DEMOCRACY ON THE INTERNET?
Is Computer Mediated Communication, a
forum where all voices can be heard?
Computer mediated communication
provides us with more of a democracy than we have in the real world.
Some
examples are represented below…..
Credibility - On the computer credibility is based
on text. People do not have to be seen to get their point across. This type of
communication can make appearance mute points. So the whole issue of
credibility and who is credible comes into question.
Click here for more info!
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR650/mr650.ch5/ch5.html
Freedom of Speech - There is no law that firmly regulates the Internet. The Internet is
almost a completely free environment to say what you want. You can even send e-mails to virtually anyone
you want. Aside from indecent language
and pornographic language, you can say what you want.
No Hierarchies - With computer mediated communication everyone’s message is given equal
importance. A cyber-persona is judged by ideas, not wealth and prestige. Women and minorities can get their ideas
heard. Without face-to-face
communication there are no hierarchies.
Click here for more info!
http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol3/issue3/rodino.html
Space - People do not have to be in the same place at the same time. People can
hear someone’s ideas from across the globe. With CMC more opinions can be
heard. So this in turn helps to shape
your ideas about an event. Without the
large distances between people, we will become closer together.
Click here for more info!
http://www.eff.org/activism/global_civil_soc_networks.paper
Anonymity - Anonymity
is very important because being anonymous takes the fear out of you personally
form being ridiculed. If you had to say
something that might endanger you but help save others, an anonymous message
would be the answer.
Click here for more info!
http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol2/issue1/anon.html
Last Revised By: Matt Goodman
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