons of emails that are sent in the white house are sent to classified information. It costs hundreds of dollars to keep these secrets classified, but that's not the point. I think it's amazing that historians will have tons more information to wade through.
Here's what I always say: you have to take the good with the bad. You can't get them seperatley; neither can you move forward with out taking them both. So the question now is: Do we sacrifice saftey for progression?
Lots of great responses. I'm not giving up my computer soon, either. However, I find it sad to think that students are spending hours IM-ing and journaling online. Does that leave time for real face-to-face communication where you learn interpersonal skills? Does that leave any time to get out, go to a movie with friends, work out at a gym, jog a few miles to stay in shape? In all things, moderation.
Now school's getting involved in moderating sites like myspace is another issue. It's probably not legal for a principal to make rules for on-line behavior away from the school. However, I bet most parents would appreciate knowing if their child is up to no-good on the web. Most, of course, is not "all," and sooner or later we'll hear of some legal battle on this issue, I'm sure.
Post a Comment
<< Home