Society's view on computers & the internet.

[mattyjim123]

I was doing the norm of sitting in front of the telly, watching some crappy reality show, laptop in lap, clicking that stumble button over, and over again. When I stumbled upon this blog post. (hopefully it wont be removed for some reason or another).

http://coding2learn.org/blog/2013/07/29/kids-cant-use-computers/

Please just take 10 minutes or so to read it. Its a really interesting post in my opinion.

It reminded me about how strongly against Internet censorship I am, and people feeling that the internet is a hostile environment, because they can't use common sense when using the web.

The thing that really gets me going is where people have the idea that the Internet is a nasty, dangerous place that gives people access to see who you are, and encroach on your life. The view that it is a horrible place because of internet bullies, paedophiles and cyber criminals. Ans sadly, a view that my mother has.

She says, and I can't help but feel that many other people have the same view, that the Internet is bad because of the porn sites, because children are lured into paedophilic traps, and because people have bank account details, and identities stolen. She agrees with "Internet censorship".

I, however, could not agree less. I can understand why people have this view, and why people are scared of the internet, because they don't understand how to use it properly. I believe that internet censorship is in no way an answer to the problems that society sees regarding the internet. (The teenage suicides, the cyber criminal victims, etc.) I feel that the problem lies with the common sense that people lack when it comes to the internet. Its not up to the websites, the government or any body else for that matter to stop these things happening, but for people to be educated with common sense, most of which is already present with other aspects in life.
For example, a view that people have is that children are defenceless innocent creatures when it comes to talking to a paedophile online. Would the same rules for walking down the street not apply? You educate your son or daughter, not to talk to strangers, right? Why does that not apply to the internet? Is it not up to the parents, the schools, to educate the children that it applies online as well?
Another great example is the one where people feel that it is easy for people to steal their details for bank accounts etc. It is when you let them have it!! Why don't people realise not to give away their personal details online? Don't the same rules apply when it comes to using the telephone?! You don't give any old joe your card details do you? So why do people do it online?

Summarising the whole thing: As the internet and computers become more and more a part of every day life, people need to treat using the internet with the common sense and life lessons that apply to other aspects of their life. Simple things.

It is not the tool that needs to be changed, but the user to be educated on how to use the tool.

I could have carried on, but its late, I have school in the morning. One question I do have for myself though: Why the hell didn't I use this as a subject for my GCSE English essay?!


I would love to hear your thoughts. Be them agreeing with me, or calling me an idiot, go ahead! That's what the forums are for!

 

[mattyjim123]

That's a good point actually, I somewhat trailed off and started talking about something completely different. What I want to discuss is why does society, in my opinion it is typically the older generation, but not always, feel that the internet is a hostile environment. And why does the government feel they need to censor some parts of the internet. Also why do we see such sites as ask.fm being criticised for people being bullied on the website, when they can just use common sense, and close it? etc etc.

Basically, why do people not apply common sense when using the internet?

Edit: I've edited the post now, hopefully its a bit clearer as to what I'm wanting to discuss.

 

[mattyjim123]

Speaking as someone currently training to be a Computing/ICT teacher I found that blog to be pretty damming of the man himself rather than the people he was denigrating. He seems to be a teacher not willing to teach anyone, he just fixed problems and handed back the machine with an air of superiority.

AS to the rest of your post, I tend to see the internet as just another thing that is part of the world. A very important thing no doubt, but still just a thing. It doesn't have a special exemption due to it being "online" therefore if I accept that governments need to, at times, legislate and regulate the real world that would also include the internet.

I agree with your first point, that he was somewhat looking down on the lady, which I didn't really like, but I still agree with most of what he has to say.

It is another thing that is part of the world, and yes, laws are needed to stop such thing as cyber crime. But why, if it is not just another thing in the world, do people not use as much common sense? I don't feel the government should have to censor, legislate and hold websites like ask.fm to blame for their users actions, for example. This past year there's been a few cases of a teenager being bullied on a websites such as ask.fm, where eventually they turn to self harm, and suicide. Why doesn't the teenager, or parent, remove their account? Isn't that a simple solution?

