[sl] Live chat dialogue from the workshop on "Youth in the Digital Age"
During the workshop at the NYLC Service Learning Conference, teens in Second Life responded to the Human Barometer game, along with people in real life. Here is an excerpt of the online dialogue that occurred during the activity:
Statement 1: Race does not matter online. What do you think?
Richard Dwi: Race doesn't matter anywhere, we're all people
Nebby Xi: I agree, because nobody needs to use their race online
Robin Coalcliff: Ya, but people do, and there are people who discriminate others
Richard Dwi: I chose my avatar because he had a scar...
Smiley Barry: Well...I chose my avatar to be White as I'm White in real life too, but someone's race doesn't matter to me
Statement 2: Do violent games causes violent behavior? Yes or no?
Meatwad Extraordinaire: No, it's the individual who decides to ... do the violence? If violent games cause violence, then everyone would be violent all of the time
Richard Dwi: Only if those teens have outside pressure to be violent..
Nebby Xi: I agree, otherwise everyone on SL would be violent!
Smiley Barry: I mean some idiots DO get violence from it but most don't.
Richard Dwi: For example, if you play monopoly and have an unlucky streak and go to jail, normally you wouldn't punch someone in the face
Statement 3: Online relationships are just as important as offline ones.
Meatwad Extraordinaire: They are important, but again it depends on the individual, you may have more friends online, but have a few good friends in real life, or the other way around
Codedog Vandeverre: Offline is not as important, because your real life is more important than Second Life
Richard Dwi: online is a good way to meet people, but you shouldn't take it too seriously
Codedog Vandeverre: exactly
Smiley Barry: Well, yeah they're *kinda* the same, depends as some people treat it as real life relationships, and some don’t
Meatwad Extraordinaire: It's all linked to your real life, it's not like you have one brain for the online world and one for the real world
Richard Dwi: For example, I like Mariel Voyunicef as a friend, the same as I like my real life friends, but I don't take it serious enough to visit her place
Statement 4: It is safe to share personal information online. What do you think?
Smiley Barry: Depends, I only share my first name or last name. Mostly first.
Richard Dwi: It's not safe
Nebby Xi: NO, I disagree it’s safe.
Codedog Vandeverre: No, it’s not safe.
Meatwad Extraordinaire: Disagree, things are not always what they seem…
Cathy GKid: Er... nooooo ... you don't really really know who they are.. even adults fall for that
Codedog Vandeverre: aggreeing with Cathy
Richard Dwi: adults are sometimes easier to give it up
Smiley Barry: If I don't know the second person or people I don't share even a letter then I use my "net name".
Meatwad Extraordinaire: Yes, adults haven't had the Internet all their lives to realize things, so they don't always have as much of a grasp on it perhaps?
Smiley Barry: I don't even use MySpace because of privacy
Shawn Ay: I'm not fond of MySpace either. Many private schools banned it for the fact that people give out the info
Statement 5: Does using technology move you forward or back?
Richard Dwi: TECHNOLOGY MOVES YOU FORWARD
Codedog Vandeverre: hmm
Shawn Ay: Technology is everything we use.
Nebby Xi: FOREWORD
Meatwad Extraordinaire: Forward, even a wheel is technology
Smiley Barry: I use it pretty much for everything…So forward!
Shawn Ay: Technology is the process of developing objectives to fulfill our needs and wants.
Meatwad Extraordinaire: So, a stick is technology if utilized as a tool
Richard Dwi: sometimes, technology could get you addicted too, like videogames
Shawn Ay: Even a spear is technology
Statement 6: Teens cannot be trusted online unless they are under adult supervision
Codedog Vandeverre: my parents trust me
Richard Dwi: my parents trust me
Nebby Xi: NO, because I’m trusted and I’m able to do anything
