Online Democracy

In a country in which its citizens are so proud of their individual rights and freedoms, it is expected that a movement such as E-democracy would grab the attention of Americans.  E-democracy or electric democracy is used to enhance the democratic process by allowing internet users to use their voice on various platforms to further communicate their views on issues. It is important to understand that in America, one person is entitled to one vote, and that this also includes the entitlement of one’s voice among social or political issues.

By using the internet, users may spread information, thoughts and ideas across the nation in a healthy and empowering way. E-democracy also permits citizens to interact with their local political leaders to help further understand their stance on issues or to discuss other important matters. This is valuable for smaller communities as they have use their voice on the internet and have an outlet to talk about local news and political reform that only concerns them and their neighbors. Trust and full support of the political leader in office is key for small communities as well; if the people of a town do not agree with or understand the policies put into place, e-democracy allows the beginning of that necessary conversation for those people. 

On October 25, 2010, an international conference in Poland housed by Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Endowment for Democracy led the “Warsaw Dialogue for Democracy” movement. This conference allowed a conversation among political leaders from different countries such as Egypt, Libya and the US to help spread the word on democracy and it’s benefits for human rights.

The minister of Foreign Affairs in Poland, Radoslaw Sikorksi specifically spoke about the benefits of democracy online and said, “…new communication technologies play an increasingly important role in promoting democracy by helping societies self-organize.”

I think e-democracy is a growing movement in this digital age and it will become increasingly more popular as people seek professional forums to share information and learn more about policies in the US- instead of venting their opinions on Facebook or another social media outlet where it doesn’t really matter. 

The Digital Divide

Today we not only live in a world of social and economic divide, but also a digital divide. The issue has become more obvious as citizens are now able to have constant internet access on their mobile devices when others who are less fortunate, do not have the resources to simply do their schoolwork. 

When the internet first came along, Vice President Al Gore called it the "Global Information Highway," allowing users to create an information marketplace of endless opportunity. Throughout the years this opportunity is reflective of the endless social and economic inequality that is and has always been present.

There is a big divide between those who use the internet for sending information and documents and those who are on the internet for public information. Although internet speeds are a major factor in receiving information, user's access also depends on individual needs and capabilities. This is difference between sending an email to a colleague and having to look up times for the train to ride to work.

For the children at school without internet access, they have a problem keeping test scores up because of the lack of resources other students have. This is why public schools in Pittsburgh have teamed up with Comcast to offer a program in which students and their families are able to get internet service at low costs, cheap computers and digital literacy training. According to Pittsburgh's NPR News Station WESA, "...providing internet access helps to close the achievement gap" which in Pennsylvania, the gap for math scores between low-income and non-low-income students is 32 percentage points and for English is 30 points.

Essentially, there is a digital divide because the gaps the rich and the poor represent such social and economic inequality. If public schools can uproot this repetitive cycle and get kids the essential tools they need in order to succeed, the digital divide might become a little smaller in the future. After all, it is heavily influenced on education and your place in society.  

Podcast Link

Listen to my podcast on Net Neutrality!

http://adickey272.podomatic.com/entry/2013-10-15T08_39_50-07_00

Online Identity

How we choose to present ourselves online has never been so fantastical. People around the world now have the ability to either highlight or conceal certain characteristics that they possess but might not be able to present in their daily social activities. There are certain stigmas that surround people throughout their lives because of the society in which we live. Identities that are often misunderstood, such as the teen pop star, can feel like a hinderance in one's ability to present one's true self. Some have the desire to become another person entirely and carry out an extreme fantasy-driven life over the internet because they are not happy with their identity they must uphold in reality.

According to a Washington Post article, Former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner has been in the hot seat with the media because of his recent desires to contact women and send them "lewd texts and terribly inappropriate Facebook messages."As Weiner is getting harshly scrutinized for his actions as a political figure, the article suggests that it is quite like 'role-playing' across social media and nudges us that we all have had similar experiences.

Of course Weiner has been the butt of the joke for the past couple of months, but if we dissect his actions carefully, we must ask ourselves why exactly he did what he did. Was this solely for the sexual attention? Or was he experiencing something emancipatory - in which he was able to escape the constraints in his reality and role-play as another person?

The textbook says it could be both; many people feel a sense of freedom on the internet because they have a chance to let their minds roam with their avatar or homepage. "[A] personal homepage may be most emancipatory for those whose identities are misunderstood or stigmatized in society...since they can reveal their identities without risking the rejection or harassment that may be experienced in everyday life."

It is quite understandable for a person in the public eye such as Anthony Weiner to desire sexual attention or conversation that he normally could not have. This does not mean however, that they should not have it. With more responsibility, comes higher expectations of the people around you, especially the media. Sometimes we think of celebrities or public figures as two-dimensional in a way - they are what we see them as only. However, we must remember that they are humans too, with many dimensions, and crave the same attention we once did.

With this being said, I believe that Weiner is at fault for exposing his intimate self carelessly, they way he did to the public because it has no doubt tainted his professional reputation!