Comments for Introduction to Cultural Studies Class Blog http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com Columbia College Chicago - Spring, 2008 Fri, 16 May 2008 19:08:35 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Grades are posted! by Sobhan Rezaee http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/grades-are-posted/#comment-188 Sobhan Rezaee Fri, 16 May 2008 19:08:35 +0000 http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-188 Dear Professor I am an Iranian student in culture and Communication that visit your class blog. I think this is excellent sphere for structuring the class disscussion. I will be very happy to see your comments on my blogs. Dear Professor
I am an Iranian student in culture and Communication that visit your class blog. I think this is excellent sphere for structuring the class disscussion.
I will be very happy to see your comments on my blogs.

]]> Comment on Response Assignment # 7 by Angelika L. http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/response-assignment-7/#comment-177 Angelika L. Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:52:24 +0000 http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-177 An example of the panopticon in my neighborhood is the gaudy use of video surveillance cameras outside of housing projects and several stores. Along side the cameras are huge obnoxious bright flashing lights also on certain housing buildings and on grocery stores such as jewel. One is made to feel imprisoned and watched as opposed to safe. As referenced in the article, Bentham’s book on the panopticon states that there are lights shining on every angle of the prison, while the watcher is concealed in a dark area. That’s how I feel when walking down the street or to the store. There is an eerie feeling about these bright lights that flash like fluorescent light bulbs all night. I’ve asked people if all of this unnecessary “watching” offends them, and they don’t really pay it much attention, people are so accustomed to being subservient government property that they’re totally oblivious. I’ve also been stopped by police officers in my neighborhood several times while walking to the store at night and being interrogated about my age, it makes me angry that they’re not out fighting real crime, they’re wasting a good five minutes of both of our time questioning me because they can. I see police undercover constantly harassing “suspicious” people on the streets. When you know you’re constantly being watched your behavior changes and eventually these systems make you feel like maybe you’re doing something wrong even when you know you’re not. There is a sense that one is always under surveillance in my neighborhood; whether it’s because of the police constantly circulating and staring or the many video cameras and flashing lights. This form of security makes you feel like a criminal, or some bad science experiment under close surveillance; it’s an awful feeling. As the reading states, you feel a different form of tyranny this way, there isn’t a real need for physical bondage because now you know you’re being watched and you’re this society’s puppet. There is no real sense of privacy whether you’re on the Internet or on the street; I think it’s going too far. An example of the panopticon in my neighborhood is the gaudy use of video surveillance cameras outside of housing projects and several stores. Along side the cameras are huge obnoxious bright flashing lights also on certain housing buildings and on grocery stores such as jewel. One is made to feel imprisoned and watched as opposed to safe. As referenced in the article, Bentham’s book on the panopticon states that there are lights shining on every angle of the prison, while the watcher is concealed in a dark area. That’s how I feel when walking down the street or to the store. There is an eerie feeling about these bright lights that flash like fluorescent light bulbs all night. I’ve asked people if all of this unnecessary “watching” offends them, and they don’t really pay it much attention, people are so accustomed to being subservient government property that they’re totally oblivious. I’ve also been stopped by police officers in my neighborhood several times while walking to the store at night and being interrogated about my age, it makes me angry that they’re not out fighting real crime, they’re wasting a good five minutes of both of our time questioning me because they can. I see police undercover constantly harassing “suspicious” people on the streets. When you know you’re constantly being watched your behavior changes and eventually these systems make you feel like maybe you’re doing something wrong even when you know you’re not. There is a sense that one is always under surveillance in my neighborhood; whether it’s because of the police constantly circulating and staring or the many video cameras and flashing lights. This form of security makes you feel like a criminal, or some bad science experiment under close surveillance; it’s an awful feeling. As the reading states, you feel a different form of tyranny this way, there isn’t a real need for physical bondage because now you know you’re being watched and you’re this society’s puppet. There is no real sense of privacy whether you’re on the Internet or on the street; I think it’s going too far.

