I stole the title for this post from an independent student publication of the University of Buffalo. I mentioned online pornography in my last post and my thoughts on whether or not it is or should be protected. I started researching the topic of online pornography and different issues surrounding it and I think I am going to write my paper for this class on that topic.
While scouring the internet, I made a joke to the people around me that the campus police was going to come after me because of all the "online porn" searches I had in my google search bar (don't worry, I stayed away from the actual porn sites). It is funny, but it also seems like an interesting issue; can a University prohibit students using their network from looking at porn? I have heard stories about UND coming after people who download music illegally, and the article I read from the University of Buffalo said that their University allowed students to look at porn, as long as it wasn't in public and as long as it wasn't stolen material.
But, with all the porn piracy that is happening with tube sites and other areas of the internet, how can this be regulated? Also, how can you ensure that what students are looking at is not offending others or putting minors in harm's way (especially with dorms?).
I agree that it is a troubling issue. If schools are going to give internet access in dorms they have to assume some will use that access for online porn. I don't know if the technology exists for blockers, but I do think that if students are using the school's internet access, they should be punished in some fashion, like making it so their password, like we have here, doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteI am in campus houseing & I pay $50 every 6 months for my DSL, plus I have to maintain a home phone at $20 per month for the access. Therefore, I think if I want to legally look at porn (not that I do), it should not be restricted. I also have a minor in my home who uses the internet & feel that it is my responsibility alone to monitor her content. I think your topic is going to be WAY more fun than mine (defamation) - so good pick!
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