Friday, November 05, 2004
Universties, blogs, and understanding the internet
James's weblog recounts a tale only a few steps removed from the Queen of the Sky issues - his University wants him to stop blogging and commenting on things, in this case because they don't like his (appratently misrepresented views) on their e-learning system.
I though Universities were the bastion of free speech, where people gave up fame and money and all that side of things, in order to pursue ideas and talk about them. Even my University is getting in on the act, moving towards a view that the internet is a catalogue shopping store, that we need to present only a coherent online presence, and that it isn't much good for anything else.
We all know differently - new models of communication are developing using new tools, and bloggers are leading the way in experimenting with this medium and media. Sure, some bad stuff is said, and certainly, some stuff should not be hosted on University sites - but this is cutting edge, and Uni's should at least be at the front of the revolution and exploration, not dragging their heels at the back.
I am sure that some harm and damage could be done to a University that allows all this to happen. But I am more sure that this will be far outweighed by the benefits that accrue in both the long and short terms. We must all be sensible, questioning, forthright, and exploratory. And we must have support.
James's weblog recounts a tale only a few steps removed from the Queen of the Sky issues - his University wants him to stop blogging and commenting on things, in this case because they don't like his (appratently misrepresented views) on their e-learning system.
I though Universities were the bastion of free speech, where people gave up fame and money and all that side of things, in order to pursue ideas and talk about them. Even my University is getting in on the act, moving towards a view that the internet is a catalogue shopping store, that we need to present only a coherent online presence, and that it isn't much good for anything else.
We all know differently - new models of communication are developing using new tools, and bloggers are leading the way in experimenting with this medium and media. Sure, some bad stuff is said, and certainly, some stuff should not be hosted on University sites - but this is cutting edge, and Uni's should at least be at the front of the revolution and exploration, not dragging their heels at the back.
I am sure that some harm and damage could be done to a University that allows all this to happen. But I am more sure that this will be far outweighed by the benefits that accrue in both the long and short terms. We must all be sensible, questioning, forthright, and exploratory. And we must have support.
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(c) 2003-2005 Russell Beale
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