Comments on: DOPA Letter Wiki http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/ The Read/Write Web in the Classroom Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:35:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: content to be different » Blog Archive » It’d never happen here http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-3188 content to be different » Blog Archive » It’d never happen here Sat, 20 May 2006 14:19:22 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-3188 [...] news Will Richardson at Weblogg-ed has launched a Wiki to lobby against legislation planned in the US to effectively amke Blogs and Wikis inaccessible to shcoolchildren. [...] […] news Will Richardson at Weblogg-ed has launched a Wiki to lobby against legislation planned in the US to effectively amke Blogs and Wikis inaccessible to shcoolchildren. […]

]]> By: beccablog » Blog Archive » DOPA http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-3098 beccablog » Blog Archive » DOPA Thu, 18 May 2006 18:28:57 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-3098 [...] See Joyce Valenza, Doug Johnson, and Will Richardson.  [...] […] See Joyce Valenza, Doug Johnson, and Will Richardson.  […]

]]> By: Practical Theory http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2932 Practical Theory Tue, 16 May 2006 04:39:20 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2932 <strong>Fear Mongering, Politics and the Internet...</strong> Once again, Congress is rushing to give the appearance of protecting us from the big scary internet. This time, it's the Deleting Online Predators Act -- the aptly named DOPA. Some day, Congress is going to realize that blocking sites isn't the w... Fear Mongering, Politics and the Internet…

Once again, Congress is rushing to give the appearance of protecting us from the big scary internet. This time, it’s the Deleting Online Predators Act — the aptly named DOPA.

Some day, Congress is going to realize that blocking sites isn’t the w…

]]> By: Mobilize.org/SOS http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2918 Mobilize.org/SOS Mon, 15 May 2006 19:31:18 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2918 Mobilize.org is launching a new campaign in response to Congress’ attempt to censor the communication of our generation. We have created the action alert below and built a website, www.mobilize.org/SOS. We are hoping to get as much grassroots action as possible around this important issue, especially from the online community. Breaking News: Legislation introduced this week will ban social networking, even sites used for educational and professional opportunities. What’s next? HR5319 will censor the communication of our generation and tell us who we can talk to, when and how. Tell Congress that social networking is a movement that we built, a movement that we are going to fight for. Visit www.mobilize.org/SOS, take action, tell your friends and get mad. --- The bill blocks the use of these sites in public libraries, which is for many, the only access that they have to a computer. Our hope is to be able to amend the bill to take these facts into consideration. We agree that there need to be safeguards put in place for "sexual predators" and any of other crimes that might occur because of the accessibility of information on these sites, but to ban them in schools (including using school computers afterschool) and public libraries, is for many - banning social networking. Mobilize.org is launching a new campaign in response to Congress’ attempt to censor the communication of our generation. We have created the action alert below and built a website, http://www.mobilize.org/SOS. We are hoping to get as much grassroots action as possible around this important issue, especially from the online community.

Breaking News:

Legislation introduced this week will ban social networking, even sites used for educational and professional opportunities. What’s next? HR5319 will censor the communication of our generation and tell us who we can talk to, when and how. Tell Congress that social networking is a movement that we built, a movement that we are going to fight for.

Visit http://www.mobilize.org/SOS, take action, tell your friends and get mad.

—

The bill blocks the use of these sites in public libraries, which is for many, the only access that they have to a computer. Our hope is to be able to amend the bill to take these facts into consideration. We agree that there need to be safeguards put in place for “sexual predators” and any of other crimes that might occur because of the accessibility of information on these sites, but to ban them in schools (including using school computers afterschool) and public libraries, is for many - banning social networking.

]]> By: Deep Thinking :: My rant on DOPA :: May :: 2006 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2898 Deep Thinking :: My rant on DOPA :: May :: 2006 Mon, 15 May 2006 04:38:50 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2898 [...] I have been very busy the past month with some serious health issues, but have been monitoring the posts on MySpace and on DOPA. I did write each of my congressman about DOPA. Have each of you? The message has gone out there. I am copying again the information from the ALA Washington Office at the bottom of this email, but here is my concern. Too many school librarians do not care enough about their students and their profession to get involved. I am not cutting any slack here. I am not willing to listen to excuses about you being too busy. I just finished an 85 hour work week and am raising 4 teenagers. When I walked the halls of Congress two weeks ago during National Library Legislative Day, the majority of your representatives have never heard from you. They know you want money to fund school libraries, but they really don’t think you care about any other issues because they don’t hear from you. They don’t get a one minute phone call using the toll-free number saying simply “My name is ____, I’m a school librarian and I want you to …….” In this case, oppose DOPA. You don’t have to think through long letters. The ALA-Washington Office provides a form letter that you can simply sign on to from their new advocacy page http://www.onlineadvocacy.net/ . Bloggers like Doug Johnson (http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/ ), David Warlick (http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/ ), Will Richardson (http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/ ), and Liz Ditz ( http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2006/05/opposing_dopa_m.html ) have all provided copies of their letters. Simply saying that it’s the end of the year and you are too busy is not sufficient. Change and action will only come when we take action. You cannot afford to sit at the other end of these emails and hope that someone else somewhere else is responding because you are too busy. Make yourselves heard. Don’t just tell me about it! Tell your representative. Today! I’ve sent my letters out. Will you send out yours? [...] […] I have been very busy the past month with some serious health issues, but have been monitoring the posts on MySpace and on DOPA. I did write each of my congressman about DOPA. Have each of you? The message has gone out there. I am copying again the information from the ALA Washington Office at the bottom of this email, but here is my concern. Too many school librarians do not care enough about their students and their profession to get involved. I am not cutting any slack here. I am not willing to listen to excuses about you being too busy. I just finished an 85 hour work week and am raising 4 teenagers. When I walked the halls of Congress two weeks ago during National Library Legislative Day, the majority of your representatives have never heard from you. They know you want money to fund school libraries, but they really don’t think you care about any other issues because they don’t hear from you. They don’t get a one minute phone call using the toll-free number saying simply “My name is ____, I’m a school librarian and I want you to …….” In this case, oppose DOPA. You don’t have to think through long letters. The ALA-Washington Office provides a form letter that you can simply sign on to from their new advocacy page http://www.onlineadvocacy.net/ . Bloggers like Doug Johnson (http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/ ), David Warlick (http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/ ), Will Richardson (http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/ ), and Liz Ditz ( http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2006/05/opposing_dopa_m.html ) have all provided copies of their letters. Simply saying that it’s the end of the year and you are too busy is not sufficient. Change and action will only come when we take action. You cannot afford to sit at the other end of these emails and hope that someone else somewhere else is responding because you are too busy. Make yourselves heard. Don’t just tell me about it! Tell your representative. Today! I’ve sent my letters out. Will you send out yours? […]

]]> By: Graham Wegner http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2846 Graham Wegner Sat, 13 May 2006 05:24:24 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2846 Will, the letter looks and reads fine. Any chance of getting rid of the ads on the wiki? With all of the publicity you generate for pbwiki, I think it would be good to get rid of ads for Chat rooms, online dating etc. considering your subject material! Wikispaces remove ads for educators - your influence could do the same for pbwiki. Will, the letter looks and reads fine. Any chance of getting rid of the ads on the wiki? With all of the publicity you generate for pbwiki, I think it would be good to get rid of ads for Chat rooms, online dating etc. considering your subject material! Wikispaces remove ads for educators - your influence could do the same for pbwiki.

]]> By: Liz http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2840 Liz Fri, 12 May 2006 22:22:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2840 Ironic DOPA-ness. One of the "suburban coalition guys, John Campbell...has started blogging. If the DOPA bill passes, his blog would be blocked from schools and libraries. http://campbell.house.gov/html/release.cfm?id=21 Today, U.S. Rep. John Campbell (R-Irvine) began posting on the FlashReport.org Website, California’s most prominent political website, as a regular “blogger.” Campbell will be taking on the role as the “Beltway Correspondent.” “I’m excited about this opportunity to contribute to the FlashReport. Blogs are changing the way Americans get their news, and this is a great opportunity to use a new technology to help readers in California stay informed about what is happening in Washington,” said Campbell. The FlashReport has over 12,000 daily visitors. The site allows readers to stay updated on the latest political news in California and read commentary from numerous well informed sources that write on its blog each day. In a release today announcing Campbell’s new role on the site, FlashReport creator and publisher Jon Fleischman said, “We are extremely excited to have someone of the caliber of Congressman Campbell joining our team. Campbell will bring to the site the gravitas of a respected Member of Congress, who is highly regarded for his policy acumen and his political savvy." Ironic DOPA-ness. One of the “suburban coalition guys, John Campbell…has started blogging. If the DOPA bill passes, his blog would be blocked from schools and libraries.

http://campbell.house.gov/html/release.cfm?id=21

Today, U.S. Rep. John Campbell (R-Irvine) began posting on the FlashReport.org Website, California’s most prominent political website, as a regular “blogger.” Campbell will be taking on the role as the “Beltway Correspondent.”

“I’m excited about this opportunity to contribute to the FlashReport. Blogs are changing the way Americans get their news, and this is a great opportunity to use a new technology to help readers in California stay informed about what is happening in Washington,” said Campbell.

The FlashReport has over 12,000 daily visitors. The site allows readers to stay updated on the latest political news in California and read commentary from numerous well informed sources that write on its blog each day.

In a release today announcing Campbell’s new role on the site, FlashReport creator and publisher Jon Fleischman said, “We are extremely excited to have someone of the caliber of Congressman Campbell joining our team. Campbell will bring to the site the gravitas of a respected Member of Congress, who is highly regarded for his policy acumen and his political savvy.”

]]> By: Liz http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2839 Liz Fri, 12 May 2006 21:23:36 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2839 Here's what Kirk had to say (I'm a wiki newbie and can't take the time just now to get it under my belt): http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/il10_kirk/ftcchild.html Kirk, Wolf Letter Sparks FTC to Issue National Consumer Alert about MySpace.com and Other Social Networking Sites Washington, DC - Congressman Mark Kirk announced the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will issue consumer alerts to parents and children regarding the dangers of using MySpace.com and other social networking sites. The FTC’s decision to issue the consumer alerts comes after Kirk and Chairman Frank Wolf (R-VA) sent two letters – the second cosigned by 20 Members of Congress -- to the Commission urging them to issue a national consumer alert. Wolf chairs the Science, State and Justice House Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the FTC. Kirk is the third ranking member on the subcommittee. "One in five children receives unwanted sexual advances online," said Kirk. "Social networking sites like MySpace.com contain web pages for tens of millions of American children. Using the anonymity of the Internet, pedophiles found a virtual hunting ground to prey on children. I welcome the decision by the FTC to issue a national consumer alert, urging parents to monitor who is contacting their children via these sites and warning children to use caution when setting up a personal web page. Last month, Kirk and his Student Leadership Advisory Board taped Public Service Announcements warning parents to monitor their children’s web activities and urged their peers to use common sense when displaying a personal profile on social networking sites like MySpace.com. “MySpace.com removed 200,000 "objectionable" profiles recently, but there are several million sites composed by children," said Kirk. "So far we are only dealing with the tip of the iceberg. It is a common sense step for the FTC to warn parents of the growing online danger to children." The FTC will start running the National Consumer Alerts this week. Here’s what Kirk had to say (I’m a wiki newbie and can’t take the time just now to get it under my belt):

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/il10_kirk/ftcchild.html

Kirk, Wolf Letter Sparks FTC to Issue National Consumer Alert about MySpace.com and Other Social Networking Sites

Washington, DC -

Congressman Mark Kirk announced the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will issue consumer alerts to parents and children regarding the dangers of using MySpace.com and other social networking sites.

The FTC’s decision to issue the consumer alerts comes after Kirk and Chairman Frank Wolf (R-VA) sent two letters – the second cosigned by 20 Members of Congress — to the Commission urging them to issue a national consumer alert. Wolf chairs the Science, State and Justice House Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the FTC. Kirk is the third ranking member on the subcommittee.

“One in five children receives unwanted sexual advances online,” said Kirk. “Social networking sites like MySpace.com contain web pages for tens of millions of American children. Using the anonymity of the Internet, pedophiles found a virtual hunting ground to prey on children. I welcome the decision by the FTC to issue a national consumer alert, urging parents to monitor who is contacting their children via these sites and warning children to use caution when setting up a personal web page.

Last month, Kirk and his Student Leadership Advisory Board taped Public Service Announcements warning parents to monitor their children’s web activities and urged their peers to use common sense when displaying a personal profile on social networking sites like MySpace.com.

“MySpace.com removed 200,000 “objectionable” profiles recently, but there are several million sites composed by children,” said Kirk. “So far we are only dealing with the tip of the iceberg. It is a common sense step for the FTC to warn parents of the growing online danger to children.”

The FTC will start running the National Consumer Alerts this week.

]]> By: Robert http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2837 Robert Fri, 12 May 2006 20:14:35 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2837 Christopher: You said "Perhaps we should have seen this coming given the conservative nature of our current legislature." If this legislature were truly conservative, this sort of legislation would have never come about in the first place. Political conservatism promotes the idea of limited government, which DOPA certainly does not characterize. Moral conservatism promotes the centrality of the family (and to some degree, the church) in bringing up kids, whereas DOPA seeks to co-opt that responsibility and put it in the hands of a secular government. I could personally stand a lot MORE conservatism of this sort from our Congress and a lot less of the nanny-state stuff that DOPA represents. Christopher: You said “Perhaps we should have seen this coming given the conservative nature of our current legislature.” If this legislature were truly conservative, this sort of legislation would have never come about in the first place. Political conservatism promotes the idea of limited government, which DOPA certainly does not characterize. Moral conservatism promotes the centrality of the family (and to some degree, the church) in bringing up kids, whereas DOPA seeks to co-opt that responsibility and put it in the hands of a secular government. I could personally stand a lot MORE conservatism of this sort from our Congress and a lot less of the nanny-state stuff that DOPA represents.

]]> By: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2836 Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach Fri, 12 May 2006 17:34:55 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2836 You might get more "edits" if we brainstorm possible bullet points first on a separate page. I mean who wants to edit-- the great Will Richardson.. Maybe we could list the best selling points to our argument first and then construct a letter that could be wordsmithed for flow rather than content. Just a suggestion... Maybe a "top 20 reasons" kind of thing and then write the letter from those collective ideas. You might get more “edits” if we brainstorm possible bullet points first on a separate page. I mean who wants to edit– the great Will Richardson.. Maybe we could list the best selling points to our argument first and then construct a letter that could be wordsmithed for flow rather than content.

Just a suggestion…

Maybe a “top 20 reasons” kind of thing and then write the letter from those collective ideas.

]]> By: Christopher D. Sessums http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2831 Christopher D. Sessums Fri, 12 May 2006 13:17:48 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/#comment-2831 Perhaps we should have seen this coming given the conservative nature of our current legislature. I believe the "ambiguity" inherent in technology like the Internet will make controlling it quite difficult.(See related post <a href="http://elgg.net/csessums/weblog/14470.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. I do think you are right that we need to take action, but it should be carefully considered. We don't want to paint ourselves into a corner, make compromises where they are not necessary, nor do we want to assume the same oppressive role as those doing the oppressing. I think we need to first agree to a definition of what it is we desire. Then once we build consensus, we move forward in a concerted effort. Does this make sense? Am I being to rational about this? Perhaps we should have seen this coming given the conservative nature of our current legislature. I believe the “ambiguity” inherent in technology like the Internet will make controlling it quite difficult.(See related post here.
I do think you are right that we need to take action, but it should be carefully considered. We don’t want to paint ourselves into a corner, make compromises where they are not necessary, nor do we want to assume the same oppressive role as those doing the oppressing. I think we need to first agree to a definition of what it is we desire. Then once we build consensus, we move forward in a concerted effort.
Does this make sense? Am I being to rational about this?

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