Internet Takeover

The internet has become such an ingrain part of our everyday lives. From people running businesses and attending school to social networking . Where does the reality of the “real” non-virtual word stop intersecting with the “fake” virtual world. Virtual social networking sites such as myspace.com hosts features that allow you make announcements(bulletins), rate your friends(top friends), display signs of affection(comments), count your friend, share pictures, and tell the world who you are. How often does the myspace community affect the “real” community?



Due to the ease of access and the largely public display of information, cyber-bullying has become one of the biggest problems facing teens today. Over one third of teens say that they have been affected by cyber-bullying. Technology allows conversations that were previously private to no longer hold any promise of secrecy. A private email conversation can be forwarded to a listserv of a 100 of your closest friends with only a few clicks of a button and within minutes. In the case of Megan Meier, a 13 year old who faced depression, cyber-bullying was taken to far, to a point where she committed suicide. After a parent of a neighboring child posed as an attractive 16 year old boy who stated that he had a crush on Megan, he “dumped” her, calling her all sorts of names. End: hung herself by a belt. Read the full story here. As a growing number of bullying cases leave the class room and enter the world wide web where can the discipline take place? Who is the principle of the internet that will sent the offending children/parents to detention?

For those of you who let it “loose” on the internet, hiding behind the nameless and faceless screen, it’s time to think again. Your facebook and myspace profiles will now be a part of your resume. Resumes state your work and school history, but it says very little about who you are as a person. Employers are now looking at facebook and myspace profiles to find our more about a potential employee. So while your Harvard degree may look awfully pretty on that paper, will it really matter when they see how you talk to people are what your “extra curricular” activities are? One documented case of a picture on mypace affecting a job position is that of Stacy Snyer. A 27 year old who on the eve of her graduation was denied her degree in education. Her offence? She had a picture of herself on Halloween dressed as a pirate - and drinking. They claimed her to be unfit to teach because she promoted underage drinking (important note* there was no underagers in this photo) So remember next time you post a picture…. A picture is worth a thousand words, and you never know who is looking.

The line between a virtual word and the “real” world is increasingly becoming blurred. Everyday we see our real lives affected by the internet, weather it’s a comment on Myspace that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and an employer that will no longer consider hiring you because of some scandalous photos. Yet does this mean that the facelessness and lack of identity by hiding behind the computer is also being blurred?


Steiner, Emily. "MySpace Photo Costs Teacher Education Degree." Washington Post. 1 May 2007. 2 Dec. 2007 .

"Megan Meier, MySpace, Bad Parents and Sick Adults: When Should Cyberbullying Be Considered a Crime?" Blogher. 18 Nov. 2007. 2 Dec. 2007 .

Dear Big Corporations, Please tell me who to be!

The issue of network neutrality challenges the users ability to freely access information on the internet. Internet companies such as AT&T, Time Warner, Verizon, and Comcast want to be the ones to tell you, the consumer, what pages you can and cannot view. They want to restrict and guide you to their products and services by slow service and blocked sites. Who wins in this scenario, the customer or the corporation?




The participating companies are attempting to show their muscle by acting as the gatekeeper by restricting information, limiting innovation, and killing competition. The internet is one of the few places let that the consumer still has control in his/her own experience and use on the internet. Web sites will no longer succeed or fail based on their own merit, but rather how much money they have in their bank account.

As these big corporations spend hundreds of millions lobbing in congress, we, the customer, continues to pay for the service and ultimately support them. In 2005 a decision by the FCC put the original idea of a free and open internet in jeopardy. This decision is one of the continuing driving forces of the lobbyists to persist on a path of no network neutrality.

"AT&T and others have funded a massive misinformation campaign, filled with deceptive advertising and "Astroturf" groups like Hands Off the Internet and NetCompetition.org."



What do we stand to loose in the loss of Network Neutrality? Small businesses who can't afford to pay for a faster speed will be left behind by the gaits who can. Entrepreneurs will lose the ability to be judged freely and fairly as corporations take the top spots on the web. Blogging will no longer be a free marketplace of information, rather censored by those who bid the highest. Search engines that do not pay the highest bid will take the backseat to those who do, by slowing down service. You the consumer will be steered to big corporations with a faster loading page, or a site that hasn't been blocked, guiding you to buy the products of their supporters. And the list is really endless, everyone would be affected, and again the rich would just keep getting richer.

Think this hasn't already affected you? WRONG. Check out this website to see how companies like Verizon are blocking pro-choice text message, or how AT&T censored a live web cast that criticized President Bush.


BENIB. Total Information Control. 2006. www.minutemanmedia.org. 16 Nov. 2007 .

