Thursday, June 03, 2004
"Approaching the Radical Other"
Susan Zickmund, in her essay “Approaching the Radical Other” (1997), asserts that extremist ideas within cyber texts show that radicals discriminate against innocent members of society. Zickmund supports this assertion by citing specific examples of the radical Internet culture, the Other, and society to fuel her argument. Her purpose is to make her readers aware that cyberspace gives subversives a place to hate not only in the real world but on the Internet. She establishes a relationship with an audience who agrees with her views about anti-Semitic groups and their affect on cyberspace.
Zickmund states, “The Internet may thus endanger the very notion of a closed community. In doing so it could become an ally in the struggle against bigotry and racism.” (251). Here she provides her readers with a very strong point. What of the youth who is doing research at their computer? They type in an unfamiliar word and something unexpectedly negative appears. A similar scenario was what one 26-year-old real-estate investor experienced when he typed the word “Jew” into the Google search engine. According to an article, which was featured on Wired.com, Steven Weinstock discovered an anti-Semitic site was first to appear when he searched for the word “Jew.” This in fact illustrates that the Internet has become a resource to spread prejudice and intolerance.
Subversives no longer have to protest with marches and other demonstrations. These individuals have access to thousands more people with the Internet. They can sit back in the comfort of their own homes and share their cynical thoughts with both willing and unwilling Internet users. It is crazy to think that if they can get to users of technology so easily now, what will it be like in the years to come?
Zickmund states, “The Internet may thus endanger the very notion of a closed community. In doing so it could become an ally in the struggle against bigotry and racism.” (251). Here she provides her readers with a very strong point. What of the youth who is doing research at their computer? They type in an unfamiliar word and something unexpectedly negative appears. A similar scenario was what one 26-year-old real-estate investor experienced when he typed the word “Jew” into the Google search engine. According to an article, which was featured on Wired.com, Steven Weinstock discovered an anti-Semitic site was first to appear when he searched for the word “Jew.” This in fact illustrates that the Internet has become a resource to spread prejudice and intolerance.
Subversives no longer have to protest with marches and other demonstrations. These individuals have access to thousands more people with the Internet. They can sit back in the comfort of their own homes and share their cynical thoughts with both willing and unwilling Internet users. It is crazy to think that if they can get to users of technology so easily now, what will it be like in the years to come?
Discovery Writing 3: “Performing Self”
How does my “self” perform differently in different spaces? I guess the first thing that comes to mind is what I am like in different daily activities. For instance, the way I act in school, at work, around my friends, and family are pretty different. At work I joke around a little with the people I am close to there, but this is far different than how would act around my friends or family. It just feels less appropriate in a work environment to be joking around I guess.
When I am with my family I would definitely say that I act different than anywhere else, because they have known me the longest. They are the people that have seen me at my best and worst. Yes, they know me, but I do not live with them anymore so many of the things they would find out about me or I about them are lost. I think that has caused our relationship to be more distant. Therefore I do not act the same around them as I used to when I lived with them.
I do not think that because I perform different in these places that I am being dishonest or fake. There is a certain way to behave in each place you go. For example, you probably wouldn’t behave the same way when you go out to eat at McDonald’s as you would at a fancy sit down restaurant. There is a reason people act different in each environment. Like me, the way many people act around their friends would probably not be as accepted by either of my bosses. I think “self” is more complex because you have to perform appropriately with each situation you are faced with.
I would like to think that most normal people do act differently in different circumstances. We all have different comfort levels among various groups of people. It does seem like “growing up” puts distance between family members. In a way you have lost things about them and them about you. You’re trying to get out there and be your own person yet, you don’t want to leave anyone behind, such as your family and a few hometown friends. So it is understandable that you may try to hide some things that you have learned about yourself that you family may not know or ever need to know. And yes, there are certain expectations on people’s behavior, especially in public places or a work setting or school environment. “self” is very complex and should be. –jamie J
When I am with my family I would definitely say that I act different than anywhere else, because they have known me the longest. They are the people that have seen me at my best and worst. Yes, they know me, but I do not live with them anymore so many of the things they would find out about me or I about them are lost. I think that has caused our relationship to be more distant. Therefore I do not act the same around them as I used to when I lived with them.
I do not think that because I perform different in these places that I am being dishonest or fake. There is a certain way to behave in each place you go. For example, you probably wouldn’t behave the same way when you go out to eat at McDonald’s as you would at a fancy sit down restaurant. There is a reason people act different in each environment. Like me, the way many people act around their friends would probably not be as accepted by either of my bosses. I think “self” is more complex because you have to perform appropriately with each situation you are faced with.
I would like to think that most normal people do act differently in different circumstances. We all have different comfort levels among various groups of people. It does seem like “growing up” puts distance between family members. In a way you have lost things about them and them about you. You’re trying to get out there and be your own person yet, you don’t want to leave anyone behind, such as your family and a few hometown friends. So it is understandable that you may try to hide some things that you have learned about yourself that you family may not know or ever need to know. And yes, there are certain expectations on people’s behavior, especially in public places or a work setting or school environment. “self” is very complex and should be. –jamie J
