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The Future of Cyberspace

(written by iearn@iearn.org, 03/22/1996)

/* Written  4:37 AM  Jan 17, 1996 by coldspring in igc:iearn.tc */
/* ---------- "Discussion: Future of Cyberspace" ---------- */
DISCUSSION TOPIC
THE INTERNET: CURSE OR BLESSING?

As more and more people venture into cyberspace, it has
become apparent that the Internet has many bad features to go
along with its good ones.  There can be little doubt that the
Internet is valuable for research purposes, meeting people
from different places, and learning about different cultures.
It is also useful for information on such things as
entertainment and recreation as well as for news updates.
On the down side, hate groups, pedophiles and pornographers
use the Internet for purposes that most people find
disgusting, and for these and other reasons, the media is now
full of reports on the need to control, if not censor, the
Net.
The Contemporary would like to sample student opinion
about the "ins" and "outs" and "ups" and "downs" of the
Internet through a discussion of the following questions.
Please help us by responding to some or all of these
questions.  Students who would like to add questions to this
list are encouraged to do so.

*************************************************************

1. Have you ever seen signs of prejudice or hate mail
over the Internet?

2. Have you heard of, seen or been sent pornography over the
Internet?

3. How do you feel the abuse of the Internet should be
handled?

4. Do you feel that access to the Internet is something that
is more open to affluent families, schools and communities
, rather than poor ones, and for this reason the Internet
may serve to widen the gap between the educational
opportunities open to the "haves" and "have nots" of the
world?

5. What do you personally feel is the most important positive
feature of the Internet?

6. Do you feel that the day might come when school can be
conducted in cyberspace?  What would be the advantages and
limitations of a cyberschool?