ann arbor is overrated. » Blog Archive » Blogging: Threat or Menace?

Blogging: Threat or Menace?

The Ann Arbor News runs a feature on blogging, “where personal information, and sometimes insults or threats, are posted for all the world to see,” and efforts of various schools to contain the medium, which are starting to sound more and more like the war on geeks that Jon Katz has been documenting for years on Slashdot. Says one local eighth-grade counselor of those nasty, sarcastic bloggers, “They’re certainly not going to see the people crying on the other end.” But maybe the technology will someday advance to the point where that’s no longer the case.

19 Responses to “Blogging: Threat or Menace?”

I’m looking for some clarification on this issue, will post back.
posted by Matt Hampel on May 17th, 2005 at 8:23 pm e
So priceless. A forum where U-M officials tell parents what their kids are doing. Evidently our local parents are so hapless they can’t even figure out the technology they are providing their kids on demand.

And how can a high schooler not spend time on a computer? Does her education not require writing more than one-page, in-class essays? In my day…
posted by Dale on May 17th, 2005 at 9:53 pm e
In her journal, also called a Web log or blog

Boy and I thought the New York Times‘ blog coverage was asinine …..
posted by Frank on May 17th, 2005 at 11:20 pm e
Come on - At least Jayson Blair had the talent to make it sound like he was reporting on scene instead of doing lines of coke with his Polish bride whore of a girlfriend. This writer even makes the secret lives of ann arbor teens seem boring. Although it must be hard to make it exciting - these are Ann Arbor kids, after all.

By the way, what the fuck happens at the Neutral Zone, and who the hell pays for whatever happens there? I walk by there almost every day, and I just don’t get it.
posted by DrMandrake on May 17th, 2005 at 11:39 pm e
Hey Dr. M- the Neutral Zone (neutral-zone.org) has a bunch of programs- music recording, concerts, art, social groups, etc. It’s a hangout for teens after school and on weekends. We’ve got a big screen, pool, computers, a recording studio, and bunch of other cool things. We also help create internships for teens in the community. Stop in and check it out if you’re real curious.

P.S. I’m hoping everyone caught the “I don’t really use a computer” quote? Now that’s journalism.
posted by Matt Hampel on May 18th, 2005 at 12:18 am e
Thanks for the info - sounds like a great program.
posted by DrMandrake on May 18th, 2005 at 1:44 am e
That does sound cool — is it privately funded?
posted by Anna on May 18th, 2005 at 8:08 am e
They mention concerns over “blogging safety.” That’s why I installed rails on my computer chair, so I don’t fall over and hurt myself when I’m blogging at 3am drunk off my ass.

Anyway, there’s not much more pathetic than hand-wringing public school goons, uh, officials.
posted by Dave on May 18th, 2005 at 10:40 am e
In RE. the Neutral Zone comments — it is a fun place to hang out and take classes.

We get funding from a variety of sources. Big donors inclue private individuals, local corporations (Pfizer, McKinley, many others), Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, and many others who I can’t remember right now . Plus many of our programs are taught by professionals volunteering their time. We also rely on the support of the community - donations from individuals and volunteers are very important.

Still waiting for an official response from the AA news and the AAPS on the Blog issue.
posted by Matt on May 18th, 2005 at 12:26 pm e
“Think of the children!”

Sorry…that was my translation of the article. Go figure.
posted by Matthew on May 18th, 2005 at 12:56 pm e
Neutral Zone is a totally cool place. Great programs. The program that teaches young women how to play in a rock band….playing, gigging, recording….is too cool for words.

Keep up the great work!
posted by todd on May 18th, 2005 at 1:12 pm e
Yes, but do they blog? I mean, given all the risks to children the Snooze identified…what a bunch of wankers!
posted by Michael McC. on May 18th, 2005 at 1:37 pm e
It’s funny this article appeared today of all times–a recent misunderstanding on my blog apparently means that my mother won’t be speaking to me for quite some time. Think of the children, oy!
posted by Lazaro on May 18th, 2005 at 3:24 pm e
Now there’s a snippet on how to check up on your kids: http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1116358955315860.xml
posted by Matt on May 18th, 2005 at 3:48 pm e
I love how the News, and the Ann Arbor schools, seem to assume that blogs = journals = Xanga. I remember a lot of A2 kids being on Diaryland when I was there.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on May 18th, 2005 at 4:34 pm e
Translation of article: OMG WTF?!
The response: STFU n00B!

Anybody remember the scare a couple of years ago, when high school kids were getting those geocities and angelfire sites, and totally being targetted by child molesters and Nigerian 419 scams? Yeah…
posted by js on May 19th, 2005 at 6:47 am e
That little “check up on your kids” thing is a bit disturbing.

I thought only people in West Michigan were on xanga, and everyone over here was on livejournal. I’m so confused.
posted by Brandon on May 19th, 2005 at 6:44 pm e
Brandon: my school is pretty evenly spread over LJ, bloglines (the smart people), and Xanga.
posted by Matt H on May 19th, 2005 at 7:17 pm e
typical american school system overreaction. anyway, it’s not surprising that the councilor that is concerned came from TMS. I was there once, they’re really obssesive with student control.

They disallow you to go anywhere without a pass, they sush up anything “inappropriate” to a much higher degree that highschools would, the lock students out till the last minute before school starts. I will always remember them as a classic example of burocratic loss of common sense.

I don’t really remember a Ms. Grham, but I’m not that god with names.
posted by Noam Samuel on May 20th, 2005 at 4:40 pm e