Entries like this are relatively difficult to write (and, for that matter, to categorise) and so forgive me for the stream of consciousness nature of it.
Websites such as YouTube have come under fire recently for not doing enough to discourage cyber-bullies [BBC News].
Meanwhile, Tim O’Reilly, author of a number of computer based books, has written a draft code of conduct on blogging that suggests readers should be warned if they are about to be exposed to “crude language” [BBC News].
While I don’t necessarily agree that it’s needed – a lot of the internet is based on trust after all – I can see its merits. My view is that when you flag something up as forbidden, as something that is a little bit taboo, there’s a much greater urge to investigate it. Think of a small child and a freshly baked pie. Or a shiny, tantalising button labelled “Do Not Press”… the single thing running through your mind at that moment is “I MUST press that button.” It’s something that’s forbidden.
However, a standardising thing like that, a system to let people decide whether something’s right for them could be good. And it’s something that is appearing in other walks of life.
Take, for instance, the new food labelling ideas. There’s no unified industry approach to that, some use same coloured boxes with information in, some use a traffic light system to indicate high, medium and low levels of a particular ingredient or nutrient… but having different systems in different shops, or from different food companies, just makes things that more complex! You have to work out what the label is telling you and I think that’s much less effective in highlighting things to a consumer. Certainly, I totally ignore them through a complete lack of understanding…
So, I understand the reasons behind the code of conduct but unless it’s tackled the same way by everybody, is there a point?
And also, what use is the internet, blogging in particular, without the freedom to say what you’re thinking about right now?
While I’m at this typing lark, I want to think about some of the more creative efforts available on YouTube. There’s an increasing presence on there of re-enactments of various things, be they films or of scenes from people’s lives.
This one-man Goodfellas cyber-homage is a particularly good one. Do I need to point out the language involved…? I’ll leave it to you to decide whether clicking the link is an appropriate thing to do.
