Social networking sites
There's a lot of those social networking sites now and some time ago I gave in to my best friend's urging (as well as her invitation) and joined such a network for German students (of secondary education).
I strongly regret this decision. And not because the layout is blindingly pink.
The underlying concept is a good one. What the creators clearly overestimated when establishing a forum-like system of groups for people of similar interests (much like the communities here on livejournal) was the degree or rather the lack of decency and common sense of some of the students. This system presents a nearly perfect semi-public platform for the scum of teenage society, those who get a kick out of harassing and ridiculing students that are different or simply smarter. It works so well because groups don't have to be approved first, but can simply be created. None of the staff checks whether a group meets the code of conduct, but instead they rely on the users to behave or make use of the reporting function. Now really, who does that if they aren't directly or indirectly concerned?
Since the day I joined and was (unexpectedly) friended by my former best friend I have been confronted with this hole in the system. One of my closest friends is one of those "different people". She's extremely smart, well-read, ambitious and committed; she won an award for her commitment for the environment just recently and she regularly writes articles for the local newspaper. Some of my classmates "joined forces" and created a group with the sole purpose of making fun of my friend. Until I reported the group, that is. They did not get the hint though that it may be wrong what they're doing, but my former best friend went and created a new group with the same albeit slightly extended purpose of raging against my friend and "the asshole who reported the previous group". They don't have a clue that it's me though and now the very same asshole reported the second group as well. Heh.
I'm not only pissed off about this campaign against my friend and everyone involved, but I'm also somewhat shocked about my apparent lack of insight into my classmates' natures. Most of the members I had always perceived as rather nice, quiet and sensible people with common sense and decency, after all one of them was my best friend for years until we drifted apart. Was I really that mistaken in my judgement? Did their moral understanding simply regress over time? Is it just the way society is structered? People who are deemed "cool" by some unknown definition are allowed to treat those they don't like as if they weren't worth anything?
They ridicule my friend more or less publicly for everyone [registered] to join without her knowledge. Is that "cool"? Apparently.
I strongly regret this decision. And not because the layout is blindingly pink.
The underlying concept is a good one. What the creators clearly overestimated when establishing a forum-like system of groups for people of similar interests (much like the communities here on livejournal) was the degree or rather the lack of decency and common sense of some of the students. This system presents a nearly perfect semi-public platform for the scum of teenage society, those who get a kick out of harassing and ridiculing students that are different or simply smarter. It works so well because groups don't have to be approved first, but can simply be created. None of the staff checks whether a group meets the code of conduct, but instead they rely on the users to behave or make use of the reporting function. Now really, who does that if they aren't directly or indirectly concerned?
Since the day I joined and was (unexpectedly) friended by my former best friend I have been confronted with this hole in the system. One of my closest friends is one of those "different people". She's extremely smart, well-read, ambitious and committed; she won an award for her commitment for the environment just recently and she regularly writes articles for the local newspaper. Some of my classmates "joined forces" and created a group with the sole purpose of making fun of my friend. Until I reported the group, that is. They did not get the hint though that it may be wrong what they're doing, but my former best friend went and created a new group with the same albeit slightly extended purpose of raging against my friend and "the asshole who reported the previous group". They don't have a clue that it's me though and now the very same asshole reported the second group as well. Heh.
I'm not only pissed off about this campaign against my friend and everyone involved, but I'm also somewhat shocked about my apparent lack of insight into my classmates' natures. Most of the members I had always perceived as rather nice, quiet and sensible people with common sense and decency, after all one of them was my best friend for years until we drifted apart. Was I really that mistaken in my judgement? Did their moral understanding simply regress over time? Is it just the way society is structered? People who are deemed "cool" by some unknown definition are allowed to treat those they don't like as if they weren't worth anything?
They ridicule my friend more or less publicly for everyone [registered] to join without her knowledge. Is that "cool"? Apparently.