Student Survival Sydney – Project Critique [DIGC302]

As a university student myself living in Sydney, I know first hand how hard it can be to survive in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Staggering rent prices, food, retail and life expenses all add up and you have to learn quickly, or perish under the sheer stress of your circumstances.
The concept of the Student Survival Sydney blog is a refreshing take an aggregated blogging platform that demonstrates how a little research, can actually translate into simple savings. Using their own research and ideas from other students, the SSS blog have created over 40 pages of content across a broad range of topics including entertainment options, fitness ideas and even car maintenance advice.
Although this concept is often used throughout magazine publications (both physical and online) across Sydney, there isn’t a dedicated site like the ideas published by SSS. This gives there project some real merit as they have created a unique and original assignment.

Then aim of the SSS was to create a blog with relevant and practical content that students could use when adhering to strict budget measures, often enforced due to high study workloads. I believe they have achieved this goal. Scanning through all of their content there are many fantastic options and simple ideas that would help a uni student such as myself, save money whilst still maintaining a fun and active social life. I especially enjoy the content on car maintenance, as this is one issue many university students struggle with, due to the high cost of owning a motor vehicle.
Aesthetically the blog is visually appealing. The large tiled theme throughout the blog works well with the concept of the design. The headers and spacing around the content have clear navigation paths, which suit the overall design of the blog. The inclusion of the smart calendar ‘upcoming events’ and the Twitter feed are also great features that allow for quick access to content pages. Once the blog receives more traffic, the inclusion of the Twitter feed will add free content ideas given by the audience themselves. The addition of a search feature is also a practical inclusion when looking for specific content.

One criticism of the blog is that it lacks a ‘wow’ factor. This is something that distinguishes itself visually from the hundreds of millions of blogs on the Internet. Perhaps by adding some more design elements to the page such as logo (as used in their Twitter feed) would give the blog a sense of individualism.
One other criticism of the SSS blog is that the commentary at times feels quite ridged. Given that this blog is for university students who are predominately in their early 20’s, the writing style of the contributor’s lacks that edginess seen in most successful blogs with the same target audience.

To coincide with the blog the Student Survival Sydney team has also created community discussion through Twitter and Reddit. At present count they have tweeted over 38 times with just fewer than 20 other users following their Twitter feed. Given the time frame of the project these numbers will continue to rise. Using both Twitter and the social media integration features of WordPress, the SSS team have capitalised on creating free content for their Twitter following. However the recent introduction of a Reddit discussion group remains the most successful attribute to their project. Again, at this present time, there have been over 58 comments by users discussing their own survival tips, across a broad range of topic areas. This forum is achieving their aim of creating a platform of discussion whilst generating content for the blog itself. Whilst Reddit often faces a large amount of bad press, it is a fantastic way to create discussion on the Internet.

It is clear that this project is still in its infancy however, the possibilities for the SSS blog are very positive. With a large amount of discussion occurring Reddit, content ideas are being created instantly. The users of Reddit are systematically sorting the good ideas from the bad and assisting the project creators, giving the fresh ideas for the blog itself. One further criticism of the blog is that they may be using an incorrect social media strategy to create interest in the blogs content. Given the demographic for the project, statistically Facebook has been proven to be the most viewed platform amongst their target audience. Twitter posts with just written content alone aren’t stimulating enough to capture the reader’s attention. Alternatively, Facebook posts would allow for strong visual representations of each new post, allowing the introduction of images, videos and also facilitating discussion through comments and likes.
One possible idea could also be to integrate content through a multimedia platform such as Instagram or YouTube. Each post could also use a variety of hash-tags and reference points to categories the content posted. Also users again have the chance to facilitate discussion under each post and give their own ideas. Creating videos talking to students about their own methods would not only be an entertaining form of content, it would also be a great way to further facilitate discussion of the project.
Overall the aims of Student Survival Sydney have been completed. There is a large amount of content whilst creating digital arenas for discussion. To further improve the project they could perhaps work on both the aesthetics and writing style used within the blog. The demonstration by the two project leaders today indicates that they have a strong passion for the project and a clear focus for the trajectory for the future. The overall aim for these digital communication final projects was to create a content resource that would be used as a reference point when looking for real life practical job experience. Having closely followed the progression of this blog from the start, I have full confidence that both the content creators have demonstrated their digital abilities and have a tremendous amount of confidence for their futures.

