MS Parent Connection

October 28, 2011

Page 133 – Zebby and her Mom

“What in the world makes you think it’s okay to post things like this on a website?”

“I didn’t post any of that stuff about Lilly. I posted the article about Lego robotics, school food-”

“But you let other people post it.”

“I can’t control what other people post.”

“Sure you can. It’s your website. If you and Amr don’t control what people post on it, who does?”

“Nobody. That’s the point. It’s a freedom of speech issue. We say right on the front page that we aren’t going to censor anyone. So what can we do? We can’t go back on our word.”

Mom cocked her head, like you know better than that, Zebby.

Page 163 - Trevor

Mrs. Michael said, “Because you can be anonymous online, the person you show the world online is usually not the real you.” I think she’s dead wrong about that. I think the person you show online is exactly the person you really are. The person you show in real life is the one that’s fake.

Think about it. Most people are chameleons. They act different around different people. What’s real about that?

Page 74 – “Anonymous”

Have you ever noticed that people say and do things online that they would never do in real life? It’s true. For instance, I would never go up to Lilly and say, “Wow, you used to be really fat,” but I don’t have any problem saying that to her online.

It’s different online. You can say or do whatever you want online because no one has to know it’s you saying or doing those things. And you don’t actually have to face the person you’re being mean to.

Three Identities

Virtual

RealProjective

Virtual

Presence in online spaces

Examples: User profile, video game character

Real

Physical person controlling the profile/character

Projective

Project one’s real identity into virtual identity

Project one’s values and desires onto virtual identity

Virtual identity as a project in the making with trajectory defined by one’s aspirations

Modes of Communication

Face to Face• Verbal, Visual

Voice• Verbal

Text• Instant vs. Asynchronous

Face to Face

Verbal Tone Pace of speech Inflection

Visual Facial cues Gestural cues

Voice

Verbal Tone Pace of speech Inflection

Text

Synchronous Pace of conversation(instant)

Asynchronous Pace of conversation (spaced over time)

Mechanisms

How electronic information is distributed

Tools with a Singular Purpose

Text Messaging

Email

Instant Messaging

Blogs + Forums

Multi-Purpose Services

Facebook

Google +

Twitter

Website Resources

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/

http://www.wiredsafety.org/

http://www.staysafeonline.org/

http://www.commoncraft.com/video/protecting-reputations-online

Photos & References

Gee, J. (2007). What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. New York: Palgrave-MacMillan

Wired.com (2011). Keeping the Geeklets Sharp over Summer Break. [PHOTO]

HowStuffWorks.com. World of Warcraft. [PHOTO]

Interlogy.com. How to Build a Member Site. [PHOTO]

Out Of My Gord.com. Brands Live and Die Face to Face [PHOTO]