The professor I work for does this hilarious thing at the beginning of the semester. He pulls up a chair for his students and demonstrates for them what they look like when they attempt to casually text message in class. Of course he exaggerates and makes them all laugh, but it seems to work pretty well. It highlights this erroneous feeling that students seem to have about somehow blending in to the crowd while they’re in classrooms. It’s as though they think that, even though they’re doing things (talking, texting) that are plainly visible, the professor can’t see them. They are like little Ravenous Bugblatter Beasts of Traal.
If you have even a passing interest in the internet, you’re probably aware that something similar happens “here”. People post things on their blogs and SNS profiles as though only their intended audience can see it when, in fact, anyone can see it. danah boyd calls the atmosphere online a networked public*, which is a little different than plain old public, but it sure ain’t private. Random people see it, and people who are specifically looking for them certainly see it. People like potential employers. And prosecuting attorneys. [via Eszter]
* boyd, danah. (2007) “Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life.” MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Learning – Youth, Identity, and Digital Media Volume (ed. David Buckingham). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Funny, just the other day I pointed out to my students that I’m well aware of how most of them who have their laptops open are not taking notes, rather, I can tell very clearly when they’re online and likely chatting with friends elsewhere.
Yeah, I know. It drives me ***nuts*** when people socialize online in class. Especially when I see how their grades reflect it.