Student Survival Sydney – http://sydsurvival.wordpress.com/
Student Survival Twitter – https://twitter.com/student960
Reddit Forum – https://www.reddit.com/r/sydney/comments/2im2ld/surviving_as_a_student_in_sydney/

Advertisement

The Diaspora of Hip-Hop Culture [BCM310]

For those of you are unversed in the world of Hip-Hop music, this blog post will hopefully clarify some of the unknown facts about the truly unique art form. Created in the streets of the Bronx in 1970’s through the use of sampling and cutting up old records, Hip-Hop created a rich music environment, with freedom for creative expression, often used to voice the opinion of the lowest common denominator.

Its rise to the top was something traditional musicians could never understand and soon Hip-Hop had become not only a new genre, it had become the voice of the people. Much the same way as Dylan was the voice for white America, Hip-Hop artists such as DJ Kool Herc & Coke La Rock were the voice for the African American. By the end of the 1970’s many artists saw hip hop as more than merely a platform- a way of life and a microphone for voicing their opinions. Hip-Hop had given the voiceless a megaphone and there was nothing or nobody in the way to turn it off. The spread of the Hip-Hop sound was imminent. From New York, to Paris, Tokyo, Sydney and localities in between, hip-hop cultures are Diaspora spanning ethnic, linguistic, and geographic boundaries (Motley 2008).

One key element to the culture of Hip-Hop is the ‘breaks’ dance style. How many of you would have guessed that Samoans’ were some of the first break-dancers in the world? In a reading by Henderson he examines the connection between Hip-Hop culture and the influence that the geographical positioning of Samoa and American culture. For the Samoan culture, dance had become a way to tell a story; just the same as an MC would ‘spit’ a rhymes or DJ manipulates a beat or takes you on a journey during a DJ set.

Fast-forward to the current day and the Diaspora of Hip-Hop culture is very much alive and well. With more than 50 million hip-hop fans in the United States and 100 million worldwide consume some form of hip-hop, making hip-hop consumers a lucrative market to understand (Motley 2008). Making Hip-Hop a truly global force to be reckoned with.

Here is a video I made in my first year – A minute and half look at the Diaspora of Hip-Hop Culture

References

Henderson, A.K. (2006). Dancing Between Islands: Hip-Hop and Samoan                 Diaspora. The Vinyl Ain’t Final: Hip-Hop and the Globalisation of Black Popular Culture. D. Basu and S. J. Lemelle. London, Pluto Press: 180 – 199, accessed 21^st May 2014, Summons Database.

Motley, C (2008). The global hip-hop Diaspora: Understanding the culture. The Journal of Business Research. Vol 61, No 3, pp.243-253, accessed 21^st May 2014, Summons Database.

Regulators…Mount Up [DIGC335]

As the Internet continues to grow at more than one million new single pages a day, the issue of filtration of content remains an important issue in today’s modern world. Every day we leave our digital ‘footprints’ around cyberspace. These footprints, through every keystroke create a level of information that we can only being to imagine.

In this weeks discussion we examined the role of governments in ‘protecting’ users of the Internet, with some interesting conclusions. What was most interesting was the debate about the morality issue of filtering content on the Internet. With over 1.23 billion users, Facebook has fast become a presence that has bought countless morality issues into the public agenda.

