User talk:KerryFromThePub

WikiLab Educational Exercise #1
Let's Ban Anti-Banning.

In a painfully ironic turn of events, students at the London School of Economics have set out to ban The LSESU Speakeasy Society, which was set up in order to fight for free speech in universities, and well, against the banning of student groups. It is without question that free speech is a hot topic right now among the younger generation, with some universities even banning speakers such as Milo Yiannopoulos and Julie Bindel out of fear that they may 'incite hate' or, God forbid, offend someone. Freedom of speech and expression is, in my opinion, one of the most valuable and important parts of our society, the right to challenge ideas, the right to speak your mind freely, and of course, the right to be offended are what we should be defending and fighting for, not censorship and silence.

KerryFromThePub (discuss • contribs) 13:02, 16 February 2016 (UTC)

Marker’s Comment

 * Really interesting topic for this exercise. Well written, good use of markup. However, it would have been useful to try to feed this into the themes and concerns of the module more explicitly, drawing from the scholarship relating to for example, civic web, or collective intelligence (and how this articulates with free speech and democratic notions associated with "net neutrality". Lots of potential here, not quite hitting it on this occasion, however.


 * A post of this standard roughly corresponds to the following grade descriptor:
 * Satisfactory. Among other things, satisfactory entries may try to relate an idea from the module to an original example, but might not be very convincing. They may waste space on synopsis or description, rather than making a point. They may have spelling or grammatical errors and typos. They might not demonstrate more than a single quick pass at the assignment, informed only by lecture and/or cursory reading. They may suggest reading but not thinking (or indeed the reverse). The wiki markup formatting will need some work.

RE: Comments on others’ work

 * These are absent. You have not adhered to the brief. Remember that your comments on other people's work is weighted as heavily as your own post when it comes to grades. Not completing this part of the exercise means that, effectively you are halving your mark. GregXenon01 (discuss • contribs) 16:40, 29 February 2016 (UTC)

I agree that censorship is becoming worryingly common in our society, and that it is coming mainly from the student population. I think it is interesting that Twitter and Facebook are the main platforms that have allowed this movement to mobilise. Do you think that there should be any limitations on free speech in terms of hate speech? Where do you stand on Roosh V? Ted 95 (discuss • contribs) 15:25, 18 February 2016 (UTC)

I also agree that freedom of speech is a highly important part of our society, and it's interesting to see how viewpoints regarding it have changed over the years - especially with the rise of social media. Censorship has a time and a place and I do not think that opinions - especially in a university environment where your ideals are supposed to be challenged and strengthened - are the place to use it since it can potentially prevent growth as a person. CalSmith96 (discuss • contribs) 00:19, 19 February 2016 (UTC) CalSmith96 (discuss • contribs) 00:19, 19 February 2016 (UTC)

Educational Project Discussion Thread
Users:The Small Moray, HayleyJo87, MLCRooney, Srepanis

'''Hi guys, I've put together this little discussion thread where we can talk about the project etc. Feel free to post any messages and questions here! KerryFromThePub (discuss • contribs) 13:33, 16 February 2016 (UTC)

Fab, thanks Kerry. Here's the topics for everyone to have a look at: - Technological and Cultural Determinism - Public and Private Spheres in the Digital Age - Surveillance and Sousveillance - Open Source and Proprietary Technologies

If anyone has any preferences, let me know. MLCRooney (discuss • contribs) 13:57, 16 February 2016 (UTC)

Is the public and private sphere about online and offline identity? HayleyJo87 (discuss • contribs) 13:52, 16 February 2016 (UTC) MLCRooney (discuss • contribs) 13:36, 16 February 2016 (UTC)

I'm thinking maybe Technological and Cultural Determinism, and Surveillance and Sousveillance, what do the rest of you think? KerryFromThePub (discuss • contribs) 13:42, 16 February 2016 (UTC)

I like the idea of doing Technological and Cultural Determinism but I'm happy to do another topic as well The Small Moray (discuss • contribs) 13:50, 16 February 2016 (UTC)

I am up for Technological and Cultural Determinism and Surveillance and Sousveillance. Just make sure we come down to a decision asap and snap the subject first. Srepanis (discuss • contribs) 11:27, 18 February 2016 (UTC)

Would anyone object to doing public and private sphere? I like the whole online/Offline identity HayleyJo87 (discuss • contribs) 16:28, 18 February 2016 (UTC)

