Not everyone gets their fairytale ending

The little girl inside of me died a little after reading Lessig discussing my much loved Disney as the big bad guys. It was like finding out Santa isn’t real all over again.

I hadn’t critically thought about where Disney got their ideas from, I guess I knew that a lot of them were historical fairytales or stories from other cultures but beyond that I didn’t think past who originally owned these ideas. It surprised me to find out that Disney the idea of Steamboat Willie from an already existing silent film, but how I looked at it was that Disney was re-creating parts, ideas, stories and myths from other cultures to create not only entertainment but to pass on and shares these aspects in a way that can be understood.

While it took me a while to get my head around creative rights, copyright and intellectual property rights .I did come to the conclusion that when dealing with large corporations like Disney not everyone gets their fairytale ending. Lawrence Lessig makes a good point when he says:

"Creators here and everywhere are always and at all times building upon the creativity that went before and that surrounds them now"

 It is defiantly clear to me that its time that these laws were changed. Fair use should be increased and extensions upon extensions of copyright after the creator’s death should be stopped.

Lessig L, 2005, ‘Free Culture: The nature and future of creativity’, Penguin, Sydney

O so dreamy..

 A declaration of the independence of cyberspace…A utopian cyberspace where the users create and enforce their own laws and regulations sounds dreamy, but in reality it’s near impossible achieve pure democracy. Although the physical world and virtual world do have some similarities, I can see that the laws from the physical world would not work when applied directly to the virtual world. The tricky part would be to maintain cyberspace main objectives of freedom of expression, apparent equality, privacy and democracy from those  who misuse and exploit such freedom and lack of parameters.

  It was only last week I had to speak to my sister about the photos and information she was status updating on Facebook. In cyberspace people seem to become “more naive and trusting in their online persona than what they would normally be in the physical world”( Rowland 1998). While cyberspace allows us to assume any persona we may choose regardless of our race or wealth it also allows the same for others who may abuse this. I just wonder whether or not the users of cyberspace can apply and enforce laws and regulations on this issue without the help of governments.

What is the right template for the governance of cyberspace? Taking from Rowland (1998), The laws that have been developed in the physical world by one country or community can not simply be transferred into another without taking account of the social, political and legal issues which have prompted the regulations. It’s the same in the virtual world. One set of Laws and regulations would not work across the virtual landscape of networks among networks.

Rowland D, 1998, http://www.bileta.ac.uk/Document%20Library/1/Cyberspace%20-%20A%20World%20Apart.pdf

HERE'S A HOT TIP:

So we seem to be in a world where workers are encouraged to clock on psychologically 24/7 and where the line between work and play is increasingly blurred. And as we all know it no coincidence that this immersion in work is happening as technology revolutionises the world.

I was under the impression that if you want to win in the corporate world it’s a good idea not to switch off.

While this for some can paint a pretty dim picture on what is now expected of us due the evolution of media and take home “personal space”. It has always been a given that we take work home sometimes, just even more so now that the internet and the mobile phone make it so easy. The problem is that the distinction between time on and off the job is disappearing and leading to the sense that many people are on the job even when not physically present in the office.

 The way some of my colleges and friends act when they announce that they have to reply to a “important email” it appears that to work long hours both in the office or at home is almost like a badge of honour in a society that reveres achievement and susses.

 HOT TIP: Just to make sure your boss knows how enthusiastic and dedicated you are to your work always CC them on any emails you may send after 6pm or on the weekend...it will do wonders for your rep!

The blurred lines also work the other way…technology also allows one to bring play to work. In the office that I work its fine to mix a bit of pleasure between replying to emails and forecasting, as long as you are productive and up to date with your work. It is not unusual to walk past a cubical and see Facebook up on a screen and a group of 3 or four participating in some online shopping in the next.

All in all the blurred line is not so hazy and like anything it’s about taking the good with the bad. People and society adapt to what is expected of them. At the end of the day if it all gets a little too much, there’s always the off button.

What is wrong with these people? it's just a game!

Did anyone else find Lessig “ Four puzzles from cyber space” alarming? Each of the four stories raised questions marks about the capabilities of cyberspace and the regulation of it.

Before I read the text, I assumed that the main tribulations society faced in relation to the evolution of the internet were identity thief, scams, child porn, copy right and more recently, the effects of online bullying through the increase use of social media sites like good old Facebook.

And while I have never, and still don’t question, the importance and necessity to regulate and enforce laws surrounding these issues. I didn’t think it was for right for governments like china to put bans and restrictions on the use of the Internet to “ prevent deliver of offending sites”. I like the notion that the World Wide Web is a platform for freedom of expression and by government s censoring and filtering sites takes away this freedom.

However, now I am a little unsure on where I stand. Maybe more restrictions are needed to be put in place across all countries?

 The story Jakes communities and Borders really opened my eyes to the different aspects of cyberspace. The discussion we had during tutorial about war of world crafts left me thinking, “ What is wrong with these people?  Its just a game!”

 I found Jakes communities alarming. Yes, I understand that he wrote fiction, however, who’s to say that audience are able to distinguish or maintain the understanding that it’s not real. I’m pretty sure that in most societies these wouldn’t be considered the ‘norm’ nor should they be.

Borders I found interesting. These gamers are intense!  I had no idea how much time people put into the cyberspaces.  I goggled some articles on such communities, and what I found also strike a concern. Couples starving their real child while nurturing their online one, a boy being stabbed in the head with a knife for cheating in a game and a girl running over her boyfriend over a gaming dispute. Whether I understand these extreme actions or not, I can relate to the feelings and emotions these people must go though when something they have dedicated so much time doesn’t go to plan.

Maybe restrictions and regulations are needed for gamers also? Easier said than done I know. If its not achievable then warnings, education and awareness of the physical, emotional and psychological implications that make occur when in cyberspace.

 I now know that what happens is cyberspace can, and does, impact people in real time/life. Are we going to see more of these issues? Should the Internet remain a platform of “freedom of expression” without regulations? My answer used to be no leave it be  but now ????

Gamer stories:

http://kotaku.com/5827802/uk-woman-drives-over-boyfriend-twice-because-he-cheated-her-at-a-computer-game

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/05/korean-girl-starved-online-game

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1260043/Chinese-video-gamer-survives

Just your typical Friday night at the pub...

Soooo…I’m Elyse; a 25 year old, 3^rd year BCM student.

Facebook, twitter, delicious and blogger!!!! Wow my first thoughts…….that’s a lot of account names and passwords I am going to have to remember and this fear I have with blogging is going to have to go.

When it come to social networking Facebook is as far as I have ventured. Even with Facebook I am not the type to update my status or post comments on others. People knowing what I’m doing and thinking freaks me. I’m more of a voyeur or in a more commonly used term creep. Checking out friend’s photos and happenings.

I have often referred to Facebook as the devil with it sucking the life and productivity out of my studies. Many hours have been lost flicking through photo after photo, often wondering how I got to a person I hardly know page. Yep as I said CREEP!

 However I pledge that from this moment on, social networking ignorance is now a thing of the past. I have read the how-to guides on good blogging and twitting and it doesn’t seem so hard! Apparently twitter is like your local pub on a Friday night. It’s busy, noisy, and there are tons of conversations happening simultaneously, a place for shot casual conversations .While Facebook and I’m assuming blogger presents a much quieter and civilized environment akin to that of your local coffee shop. Both places I am accustomed to!

So with these metaphors in mind, an online presence is what I need an online presence is what you’ll get!