“We work to foster an environment where everyone can openly discuss issues and express their views, while respecting the rights of others,” This is key statement taken from Facebook’s community standards. This community standards guide sets boundaries for content posted within Facebook and has recently been condemned for the use of use of third party, outsourced workers who have to sift through the millions of indecent material uploaded to Facebook every hour.

“They did mention that the job was not for the light of heart before hiring me,” said the moderator who quit after three weeks. “I think it’s ultimately my fault for underestimating just how disturbing it’d be.” This was a claim from a previous employee of oDesk who also described the millions of unsuitable content as “Think like that there is a sewer channel,” one moderator explained during a recent Skype chat, “and all of the mess/dirt/ waste/shit of the world flow towards you and you have to clean it.” As a user of Facebook, I know first hand some of the horrifying posts that escape the filter and couldn’t possibly even being to imagine the psychological impact that filtering this filth would have on an individual.

The right to upload content to the Internet is governed at a national level, with many Governments having different levels of control over user-generated information. In Australia our use of the World Wide Web is governed by ACMA (Australian Communications & Media Authority).

It is most interesting to note that ACMA at present is only in the business of investigating content that users deem as a breach of Internet safety, with most importance if the content is likely to harm children.

In China however, there is a level of control so powerful and precise, that content must adhere to strict Government regulations. Zhang defines these as;

• Any information that goes against the basic principles set down in the Constitution.
• Information that endangers national security, divulges state secrets, subverts the government, or undermines national unification.
• Information that is detrimental to the honor and interests of the state;
• information that disseminates rumors, disturbs social order, or undermines social stability (pp.266 2006)

As described throughout our discussion, the Internet is a “wild beast” and any attempts to filter or restrict content will always be issue high on the public agenda.

References

ACMA. (2014). Internet Regulation. Available: http://www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/About/The-ACMA-story/Regulating/internet-regulation. Last accessed 15th May 2014.

Chen, A. (2012). Inside Facebook’s Outsourced Anti-Porn and Gore Brigade, Where ‘Camel Toes’ are More Offensive Than ‘Crushed Heads’. Available: http://gawker.com/5885714/inside-facebooks-outsourced-anti-porn-and-gore-brigade-where-camel-toes-are-more-offensive-than-crushed-heads. Last accessed 15th May 2014.

Zhang, L 2006, Behind the ‘Great Firewall’: Decoding China’s Internet Media Policies from the Inside, Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, vol 12, no 271, pp.271-291, Summons Database

A Global Miss-Communication [BCM310]

Globalisation as defined by many cultural theorists can be referred to as  “the widening, deepening and speeding up of global interconnectedness”. According to Matos, globalisation is driven by communication technologies, as well as by the fact that expanding internationalism is producing more awareness about the similarities and differences between cultures and political systems (Matos, 2012). With the advancement of new media technologies, the notion of internationalism and global connectedness still remains an issue of great discussion throughout both the third and first world.

In the late 1960’s Marshall McLuhan stated that the rise of new communication technologies would culminate in the creation of a “global village”, one capable of enhancing initial understanding between people and forging new communities. This ‘global village’ as predicted by McLuhan is far from a reality. At best the introduction of new media has created an even bigger issue for media industries. Although the expansion of new technologies has had a major role in the globalisation of communication, there still remains a significant ‘digital divide’ in both the first and third worlds. Globally, there is a gaping digital divide between the ‘information rich’ and ‘information poor’. According to the latest Global Information Technology Report 2014 “Little progress is being made in bridging the digital divide between technology savvy nations and others. This stalling of progress is considered worrisome for emerging and developing nations, which are at risk of missing out on many positive impacts information and communications technologies bring, including increased innovation, economic competitiveness and greater social inclusion”.

With half the world population still to even make a phone call. Notion of “global village” still remains a distant reality. The issue of the digital divide isn’t just an international problem; it also remains an issue for many Australians. Despite an overall increase in technology access, there is evidence of a digital divide between parents’ education and job and a student’s preparedness for a digital future. With many parents reluctant to learn new technologies, there are a growing percentage of children who are failing to keep up with the demands of their digital environments. This issue if left unaddressed, could not only impact Australia socially, it could have a drastic economic impact for future generations to come.

