Hacking Incident of Governor Palin's Email

I think this incident just re-enforces the argument that we were having the other day of how the Internet's lines of privacy are getting more and more blurred by the day. Most people who use the internet for business purposes and not only for leisure, would agree that email correspondence and even searching through search engines is a private and personal affair and no one has the right to view it, be it through hacking or any other manner. Just as the cell phone and face to face interactions are considered personal interactions, the internet is also a personal space for many, and invasion of that is parallel to tapping a cell phone. I firmly believe that lines need to be drawn and it be clarified that it is NOT ON to view others personal activities on the internet.

Beyond Borders

As we were discussing in class earlier, the perimeters of 'privacy' have become more and more blurred as we have increased our usage of internet and google. I do not foresee a future for a concept known as 'privacy' to exist ten years down the road. The likelihood of it being left as a mere word stripped of all meaning is high. Google is attracting more and more users each day, and the numbers are just going to increase. Soon it will be an invaluable accessory, and that will guarantee the ceasure of 'privacy'.

Chapters 1 and 2- I Spy

The first two chaptes were definitely eye openers. It is clear that the concept of individual privacy has assumed a different meaning, that is if it remains at all. Even though google and other search engines are useful tools for information gathering and academic purposes amongst other uses, they whisk away our privacy. The internet has in a way blurred all individuals into one, and any one can be fished out by clicking on the search button. It has become just too easy to know who the other person is and what their background may be. It would be fair to say, that search engines like google have made every internet user (that is essentially everyone), vulnerable and 'out there'. However, every thinking individual has conveniently condoned it the issue, though we still like to occasionally complain about our privacy being violated. At the end of the day it is a trade-off, and we have chosen things to be the way they are.

Internet-contributions and discontents

Internet and internet blogging are like any opportunity that may be presented to anyone, except this opportunity is everlasting, if you will. And the opportunity can be utilized, i.e. intellectual exchanges by which you can learn and better your capabilities and knowledge, or the opportunity can be vulgarized and made into a disgusting tool to please one's twisted ego. The first two articles instigate a question, should a line be drawn in the internet which bars people from being abnoxious and insulting to others? Or should everything continue the way it is as doing anything else would infringe on our concept of democracy, something that is also very dear to us. I believe, that what we need on the internet is a 'democracy in check'. Other than that, there can be no abrahamic solution to this growing problem, as people are increasingly exploit the internet. Even though this solution may be criticized by many, it will bar out the negative elements and atleast have peace for the majority of internet users, who are not in consensus with that minority.

Technology-What it is

In today's world technology plays a vital role. It shapes our lives and our individual, in a broader sense, shaping the world. Even though many may say that technology is no more than an aid to human existence, technology heavily contributes in to making us who we are. The media, internet and all other types of technology mould are views and perceptions, thus, influencing the choices we make in our life. Internet and computers are just a new and more advanced version of pencils and books, which once upon a time were viewed in the same way as internet is viewed today. Writing is fast becoming a frequent way of communication. As technology influences our lives more and more, and we spend more and more time on our desks and get less physical interaction, email and digital interactions are becoming more and more popular. The written interactions, even though devoid of facial expressions, can be more expressive and have more of an impact as they do not fade away like spoken words, but rather remain in front of your eyes. Also, written words provide clarity in statements made by individuals and instigate more of an objective interpretation as there is less likely for a context to the conversation to exist, which is usuall y present in face to face interactions. Another important factor that goes in favor of written interactions is that there is a record of conversation, where is in oral conversations words are mere events that occur and become part of of the past.