January 13, 2005 - Volume 34 Issue 7
Weblogging Diary of a Technological Generation
Journals evolved past secrecy
By Katie Hauser, jr.
Opinion Editor
These days, almost everything is connected to a computer somehow. Even journals
have made the jump. While they used to be simple notebooks full of secret
thoughts that were hidden under a mattress, they are now online, still full
of thoughts, but maybe not quite so secret.
These online journals are known as weblogs, or more simply, blogs. They give
people a chance to tell others what is going on in their lives. Friends can
stay in touch no matter how much distance is between them. Once a person posts,
other people can comment on their entry. They can offer support or advice,
or just say ‘hello.’
While blogs keep old friends updated, they also allow for new friends to be
made. Bloggers, the people who have blogs, can find other bloggers with the
same interests. Online communities, such as webrings, can form.
Blogs can be about anything. Some are by soldiers, known as milblogs, short
for military blogs. Others are just about what is going on in a person’s
life, like a diary, while others are about food. No matter what someone is
interested in, there is probably a blog community out there.
Blogs
offer benefits that go beyond a traditional diary
By Haley Barton,
sr.
Photo Editor
Many students see the beneficial side to blogging, like venting
to others, finding new friends, and maybe even getting away from their parents
if just for a second. Blogging can be thought of as a method of self-expression.
Individuals can use blogs to represent what he or she believes in, or their
interests.
“
Being able to express myself anonymously [is something I like],” said
Michelle Sollars, so.
It is an advantage to be able to keep names and locations a secret, though
the option of giving it is available. This helps ease anxiety of random people
possibly finding different individuals for the wrong reasons.
“
Blogs are nice, because people can only see it if they have the website,
and people can make entries that are private or public,” said Chelsy
Wright, jr.
Students frequently use blogs as a form of communication. They can also join
blogrings, which allow individuals that have the same interest to be connected
to others who also have this same interest. It is a good way to learn about
many different aspects of people’s lives. Bloggers can do anything
from chatting about various subjects, to complaining about what is going
on in their lives.
“
If anyone wants to learn about me and my thoughts, [they can] go to my blog,” said
Sam Kerns, jr.
Bloggers can make friends all around the world, from different cultures and
beliefs. They can use blogs to converse with others about anything they can
think of, from what music is the best to what restaurant serves gross food.
These friendships could last a lifetime. Blogging allows people an opportunity
to meet others online that they share common interests with and may not have
had the chance to meet in everyday life. These friendships can have a postive
impact on many lives.
“
[I like] the freedom of being able to write what I want and being able to
have my friends comment on what I have said or people that I do not know,"
said Crepensik, so.
In some instances, people move around, and those who use blogs can be able
to keep contact with those who move or those in which they have left behind.
In the long run, blogging can help friendships possibly last longer. People
can read each others pages to be able to keep up with what is going on in
their lives.
“
I have a lot of friends away at college, and the only way we keep in contact
is through our blogs. I am really glad we are all still connected, and they
always give me advice on how to get through high school,” said Katie
Hauser, jr.
Safety precautions
important
Bloggers must excercise common sense
By Erica Greve, sr.
Feature Editor
Weblogs, or “blogs”, are a popular way to connect
to people, and can provide a lot of opportunities for personal growth and
interpersonal communication. However, as weblogs become an increasingly popular
extentison of a person’s life, certain precautions must be made to
ensure that users have a fulfilling, yet safe, online experience.
Many weblogs have policies that specifically forbid anyone under a certain
age, usually 13 or 14, from using their sites. Such rules are made not to
belittle or disclude younger users, but to protect them from the harassment
of cyberstalkers. Every blogger should check with his or her host’s
age policy before starting a weblog.
Users should never post any information that could be used to publicly identify
them. This sort of information includes the user’s full name, telephone
number, home address, or links to other websites that may disclose this information.
Even photographs that show a home address or license plate number may be
used by dangerous people whose sole intent is to harass or harm online victims.
While the danger of this occurrence is very real, proper precautions can
prevent it from ever happening.
Also, being online does not guarantee a blogger complete anonymity. One should
never post anything on a weblog from a public or school computer, as these
machines are monitored, and can easily track the activity back to the user.
A blogger should never post anything online that he or she does not want a
parent, teacher, classmate, community member, or anyone else to be able to
view. For the most part, these online journals are very public, and are easily
accessible to anyone with internet access. Some blog sites give users the
option of protected post, which can limit who is able to view it.
One benefit of creating a weblog is the opportunity to connect with others
nationwide, and even worldwide, who share one’s interests, without ever
having to meet them in person. While it can be a good experience to meet new
people online, users need to use common sense when choosing online friends.
For example, no matter how much a blogger feels he or she has learned about
a new online friend, he or she should never take the truth for granted. Online,
people can choose to impersonate anyone they like, and may mislead others
to believe that they are who they claim to be. Therefore, as a rule of thumb,
blog users should never plan to meet in person with friends they have made
online without the presence of a trusted adult. This is simply common sense
in practice.
Also, a weblog user should never, ever share his or her password with anyone
else. Doing so is simply begging for trouble.
In the way of online etiquette, a weblog user should never provoke or lash
out at another user for any reason. Polite manners and respect should be put
into practice. Online arguments, known as “flaming,” have a tendency
to escalate out of control and can cause trouble for users in the real world.
A blogger should not be afraid to use the “block” feature that
stops troublesome foes from posting on his or her site. These features are
designed to put a quick stop to online harassment.
However, he or she may need to be prepared to answer questions in person from
the user who was blocked, and should have a polite explanation in mind.
These precautions are based entirely on common sense.
“ Provided all safety guidelines are mindfully followed, keeping a weblog
is a fun and safe pastime,” said Melanie Weilert, sr.
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