I think that at high school anonymous discussion could be useful- or at least a system where the students and teachers didn't know who posted what (but administrators could find out in the case of abuse?).
I was never reticent about my often unpopular views, but I often had people come up to me after class, and very quietly tell me that they agreed with me, and expand on some of the things I'd been thinking about.
Sure, our learning environments should be such that anonymity isn't needed, but I think fixing that is going to be a lot harder than having anonymous discussion on certain issues.
Or more likely,
"Fr1st p0st!"
Well, yes. I have no doubt that there'd be a large number of frivolous posts. But I don't think that negates the possible benefits.
What would you think about a device so that students could submit written answers anonymously?
e.g. "I disagree with idea X because it would negatively impact Y's ability to..."
or even "X is so not cool."
We can already do this with paper, but handwriting differences interfere with anonymity, and it can be difficult to engage in discussion this way rather than just giving single answers.
My reasoning is that, for example, musicians want to spread their works as widely as possible. They like you to hear their songs on the radio, even if you didn't pay them to hear it. It's only a detail if they want you to pay for the CD, the key is that they want you to want their stuff.
Yes, musicians want to have their work listened to as widely as possible. They also want to be paid for the work they've put into it.
Like other people, they want a source of income- if someone's only job was writing and producing music, and they don't get paid for it, they'll soon have to find another source of income... and this could lead to them neglecting their music.
Slashdot Mirror
Of course there are different shades of black. Anyone who has owned an all-black wardrobe can tell you that the colours still clash.
I was never reticent about my often unpopular views, but I often had people come up to me after class, and very quietly tell me that they agreed with me, and expand on some of the things I'd been thinking about.
Sure, our learning environments should be such that anonymity isn't needed, but I think fixing that is going to be a lot harder than having anonymous discussion on certain issues.
Or more likely,
"Fr1st p0st!"
Well, yes. I have no doubt that there'd be a large number of frivolous posts. But I don't think that negates the possible benefits.
e.g. "I disagree with idea X because it would negatively impact Y's ability to..."
or even "X is so not cool."
We can already do this with paper, but handwriting differences interfere with anonymity, and it can be difficult to engage in discussion this way rather than just giving single answers.
Yes, musicians want to have their work listened to as widely as possible. They also want to be paid for the work they've put into it.
Like other people, they want a source of income- if someone's only job was writing and producing music, and they don't get paid for it, they'll soon have to find another source of income... and this could lead to them neglecting their music.
Does anyone really want to starve for their art?