References

Matos, C. (2012) “Mass media and globalization” in Wiley- Blackwell’s Encyclopedia of Globalization, Oxford: Wiley- Blackwell, pp.1329-1338

The Hope of Just Representation [BCM310]

Stereotype; .a fixed, over generalised belief about a particular group or class of people.” (Cardwell, 1996)

In part, stereotypes are vital for our brains as they allow us to respond rapidly to situations as we may have had a previous similar experience (McLeod, 2008). However, they also disadvantage us by makes us ignore differences between individuals; therefore we think certain aspects about a person/persons that might not be true. We create generalised perceptions of strangers based on our own learning’s, experiences and pre-conceived knowledge without even the blink of an eye. These instincts occur automatically and are most of the time help to cut down the processing time of messages in our brains.

No matter what form of media you choose to view there will be always be stereotypes. Whether it is via gender representation, ageist material or the depiction of race, the shear amount of stereotyping throughout the media landscape is highly alarming. A key example of the complex design of racial stereotypes used my media industries is the depiction of Muslim/Islamic culture throughout both television and film. Alsultany calls these “simplified complex representations” These are strategies used by television producers, writers, and directors to give the impression that the depictions they are producing are complex, yet they do so in a simplified way (2013, pp.165). These representations often challenge or complicate earlier stereotypes yet contribute to a multicultural or post-race illusion.

The question begs. If stereotypes are an automatic response by the brain based on our learning environment, can we change our perceptions of a specific race through channelling positive thoughts to combat what was previously once learned?

According to Brain Lowery, Associate Professor at the Stanford Business School, racial stereotypes can be reversible through the use of positive role models. This is exactly what a group of young educated African American teens are aiming to do through the use of social media. The group created a YouTube clip that portrays the average young African American male with strong moral values, a position that many media channels often are remiss to show. The group created the viral video as a response to the negative stories told daily in the media around their culture. “They don’t tell the full story about how young Black men are becoming leaders within our community schools.”

As use of technology grows across the globe, we should all remain hopeful that the use of new media could better provide a voice to those who wish to change the negative perceptions associated with the colour of their skin.

References

Cardwell M 1996, Dictionary of Psychology. Chicago IL, Dearborn.

Alsultany, E 2013, Arabs and Muslims in the Media after 9/11: Representational Strategies for a “Postrace” Era, American Quarterly, vol 65, no 1, pp. 161-167, accessed 6^th May 2014, Summons Database.

McLeod, S 2008, Stereotypes, http://www.simplypsychology.org/katz-braly.html, last accessed 6^th May 2014.

You’re Fired [DIGC335]

The trend towards a participatory culture has not only changed the way in which we interact with close relationships such as friends and family, it has also modified the workplace environment. What was once considered as just a small part of a companies’ technology policy, the growing trend for businesses to use social media has now reconfigured the role of both employer and employee. As Howard states this emergence of this sort of participatory or “self- produced media” has created both new opportunities and new problems for researchers of rhetoric and communication (2008, pp.491).

Across businesses nationally and internationally, the methods surrounding how businesses use social media has become an increasingly contentious issue, with many companies creating their own agendas for social media platforms. As a third year marketing student a key component of any product marketing involves the strategic use of social media. With eight of ten consumers making-purchasing decisions based on their interactions with social media, the need for a positive approach is vital for the success of any new or existing product.

However, we must also examine the idea of participatory culture and the negative impact that social media can have within the business environment. As all workers will attest, the end of a stressful day can often lead to frustrations about our workplace environment or our fellow employees. At times most have all said comments that were simply just ‘letting off steam’. Well for those who post these comments on social media, you may find yourself jobless and facing a lengthy arbitration hearing based on your actions. In the Fair Trading hearing between Linfox Australia Pty Ltd and Mr.Greg Stutsel, the defendant was successful in his bid to be reinstated by the company, complete with back payments owed due to his unfair dismissal.

