Assignment 3 topic.

For my paper I am using the topic of the role of media use today through journalism and such and its relation to big brother and information control. It is extremely important to control and limit what information about yourself or anyone else for that matter that you put on the internet. Anything and everything can be taken from it, twisted around and misinterpreted. There are lots of bad outcomes that can arise from over informing users on the web.

friday post: More issues with Facebook privacy.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130660598

I know I recently blogged about Facebook and it's privacy defaults. However I came across something new on NPR just now. A recent Wall Street Journal article revealed that different applications that are ran through Facebook, such as Farmville and Mafia Wars are taking the users personal information off of the site as well as that persons friends and giving it to outside companies. Even though most games give a warning before accepting, no one really payes attention and takes a minute to think what that means before playing. This could lead to something potentially dangerous. Essentially anyone can get this information and it can cause problems for the users. People should think before playing.

1984

I think that Julia is an interesting character in the book because her character jumps around in my mind. She shows that Winston is not alone in his thoughts and beliefs about Big Brother. They both show a rebellious side when it comes to the rules and regulations set by big brother, however some of their traits and such contradict each other. Winston is more weary about life and Julia seems to be more content with hers. Her and Winston both want to rebel against Big Brother and do and think about things that Big Brother would not approve of. Both of them risk disappearing for going against it.

1984

So this book confuses me a little bit. From what I have gathered, this book is about a man, named Winston who lives in this crazy messed up world. In his world the government watches the citizen living in his town all day everyday. Their lives are literally monitored, with cameras in their houses and such. The government also invents a new language called newspeak, which is designed to eliminate the use of words that suggest political rebellion.

The government is basically ran as a dictatorship. I don't understand how someone could live in such conditions. Although it is just a story, I think it's completely crazy. Having everyone know everything and everyone being monitored. Winston doesn't like this either, the government prevents free though, expression and sex. He goes and illegally buys a diary to express his feelings into privately.

The way the book is written is clever, because to me while reading it everything makes sense and seems real. While reading this it makes the story seem as if all this makes total sense, and the way they are living is a perfectly acceptable way to live.

However when you step back and really think about what is happening in the book, the craziness leaks out into your mind. It sounds like it is something derived from the holocaust. People being under strict rules and being monitored, only being allowed to do what the government feels is right for them to do.

They aren't allowed to any freedoms, they're basically trapped in this totalitarian way of living. 

Just wanted to add- Winston seems like a rebel. Which is exactly what the government is trying to prevent.
An unforgivable crime is promiscuity between party members.
The government wants to essentially take out all natural human instinct.
Sex is made out to be a job. Strictly for procreation purposes- Has to be controlled.