]]> Comment on Response Assignment # 7 by Andrew Mott http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/response-assignment-7/#comment-176 Andrew Mott Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:46:50 +0000 http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-176 Again I am sorry for the lateness but still wish to participate. The penopticon is everywhere, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. Mayor Daley's "super cop" cameras are said to have a possible range of two to three blocks in any direction, and in my neighborhood there is one at nearly every major intersection east of the Red Line from Wilson heading north past Argile and beyond. The cameras rotate so at any moment we are being watched and/or observed, (1984 anyone?) The Internet is unsurprisingly no exeption. From email to social networking sites like MySpace, to sites that might imply "terrorist" points of view simply because they disagree with or question current policy, the powers that be say "beware!" and so we do. The serious problem(s) with this come when we might ask ourselves -what is it exactly that we are afraid of? Is it porn? Is it foul language? Is it identity theft? Is it violent imagry? What the fuck is it? I propose that not only are we afraid of an infinite multitude of things, but that in today's world we are content to be told what those things are, by people that classify themselves as experts not to be questioned. And if they are then they point the finger at the questioner. In this are there are parents being told how to raise their kids. There are religeous and theological perspectives being tagged as the "American" way in a nation claiming to be free of any judgement in such matters of faith. There is a pill that can be taken for almost anything, and I could go on indefinitely. My point is that although there are many things that are justifiably scary suc has identity theft, we seem to have an obserd tendancy to blow things out of proportion. Frankly, if someone wants to enjoy a little porn, the ideals of this country should let them do so. If parents are nervous of what there children might be exposed to then what happened to taking it upon THEMSELVES to do something about it. IF WE ARE BEING TOLD WHAT TO BE AFRAID OF THEN WE ARE ESSENTIALLY BEING TOLD WHAT TO BELIEVE IN ALTOGETHER! And that is what is truly scary. Talk about identity theft. It is true that problems exist, and that there is still no cure for cancer. Just remember that it is those in power that make the laws, the policy and the decitions on who to watch and why. So who watches them? Again I am sorry for the lateness but still wish to participate.

The penopticon is everywhere, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. Mayor Daley’s “super cop” cameras are said to have a possible range of two to three blocks in any direction, and in my neighborhood there is one at nearly every major intersection east of the Red Line from Wilson heading north past Argile and beyond. The cameras rotate so at any moment we are being watched and/or observed, (1984 anyone?)
The Internet is unsurprisingly no exeption. From email to social networking sites like MySpace, to sites that might imply “terrorist” points of view simply because they disagree with or question current policy, the powers that be say “beware!” and so we do. The serious problem(s) with this come when we might ask ourselves -what is it exactly that we are afraid of? Is it porn? Is it foul language? Is it identity theft? Is it violent imagry? What the fuck is it?
I propose that not only are we afraid of an infinite multitude of things, but that in today’s world we are content to be told what those things are, by people that classify themselves as experts not to be questioned. And if they are then they point the finger at the questioner. In this are there are parents being told how to raise their kids. There are religeous and theological perspectives being tagged as the “American” way in a nation claiming to be free of any judgement in such matters of faith. There is a pill that can be taken for almost anything, and I could go on indefinitely.
My point is that although there are many things that are justifiably scary suc has identity theft, we seem to have an obserd tendancy to blow things out of proportion. Frankly, if someone wants to enjoy a little porn, the ideals of this country should let them do so. If parents are nervous of what there children might be exposed to then what happened to taking it upon THEMSELVES to do something about it. IF WE ARE BEING TOLD WHAT TO BE AFRAID OF THEN WE ARE ESSENTIALLY BEING TOLD WHAT TO BELIEVE IN ALTOGETHER! And that is what is truly scary. Talk about identity theft.
It is true that problems exist, and that there is still no cure for cancer. Just remember that it is those in power that make the laws, the policy and the decitions on who to watch and why. So who watches them?