"Frequently Asked Questions." Save the Internet. 16 Nov. 2007 .

eBay. The revolution of getting rid of your own junk and making money.

eBay allows users to buy and sell new and used items from toothpicks to cars through the primary use of bidding. One may list an item for sale with a starting price of a $1.00 (let's say User A) then as other users want the item they will enter the most they are willing to pay for it. Let's say $30.00 (User B). At first this bid will only appear as $2.00 (or whatever the increment may be), but when User C comes in and bids $10.00, User B's bid will then appear to be $11.00. This will continue until User D comes into the mix and bids $35.00, in which case User B would be out of the bidding war and User A would receive $35.00 in exchange for the item. Feedback is used to keep track of the honest users; the ones who pay, and the ones who actually send the item after it is paid for.

eBay allows for a formal network of exchange of goods. It has allowed for easier access to items that may otherwise be hard to find.

#7 Online communities

Millions of people belong to various social networks on and off line. But how are online social networks effecting our off-line relationships. What is the need when you can sit silently typing away on your computer, dressed in who knows what, and the ability to create a whole new identity to be judged on. Yet again, is the internet allowing people to maintain and strengthen off-line relationships through the easy and availability of communication. Families can communicate easier with sharing photos, sending emails. Old high school friends can find each other and stay in contact much easier through sites such as facebook. And people are able to meet new friends/ significant others through sites such as MatchMaker. But, in addition, there are communities that are open to the general public, based on interest. Online communities for various niche and general markets are popping up all over the web. Covering anything on health care to the best saddle for your horse. They can provide a great source of free information, peer review, and even classifieds.
My life pretty much revolves around the wonderful world of horses, so naturally that carries over into my “on-line life.” I belong to a community called the Chronicles of the Horse Forum (www.chronicleforums.com), which although has sprung from a magazine (that I have never read, but love the forum!), although is maintained primarily by volunteers and the members themselves. With over 32,000 members, the site has attracted a lot of attention within the horse community. The forum is rather specific towards your interest in horses based on the discipline you ride. By breaking it down into several categories, information is easy find, read, and understand (that is if you understand the horse language to begin with!). If you have your own question that is not already post, not a problem, quick become a member, select ‘create new post’, and ask away.

I have found it really helpful for situations with my horses health care that are general enough that I don’t want to call my vet, pay them $100 to come out, just to find out it’s something simple that I can easily treat. With access to a number of vets, farriers (who trim and shod the horses feet aka hooves), and trainers it’s easy to find the solution by describing the problem, or even providing pictures. Granted, if my horses leg looks as though it’s about to come off, I’m not going to run to the computer to find out what to do, I’ll call the vet. Also it’s a great way to find out about products or companies recommended by your peers who have used it for the same purpose you have. Although I think one of my favorite posts that I discover on here… budget friendly solutions. Various people wrote recipies and suggestions on household products that can be picked up at places like the dollar store that are often 10 times cheaper than going to my local tack store (horsey equipment).
Another great things, there is a classified section to buy and sell used products. Because I had to pick one of the most expensive hobbies/sports in the world, I’ll take any penny that I can save by buying used tack. Sure there are places like eBay but this whole board is: A. catered to horse people so you know what your buying is what they say it is, B. there are a lot of wealthier people on the board so you can get some really nice things really cheap, and C. there is a giveaway section. Give-a-way you say? Free horses that are generally retiered that are looking for a home, people looking to give a horse a home, and people who no longer want to be bothered with their old tack and just give it a way. One of the most heart warming stories I have found of strangers being kind to strangers was found here. One of my lesson students does not have a lot of money, but she works and hard and really takes good care of the horses. So I posted a wanted add, asking for anything old tack that she might be able to call her own. Within a week I had several large packages sitting on my door. Inside was complete strangers previously loved items. Total market value of those items: $420! Complete strangers…or are they?



Eubanks, M (2006). Online Social Networks Can Create New Forms of Community. Washington File , . retrieved October 19 2007, from http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=July&x=20060712194635xmsknabue0.1596033

. (n.d) retrieved October 19, 2007, from Chronicles of the Horse Fourm Web Site: www.chroniclefoums.com

