Week 2

This week we read a couple of chapters in the "everything is miscellaneous" book.  To be honest I've
really struggled with it. I don't understand it and feels like it goes on and on.  Anyways what I did get
of it was a comment that said that "elites" or powerful people use arbitrary lines to stay in power. I've
been thinking about that this week and wonder how often that is true.  I do think there is alot of that,
that goes on. In class yesterday we talked about how the internet removed the gatekeeper and now
anyone can do things they may have not been able to before for example writing a book. Before it
was difficult to have book published and seemed like you had to be a great writer to get that done.
Now anyone can write a book about whatever they want and get it out to the world with little
difficulty. It's really a great thing, I think for the most part to get rid of the arbitrary lines so that the
only the elite can stay in power.  We talked in class about because there is no gatekeeper that there is
so much room for creativity and awesome things have happened and will continue to happen because
of all of these ideas and the ability for people to create and express themselves as they please.
Listening to the Katie Couric interviews really had me thinking about how can there be more
accountability for how we express ourselves on the Internet?  I don't think there is a way.  It makes
me think of the importance of teaching our children at home and at school about the internet and how
to harness it for good.  It seems like there is so much crap on the internet and that the majority of the
population like it.  I wonder if there are other ways to make good use of the internet popular. I think
there is definitely alot learning and teaching to be done for all of us who use the internet.  It also
made me think what's the responsibility for the school when there is cyber bullying taking place?  I
had a instance this year where a mom was using my sons name and posting things about him because she
thought my son was bullying her son, when both of our children where doing things they shouldn't
have. When she was posting she still hadn't talked to me and got the full story, but people in the
community where letting me know what she was saying and was using his name.  When I spoke to
her she said that she didn't use our last name and so it was ok. I told her it's a small community an
alot of people who he was.  When I spoke to the school about what was going on their response was
that if it happens outside of school it's not their business and they can only take care of things that
happen while at school.  At the time I didn't think about it much because I wanted to talk to this boys
mom and straighten things out which we did and things calmed down. Reflecting back it makes me
think what is their responsibility and I think it is there responsibility to assist students who are being
bullied through the internet as well.