]]> Comment on Response Assignment # 7 by Meghan M http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/response-assignment-7/#comment-175 Meghan M Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:14:26 +0000 http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-175 I had a really hard time comprehending this reading. I had to read it a few times and I'm still not sure it clicked. So here's what I think is a system I've experienced similar to the panopticon model. As many high schools do, we had an honor code system concerning cheating. The idea was that everyone was obligated to watch for and report dishonesty of any kind, whether it be cheating or plagerisem, etc. However, 2 factors caused this system to be slightly askew. The students at my all girls, catholic prep school were both fiercely loyal and terribly vicious. Those who were fiercely loyal would never dream of reporting their friends, but those who were terribly vicious couldn't wait to catch their foes. On top of that, you had the super christian kids who had this sort of sense of nobility and would report anyone anyway. So what this created was a system where if you took a risk and tried to look off your neighbor's paper, you didn't know if any of the girls around you were the type to turn you in. This reminds me of the panopticon model because you knew you might be being watched but you weren't sure when and by whom, so wasn't it just easier to behave and do your own work? I had a really hard time comprehending this reading. I had to read it a few times and I’m still not sure it clicked. So here’s what I think is a system I’ve experienced similar to the panopticon model. As many high schools do, we had an honor code system concerning cheating. The idea was that everyone was obligated to watch for and report dishonesty of any kind, whether it be cheating or plagerisem, etc. However, 2 factors caused this system to be slightly askew. The students at my all girls, catholic prep school were both fiercely loyal and terribly vicious. Those who were fiercely loyal would never dream of reporting their friends, but those who were terribly vicious couldn’t wait to catch their foes. On top of that, you had the super christian kids who had this sort of sense of nobility and would report anyone anyway. So what this created was a system where if you took a risk and tried to look off your neighbor’s paper, you didn’t know if any of the girls around you were the type to turn you in. This reminds me of the panopticon model because you knew you might be being watched but you weren’t sure when and by whom, so wasn’t it just easier to behave and do your own work?

]]> Comment on Assignments for Wednesday, April 2nd by Andrew Mott http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/assignments-for-wednesday-april-2nd/#comment-174 Andrew Mott Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:05:41 +0000 http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/?p=16#comment-174 I know that this is exceptionally late but here it is: 1. What is graffiti? How is it defined by history and how has that definition changed over the years? (from cave drawings to spray paint, to tell a story and/or make the claim, "i was here") How does graffiti effect the identies of the artist (i.e. re-naming one's self), the viewer and the world wide social sphere? 2. Why is graffiti so incredibly popular as both a language and art form umongst today's pop culture? This being to the extent of large corporations using it to make big big money, while at the same time viewed by the general puplic as being dangerous, gang related and therefore illegal? I can speek personally to receiving a decent beating from police when cought in the act, and yet givin a minimal slap on the wrist when it came time for judgement. 3. I intend to address this through research using books such as Graffiti World, and of course BANKSY, and perhaps others yet to be desided. Interviews with long time veteren artists such as NERD, FACT, THE NINE and others. I also intend to interview local police, perhaps a few school teachers at Arai Public School in Uptown, some Columbia visual artists and some random local parents. 4. My best source will be the interviews, although the extent of the available written materials on graffiti is ever increasing. So we will just have to see where this takes me, for the subject has a vast amount of possibility. Im confident though that it can be compiled into the necessary page count. I know that this is exceptionally late but here it is:

1. What is graffiti? How is it defined by history and how has that definition changed over the years? (from cave drawings to spray paint, to tell a story and/or make the claim, “i was here”) How does graffiti effect the identies of the artist (i.e. re-naming one’s self), the viewer and the world wide social sphere?
2. Why is graffiti so incredibly popular as both a language and art form umongst today’s pop culture? This being to the extent of large corporations using it to make big big money, while at the same time viewed by the general puplic as being dangerous, gang related and therefore illegal? I can speek personally to receiving a decent beating from police when cought in the act, and yet givin a minimal slap on the wrist when it came time for judgement.
3. I intend to address this through research using books such as Graffiti World, and of course BANKSY, and perhaps others yet to be desided. Interviews with long time veteren artists such as NERD, FACT, THE NINE and others. I also intend to interview local police, perhaps a few school teachers at Arai Public School in Uptown, some Columbia visual artists and some random local parents.
4. My best source will be the interviews, although the extent of the available written materials on graffiti is ever increasing. So we will just have to see where this takes me, for the subject has a vast amount of possibility. Im confident though that it can be compiled into the necessary page count.