With the issue of free speech high on the media’s agenda the rights of individuals to protect their own thoughts and opinions has never been more important. As users of social media we should all be aware of the ramifications of our actions. In an article by Tim Wilson of WA Today “Free speech, the public service and civilising behaviour”, he points out “Defending the universal human right of free speech is about the legal limits of speech. It is about when the law stops someone expressing his or her view. It is not about voluntary conditions we accept when we take employment. Conditions that are entered into through employment are not the same as the law” (Wilson, 2014).

This is something that I believe many workers are unaware of. The instrument we should all be using is our moral compass. After all, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t broadcast it into cyberspace.

References

Campbell T 2014, Linfox Australia Pty Ltd vs Mr. Greg Stutsel 2012 FWAFB 7097, http://www.my-workforce.com.au/legal-cases/linfox-australia-pty-ltd-v-glen-stutsel-2012-fwafb-7097, last accessed 5^th May 2014.

Howard, G R 2008, The Vernacular Web of Participatory Media, Critical Studies in Media Communication, vol 25, no 5, pp.490-513, last accessed 5^th May 2014, Summons Database.

Wilson, T 2014, Free speech, the public service and civilising behaviour, http://www.watoday.com.au/comment/free-speech-the-public-service-and-civilising-behaviour-20140408-zqs2t.html, last accessed 5th May 2014.

An Age of Cyber Enthusiasm & Scepticism [DIGC335]

Social Media. Most of us all use it in one way or another. Whether it is communicating with those long lost friends overseas, connecting with our current peer groups to organise group assignments or simply to gain some insight into someone’s life. It is a digital technology that has in part revolutionised the way in which we communicate.

Most notably though the media’s main focus has been on social media’s powerful ability to assist those seeking democratic change and the fight for the freedoms that they so dearly deserve. The intense media scrutiny on social media is highly unsurprising. The uses of certain technologies such as Twitter and Facebook have been linked as the key reasons for the demise of some of the world’s most benevolent dictators.

Wolfsfeld, Segev & Sheafer’s article introduces us to the idea of ‘cyber-enthusiasts’ & ‘cyber skeptics’ (2013, pg.117). In one-corner cyber-enthusiasts express optimism about the ability of the new media to empower people living in nondemocratic societies and to allow insurgents to adopt new strategies. In the opposing corner cyber skeptics downplay the significance of new technology, arguing that the Internet gives people a false sense of participation and keeps them from actually physically protesting.

Whether you sit on either side of the fence doesn’t matter. What is most important to us all is the ability of the Internet to share information. Newsom and Lengel argue that this is the key reason for the value of information is often mediated by historically powerful entities, though social media can sometimes change that hierarchy (2012, pg.38). However they also argue that the metanarrative structures of social media also act in the same role as the gatekeepers of that historical power.

As I currently browse through my social media platforms I am bombarded by friends and groups asking me to sign up for ‘this’ program or register for ‘that’ petition. Although I am highly unlikely to ever choose either, according to Charles, whilst most still do not participate, they are changed by the fact that they can (WordPress, 2013). User empowerment and a greater understanding of social media has led to the redesign of social activism and a brighter future for generations to come.

References
Charles 2010, The People formally known as the audience = The Community, accessed October 10 2013, http://yousaiditblog.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/the-people-formerly-known-as-the-audience-the-community/.

Newsom, V, Lengel, L 2012, Arab Women, Social Media, and the Arab Spring: Applying the framework of digital reflexivity to analyze gender and online activism, Journal of International Women’s Studies, vol 13, no 5, pp. 31-45, accessed 1^st May 2014, Summons Database.

Wolfsfeld, G, Segev, E & Sheafer, T 2013, Social Media and the Arab Spring: Politics Comes First, The International Journal of Press/Politics, vol 18, no 2, pp.115-137, accessed 1^st May 2014, Summons Database.

Jobs Available: Female Sports Commentators [BCM310]

Have you noticed something different about your sports commentary over the last few years? Besides from the additions of the recently retired megastars of the game you may have spotted there are now prominent women on the panel of most sports shows. This week’s topic surrounds gender roles and media so I thought I would stay clear of the negative associations of female media roles and look at some of the more positive aspects of the female presence within the sports commentary environment.

For years programming such as Channel 9’s NRL Footy Show have been dominated by an all male cast with the exception of segments with cheerleaders, scantily clad women and very rarely, a female who actually is interested in the game of Rugby League. As of this year the panel has its first full time female host. The incredibly talented Erin Molan. Not only is she one of the sharpest thinkers of the game, she is the perfect representative for female Rugby League lovers nationally. Her keen eye for detail and her passion for the sport have rejuvenated what was fast becoming a ratings disaster for the Nine Network.

With the NRL having countless issue of sexism and violence against women it begin to ask the question, why wasn’t this considered much earlier? According the National Rugby League official website “41% of the game’s NRL club financial members are female, increasing to 88,150 in 2013 (82,250 in 2012)”. With female participation in Rugby League on the increase there should be no doubt that Erin will not be the only female on the panel for much longer.

Recently Channel Nine has just announced that Yvonne Sampson will be joining the heavily male dominated commentary team for the 2014/2015 Cricket season. According to Steve Crawley who is the head of Channel Nine’s sports coverage Yvonne has been bought in to “improve female representation within the sport as she “’knew her cricket” and was expected to be used in a hosting/presenting role”.

There is no doubting that media outlets are now beginning to see the importance of female roles within sports commentary. However, it would be extremely naïve to consider these two roles as reaching any form of equality. For too long women’s roles within the sporting environment have been downplayed and it times, heavily ostracised. Lenskyj argues that this struggle is due to “mass medias consensus of the power elite and the dominance of male media corporate/giants (pg.21, 1998).

Will there come a day when football coverage across Australia is dominated by female reporters? I hope so. After all, they would do a far better job than this moron.

Reference

Lenskyj, J 1998, INSIDE SPORT’ OR `ON THE MARGINS’?: Australian Women and the Sport Media. International Review for the Sociology of Sport. 33 (13), 19-32, accessed 30/04/2014, Summons database.

Luke Macdonald
Media & Communications & Commerce Student
University of Wollongong 

 

 

 

Don’t Steal my Newspaper [BCM310]

Throughout this blog I have discussed at length how digital technologies have changed the many ways in how we consume media. In an age where consumer need for information is immediate, many of us are becoming more reliant on smart phones and tablets, and are ditching the daily paper for quick and more convenient form of information that is tailored to the needs of each individual. Last year, during a TED Talk Tom Rosenstiel, the director of the American Press Institute described the consumption of new media technologies as the “entering of a new enlightenment” and highlighting the benefits of “news on demand” (TED, 2013).

It is no secret that the sales of newspapers are in steep decline. According to online news (oh the irony) publisher Mumbrella print news papers have seen a double digit decline across all mastheads, with the biggest Among the biggest were weekday editions of News Corp’s Sydney paper The Daily Telegraph, which fell below 300,000 for the first time. The Herald Sun fell through the 400,000 levels for both its Monday to Friday and Saturday editions (Mumbrella, 2013). Although physical sales have dropped, the rate of digital subscriptions has almost made up for the difference between the two mediums. Both News Corp CEO Julian Clarke & the managing director for Fairfax Media Allen Williams both are ‘delighted’ with the increase in readership across the digital platforms. I am also encouraged by consumer decisions to maintain their interest in Australian newspapers, however there is still a big question around the future practice of professional journalism.

