The latest in social networking world wide web, JuicyCampus.com, a site where users can anonymously post comments on a message board about everything from hottest fraternities and sororities to, you got it, juicy gossip about your room mate.
In a recent article with the associated press student leaders at Pepperdine University take a stand. “In campus debates over Internet freedom, students normally take the side of openness and access. This time, however, student leaders, newspaper editorials and posters on the site are fighting back — with some even asking administrators to ban JuicyCampus. It’s a kind of plea to save the students, or at least their reputations, from themselves. ‘It is an expression from our student body that we don’t want this junk in our community,’ said Andy Canales, leader of the student government at Pepperdine, which recently voted 23-5 to ask for a ban.”Banning the site would definitely impede on the first amendment, but where do you draw the line? Your personal life is not so personal on the net. Everyone from parents to employers can find out what you’re doing on the web. Even if you avoid social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace, you could still end up on the receiving end of the harsh, lewd comments on sites like JuicyCampus.
It’s true, the internet gives you a chance to create a totally different persona and alter ego if you must which is great, it gives the freedom of creativity, gossip columnist have to attached their name somewhere, radio personalities cover their asses by repeating “allegedly” before every juicy detail so in my opinion, standing behind your words is crucial. If you have the balls to say it own up to it. If sites like these were not so anonymous then people would watch what they say because confrontation could be on the other end. Googling someone is like having a FICO score, but unlike fixing your credit score, if you’re on the receiving end of false comments, fixing your damaged reputation is a lot harder. Then again I could see students going to court for libel suits to clear their name…far fetched, but not so far if this continues.
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