]]> Comment on Response Assignment # 7 by Mike Kosciesza http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/response-assignment-7/#comment-173 Mike Kosciesza Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:23:11 +0000 http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-173 The internet is a incredible place to be. For instance if you're bored, you can just long onto a game site, if you feel like chatting it up with folks across the world you can hit up a chat site or program, if you're hungry you can order a pizza online and have it delivered to your front door on the speed of a mouse click, if you feel rebellious toy can find blue prints to building a pipe bomb. We as Americans have become so dependent on the world wide web that we can't even spend one day not logged on. And now with the rise of blog websites, video hosting sites, and social networking websites you should ask yourself "It's 10pm on a Saturday night, do you know where your kids are?" You may think they're safe in their room doing homework or reading a book, but in most cases they're in their bedroom taking semi-naked pictures of themselves and uploading them on myspace or facebook, or chatting it up with a 18 year old hot boy who lives in California but in reality its a 57 year old man getting his hopes up. The article says, "With the growth of Internet usage, serious concerns about Internet security and privacy have arisen" i totally agree on that statement. I used to be a member of myspace, back when it was more mature and friendly, now its become a haven for little young boys and girls to try to get as many "friends" as possible. And the way they will do this is by taking inapropriate pictures of themselves, or making stuff up on their page only to have someone click the "add to friends" button. When you're online, you're not the person you are in real life. To me it seems like some people have a second life in the internet world. Online hacking is also a HUGE problem. So many people had their identity stolen, money stolen, computer files broken into to, viruses, etc. And there isn't much you can really do about it. There are anti-spam and virus protection programs but a lot of times they detect those after you get one and not during. and even if you do have one there isn't anything you can do about it except for re-installing everything on your computer. but then again your final paper in class is due today and you have to retype the whole thing because someone fucked around with your computer. What the internet may become in years to come, we'll have to find out. But for now its a insecure place to be, so every time you're on you never know who maybe be watching. No matter the regulations on it people will always find a way around things that have been restricted to them. The internet is a incredible place to be. For instance if you’re bored, you can just long onto a game site, if you feel like chatting it up with folks across the world you can hit up a chat site or program, if you’re hungry you can order a pizza online and have it delivered to your front door on the speed of a mouse click, if you feel rebellious toy can find blue prints to building a pipe bomb. We as Americans have become so dependent on the world wide web that we can’t even spend one day not logged on. And now with the rise of blog websites, video hosting sites, and social networking websites you should ask yourself “It’s 10pm on a Saturday night, do you know where your kids are?” You may think they’re safe in their room doing homework or reading a book, but in most cases they’re in their bedroom taking semi-naked pictures of themselves and uploading them on myspace or facebook, or chatting it up with a 18 year old hot boy who lives in California but in reality its a 57 year old man getting his hopes up.

The article says, “With the growth of Internet usage, serious concerns about Internet security and privacy have arisen” i totally agree on that statement. I used to be a member of myspace, back when it was more mature and friendly, now its become a haven for little young boys and girls to try to get as many “friends” as possible. And the way they will do this is by taking inapropriate pictures of themselves, or making stuff up on their page only to have someone click the “add to friends” button. When you’re online, you’re not the person you are in real life. To me it seems like some people have a second life in the internet world.

Online hacking is also a HUGE problem. So many people had their identity stolen, money stolen, computer files broken into to, viruses, etc. And there isn’t much you can really do about it. There are anti-spam and virus protection programs but a lot of times they detect those after you get one and not during. and even if you do have one there isn’t anything you can do about it except for re-installing everything on your computer. but then again your final paper in class is due today and you have to retype the whole thing because someone fucked around with your computer.

What the internet may become in years to come, we’ll have to find out. But for now its a insecure place to be, so every time you’re on you never know who maybe be watching. No matter the regulations on it people will always find a way around things that have been restricted to them.

]]> Comment on Response Assignment # 7 by Kristin F. http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/response-assignment-7/#comment-172 Kristin F. Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:06:48 +0000 http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-172 Just by reading the “New Panopticon” insert we can see why the internet is potentially the most dangerous panopticon model. From networking on facebook to downloading music the internet becomes more threatening as a panopticon model all the time. When I think of the internet as being a panopticon model the first thing that came to mind were web cams. Now I know that these are usually hooked up to your computer, they have to be manually installed and turned on. However, by going to the Apple store and taking a look at all the new models you can see that they all have cameras at the top of computer screen. It’s not just Mac computers, many other computer companies are doing the same thing to all new models. That makes me question the motive behind doing this. Perhaps the computer companies are just trying to make communicating by camera the new big thing (and in many homes or placed it probably already is) but I would not very safe knowing that there is a possibility for either the computer company of just hackers out there that can potentially view my sitting on my computer at all times of the day. If I had a newer computer with a built in web cam I would probably have my screen closed on my laptop a lot more than I do now. I’ve come to the conclusion as the reading says that the internet is a “cultural necessity,” but I believe it’s also true that computer companies/hackers will take full advantage of these new built-in web cams that will probably be installed on every new model in the next few years. Just by reading the “New Panopticon” insert we can see why the internet is potentially the most dangerous panopticon model. From networking on facebook to downloading music the internet becomes more threatening as a panopticon model all the time. When I think of the internet as being a panopticon model the first thing that came to mind were web cams. Now I know that these are usually hooked up to your computer, they have to be manually installed and turned on. However, by going to the Apple store and taking a look at all the new models you can see that they all have cameras at the top of computer screen. It’s not just Mac computers, many other computer companies are doing the same thing to all new models. That makes me question the motive behind doing this. Perhaps the computer companies are just trying to make communicating by camera the new big thing (and in many homes or placed it probably already is) but I would not very safe knowing that there is a possibility for either the computer company of just hackers out there that can potentially view my sitting on my computer at all times of the day. If I had a newer computer with a built in web cam I would probably have my screen closed on my laptop a lot more than I do now. I’ve come to the conclusion as the reading says that the internet is a “cultural necessity,” but I believe it’s also true that computer companies/hackers will take full advantage of these new built-in web cams that will probably be installed on every new model in the next few years.

