I Thought Google Was My Friend.

This is a reflection on two articles I read about Google and other internet providers and search engines.

http://news.cnet.com/FAQ-When-Google-is-not-your-friend/2100-1025_3-6034666.html?tag=mncol

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/21/AR2006012100094.html

When I read the title of the first article I suddenly felt depressed, "When Google is Not Your Friend." I love Google. I go to my friend Google when I don't understand what a class textbook is telling me, when I want a new haircut, to find movie times and any other information I could want. I have two Gmail accounts which I enjoy because of the programs like Google Documents and also for my fun personalized layout. When I'm not around a computer and need the phone number or address of a business I call 1-800-GOOG411 and they give me all the information I need. Basically I'm a Google junky.
The article talked about all the person information Google carries about those who use it. I don't mind if someone knows what words I use to search. I'm not into porn or how to make bombs so I feel like I have nothing to hide. What is scary to me is that Google also has access to my name and other personal information that could fall into the wrong hands or can be requested by a court at any time. If I want people to know my personal information I will tell them, otherwise I would prefer they don't know. Another thought that has always scared me is government watching over citizens every move. I thought that this government was set up so the people could be the watchdogs on the government and not the other way around. What the government does should be out in the open for the people to see. Any government of secrets and lies that are controlled by a few men seems ripe for corruption and scares the heck out of me.
The articles listed a couple of Acts meant to protect rights of individual and media but they all seemed out of date with the constant technology advances. They were the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 and the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Both articles talked about the need for revision but also assured that like most legislation it would take time and that the Bush administration probably wouldn't want their freedom to spy taken away. Maybe the Obama administration won't mind if they can't spy as much.
The second article talked more about the fight between telecommunications companies over the internet. I never knew their was tension between the companies. I don't know how I feel about the controversy. I can understand the stress of the owner companies who see their bandwidth being used up by Google. But, I don't want Google to become slower and my least favorite search engines become faster. the jury is still out on this one.

-Melanie Fenn

Netiquette

http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html

I wish more people would read this article called Netiquette. It amazes me when I see news stories that talk about a teenager who took her life because of what her peers said to her online. Teens are not the only ones who relentlessly degrade others online. Adults to it all the time under the veil of a computer screen. One of the author’s main points is to remember that I am speaking to another human. If it is inappropriate to say something to a person standing in front of me I shouldn’t say it in an e-mail or a forum. The author made many other great points as well. Communication online is all about words for the most part. My reader can’t understand my meanings by my body language or fluctuation of text. As a result words become empowered and can be used successfully or can lose my intended meaning. I also appreciated the advice of looking around a site and getting a sense of the people who add to that site before I burst in with my opinion. Sometimes I can become very opinionated and assume that I know what the writer meant and immediately give my two bits. That can be detrimental to the cyber-experience and lead me to miss out on conversations I could grow from. Also, if I research subjects before butting in I can make smart observations and be valued by others on a site. That can lead to a more fulfilling sharing of knowledge.

Email Etiquette

This blog is my reply to an article I read for my Online Journalism Class.
The link is below.

http://www.emailreplies.com/#gender

I have always thought it smart to use etiquette not only at work but in everyday life. I could be walking down the street and meet someone who jump starts my career or be at a dinner and meet a new dear friend. When I think of work etiquette I think of working with customers or clients face to face but this reading brought new light to the etiquette of e-mailing. I know it is important to use proper spelling and grammar as well as not to use quirky abbreviations. Here are some interesting ideas that I had never thought of before.

1. Add disclaimers to your e-mails. It shouldn’t surprise me with the alternate reality that exists online that people say things purposefully or not that can drag companies and individuals into lawsuits. Another point they made was if I have a disclaimer and accidentally forward a virus that also gives an advantage. Disclaimers can really “save your hind,” as my mother would say.

2. CC and BCC. Before reading the article I didn’t really know what those did besides give more space to add contacts in a mass message. When people don’t think the e-mail is intended specifically for them they don’t feel valued and might not even read it. I know that if I receive a mass e-mail if the heading doesn’t spark my interest it goes straight to the recycling bin. It would be devastating if an important client didn’t get an e-mail because I was too lazy to personalize it.

3. Keeping language gender neutral. This one I don’t think is as important as the author made it out to be. So what if the e-mail says “his computer” instead of “the computer” when I know the computer belongs to Bill. I don’t see that remark as sexist at all. The author must have thought it important though so I’ll probably look at it again.

-Melanie Fenn