Illusion of Privacy

It’s funny that we had to set up accounts this week for these two websites. I had thought about setting up a “homepage” just for myself. I feel like I know just enough to be dangerous! Just kidding…although I might take a closer look at the StumbleUpon website and see what I can do. A long time ago…maybe a couple of years, I set up a LinkedIn account through my work. I changed it to a personal one for this assignment. I recently had the opportunity to attend a series of webinars on social networking but my schedule did not allow it. I may try to see if they have any hard copies of these and see what everyone was talking about.

I have had a Facebook account for a while and I do find it very interesting. I know that my privacy is not completely protected, but I feel somewhat safe on it. I try not to share too much information. Fortunately, I can be a snide person and get my point across without having to share too much!! After looking at some of what my friends post, I really watch what I do. I don’t want to become one of those people that post my every move and every thought. How dangerous is that? Really, though, what about those people that post where they are and what they are doing. Is this not an invitation saying, “I’m not at home…come rob me.”

On LinkedIn, I’ve been invited to join by a few of the people in my network of professional people. I have always turned them down because I really didn’t think that I had the time to do any of this. After setting this up and looking at some of my peers sites, I think that I will update mine and continue with this site.

StumbleUpon looks like just the website that I want to use to post things about myself and have the web design pages just for me! I think I’m going to like this site!

http://www.linkedin.com/

http://www.stumbleupon.com/

Social Networking

What is Social Networking? I think it is a way that we communicate nowadays. Maybe not the only way, but it sure is gaining ground lately. Especially if I get on one and actually stay current with it. Actually, according to http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/, “social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision…”

On the website America News Online, an article describes how social networking is done:

Write About It In Bulk

This is where social networking comes in. Instead of writing a dozen (or a hundred) different letters or emails to each of your friends telling them that you just bought a new dress (or car or house or whatever), you make a single post that then those dozen (or hundred) different people can read. Something happens, you write about it, it gets posted on the social networking site, and everyone you know reads about it. It takes all the work out of keeping your friends up-to-date on what you’re doing.

I have signed up for accounts on several social networking sights. Usually just to browse around and be nosy. Most of the time, I don’t get back on them. The only one that I’ve had and kept up with is my Facebook account. I usually get on it daily and look at all the different posts. I don’t post much, but I do like to read about my family and friends lives. My immediate family is not around here and I don’t get to see them much throughout the year, so it’s nice to be able to see what is happening without the inconvenience of telephones! What makes this sight so nice is that I can say no to anything I don’t want to see. If it gets to be too much, I’ll just delete my account and find some other site to enjoy!

I think that some of issues that may happen with social networking sites are that people start to “troll” around these sites looking for other people. I think some people may call it stalking! I don’t stalk, but I do like to look for old friends from where I grew up. If I find them, we usually try to catch up on our lives and it’s nice. Wonder who’s out there doing this to me?

http://www.americasnewsonline.com/facebook-will-change-the-face-of-social-networking-as-we-know-it-911/

http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/

e-Learning...

What do I want from online education?

Above all else, I want to learn from online education!

I will admit that I am sometimes glad that I have an online class…I can wait until the last minute to do something and not have to fret about getting to class on time, dressing for class, or even doing my homework during the day. I can wait until the wee hours of the morning to work on homework. However, my personality tends does not allow me to do this; I try to work a week ahead or at least a few days! Nevertheless, I do have that luxury if I need it by taking online classes.

The reasons that I take online classes are that they are easier to take with my schedule. I work full time and need to take classes either at night or the online classes. The evening classes are good, but I can usually only take one per quarter. With online classes, I can take a few of them each quarter and hope that this speeds up the process to graduate.

Looking at the following website http://www.googobits.com/articles/p4-1977-the-pros-and-cons-of-online-college.html, I didn’t even consider a few of their cons that they list. “No social interaction.” I used to feel sorry for the kids that I knew that were being home-schooled because I thought they were not getting the opportunity to meet new people with all types of backgrounds. I guess you could say the same for online learning.

There are times when I miss having a “live” class. Just as the presentation stated about losing the ability to ask questions and hear answers to other questions that you might not think of to ask. Not only the questions and answers, but also the expressions on people’s faces can help sometimes when we are attempting to learn something. In addition, you can get the results from quizzes or tests immediately and not have to wait or look online daily to see how you did on something.

This website, http://www.quintcareers.com/distance_learning_pros-cons.html, has a list of pros and cons when deciding if you are a person that would benefit from online learning.

I’ll just keep plugging away at both types of classes and really hope that I accomplish my goal…learning!

Net Neutrality

Net neutrality….boy did I feel like I was researching a levy that was being placed on the ballot! There is so much information out there regarding the pros and cons, the for and opposed that I had a hard time actually trying to figure it all out. I have decided that I am for net neutrality. Why change what is working just fine? This is not because I don’t like changes. I’m all for trying new things and such, but really, why should we change this? I really don’t think that we should be monitored by the government and other regulatory offices. Who benefits from this bill, the government or could it be the internet providers that will benefit from this bill?

One article (“Don't Let Verizon and Google Set the Rules for Net Neutrality,” n.d.) stated that “Verizon and Google announced this week that they have it all figured out when it comes to the future of the Internet. They unveiled a policy framework that would give telecom companies the right to speed up or slow down certain kinds of content, and to block outright applications or content on wireless networks.”

I visited the website commoncause.org and found a lot of information regarding this situation. They state, “Without Net Neutrality, Internet service providers would be free to block or impede any online content or services, for any reason.” I don’t know about anyone else, but I certainly don’t think that I want someone telling me what I can and can’t look at on the internet. This is like taking us back to the days when book burning happened. Who wants to have other people tell them what is good for them and what is not?

If they do pass these bills as the Washington Post has reported in an article, one of the bills state that this will allow the web firms and advertisers to collect basic information about users unless these people actively remove themselves from this collection. This type of information does not bother as much as someone limiting where all I can visit on the web.

Anytime the government gets in the middle of anything, there are so many gray areas and so much confusion that no one knows what is happening.

Don't Let Verizon and Google Set the Rules for Net Neutrality - Common Cause. (n.d.). Common Cause - Common Cause. Retrieved October 28, 2010, from http://www.commoncause.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=6179067

Net Neutrality - Common Cause. (n.d.). Common Cause - Common Cause. Retrieved October 28, 2010, from http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4773657

Political Economy - After midterms, net neutrality could take a hit. (n.d.). Blog Directory (washingtonpost.com). Retrieved October 29, 2010, from http://voices.washingtonpost.com/political-economy/2010/10/after_midterms_net_neutrality.html

Education and Learning

I think that there are many ways to learn. Life experience is probably one of the best ways that you can learn. Combine this with education and higher learning and just think what you can do!

I am a late starter in getting a higher education. I can personally tell you that had I gone to college right after high school, I don't think that I would've finished. And, who knows, I might not have gone back to finish after almost 30 years if I didn't enjoy it the first time! Since I am a little older than the average student, I feel that I try to maintain my GPA as high as I can and that I care more about my grades than some younger students.

I enjoy learning so much in all the classes that I have taken…even algebra! I like having to make myself learn something new in each class. I could sit at home and decide that I want to learn how to write papers or how to photograph and manipulate images but after a while, I would need help in learning and going to school is the best way to achieve more knowledge.