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General Category => General Chaos => : Mckma May 17, 2011, 10:17:31 PM

: Suggestions/Help for a Paper
: Mckma May 17, 2011, 10:17:31 PM
Hey all.

For my final paper in one of my classes is essentially open to whatever we want focusing on the idea of "borders."  The basic topic I'm thinking is anonymity on the internet and social interactions (think something like this (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/)).

What I turn to you all for (being denizens of the internet yourselves), are what your thoughts are/experiences/suggestions to get a better idea on what I might focus on specifically.

Thanks in advance for any help...
: Re: Suggestions/Help for a Paper
: clockworkjoe May 17, 2011, 11:27:27 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewzDWdFBFH8
: Re: Suggestions/Help for a Paper
: Mckma May 19, 2011, 12:05:56 AM
I'm thinking I might focus on the anonymity leading to erratic/impulsive behavior.  I kind of want to talk about Anonymous, specifically how on the one hand they raise up small YouTube celebrities (like that one Ghost Hunter kid), while at the same time harassing people on Habbo Hotel...

Any other examples of this/suggestions for sources?
: Re: Suggestions/Help for a Paper
: iceemaker May 19, 2011, 01:13:04 AM
Ugh. I hate papers with vague themes. Sometimes, I just want the damned professor to communicate precisely what they want.

Well, I would definitely focus on Internet anonymity rather than Anonymous itself. Exploring boundaries, stepping outside one's comfort zone, discovering oneself, etc. Of course, Internet trolling facilitated by anonymity is another important aspect.

I hope this helps. Good luck, I suppose.
: Re: Suggestions/Help for a Paper
: Setherick May 22, 2011, 04:36:17 PM
Ugh. I hate papers with vague themes.

We do this on purpose. It's designed to make students actually think about the course material.  ::)
: Re: Suggestions/Help for a Paper
: Mckma May 22, 2011, 06:35:30 PM
After an hour or so of unsuccessful searching I have realized it is incredibly difficult to find academic articles on anonymous internet interactions in the area I was interested in...

On to an easier topic, video games in education!
: Re: Suggestions/Help for a Paper
: clockworkjoe May 22, 2011, 08:07:00 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybLSwFUmMjE