Online Scenarios

Here are four scenarios describing online activities.

Respond to the first two questions in all four cases, and the last two only if you believe the circumstance represents an ethical issue.

Scenario 1: In an online forum intended for class discussion of readings and assignments a participant "signs" each post with their name and the phrase "A vote for John Smith is a vote for REAL progress." John Smith is a candidate in a well publicized, hotly contested election of national significance.

* Question 1: Does the student's choice represent and ethical issue?

Yes

* Question 2: What is the reason for your Question 1 response?

Question 3: If you consider it an issue, would you address the issue publicly, via the forum, or communicate with the author privately, via personal email?

Privately

Publicly

Both

Question 4: What is the reason for your Question 3 response?

Scenario 2: Throughout the Participatory Media course students create and populate an online presence focused on a topic of particular personal interest. A student in the class has created a blog, stating that the intent is to inform readers about retirement options. Visitors to the blog quickly discover that the content is focused on promoting involvement in the student's home-based business enterprise that promises to generate substantial income from direct sales of a line of health products, eventually enabling financial independence.

* Question 1: Does the student's choice represent and ethical issue?

Yes

Question 2: What is the reason for your Question 1 response?

Question 3: If you consider it an issue, would you address the issue publicly, via the forum, or communicate with the author privately, via personal email?

Publicly

Privately

Both