 

[mattyjim123]

If you know everyone is talking about you then it's natural to go there and read what has been said, then possibly reply, hence being sucked back into it all.

I would agree, that that is the natural reaction, but isn't it up to the parents to talk to the child, maybe get a councillor. I don't really know much about mental health issues, or self esteem issues such as what may be behind it, so I'm not going to try and act like I do.

 

[mattyjim123]

They'd better not censor the internet. How else will I groom children, learn how to make bombs, be a racist asshat, spout my ill-informed drivel on social network parasites, and run up huge debts on my parents credit card for apps that I shouldn't be using because I'm 6 years old

What about my freedoms? Thanks Obama!!! (if that even is your real name)

I may seem a little stupid here, but I genuinely can't tell whether you're for or against internet censorship

 

[mattyjim123]

I see this from both sides.
Kick MS out of schools. Roll out Linux. Save money. Become better people. ???. Profit.

Haha amen to that! But if they change over the kids will be like "Whers da intirnet explorar?!?"

 

[mattyjim123]

Effectively you are suggesting that social exclusion is the answer to be bullied, it really isn't and will more than likely lead to even more problems.

I'm not suggesting that at all, what I'm saying is that surely, in the same way that if somebody were to be getting bullied and the school do nothing about it, which is what I've seen in many instances, it's up to the parents, or friends etc to give that person help. I fail to see how trying to help somebody seek psychiatric help, is socially excluding them.

 

[mattyjim123]

Your solution to being bullied on Ask.fm was not "Seek psychiatric help" but "stop logging on to ask.fm". That isn't really a solution as it effectively excludes someone from a social resource because they are being bullied. The fault doesn't really lie with them, surely the "common sense" bit should actually lie with the people doing the bullying? Why do they not have to exercise it whilst the victim does? We shouldn't really be getting to the place where someone needs to seek psychiatric help for being bullied, we should be stopping the bullying.

I understand your point, and you say that we should stop the bullying. So does that lie with the bully being persecuted, or the website being persecuted? At the moment it seems like the latter. If the website was seen as just a place for anonymous bullying, then surely the general pattern would be is that people simply wouldn't use the site? What I feel is that the website shouldn't be held to blame, it is the bullies, but that doesn't seem to happen.

Quite frankly, I don't see not using a website such as ask.fm as being socially excluded really. I don't see it as true social interaction. How is answering the random questions of a nameless, faceless person who you may not even know, social interaction? That's not mutual social interaction, that's social interrogation.

 

[mattyjim123]

Surely it is both? But then how do you take the bullies to task if you are not allowing the monitoring of websites or allowing users to easily report abuse? Do not the providers of such services also have a duty of care to their users?

Correct me if I am mistaken, but doesnt Ask.fm have a report button. Shouldn't this then let it be up to the victim, and other people reading the posts, to report the question, and stop the bullying? Then surely it is the victim's, and other witnesses' responsibility to stop the abuse?

It is a social networking site, there are social elements to it. Social interaction with your peers is pretty important, be they local or remote and in an increasingly networked world what constitutes a friend is changing pretty rapidly. Regardless I see effectively punishing the victim as inherently wrong.

Social interaction with your peers is important, but is it really interacting in a way that really is important? surely interaction should be mutual, where you can communicate to somebody, that is not anonymous, and that you can also ask them questions? If people wanted true social interaction, would they really use Ask.fm? Wouldn't they use a Social Networking site like Facebook, Twitter, or even simple face to face conversation?

Also, I don't understand how got to the conclusion that it is punishing the victim.


I have to say, all opinions on the matter aside, I do like a good debate, and I thank you for continuing this with me, and sharing ideas. You have opened my mind up to perhaps a few different ideas on the matter.

 

[mattyjim123]

@RDM, I feel we are going round in circles here, so I believe we should agree to disagree. I think we both have a good argument from 2 different sides, and it has opened my mind up to other ideas.

For now, I feel this thread should be laid to rest.

Thanks to anybody who contributed!