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Game Addresses College Privacy Concerns

Posted by simoniker on from the edutainment-at-its-best dept.

Thanks to Wired News for their article discussing a new game that's teaching new college students about protecting their privacy. The Flash game, created by Privacy Activism and called Carabella Goes To College, "is about finding the right balance between privacy and convenience", as the player will "...find information about ways to protect yourself against threats like identity theft and consumer profiling." The Wired article says that the game "occasionally lapses into exaggeration", although events portrayed "have happened before" in some form, such as the based-on-real-life incident in which "Carabella receives an e-mail message from a prisoner named Mike (the Dagger) who said he wrote her after processing her order. He wants to see her when he gets out of jail."

12 comments

  1. I wish... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...the real "big brother" had floating eyeballs like this "game" did. It would be a much easier "Are You A Big Brother Or Not?" test beyond the current "Does It Look Like John Ashcroft" one. =P

  2. A Simple Fact by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    I don't like Jews. In fact, come to think of it, I'm not too fond of niggers either.

  3. uh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Since when is consumer profiling an invasion of privacy? If it wasn't for businesses and consumers, the system wouldn't work.

    And guess what kids, if we're able to read Slashdot, the system isn't that bad.

    1. Re:uh... by irc.goatse.cx+troll · · Score: 2, Informative

      " Since when is consumer profiling an invasion of privacy? If it wasn't for businesses and consumers, the system wouldn't work."
      Customer profiling became an invasion of privacy when the US PATRIOT act passed. Any commercial database is just as bad as a government ran one because they're forced to hand over any database when asked, and its a felony to refuse or to even tell someone you handed it over.

      "And guess what kids, if we're able to read Slashdot, the system isn't that bad."

      How long before reading slashdot automaticly marks us a 'possible hackers'?

      --
      Pain lasts, kid. Its how you know you're alive. Sometimes I think this growing up thing is just pain management-TheMaxx
  4. What's this "before" you speak of? (n.t.) by Kwil · · Score: 1

    (n.t.) means no text
    Which means absolutely none
    Stupid lame filter

    --

    That Jesus Christ guy is getting some terrible lag... it took him 3 days to respawn! -NJ CoolBreeze

  5. That "game" is a stinker by fuzzybunny · · Score: 4, Insightful


    Sorry to the folks at privacyactivism.org; I support your cause, and think it's a great idea to try to give people an understanding of privacy issues.

    However, that cutesy flash thing is not the way you're going to get it done. It drags on forever, and despite making the occasional point, doesn't go anywhere. I have a very high impatience threshhold, and it held my attention for only a minute or so.

    High-profile, easy to read and understand lists of simple, straightforward explanations are how you're much more likely to hold a fresh college undergrad's attention.

    --
    Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage
    1. Re:That "game" is a stinker by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      I have a very high impatience threshhold,

      Really? Then how have you managed to go [insert your age here] year(s) without ever having sex?

  6. Can't gamers spell? by BladeMelbourne · · Score: -1, Flamebait
    although events betrayed "have happened before"


    should be


    although events portrayed "have happened before"


    Maybe I could spell better too, if I had spent less time playing Wolfenstein 3D, Commander Keen & Wavy Navy when I was young.

    1. Re:Can't gamers spell? by An'Desha+Danin · · Score: 0, Troll

      Could somebody mark this as a troll, please?

      --
      Anything you might ever need to say about anything has already been said better by Penny Arcade.
    2. Re:Can't gamers spell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      Can someone please mod this as off-topic/flamebait/troll?

      He's right you know, maybe you should shut your fucking mouth!

      If you don't have mod points - don't tell other people how to use theirs.

      Don't critisize someone with excellent karma you irrelevant, unimportant wanker.

      Arsehole.

  7. Worst game evar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    n/t

  8. OT: post plain old text, (b) (/br) (/b) -nt- by irc.goatse.cx+troll · · Score: 1
    --
    Pain lasts, kid. Its how you know you're alive. Sometimes I think this growing up thing is just pain management-TheMaxx