Not first life

Before taking the course New Media, I had little to know knowledge of this thing called Second Life. I knew a computer had to be used to have access to it, but other than that, you could have told me pretty much anything and I would have believed it.

Second Life was certainly an experience, and something that blew me away. I think it is unbelievable how the availability and access of communications has evolved from just 10 years ago. Employees in Brazil can hook up with a business partner in Vancouver simply by logging onto a computer. Deal's can be made from different ends of the world.

With that said, I am not fan of Second Life. Maybe I'm not "nerd" enough, but it just does not appeal to me. I don't see why someone would pay to be on there, unless it was for business reasons. While there are advertising and other marketing opportunities associated with the program, I see Second Life mostly as a waste of time.

I understand that there are a large number of people who enjoy Second Life as more than just an outlet for work, but I am not one of them.

What's Wrong With Using My Computer?

The over-use of computers has never really been questioned. But with just about everything, there is such thing as too much. Although they aren't as clear-cut as you might think, there are disadvantages to using the computer:

• Become glued to the screen




• Not everyone/everything on the internet is friendly/trustworthy/safe/clean




• Too easy of access to information




• Viruses




• Personal information too available




• Not good for the eyes, hand (carpal tunnel), and posture




• Expensive to buy/repair




• Gets people sidetracked




• Laziness




• Become unsocial/depressed

While some things (viruses and porn) will always be a part of the internet, there are ways for people to overcome these obstacles.

As a whole, computers are becoming less and less expensive by the day. There is a greater need, and with the advancement of technology, it is now normal to have at least one computer in every household, not an exception. We need to realize that, while computer's do serve an overall good purpose, using them too much and for prolonged periods of time is simply not healthy. Just as we should not eat five cheeseburgers at McDonald's, or smoke cigarettes, we should learn to modify our usage of the computer.

When someone can go onto the Internet and find out your personal information, that would make me tend to believe that our privacy has gone missing. That, unfortunately, is what the public is dealing with today: privacy issues.

At some point, you are going to have to give up some private information, whether you like it or not. It's what you choose to share, and whom you choose to share it with that matters. In the matter of less privacy in exchange for increased security, it all depends on what information I am giving up, where it is going, and what security I am receiving in return.

I don't like letting people know my social security number. That is the last straw, the key that unlocks my life's door. At least that is what it feels like to me. I understand the government already has files about me, and for better or worse, I don't care if they do. I get concerned about wackos and thieves getting a hold of my identity. The government has a job: protect us. For a little less privacy, I will gladly take the government stopping disasters.

There are limits, though, to what the government should know about our private lives. They don't need to know the intricate details, and the deepest, darkest fears that plague us. They don't need to know when my last bowel movement was, or what my first pet's name was, or how many baseball cards I have. They only need to possess the information that will help make this county a safer place.

Some may say that they are nearly the same thing, but corporations and the government are not identical. I know corporations will need to gather some private information, considering that most corporations have clients. Corporations, however, should possess even less personal information than our government. They may need to know your bank account number, but I wouldn't even feel comfortable with that happening. They already know more than we think they do.

Personal information is, and will always be readily available to the government, corporations, and Internet stalkers. It is how you limit and hide personal information that will determine whether you're easily accessible and vulnerable to a threat.