A comprehensive research study by the Pew Research Centre into current state of American journalism highlighted the changing nature of consumer habits and the impact of investment from philanthropists, venture capitalists and other individuals and non-media businesses. After all, the successful nature of professional journalism relies heavily on the advertising revenue that supports mainstream media industries. As a consumer of both print and digital media I believe that there is still a place for both mediums. Although consumer trending habits may disagree with my outlook, I have hope that I will still be able to sit at my desk and browse through the daily paper for many years to come.

 

2nd Life Causes Cancer [DIGC335]

Now that the headline has your attention 😉

Coming from someone that considers the Internet as a source of connectivity and communication, the notion that there is this wider, deeper and limitless version of the Internet (Cyberspace) really caught my attention. Some people would consider this ignorance; honestly I had no idea that the Internet was more than just something you can access through a web browser.

Until my recent class the words second and lives have never been connected. Lawrence Lessig a key advocate of technology and the limits of cyber culture describes Second Life as a section of cyberspace where “people create both things and communities” (2006). For those who you who were blissfully unaware of such a world, yes it does exist. Again, this may be naïve of me but I am still struggling to come to terms with how people consider this apart of their reality.

On the other side of the coin, from a creative perspective, to think that there are these alternate ‘worlds’ whereby users embellish their imaginations by creating their personal views of society and construct their own sets of values and laws is actually pretty inspiring. As you can tell I am very much sitting on the fence with this one.

Further more it was interesting to learn that Second Life isn’t the first time that humans have tried to ‘play God’ per say.

Again in the reading Lessig talks about the text based virtual world of MUD’S & MOO’s. He draws on the example of Martha & Dank and the scenario of the dog and the flower petals, which illustrates the endless boundaries that can be created when humans essentially become God. Religious preference aside, this example highlights the positive and negative effects in regards to power and mortality.

The issue of wrong or right is further questioned by society when confronted by the mysterious and horrific acts committed by Mr Bungle within the realm of LambdaMOO. This alternate space created an alternate world whereby there were essentially, no rules.

If ‘worlds’ like Second Life and LambdaMOO are in-fact spaces where people go to live their alternate life, who is in charge of regulating these spaces? What regulations are in place to prevent “cyber crimes”? Again this question is almost impossible to answer. As technologies have improved Lessig states “the architecture of the space (Cyberspace) has rendered life in this space less regulable” (2006). Ultimately Lessig states that he believes that regulation of the Internet is achievable and stipulates that this may only be achievable when governments learn “how the digital age works” (2006). I agree wholeheartedly. The Internet and in particularly Cyberspace does need regulation. Users must be accountable for their actions regardless of whether it is in a physical or digital space. The virtual faces behind the Mr Bungle character knew full well the heinous speech they were typing, yet due to the medium they chose, were completely free from any form of reprimand under the premise that nobody could verifying who was writing the text.

Again, many would argue that a world without such strict regulation might create a utopian society. Maybe we should all have a Second Life avatar and explore a world without restrictions of mortality and influence.

For me I am happy living my life without creating a second version of myself. Although if given the chance you could easily sign me up as a crime fighting superhero who runs around in a bat mask.

If anyone has played or is currently apart of this Second Life experience please feel free to comment or tweet me at @fluke_aus.

Luke Macdonald

3rd Year Media & Communications & Commerce Student
University of Wollongong

References

Dibbell, J. (2009). A Rape In Cyberspace. Available: http://www.juliandibbell.com/articles/a-rape-in-cyberspace/. Last accessed 28 March 2014.

Lessig L, 2006. Four Puzzles From Cyberspace. In: Lessig Code Version 2, accessed 7/08/13, UOW DIGC202 Moodle site.

White, M. (2014). Representations or People. Available: http://www.nyu.edu/projects/nissenbaum/ethics_whi_full.html. Last accessed 28 March 2014.