Poll: Schools stalking students; Does this seem right to you?

[Fallen-Angel Risen-Demon]

I feel that the school has no say in anything that happens on the internet. It's outside of school. Let the authorities handle it.

I know the argument is that it "affects the school environment"... so do a lot of things. You gonna ban dating as well?

My school did that...
Not even joking...
Hell, they tried to stop me watching Anime and playing videogames for christs sake...
Glad I'm rid of that school now, bunch of backward priks they were.

 

[Geekosaurus]

Well if you properly adjust your security settings on Facebook they can't see what you're putting. But if you post information in an online public place anybody has the right to see it.

 

[Fallen-Angel Risen-Demon]

Children should be monitored, since parents are failing to do so, schools should step up.

I say good call.

Wait, so they lack the capabillity to think for themselves? I'm guessing this is highschool so they're minors or whatever so right now, you're sounding allot like Calafornia wanting to restrict the sale of videogames.

 

[Starke]

I try not to make people choose between extremes but I have to wonder your opinion:
(short for TL;DR people) It has recently come to my attention that after a decision to 'crack down' on cyber-bullying my school's authorities have decided to monitor each and every one of students' contributions to anything that can be accessed with a computer and a modem; this means that they have full access to private messages and posts on anything from Facebook to Deviantart, removing any illusion of privacy we have on the internet.
So I ask you a question: does this (the removal of internet privacy) seem like a fair way to deal with cyber bullying in schools?

Well, if the removal of privacy only applies to when you are in school, then I'd say it's fair. Don't want teachers invading your privacy, then don't use facebook or private messages at the school. Going without internet chatting or whatever for a few hours at school isn't going to kill anyone.

This does not apply at school (a PROXY server prevents it) They actually have access to what we write at any time, anywhere.

THAT is illegal unless consent is given. THey are not allowed to liik through you Windows Messenger IMs unless you allow them to

They just need to notify you so that there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. Stating it may only be used for school purposes strengthens their case.

And that's when me and a friend begin the most horrific form of cybering in the world. Hey, they HAVE to screen it right? Don't wanna think I'm bullying anyone. Not my fault your eyes are gonna melt

Alternately, these are minors we're talking about. All they need to do is photograph their genitals, post them someplace online that's otherwise inaccessible... hell, even emailing them to themselves should do the trick, and then turn around and report these fuckers to the police for child porn... okay... that might be a bit excessive, but it would bring some serious attention down on the school and make for some hilariously non PR friendly headlines.

 

[VuvuZelaMan]

You you could back-trace them and get the cyberpolice on their ass XD

AND THE CONSEQUENCES WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!!!

OT: I have to say that what your school is doing is fairly ridiculous. Just out of curiosity, is this a private school? I ask that because giving out laptops and then tracking activity is a story the Internet has told me before, and I have to wonder about that since that seems indulgent for a public school...

But back to tracking activity. If it's on their laptop, I'm pretty sure it's not illegal (I assume they do the same with computers at all public libraries and workplaces); however, I still think that these instances of schools attempting to gain further control of their students' activities outside campus are egregiously outside the function of the facility (which is education and keeping the kids somewhere during the day), so I would really have to question the motives of the faculty.

 

[BiggityB05]

Just how to solve the issue of cyber-bullying is beyond me, however.

You can't solve it, any more than you can solve actual bullying. It's part of childhood, part of nature. The big kids will ALWAYS pick on the little kids, or the different kids.

He is right, its like racism or gay-bashing. Sure you can try teach people tolerance or whatever but it wont stop anything, there will always be people that dont like others for whatever reason and a portion of that group will actually take it out on the group they hate.

 

[imnot]

Cyber bullying is made out to sound worse than it actually is and to be honest i think its funny that my school would monitor me

PS. if my school does happen to come look at this post

Fuck you ms sine your a ***** lol

High 5!
Seriously if you get cyber bullied djust block them or something.

 

[Agayek]

It's a terrible and flawed solution to a terrible and sickening problem.

Just how to solve the issue of cyber-bullying is beyond me, however.

It's actually fairly simple to fix (and not just cyber-bullying, all bullying in general). This fix won't work for everyone, because oftentimes people simply aren't willing to do it, but it is pretty straightforward and while it won't eliminate the act of bullying, it will make it almost entirely impotent.

This magical fix I speak of is to teach students that they're not always going to get along with everyone, that life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes, life sucks. The only thing to do about it is to pull yourself up and try again.

Explain to children that it doesn't matter how many people like them, or that the head cheerleader or Quarterback or whatever hates them. The only opinions that matter are from those who have earned the child's respect. Everyone else can fuck right off.

And before I get yelled at for being insensitive and all that, this method worked wonders for me.

As for the question in the OP: The whole idea is ludicrous. Gross violations of privacy don't make anyone safer. All it does is open the doors to abuse of all sorts.

 

[Eternal_Lament]

This seems like a rather stupid solution to a rather not so serious problem (I know bullying is certainly not the most acceptable thing, but after receiving both cyber and real-life bullying, I'd rather have cyber bullying around, since that is much less serious in my opinion).

Depending on which type of school this thing is for, it may not even work since I would think that the authorities have much better things to do then to check out some kid's farmville farm.

 

[Agayek]

He is right, its like racism or gay-bashing. Sure you can try teach people tolerance or whatever but it wont stop anything, there will always be people that dont like others for whatever reason and a portion of that group will actually take it out on the group they hate.

While it's true that bullying will always exist, there are most certainly ways you can teach people to mitigate its effects. Teach people to deal with bullies, and any damage they might have been able to do will be drastically reduced, if not outright eliminated.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Only the Escapist knows I have an account here. There are some things that keeping a secret is the best thing. Gives you a nice little haven of privacy from the familiar.

OT: Facebook has certain privacy settings that can help right? If not then Zuckerberg wanted everyone's info everywhere...

Calumon: Deviantart accounts? You mean the people who put me in strange pictures if I was big like Jack? Why would you want to look at that?

 

[Mullahgrrl]

It's a terrible and flawed solution to a terrible and sickening problem.

Just how to solve the issue of cyber-bullying is beyond me, however.

Suck it up!

Suck what up, exactly?

Cyber Bullying. It is just a problem if you care.

My friend should have just sucked it up, aye? Who would have thought you just have to stop caring. It's so simple! Too bad the bullying was so bad he took his own life. Thanks for the advice, though.

I also advice you not to commit suicide, it makes you look like a total emo.

Quiet sad that you feel this way.

I hope you never have to learn how hard life can be.

Hey, I am just trying to discourage suicide.

Also, Bullying is hardly the worst thing that can ever happen to you in life, what with war, starvation and terminal illnesses and what not, all of wich things that will not abruptly end when you leave school.

 

[Death on Trapezoids]

Dude, a certain school I live near puts friggin keyloggers on the laptops it issues to students. Along with programs that can make the webcam snap pictures if the laptop is "reported" as stolen.

 

[tomtom94]

Short answer: no.
Long answer: Contact human rights authorities immediately, this is a farce.

 

[Icarion (aka Stockholm)]

Fuck stalking people. Just fail any kid that has a facebook. Problem soved.
OT:Thats wrong. Get teh cops to do stake outs not the completely biased school

 

[lizards]

in the end all this is going to do is take all the privacy away from normal people while the cyber bullies just figure out a way around, which they will