Thinking back to our discussion about Poster, I cannot seem to get the idea of Freedom of Speech out of my head. This constitutional right gives us the power to voice our opinions, speak up when something is unjustified, and show the world that we have thoughts of our own. However, Poster brings up this concept and its transition into technology. Freedom of speech is no longer simply found in dialoge and speeches, but rather every single time someone opens a web page. It is written out in blogs and on Facebook and is full of attitudes, perspectives, and thoughts. Nevertheless, the more we move into this world of connectivity and rhizome, the more this amendment’s detail blurs. Facebook is an open forum where people express their deepest concerns, reach out to friends, and have the opportunity to discuss occurring issues. Yet, every time we log on, we forget about the crucial media portion of our major. We take a step back, regress into the uncritical, passive state, and become consumed with the speed and connectivity in front of us. Yet, by being passive, we are being naïve. In recent years, Facebook has made its way into monitoring of students in schools across the country and is often checked in the job market.
Back in 2007, Oxford University used the site and students’ profile pictures as a way to catch and fine them for inappropriate acts. The students of course fought back and unfortunately, with Facebook considered a public domain, lost the fight against this modern disciplinary website. It is not about whether or not the students were posting inappropriate things, but rather the dangers connectivity has and its ability to challenge freedom of speech. What is a social forum where people should be allowed to voice their thoughts and post about their life is becoming a monitored and penalizing tool? Nevertheless, I ask Poster and the class, does Freedom of Speech mean visuals? They say photo and multimedia has become a very powerful form of visual rhetoric. So I wonder, do they have the same rights to freedom of speech just as the dialogue that has come before or will our passivity come with consequence in the future?
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