]]> Comment on Response Assignment # 7 by Nick McKiernan http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/response-assignment-7/#comment-171 Nick McKiernan Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:44:53 +0000 http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-171 I have personally been to that type of prison cell in joliet, IL, they called it the bird cage. It was a very very tool some years ago to monitor all of the inmates from one central location. I thought it was a great Idea when i was there until I saw some flaws, like if the inmates got out, all they had to do to stay out of danger was to go under the central hub tower to not get shot at. Anyways I thought that was a good reference of the panopticon model that I wanted to share. If you have time, i would suggest to take a tour of the joliet prison and see the "bird cage" in person. Many Say the internet is a very dangerous place to be because of crooks and theives who can steal your identity, your bank account information, or even to the extreme stalk you. Privacy has been priority number one in the minds of millions of internet users. They just want to know that their information is completly safe when they are sending e-mails, chatting, using AIM or some different messenger, or just purchasing or selling things via the internet. In the reading they mentions that ,"if the Internet were to be run and policed by private industries, then the Internet would become a safer, more efficiently run mechanism." This personally I don't know how I feel about. Do we really need an online police telling us what we can and can't do. I got enought of that from my parents 10 years ago. That is not to say its not a bad idea, Im just wondering how the "monitoring" of our activities will change from what the government already does now like with the carnivore program. So to me A third party it seems to not really make a difference who is monitoring me, I know Im not doing anything bad when I make purchases or view videos on the web through youtube, or google. This is funny though, because if the internet wasn't there, I would loose many aspect of my life that relied on the internet to get things done, such as sending and retrieving information quickly, purchasing or selling items, or checking my bank information online when im not in my hometown to physically go to my bank. The internet is a huge and still growing panopticon model that will continue to evolve around the way we utalize the internet in the future. I have personally been to that type of prison cell in joliet, IL, they called it the bird cage. It was a very very tool some years ago to monitor all of the inmates from one central location. I thought it was a great Idea when i was there until I saw some flaws, like if the inmates got out, all they had to do to stay out of danger was to go under the central hub tower to not get shot at. Anyways I thought that was a good reference of the panopticon model that I wanted to share. If you have time, i would suggest to take a tour of the joliet prison and see the “bird cage” in person.
Many Say the internet is a very dangerous place to be because of crooks and theives who can steal your identity, your bank account information, or even to the extreme stalk you. Privacy has been priority number one in the minds of millions of internet users. They just want to know that their information is completly safe when they are sending e-mails, chatting, using AIM or some different messenger, or just purchasing or selling things via the internet. In the reading they mentions that ,”if the Internet were to be run and policed by private industries, then the Internet would become a safer, more efficiently run mechanism.” This personally I don’t know how I feel about. Do we really need an online police telling us what we can and can’t do. I got enought of that from my parents 10 years ago. That is not to say its not a bad idea, Im just wondering how the “monitoring” of our activities will change from what the government already does now like with the carnivore program. So to me A third party it seems to not really make a difference who is monitoring me, I know Im not doing anything bad when I make purchases or view videos on the web through youtube, or google. This is funny though, because if the internet wasn’t there, I would loose many aspect of my life that relied on the internet to get things done, such as sending and retrieving information quickly, purchasing or selling items, or checking my bank information online when im not in my hometown to physically go to my bank. The internet is a huge and still growing panopticon model that will continue to evolve around the way we utalize the internet in the future.

