Working on my NeoVox

It has been over a year since I have taken a course where I have to do any writing, I've learned that it is not something that you can just jump back into. This is a process. Sometimes, a long, slow, and painful process. Once I submit something, I decide there was something I should have changed. It never ends. That's why I am loving Wiki! I really like the fact that it is always changing with our minds. Nothing is final and that's nice sometimes.

Anyway, back to the topic of this blog, I've been trying my best to hammer this NeoVox out. Going over the requirements again and again, trying to imagine my audience and use a voice that would speak to everyone who might read this online magazine. This is so much harder than writing for a professor! (I get where you're going with this Prof. Reid) So, just as I turned in my article for others to do a peer review, I got another idea that would either add greatly to my NeoVox or change it all together.

My mom actually steered me towards this idea one night on the phone. She is a school teacher, and she sees the impact that MySpace is having on her high-schoolers. She is very worried about what kids are putting on their MySpace's, what they are doing, and what they are being exposed to. She even gets on my case for having one at all. They have been holding parent meetings at the school to educate parents on MySpace and why kids shouldn't have. I believe one of the topics was something like "Online Bullying." The school has also punished students who posted pictures of themselves drinking on MySpace, expelling them from school and keeping them from participating in activities, such as sports teams. Is MySpace really that much of a danger?

While any place that we put our information online is dangerous, I think many parents are taking this to the extreme. If you know the correct way to operate your profile on MySpace, you are in little danger. It is something that parents know little about because it is geared towards our younger, net savvy generation, and therefore, they are wary of it. Without giving it a change they watch the meladramatic broadcasts on tv about how MySpace has ruined people's lives and assume that the same exact thing is going to happen to their children.

I think that I am going to incorporate an article I found that is on the internet and that I also saw on tv called, "Why parents should mind MySpace." It interviewed a mother who had found her 13-year old daughter's MySpace and was appauled. It exaggerated the dangers of MySpace while telling parents that they need to get involved. After seeing this any parent would demand their child get rid of their MySpace or let them see it and would make any kid roll their eyes.

"When “Dateline” surfed MySpace, we found scenes of binge drinking, apparent drug use, teens posing in underwear, and other members simulating sex, and in some cases even having it."

This is just one quote taken from the article. With material like this floating around, no wonder parents are over-reacting. MySpace can be dangerous, however, if you take the right precautions, it is "a place for friends." There are privacy settings that allow only your friends to view your profile. You do not have to provide any personal information such as you address or phone number, these devulged by choice and individuals should be encouraged to make the right choice. Also, if you are a college student who will be looking to apply for jobs in the future, it would be a good idea to limit what is on your profile and to limit who can view your profile so prospective employers won't make judgments about you based on your MySpace content. Also, everyone should know that need to show caution when choosing who to approve as your friend. Don't allow someone you don't or who may have offensive material, and most importantly, as with any online service, never meet with anyone you have met online face to face.

I think this could add to my NeoVox, although, I'm not sure how interesting college students would find parent's problems with MySpace. Maybe I should just add information to students about how Myspace could affect their ability to get jobs in the future. Maybe I will leave it as it is. I just don't know!