According to Burbules, links work for both concealment and reveal. Burbules mentioned, "in our ordinary encounters with links, they are already made.... with materials created by unknown persons whose reasons, biases, motivations, and credibility..." (Burbles 104-105) Moreover, I think there’re also many links are made by companies or governments for particular reasons.
For instance, we can see differences when we search "news" on Yahoo and MSN. They have different arrangements of orders for the links. I think this is because they earn money from sponsors who pay for advertisements. Yahoo and MSN have different order of priorities for the links based on their sponsors which own the link pages. When they're on business, concealment and reveal occur not because of their personal preferences, but because of financial profits.
Also, censorship systems can cause concealment and reveal. According to VOA, "Eric Schmidt, the head of the U.S. Internet giant Google, has reaffirmed his company's willingness to abide by the Chinese Communist government's censorship rules." (Google Defends Decision to Work with Chinese Censors) Chinese government conceals some information which may be harmful for them. The problem is Chinese Internet users don't know their searched information is censored. For instance, I've found out that I and my Chinese friends know different information about Beijing Olympics. I think this is because our information is controlled. It actually makes me scared. This is one kind of brainwashing. On the other hand, some Internet users against the government and reveal some national secrets or conspiracies. Those who usually anonymously reveal the information can be any nationalities. I think the biggest problem is that Internet users are unaware of the fact that all links are already made on purpose.
Burbules, Nicholas C.. "Rhetoric of the Web: Hyperreading and Critical Literacy." 20 Oct, 2001. 7 Jul 2008 http://www.wsu.edu/~pmuhlhauser/pdf.
Ramirez, Luis. "Google Defends Decision to Work with Chinese Censors." Voice of America 12 April 2006 7 Jul 2008 http://voanews.com/english/archive/2006-04/2006-04-12-voa12.cfm?CFID=10071618&CFTOKEN=31000607.
For instance, we can see differences when we search "news" on Yahoo and MSN. They have different arrangements of orders for the links. I think this is because they earn money from sponsors who pay for advertisements. Yahoo and MSN have different order of priorities for the links based on their sponsors which own the link pages. When they're on business, concealment and reveal occur not because of their personal preferences, but because of financial profits.
Also, censorship systems can cause concealment and reveal. According to VOA, "Eric Schmidt, the head of the U.S. Internet giant Google, has reaffirmed his company's willingness to abide by the Chinese Communist government's censorship rules." (Google Defends Decision to Work with Chinese Censors) Chinese government conceals some information which may be harmful for them. The problem is Chinese Internet users don't know their searched information is censored. For instance, I've found out that I and my Chinese friends know different information about Beijing Olympics. I think this is because our information is controlled. It actually makes me scared. This is one kind of brainwashing. On the other hand, some Internet users against the government and reveal some national secrets or conspiracies. Those who usually anonymously reveal the information can be any nationalities. I think the biggest problem is that Internet users are unaware of the fact that all links are already made on purpose.
Burbules, Nicholas C.. "Rhetoric of the Web: Hyperreading and Critical Literacy." 20 Oct, 2001. 7 Jul 2008 http://www.wsu.edu/~pmuhlhauser/pdf.
Ramirez, Luis. "Google Defends Decision to Work with Chinese Censors." Voice of America 12 April 2006 7 Jul 2008 http://voanews.com/english/archive/2006-04/2006-04-12-voa12.cfm?CFID=10071618&CFTOKEN=31000607.
2 comments:
I am curious about how you feel about how the Internet allows for multiple identities and the construction of identities. Do you think these also allow for concealment and revealment like Burbules writes? Do they use these use the same rhetorical tools?
I think the information on Internet affects building identities. I'd say most of parts of identities are built in childhood. It used to easier to control the information before Internet became common. For instance, parents or school teachers were able to give children limited information. They were able to educate the children however they meant because the children didn't have much source. But once they got Internet, they are able to access whatever they want via online. They get too much incredible or harmful knowledge before they turn mature enough to judge the information. This definitely affects their identities.
I think those will allow for concealment and revealment. Since the children can be easily brainwashed,(unconsciously)it's possible that they get loyal to whatever they're brainwashed. Also, revealment will always happen no matter what. I think many of revealment comes from our curiosity. Since people will never stop being curious, revealment will always be there.
But, it would be the same rhetorical tools as Bubles mentioned because physical behavior won't be so different although they got some influence from Internet.
Post a Comment