]]> Comment on Response Assignment # 7 by Jackie Soto http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/response-assignment-7/#comment-170 Jackie Soto Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:33:22 +0000 http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-170 I believe that the internet is possibly the most dangerous and powerful panopticon model because the modern technology of the internet has been the biggest influence and contribution to the invasion of our privacy without us actually knowing. We have all participated and encouraged the production of spy ware and other resources of spying with online programs and websites with suggestions and advice towards that. The percentage of Americans that use the internet on a daily basis is enormous. Websites like MySpace and Youtube are a perfect example of how we as internet user’s deliberately post our personal information allowing others to know about us without us actually knowing who these people are watching our videos on Youtube, and reading about us on MySpace and looking at our personal pictures. We have created the internet to be used for literally EVERYTHING, and that is why it affects our daily lives so much. Because we rely on the internet for everything that it has become a powerful panopticon model. I personally use the internet for a lot of my personal things, like online billing, shopping, e-mail, and much more. I always submit my personal information when I sign up for my e-mail, when I purchase things with my credit card. I also pay for my bills online. There is no doubt in my mind that my personal information has been looked at by a third party that i don’t know about. Because it is so easy to get hacked now a days with the online programs that we use and that we created. It actually really bothers me and makes me think about what our world is coming to. That we don’t really have any sort of privacy at all. I believe that the internet is possibly the most dangerous and powerful panopticon model because the modern technology of the internet has been the biggest influence and contribution to the invasion of our privacy without us actually knowing. We have all participated and encouraged the production of spy ware and other resources of spying with online programs and websites with suggestions and advice towards that. The percentage of Americans that use the internet on a daily basis is enormous. Websites like MySpace and Youtube are a perfect example of how we as internet user’s deliberately post our personal information allowing others to know about us without us actually knowing who these people are watching our videos on Youtube, and reading about us on MySpace and looking at our personal pictures. We have created the internet to be used for literally EVERYTHING, and that is why it affects our daily lives so much. Because we rely on the internet for everything that it has become a powerful panopticon model. I personally use the internet for a lot of my personal things, like online billing, shopping, e-mail, and much more. I always submit my personal information when I sign up for my e-mail, when I purchase things with my credit card. I also pay for my bills online. There is no doubt in my mind that my personal information has been looked at by a third party that i don’t know about. Because it is so easy to get hacked now a days with the online programs that we use and that we created. It actually really bothers me and makes me think about what our world is coming to. That we don’t really have any sort of privacy at all.

]]> Comment on Response Assignment # 7 by Justin D. http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/response-assignment-7/#comment-169 Justin D. Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:30:41 +0000 http://culturalstudies08.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-169 I don't believe the internet to be the most dangerous or powerful form of panopticon. There are dangerous aspects, spyware, phishing and key logging programs. I'm assuming we all know what spyware is after the reading. Phishing occurs through a link to a fake website we believe to be real. Phishers are looking for usernames, passwords and credit card information. Key logging programs record what is typed on a given computer, and must be installed locally. They are looking for the same information. The internet has the potential to be very dangerous, depending on how much information we put out there. Imagine a person who runs a myspace, facebook, blog and a webcam et cetra; they putting themselves out to be watched. They volunteer to live in the glass house oppose the friend who comes over for dinner once a week. They have an email account, checks the amount of their bank accounts and trades stock online. They have highly sensitive material out there but are watching to see if anyone is watching them. I don't fear anyone is watching me online, but I do take precautions. If I'm purchasing something, I check to make sure it's a secured website. I got my computer back last week and installed on it was Norton Internet Security 2008, it comes with phishing protection. I don’t believe the internet to be the most dangerous or powerful form of panopticon.
There are dangerous aspects, spyware, phishing and key logging programs. I’m assuming we all know what spyware is after the reading. Phishing occurs through a link to a fake website we believe to be real. Phishers are looking for usernames, passwords and credit card information. Key logging programs record what is typed on a given computer, and must be installed locally. They are looking for the same information.
The internet has the potential to be very dangerous, depending on how much information we put out there. Imagine a person who runs a myspace, facebook, blog and a webcam et cetra; they putting themselves out to be watched. They volunteer to live in the glass house oppose the friend who comes over for dinner once a week. They have an email account, checks the amount of their bank accounts and trades stock online. They have highly sensitive material out there but are watching to see if anyone is watching them.
I don’t fear anyone is watching me online, but I do take precautions. If I’m purchasing something, I check to make sure it’s a secured website. I got my computer back last week and installed on it was Norton Internet Security 2008, it comes with phishing protection.

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