Author Archives: Cindy Donald

In the article What is a Troll, and Internet Trolling? by Elise Moreau a troll is described as “Someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.” The article went on to make reference of another type of troll- The mythological troll. The mythological troll is known to be an ugly, dirty, angry creature that lives in dark places, like caves or underneath bridges, waiting to snatch up anything that passed by for a quick meal.

Elise states that in some ways, the mythological troll is similar to the Internet troll. The Internet troll hides behind his computer screen, and actively goes out of his way to cause trouble on the Internet. Like the mythological troll, the Internet troll is angry and disruptive in every possible – often for no real reason at all. Trolling mainly is frequent around social web, for example Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to name a few. Places where anyone can comment on a status update, reply to a tweet, converse in a community thread or send an anonymous question.

Yes, in many ways I trust Google but I must hasten to say not with my personal information. Vaidhyanathan argues that, “we trust google with our personal info and preferences” which I believe is true. The author says vast troves of data are open to the public. Data such as demographics, public health, traffic patterns, energy consumption and family income. This data may be the leading cause why there is so much trust in Google.

The author also speaks about visual organization. In that data is organize in a way people think about it.  For example, drop down menu presents choices, there are icons for related subject categories and colorful graphics and short sentences. Data that is this easily accessible on any search engine, including Google in my estimation will be deem trustworthy.

Meszaros article “Who’s in Charge Here” opens with the views of librarians that blame themselves when students often do not take advantage of their expertise in that they ask their peers, parents, or even stranger-student for help rather than the helpful librarian. The article went on to discuss the notion that instructional faculty command more authority than librarians. Meszaros calls this authority “administrative authority”- an authority one has by virtue of occupying position.

Still, there is a crisis of authority- “The New Epistemology”  says Tim Clydesdale. After interviewing 400 students on 34 campuses Clydesdale found only few were in awe of their institutions or faculty. And most ambivalent about anyone’s knowledge claims other than their own.

So, what does “questioning authority” means? Meszaros answers it this way “who do not get respect or who get less.” Yet, the more important question he says is how all of us can validate the notion of disciplinary cognitive authority so as to help students move beyond the unsophisticated epistemological positions of dualism or multiplicity. Thus, librarians can join hands with faculty by focusing less on issues of access and retrieval and more on students attitudes and beliefs about expertise and cognitive authority.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law that gives you the right to access information from the federal government. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has provided the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. The American agency that administers the work proposed by the FOIA is an independent research institute and library located at The George Washington University (the archives)

Yes, I believe it benefits the citizen. In that it serves as a repository of government records on a wide range of topics pertaining to national security, foreign intelligence and economic policies of the United States.  The archives also broaden access to the historical record and is a leading advocate and user of the freedom of information act. The archive regularly publishes portions of its collection on the  world Wide Web, CD Rom and in books making it accessible to the public. Thus, I believe it benefits the citizens in that respect.

Martin’s book chapter is available to read in pdf form because of the way he views knowledge/ information. Martin thinks information should be liberated. He says, “the word knowledge suggests certainty, authoritativeness, even usefulness. It is a good thing to be knowledgeable yet much knowledge is quite limited, specific, parochial.” Martin suggests that economic knowledge is oriented to certain powerful groups, notably corporations, governments and economists themselves. Martin speaks of knowledge as being “all sorts” for example a mechanic knows about motors and a parent knows about a child. Yet, he shifts away from these sorts to focus on the sorts of knowledge that have greatest credibility-knowledge certified by scientists, engineers, medical researchers, lawyers and other such reports. Still, the issue does not stop there Martin speaks of the shaping of knowledge and coined the old saying “the one who pays the piper calls the tune.” Meaning because of hierachy and funding the people at the top provides a strong steering process-therefore only certain types of knowledge are likely to result because the researchers are paid to look only for certain types of things.

The availablity of this book chapter online certainly exemplify Martin’s idea that scholarship should be liberated. Just as this chapter is readily available even so scholarship should be. Not with all the red tapes, excessive questions and essay writing that it entails at present.