Hacktivism

Both of the readings on "Hacktivism" give broad examples of hackers and hacking. What are your definitions for hacker, hacking, and hacktivism? When exactly does one become a hacker? What constitutes hacking? Does your roommate trying to guess the password to your computer constitute hacking? Is he/she a hacker? At what point is the line crossed? Can hacking be used for good causes, or is it inherently evil?

Activism Online (Gurak)

Gurak examines two of the earliest instances of collective activism online. Think critically about the "double-edged sword" Gurak describes in the Clipper Chip and MarketPlace protests: the power of online collective action versus the peril of adopting false group information. As you think about these benefits and dangers, take into account recent digital events that you have witnessed, from Twitter coverage of Iranian protests to right-wing e-mail campaigns to "prove" that Obama is not an American. How do the principles Gurak provides apply to contemporary social movements online?

Mapping (Barton & Barton)

Find a map online--it can be a campus map, a map of the mall, a map of your hometown . . . feel free to think creatively about your choice. Critically read the map using the principles expressed by Barton and Barton. What ideological presumptions are evident from the map's design? Does it reflect the more inclusionary visual design the authors advocate? If you happen to choose the same map as another student, make sure to share how you agree and/or detract from your peer's observations. Please include the URL to your map.

Turkle: Video Games and Computer Holding Power

According to Sherry Turkle, "The computer is not merely a tool used to accomplish tasks, but an object that enters our individual and social lives; how we interact with computers influences our outlook on the world and our perspective on ourselves." Looking at video games as our interaction with computers, do you agree with Turkle? If so, in what ways do computers influence our outlooks and perspectives? You may want to include your 1-hour-gaming experience and/or any previous experiences to support your answer.

Twitter

Twitter's popularity is driven by an older age group. However, Claire Miller states in her article, "You Tube attracted young adults and then senior citizens before teenagers piled on." Will Twitter follow a similar path? Will Twitter be adopted by teenagers in the future? If not, will Twitter's success come to an end? 

Facebook and Myspace

Lenora Rand says that "truths about our lives that we often mask with polite smiles and the superficial "I'm find, how are you?" are leaking out in this online world." Do you think that, because of Myspace and Facebook, people are losing the ability to talk about uncomfortable topics in person, reverting instead to social networking sites?

Online Communities

Social interaction in our generation has changed with the advent of new media. Communication used to be limited to the area in which you resided until the introduction of technologies that widened the circle of interaction. Now, one can log onto something like facebook and potentially chat with people in different countries.

What online communities are you involved with? Why? How do your interactions with this community affect your life?