By majority vote the Survelliance and Sousvelliance has won. Our group name is - The Straight Outta Pubtons. Hope you like HayleyJo87 (discuss • contribs)

Sounds great! KerryFromThePub (discuss • contribs) 17:25, 18 February 2016 (UTC)

Ok so just to make it clear, our group name is StraightOuttaPubton and our topic is Surveillance/Sousveillance? KerryFromThePub (discuss • contribs) 10:12, 22 February 2016 (UTC)

Yep, Exactly Kerry. Still need a spokesperson HayleyJo87 (discuss • contribs) 17:25, 23 February 2016 (UTC)

So Stilanos has volunteered to be our group spokesperson. Thanks Stilanos. HayleyJo87 (discuss • contribs) 08:28, 24 February 2016 (UTC)

Thanks Stilanos! KerryFromThePub (discuss • contribs) 11:15, 24 February 2016 (UTC)

I've been looking into the link between surveillance and trolling as part of our theme. Any ideas what you guys are doing yet? HayleyJo87 (discuss • contribs) 12:16, 24 February 2016 (UTC)

WikiLab Educational Exercise #2
Visibility and Online Footprint

My Identity

How we appear to others online is becoming more and more of an issue with the rise of privacy invasion and identity fraud, and as I fight the urge to browse Facebook instead of finishing this assignment, I'll explain how I think I portray myself as a person online and why. Personally I only really use Facebook regularly, and my account is completely private to other users who are not 'Friends' with me, meaning only they can see what I post and my information, including what I'm studying and at which university, my age and birthday, where I live, and some (probably outdated) of my religious and political beliefs. I have a second Facebook account that I made when I was about 15 to keep in touch with family members, simply because I don't want to have to worry about what I post on my 'real' Facebook account.

Privacy

As I mentioned before, all of my information other than my name and profile picture are private to those who are not friends with me on Facebook, however this is not to say that my data and information is completely secure and protected from surveillance, and there has even been speculation that governments are using our online data and activity to snoop on us. This, of course, is not the only way in which our data is stored and used, and the use of targeted advertising through cookies is recently risen.

Deception

Of course we all what to be the ideal version of ourselves, and with editing programs and apps such as Instagram it is becoming easier and easier for us to edit photographs to make ourselves look the best we can. But some people take it a step too far, and use pictures of other people to pretend they are someone they're not, this is called Catfishing and there has even been a movie and TV show that investigates and exposes catfishers across the US.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, the way we present and protect ourselves online appears to be very important, from spending 45 minutes getting the perfect angle for your profile picture, to making sure you read the Terms and Conditions of an app before you download it in order to best protect yourself from fraud, surveillance, and invasion of privacy.

KerryFromThePub (discuss • contribs) 10:47, 24 February 2016 (UTC)

Targeted Advertising is an issue especially to those who don't fully understand it. When I worked in a call centre for a retailer I would receive emails all the time from customers believing we had invaded their privacy and had to explain to them that this was something beyond our control and to turn off cookies. But turning off cookies is another issue isn't it? Websites don't work as well or at all if you do not click 'accept' when the little message pops up to say that the page. So essentially we are forced to click yes and later see adverts for retailers we have recently viewed.

I enjoy watching the TV show Catfish TV show and although I feel bad for the people who are deceived, it's a fascinating psychology into why people do what they do. Some people have low self-esteem, others have the sick pleasure of trolling people but I wonder how they can carry on talking to their victims as a fake person for so long. In the day and age of constant internet availability and often do these things out of boredom. 90% of the Catfish relationships do not work out which proves that despite what people say, looks matter. HayleyJo87 (discuss • contribs) 10:00, 26 February 2016 (UTC)

WikiLab Educational Exercise #3
Information Overload!

In the age of the internet, we are blessed with the ability to find almost any piece of information that we desire, but is this really a good thing?

Dealing with Distractions

Like most people (I assume), I seem to get very easily distracted by what there is to be found on the internet. Be it Facebook, Youtube, or random puppy videos, it always seems to grab my attention somehow. So how do I deal with the urge to go off track while online? I've had suggestions to temporarily block certain sites such as Facebook, but I'm not going to lie that just seems like too much effort. My favourite technique of all is googling how to stop getting distracted online and finally get round to doing that assignment that was due yesterday (seriously I have that bookmarked). That technique is my favourite as it installs a false sense of being productive while still allowing me to avoid doing the actual task at hand. Ironic "techniques" aside, the truth is that I usually let myself get distracted, to the point where it's 15 minutes before the deadline and this is becoming a self-loathing rant because why didn't I just do it yesterday.

