I will address each of her points by going down the list she compiled.
Thinking About Privacy -- younger generations (the "net generation") feel little or no need to take action towards protecting their privacy. They fill out personal information online without a second thought, download music/videos illegally and purchase items online etc. Turkle points out that there seems to be a disconnect between the younger generations and the fact that privacy is a RIGHT and not a PRIVELAGE. They seem relatively unaware about violations of privacy and government/commercial surveillance. Although, there are young people out there who are protective of their information and privacy rights, I do agree that there is a lack of knowledge and caring in the matter of privacy. Who can see your information? What will be done with this information? How is the information being obtained? What can I do to ensure my privacy? These are the kinds of questions which fail to be asked by many youngsters, perhaps due to a lack of education in the matter.
Avatar Or Self? This was my FAVORITE part of the list and it is a point that I have been trying to get across for some time. CHAT ROOMS, AIM, FACEBOOK, MYSPACE, WORLD OF WARCRAFT, SIMS, ETC. ETC. THESE TYPES OF TECHNOLOGICAL VENUES CAN ACTUALLY BE A DETRIMENT TO THE SOCIAL GROWTH OF PEOPLE. I've been saying for some time how I feel that social networking can create a barrier between people because they can create an 'online persona' which does not manifest itself in reality. People can hide behind the computer or an avatar. Turkle says, "For those who are lonely yet afraid of intimacy, information technology has made it possible to have the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendships." She also says, "...some people who gain fluency in expressing multiple aspects of self may find it harder to develop authentic selves".
Miss Turkle, thank you. Thank you for saying what I could not find the right words for. At last, a scholarly article which supports an observation that I feel so many disagree with me on.
I am actually going to skip to her last point because I can tell that if I go through all the others, I will become lazy with my analysis and compromise the integrity of this post.
Simulation and its discontents ok -- I'm going to pull a rather large quote from the article...
"Despite the ever-increasing complexity of software, most computer environments put users inworlds based on constrained choices. In other words, immersion in programmed worlds puts us inreassuring environments where the rules are clear... Children grow up in a culture of video games, action films, fantasy epics, and computer programs that all rely on that familiar scenario of almost losing but then regaining total mastery: There is danger.It is mastered...Scary. Safe."
OK, what I think she is getting at is that (in a world where entertainment media already tries to make everything black and white, good and evil) -- we now have children growing up and learning to make simulated decisions based on very cut and dry rules and scenarios. When these children become faced with REAL decisions, in a world where things are NOT black and white, they may flounder. The world is complicated and full of grey areas. While these games may help in the process of decision-making skills....the decisions are based on clear situations, and in life there are times when there really is no "best solution" but rather a series of distasteful options which you must bear through . Turkle says, "we have never had a greater need to work our way out of binary assumptions...we need to rebuild the culture around information technology...in that new sociotechnical culture, assumptions about the nature of mastery would be less absolute."
WHEW! Congratulations if you actually read all of that.
Sherry Turkle, I love you.
Well, allow me to retort...
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I more or less agree with the idea about preprogrammed worlds, the associated binary choices, and lack of critical thought/engagement in the gray areas of life. However, I also think those are valid models that can be used for decision making as long as children are given to tools to understand and apply the whys and hows of those decisions. Of course, the additional lesson isn't available to kids and people who are wholly reliant on these systems for learning and interaction. So, While I agree, I'm on the fence about it because I didn't read the article and that quote seems to assume that the users are in a vacuum and only have the "system" as a point of reference.
Part the second (or first, depending on perspective), avatar or self. I totally see the validity in Turkle's argument here, but I do disagree. Not because I think people DO represent themselves accurately or honestly online, but because I think very few people EVER represent their true self. The way most people act is context dependent even in the real world. You have one set of rules for interacting with professors, fellow students, a boss (in and out of the workplace), other co-workers, friends (of varying closeness), family, etc. Considering all these codes of conduct one deals with and how much time these codes consume, the opportunities to present the "true self" are relatively few. I realize this is a sweeping generalization with no backup, but I think most people would be hard pressed to say all the above contexts allowed for expression of their true self.
Someone is just as capable of crafting a persona offline as they are online. However, in both "worlds" the person has to have some sense of their true self if they are going to craft a persona. Otherwise they'd be exact copies of the people they wanted to interact with and that doesn't seem to be the case from what I've gathered. To me, it seems that the ability to express one's true self is more about finding a group or space where a conceptual common ground exists. If that place is online, then I don't see why that's any less valid than meatspace. I think social networking sites and online communities are just as capable of dissolving barriers or filters as they are at building them, it all has to do with individual comfort and attitude rather than the tools employed.
And the privacy thing, that seems like a given to me. Many people of the Net Generation are often too free with what they share and with whom. Consequences seem to be ignored in favor of immediate connectedness or interaction.
One thing that concerns me is the the concept of morals and moral behavior. It's interesting to see the complete and total lack of parental supervision and guidance for these kids.
ReplyDeleteWith technology outpacing many adults comprehension levels, we're left with an information highway that is being hijacked by youngsters who don't seem to have any boundaries.
Nice post.
I have evaluated your posts and comments (where applicable) for assignments #5 & #6. Before Tuesday 2/23 I will have written summary comments about the assignments and posted them on the course blog.
ReplyDeletetwo thumbs and two big toes up.
ReplyDelete