Last week we had an issue on ESLPrintables, where a member used photographs of other members to make a printable.  He did this without permission but with the best of intentions.

 

I took this issue to my teenage conversation class.  I explained what had happened, how people had felt, and the overall reactions.  (Yes I even read out some of your responses).

 

My students loved this topic and were still talking flat out when the bell rung an hour later!  They came up with some of the following conclusions:

 

1) You need to be aware that as soon as you put something on the internet it becomes public property - you no longer have control over it.

 

2)  The internet is communication system where people can gather information, photos, videos and music and then use it how ever they want to.

 

3)  Many large companies (such as Disney, Sony, Hasbro) are having trouble with maintaining control over copyrighed material so what on earth makes Joe Public (normal people) think they can control what happens to what they put on the internet.

 

4) People often do not feel obliged to follow the same social rules they would follow in a face to face transaction as they do not feel they will be held accountable for their actions, or lose face!  The internet is breaking down the social pressures that ensure people act humanely towards each other.

 

5)  People use the internet to spread child pornography and other illicite material - what makes anyone think people would balk at taking something that belongs to some teacher from some far flung country that doesn�t even know there name.

 

6)  If you want to keep something private - then do not put it on the internet. 

 

I am sorry to tell people - but my students came to the conclusion that this person actually does have the right to use your photograph because you published it - therefore because he used it for an educational purpose and not for profit - Why not?  we use other material - so why not a photo taken from an avatar!

 

 

I hope people find tihs interesting - i think it is a fantastic conversation topic - it has actually sparked off a request for a whole lot of other topics around using the internet!

 

Thanks for the question Frenchie -

Hugs - Vicki