I have just read a harrowing story, and in case it goes un-noticed I thought it best to bring it to light to make people aware and quite scarily be on their guard, and especially if they have red hair. Not many of you may have heard, or read this story, but there is every possibility you will have heard of facebook.
Facebook is a social networking website where people via the web socialize and communicate with friends and family, close in proximity, or on the other side of the world. It was established February 4, 2004, originally titled thefacebook.com. A few months down the line and for the cost of $200,000 on August 23, 2005 thefacebook.com was no more. Facebook revenue is generated from advertising. To join Facebook is free. Its beginning had restrictions on membership locality but on September 11, 2006 these were lifted and memberships were opened to the rest of the world as long as you had a valid email address! In May of 2007, Facebook launched a free classified section to the site, called Facebook Marketplace, and one year later in 2006 rumors of sales circulated, with numbers as high as $2.3 billion (from Google to outbid Yahoo's $1 billion). All offers have been rejected, although in 2007 Facebook sold a 1.6% share to Microsoft for $246 million.
Now that we have a brief outline on the concept about how people can interact with each other on facebook, we need a brief outline on how to prevent hate campaigns that are run on these social sites. It's disappointing, however more sad when something as good, and given for free, has their system abused by idiotic and inconsiderate people.
In some cases when this happens, the actual website gets the blame, and I am not sure is this right. It`s a debatable subject still in motion as we speak, however I tend to look at the positives and believe most social networking sites deserve recognition for what they have given to society? I just cannot see how another can be held responsible for another`s actions. Most reputable sites do their best to keep everything above board and their member's "safe," but there are always those to beat the system, you only have to think hacker. Forgive me if you or someone you know has suffered something similar but I am only trying to put across the good and the bad of it all.
What of the millions of members that abide by the rules, does this make that particular social networking website accountable for the people`s honesty. If a member crosses the guidelines that are imposed are they not responsible for their own doings. Let us a say policeman pulls you over for speeding, and because he pulled you over, should he pay the fine. I can fully understand why mixed feelings occur over something like this, but who do you please. Do you ban the site and as a result deprive millions of their pleasure, or jail the villain. Why not let the deprived decide.
What brought this to my notice was hearing that the police in Canada are investigating attacks on children with red hair after an anti-ginger group was set up by a teenager on Facebook. Straight away without having to debate over the matter, the guilty party stares you straight in the face "Was set up by a teenager" on facebook (not facebook set up the teenager.) Apparently the teenager took advantage of his facebook account and supposedly promoted "National Kick a Ginger Day". How sad is that or more like how sad the teeager. You may bet people now fear to walk the streets if they haven`t bought a bottle of peroxide.
As with many a case where harming the innocent happens, there is always the excuse, you know the one, where they seen it on television, or either God told them to do it. The Yorkshire Ripper killed 13 women under God`s orders. "Yeah right, since when has God been called satan. It is thought an episode of the animated series South Park, known for its satirical humour, recently focused on red-heads and because of this has us believe was the motive for the Facebook bullying campaign. I watch programmes all the time which involves people being shot, and do I go out and shoot somebody, "no." Once again there will be the folk who may not see eye to eye with me on this, but I am sorry its how I feel on the subject, after learning how a young innocent pupil was left battered and bruised after being assaulted by a gang of 13 other pupils, and why, because he had ginger hair. If you are going to fight the cause you bullies, then let it be a good one. You know where you fight for kin and country.
What are the educational benefits of social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook if any? Well study came up with, that the students which were observed, 94% used the Internet, 82% go online at home and 77% had a profile on a social networking site. When approached on the subject on what they learned from using social networking sites, top of the list was technology skills, followed by creativity, being open to new or diverse views and communication skills. Findings on the matter concluded that students using social networking sites are actually practicing the kinds of 21st century skills they need to develop to be successful today.
One expert in this field said students are developing a positive attitude towards using technology systems, editing and customizing content and thinking about online design and layout. When we listen to what these experts have to say just proves that social networking sites offer more than just social fulfillment.
So now you see why it is important to put the bad guys away, for the good ones to prosper.
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