I thought this article had a lot of good and relevant points that were communicated very well. I liked the way that Jenkins used real world examples to illustrate the points he was making; it helped solidify his ideas.
I think Jenkins’ argument for why we should teach students how to use the media is very compelling and thorough, but one of my biggest questions that arose from reading the article has to do with the laizze faire approach Jenkins seems to points his finger at. Are the problems Jenkins points out really caused by a laizze faire approach? I’m not sure I agree with him. Is educating students about media literacy the same thing as imposing regulations? Maybe I am just being nit-picky with his word usage and am taking it to far, but I feel like he is being a little biased.
In my opinion, the ethics problem Jenkins discusses is one of his most compelling points. I think there are many similarities between the use of the Internet and driving. While driving we feel safe in our cars, and protected from all the strangers we are driving next to; this create a sense of isolation. Because of this isolation we feel more anonymous; we are more likely to cut someone off or tailgate them. In a face-to-face situation I think that most people would act in a much more polite and civilized manner because they are not isolated and anonymous from one another. I believe the Internet causes this same dilemma. People become more anonymous under screen names, which seems to blur the lines of what ethical behavior should be.
I think it is important to help students understand this problem, as well as understand how to act in an ethical and civilized manner in a place where the appropriate actions are sometimes vague.
As I was reading the article, I did not pay as much attention to the ethics challenge as I did to some of the other points that were made. However, after reading your blog post, it has helped me to understand why this problem is so prevalent. I completely agree with you that in some aspects the anonymous nature of a screen name removes many ethical barriers that would otherwise be in place. However, I think it is equally important to recognize all of the affiliations in which the users real name is displayed and how this impacts what they choose to post. In preparation for public roles as media makers, I believe that it is just as as important that youth be instructed to be cautious and recognize the potential ramifications of their contributions to participatory culture as recognized as well as anonymous contributors.
Kayla, while I agree with your position on the potentially destructive effects of anonymity on the Internet, have you considered that this anonymity can have a good side as well. My sister works at a dating abuse helpline that uses chat rooms in order to communicate with troubled individuals. These people glorify anonymity because it allows them to safely talk about their problems (which they most likely would not have discussed with an outsider). It is also worthwhile to consider (while definitely a less serious example) websites that allow users to share their original creations, such as art or music, under a screen name. In some cases this is content that would not have been shared had it not been for the safety net that anonymity provides. I’m not shooting your position down, but it is definitely something to consider!