Assignment 5 - Access Granted

The Internet is still relatively new, and with that the problems that it presents are also. The law is still working to catch up with the speed of technology. The three branches of our government have yet to agree on the Internet’s pitfalls and potential. Additionally, due to cross-cultural function of the Internet, laws regarding the Internet and privacy would be hard to uphold.
It is seemingly innocuous to sit behind one’s computer faceless, however computer tracking begins when one purchases internet service. An IP is assigned to your specific computer. A unique number separated by dots in most cases works to protect your privacy, every policy is different for different Internet Service Providers.
An IP address will also keep track of what web sites one visits. Without your knowledge your browser can release your default e-mail address, phone number, and other information in the electronic address book if the browser also handles your e-mail. Not only is a browser tracking what web sites you visit, but any search you make via a search engine is tracked and recorded. Furthermore, if you use the same search engine site as you do for your email, they can connect the two and gather even more information. In fact, any web site host owner can utilize Google’s free tool that tracks where someone enters their site, how long they stay, and where they leave.
IM is another tool that most of us use is the Instant Messenger and a lot of the newer versions are now saving and storing conversations. So while you may select not to save these conversations, your conversing partner may differ.
Blogs are the worst offenders. Personal information is made public for the world to see in most cases. Making your personal trials and tribulations available for the public to view, more so your employer to see. Reports say that blogging has accounted for firings and a number or major companies.
The convince of the internet has made it easy for things such as banking. But how safe is the information? While most all banks make their systems secure, you must be careful of emails received asking to update your account information. Emails can come from a variety of courses most of which are NOT from your bank. Unsuspecting users may enter information that allows fraud users access to information and your finances.
I personally have received a few of these emails from people claiming to be from sites such as eBay asking for me to update my account information. Upon clicking the web address given, I noticed that the address in the web browser was one that was unrelated to eBay. Additionally the little lock symbol that appears in the upper right corner of Safari was not there as it should be with a secure site. I immediately closed the browser and reported it to the eBay staff.
So the big question, in the nuances of the Internet, what is privacy? It is the ability to perform daily activities on the Internet without my personal information being sent or collected to any organization or company without my consent. But is signing up for and utilizing the Internet consent by use?

Sources uses:
Camm-Jones, Ben. WebUser. Retrieved 27th September 2007. Published 14th August 2007. http://www.webuser.co.uk/news/136595.html

Electronic Pricacy Information Clearing House. Retrieved 27th September 2007. http://www.epic.org/

Privacy Rights Clearing House. Retrieved 27th September 2007. http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs18-cyb.htm

Assignment 3 - Copyrights

One of the most common misconceptions about copyright law is that it protects ideas, inventions and discoveries. This is in-fact incorrect. According to the information provided by the government at www.copyright.gov patent or trademark law covers inventions and discoveries. And while how ideas might be expressed it does not cover the ideas themselves. So what does copyright cover? "Literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works", so things like music, plays, "movies, computer software, and architecture" (copyright.gov).

With the start of the Internet more information became more readily available and accessible to its users. Because of that, there was a need to find a way to protect people's work that was out there. "The Copyright Website" (www.benedict.com) explains it best:

"The Internet has been characterized as the largest threat to copyright since its inception. The Internet is awash in information, a lot of it with varying degrees of copyright protection. Copyrighted works on the Net include news stories, software, novels, screenplays, graphics, pictures, Usenet messages and even email. In fact, the frightening reality is that copyright law protects almost everything on the Net. That can pose problems for the hapless surfer."

It makes it very easy for Joe Shoes photo of little Suzie to be copyrighted and protected from anyone else using it.

This also makes it very easy to get music. I know I have no problem hoping on Lime wire and getting some music that I might be into, but what is the effect for the artist? I think it has both positive and negative effects on them. I spoke to a friend of mine who used to be in a fairly popular band and asked him how it affected his bands advancement and income. He said a few things, one that it was great because more people were able to check out the new music, and made it easier for new fans to check them out. The other thing he said was that it was tough because record sales used to be a big income and now you basically had to cut that out of the budgeted income. So as a beginning artist who doesn't have a fat wallet it does hurt.

After talking to him I drew a few of my own conclusions. It's obvious at this point that music downloading is here to stay, people will continue finding ways to block it and then find ways to break through it. At this point its time to realize it, and now move past, find new ways to bring in the money.

COM125 Assignment 2: Who am I?

Who am I? I'm a student enrolled in Communications. I plan on using the degree towards marketing. I currently have a job as a "Manager of Marketing/Sales" for a local company that invents and produces communication products for airlines ground support. I've worked with internet marketing, PR, and a few other areas with other companies in the past.

Besides school and jobs I'm extreamly involved in horses. I currently own two, Canada, and off-the-track throughbred that I compete in jumpers (go fast over a seris of jump) and dressage (fancy flat work), and plan on doing eventing (combination of previous plus jumping over solid jumps in the fields and woods) with him next season. The second is a medium pony, Fay, who is a sale project and can, in a matter of speaking, jump her height.

Apparently school, jobs, and two horses can't keep me busy enough I also started the UB Equestrian Club/Team. We travel to WV and PA to compete against other schools on their horses. Which means around 7 weekends away this semester with a lot of girls cramped into cars and hotels... If we're not away we are hosting events to fundraise as UB gives us nothing.Essentialy, horses tend to comsume my life, what time i have left I spend with school or working. If i have excess time I tend to fill it with sleep.