Quit Playing Around!

Wow! There is so much talk, especially at Pomona, about institutional inequality, yet I never really thought that applied to the Internet. Like so many other users, I saw the Internet as a very open and democratic forum, perhaps with the exception to those who do not have access to a computer. Nakamura explains the demographics of the Internet, that most users are “white, male, highly educated, and middle class” (2). For this reason, many sites are ethnocentrically structured, and “in the absence of racial description, all [users] are assumed to be white” (Nakamura 2). All three of the authors discuss this whitewashing, pointing out that it is the result of an ironically PC attempt to create harmony through avoiding divisive issues, supposedly granting equal freedom to every user. This inevitably strengthens the idea of a norm, which supports the dominance of the majority: white middle class males.

Other clues of the ethnocentric nature of the Internet exist. The designation of English as the prime language of the Internet (Gómez-Peña 5) clearly gives easier access to those who speak English. Additionally, “the theoretical vocabulary utilized by critics was hyper-specialized…and de-politicized (post colonial theory and the border paradigm were conveniently overlooked)” (Gómez-Peña 5). Favoritism is shown toward the technologically adept (which typically means those who are highly educated, usually meaning financially stable and most likely white and male), and progressive theory about diversity is notably absent, just as is the discussion of race.

I think it is a common problem to not see the realities of injustice because we are so enmeshed in that reality; it is difficult to view it as an outsider would. But this outside perspective is crucial if we are to make the Internet the democratic forum that it has the potential to be. Gómez-Peña calls for increased political discussion in Internet discourse and a social justice application, bringing Internet technology to expand the world of disadvantaged children. Nakamura seconds the idea for continued race discourse in the face of opposition. McPherson ponders the ramifications of viewing the Internet as a form of political expression and development, as opposed to a playground, countering the American tendency to place more value (at least monetarily) on entertainment than as intellectual progress and societal equity. The Internet (including artistic forums, Dixie-Net, and LambdaMoo) is a tool. How do we want to use it?

** side note: I found this instructional on how to start up with LambdaMOO. It also gives a brief summary of what MUD’s and MOO’s are, which I found helpful. However, I don’t know if it would be worth it to join this demonsratedly racist/sexist group. Maybe just for exploration and experimentation.
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/AY2001/cs6470_fall/lambda.html