Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Google on Trial?

Well, I'm also taking an Accounting course this semester, as well as an IS class. In my Accounting course, we discussed a case in which a mid-level accountant was imprisoned for making journal entries as directed by her supervisor. Long story short, it all boiled down to SOX, and the company needed someone to blame. But I don't think the blame should lie in the middle. Aren't higher level executives, higher level for a reason? I'm an accountant, but I don't yet know all the ins and outs of SOX or GAAP. Meanwhile, I trust my boss to catch my mistakes. In my wildest dreams, I can't imagine being brought up on charges for an entry he directed me to make. This is what happened to this poor woman...and her boss? No charges.



I see today that in Italy, two Google employees, as well as a former employee, were convicted for non-compliance of the Italian privacy code. The problem began when "students filmed and uploaded a clip of them bullying an Autistic classmate". Google removed the video within hours of being notified by the Italian authorities. "No one at Google had anything to do with that video, aside from taking it down." I simply cannot understand why the students that filmed and uploaded this video were not hunted down and prosecuted instead of Google. The article goes on to say that, basically, if every hoster was required to completely vett every piece of information posted, the Internet would "cease to exist".

Frankly, this is frightening. Why on earth would Google be held responsible? They didn't create or upload the video. They didn't bully the student. They took the video down as soon as they could. What more could they do?

This is akin to putting parents in jail when their kids refuse to go to school. What in the heck is that supposed to accomplish? If I was in jail while my child refused to go to school, I can guarantee you it would be worse for society that he is out cavorting around without supervision than it would be if I was home, encouraging him (dragging him) off to school while remaining, myself, a productive member of society. Reminds me of another clip I saw earlier tonight, that a woman sued her husband's mistress and WON $9 million!!! Great! I hope my husband cheats so instead of holding him accountable, i can sue the woman who "won him over" and rake in the big bucks! It sure beats sitting at a desk all day making journal entries and pounding out a good, honest living.

What is this world coming to? Please God, don't take away the Internet!!!

http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=31202&tag=col2;topRated

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

March 3, 2010 - Is Blogging just for Old Folks?

Just finished reading an article posted on the STLToday.com website: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/C3BB2969FC0EEC48862576D70012374B?OpenDocument



It talks about blogging, and how teens are getting away from blogging and choosing to Twitter now more than ever. According to the article, blogging among teens has dropped 14% since 2006. Bloggers between the ages of 18-29 have decreased by 9% over the same time frame...however, blog use has actually INCREASED for those over age 29 by 4%.



Some researchers attribute the move from blogging by teens to the fact that as adults migrate to something, teens' natural reaction is to turn to something else. The point to the mass migration of kids from My Space to Facebook as an example. Other researchers point out that adults have flocked to Facebook in droves, but kids don't appear to be leaving in equal amounts.



I think one of the theories posted, that kids prefer Twitter because it forces them to "keep their blogs short", might be the best reason kids have left blogging to their elders. With kids these days, (and I have some of them!) I can see how they would think that blogging is "more work" than Twitter, and work must be avoided at all costs when you are a tot, a teen, or in between!



I alos read this article, which was very disturbing.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/277025_webgangs10.html



It's about gang members (usually kids in our target-teen group) are using social networking such as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter to talk about their gang-banging activities, recruit members, and even honor fellow members that are either deceased or jailed. Again, my naivete rears it's ugly head. I knew "gang members" used cell phones for their illicit activities...it didn't occur to me that they would also use social networks. It's like recruiting or selling drugs on the school playground--it's just not right!!