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This site will be devoted to posting information for discussion on ETHTECH, the class discussion list for PHIL 3210, taught by Dr. Ron Barnette. Topics will be posted on a regular basis during our term, along with suggested websites for helpful information. The purpose is to stimulate lively dialogue for our cyberclassroom experiences together. Let us all engage in an exciting adventure!!...Barnette
*Our first discussion will center around the question "Should the Internet be regulated?" As you know, many people are concerned by websites that deal in pornography, hate speech, terrorist activities, and the like, all seemingly aimed at audiences that may very well utilize such information for perceived threats to citizens, as well as adolescents and innocent children. Some argue that government regulations and censorship of websites should be attempted to protect at-risk people; others argue that free speech demands no regulation and censorship, and that Internet controls should be the business of parents, schools, etc, but not the business of law and government. My question to you is this: Should the Net be censored--or attempted to be regulated by law--or should maximal free speech be the rule of the Internet, without outside controls?? This, I hope, can become a very lively discussion.. I look forward to our ETHTECH dialogue..An interesting website for information on this topic can be found at the national site for Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility. Check this out, as well as other sites you can find on the Net--and please share your website findings with the class as we discuss this very important topic..Thanks!!
*Closely related to the first discussion topic is the matter of individual privacy and security on the Internet, with practical advice as to how best protect one's Internet privacy. The topics of Social Security numbers, passwords, encryption, Trojan Horse schemes and hacking will be featured in this segment of our ETHTECH discussion and dialogue. I encourage you all to contribue examples to the class. Links and new information will be posted throughout the discussion time period. Thanks!!
*Civil dialogue through email is important, in order to improve the quality of helpful discussion and debate. But how should one deal with personal insult, intimidation, and the like online, while still debating the issues? I look forward to your observations and suggestions on this important matter.. Thanks!
*I now want us to talk some on the so-called Y2K Problem. As you no doubt are aware, the year 2000 poses many problems for computers that are not brought into compliance with how this date will affect electronic communication. Some have minimized the problem to only minor inconveniences; others treat Y2K as if the world is coming to an end! Please do the following:
1. search the web for helpful sites which discuss Y2K: I will post these on our class website--this should be a very helpful list of resources for us and others to have.
2. discuss what YOU THINK will happen when 2000 rolls around, and give your reasons.
This should be a very stimulating discussion, as we put our minds to work on a hotly-debated current issue. I look forward to our active forum of ideas.
Some Y2K websites:
University System of Maryland Y2K website; www.y2k.com; www.surfsouth.com/~lund....
*Meanwhile, technology and its impact on ethics and on foreign policy has become a topic, related to the current international situation in Kosovo, in the former Yugoslavia. Under what situations should the US intervene in foreign civil war affairs? How does our technology inpact our ethical choices? What are the limits? Who's to decide? Let ETHTECHers hear your ideas!!
*Human cloning and the prospects of profit from this technology is a topic posed by our classmate Marios, who has raised an important discussison topic..What do you think, and why??
* A thought experiment for real!! Virtually anonymous thoughts and decisions are very interesting in cyberspace, so I pose the following question. Each of you is to answer this technology-assisted problem, which will be sent to me automatically without the knowledge of others in the class: GO HERE FOR THE ASSIGNED QUESTION
* Hate Crimes are very much in the news, with terrible killings of minorities, involving racial and sexual orientation violence. My question is for you to think about this, and to discuss whether the technological media is doing a fair job with its reporting..Are these hate crimes really that pervasive, or are we hearing of isolated incidents blown out of proportion? What do you think? Please share your mature, personal thoughts on this important matter..