An Abundance of Information

Again, like most, with a whole world of knowledge at my fingertips, I usually don't reach out and grab it. Google is great for answering the important questions like "what movie was that guy in?" and "Is Chris Pratt finally single again yet?" (he isn't, I googled it), but for some reason I never seem to be researching how gravity works, or how mitosis works. Truth is, I don't actually need to know how gravity or mitosis work, and as they don't interest me I see no reason to research it. There's nothing wrong with looking up silly information on the internet, if that's what interests you then who is anyone else to judge you?

KerryFromThePub (discuss • contribs) 11:58, 2 March 2016 (UTC)

Comments
Nice read and with very relevant material to our academic life. I agree with you puppy videos are the best! Imagine that I would never have a pet in the house so that explains why I feel free to laugh with them. They are not my responsibility after all and I am not the one who gets to do the cleaning. A lot of scientists advice us to take a break from a continuous use of computer and take a walk if possible. We are also advised to install apps on our PCs that will remind us of our excessive use. It's important you mention how we engage with so much rubbish online that we don't look for scientific facts any more.I think that happens as we see Internet as leisure time activity where you can watch your favourite shows while doing assignments. You can also watch shows from all over the world and this is what gets me all the time. How do you think I knew that Chris Pratt is married while you didn't? Because at some point I had watched him on Ellen talking about his son.Srepanis (discuss • contribs)

I'm sorry this is late. I misunderstood part of the brief. I enjoyed your post and Internet Movie Database is one of my most frequently used sites/ apps as I'm also wondering what movie who has been in. One of the things I do to stop myself getting distracted is switching my phone off but as soon as it goes off I need it for something. Sometimes I log myself out of Facebook just to stop me from clicking it only to find I need to message someone. It's frustrating as you are trying your hardest not to be distracted but then you need the distractions, It's a vicious cycle but I read what you said on another post and sometimes distractions are healthy as long as you have the discipline to go back to your work afterwards. HayleyJo87 (discuss • contribs) 20:11, 10 March 2016 (UTC)

Marker’s Feedback on Wikibook Project Work
No contribs to content. Useful putting the group discussion thread on your own user discussion page. Some exercises missing from portfolio.

Wiki Exercises


 * Poor. Among other things, poor entries may just offer links without real comment or apparent point. They may offer nothing more than poor-quality synopsis or description of material of dubious relevance. They may have serious clarity problems (including dead links, random graphics) which affect comprehension (or even worse, admin warnings or take-down notices for copyright infringement). They might be off-topic, private trivia, or of unclear relevance. The wiki markup formatting will be of a poor standard.

Content (weighted 20%)

 * Your contribution to the book page fails to give an overview of the subject under discussion in your chosen themed chapter. There is little familiarity in evidence with concepts associated with your subject, and the grasp of conceptual, factual and analytical issues is tenuous and limited at best. You did not find any appreciable primary and secondary sources about the chapter’s themes.

Understanding (weighted 30%)

 * Reading and research:
 * evidence of limited critical engagement with set material, although most ideas and procedures insecurely grasped
 * evidence of independent reading of appropriate academic and peer-reviewed material limited, displaying a qualified familiarity with a minimally sufficient range of relevant materials
 * Argument and analysis:
 * poorly articulated and supported argument;
 * lack of evidence of critical thinking (through taking a position in relation to key ideas from the module, and supporting this position in discussion);
 * lack of evidence of relational thinking (through making connections between key ideas from the module and wider literature, and supporting these connections in discussion);
 * evidence of independent critical ability limited, due to the fact that your grasp of the analytical issues and concepts, although generally reasonable, is somewhat insecure.

Engagement (weighted 50%)

 * No evidence from contributions to both editing and discussion of content (i.e. volume and breadth of activity as evidenced through contribs)
 * No engagement with and learning from other Wikipedians about the task of writing/editing content for a Wikibook
 * Little or no use of discussion pages

Overall Mark % available on Succeed

FMSU9A4marker (discuss • contribs) 15:05, 3 May 2016 (UTC)