Andrew: 26
Education
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Grew up with parents and siblings
Dad went to college for Law, mom went to college for Education
11 y/o when first introduced to an actual PC.
Started using on a regular basis in Middle School.
Online now is mainly for myspace/facebook/email. Sometimes reading and shopping but to a minor degree.
Online use has changed slightly over the years, only with more social/recreational use instead of educational use.
Parents only attitude towards online use was making sure computer time was split fairly between siblings.
Their attitudes did not influence ability to do what was desired online.
Current attitudes of parents are unknown as all siblings no longer live at home.
Carrie: 24
Sociology/Art
Pleasant Hill, CA
Grew up first with just mom, then aunt and uncle and two cousins.
Mom and uncle went to college for a BA in Art (MA in Projet Mgmt) and a BS in
Accounting respectively.
First used a computer at the age of 10/11 for gaming and word processing.
First started using computer on a regular basis in 8th grade.
Primary use now is for research, school work, communication and networking.
Computer use used to be simply for work/school but has since changed into a tool for work and definitely more for leisure entertainment and pleasure. Uses chat programs now and didn’t before so she can keep up with friends and expand her social network.
Parents original attitude was that internet/computer use was fine, parents and guardians never had any problem with it.
Their attitude never limited, though never directly encouraged computer internet use.
Their attitude has changed over time to represent a more encouraging stance toward computer and internet use, often looking to the subject for information on how to do things, and using the subject as a resource for information on technology.
Chris: 24
Communications/Journalism
Herndon, VA
Grew up with mom, dad, two brothers and a sister.
Father got a BA in Philosophy, Mom got a BS in Math
First used a computer at age 5.
Started using a computer on a regular basis in high school.
Computer now used primarily for email/communication and writing news stories for work.
Use online has changed over time from entertainment and leisure to being used as a tool for work.
Parents were very encouraging from the outset at the adoption of a new form of technology.
Their attitude only helped more things to be done online and more computer use, it was not limiting in any way.
Current attitude has not differed, they remain encouraging and early adopters of all forms of technology.
Jordan: 19
Political Science
Pueblo, CO
Grew up with father.
Went to a technical school in FL for electrical engineering.
First used a computer at the age of 5 for light gaming.
Started using computers and internet around the age of 13.
Bulk of computer use now is for social communication, email and chatting, as well as homework – both research and word processing.
Previous use included only limited game playing, parents only allowed a half hour per day. Use now is all day continuous connectivity with chatting, working, entertainment, research, etc all simultaneously occurring.
Mom initially had the idea that computer use was very bad, assumed the worst (strangers, kidnapping by pedophiles, etc.) Father enjoyed internet and encouraged expanding use.
“My mom’s attitude has changed a lot. She likes the internet, and is a lot more literate with a computer. She can get online and play Pop-it all by herself now.”
Father’s job requires him to be on a computer all the time so he has remained positive towards the internet.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
The ECA
Greetings all. I just wanted to point out a new organization (it was created last year) that is a great example of politics in new media. The Entertainment Consumers Association is a non-profit organization "established to serve the needs of those who play computer and video games." The main way that they do this is by trashing the stereotype of apathetic, apolitical gamers - the members of the ECA fight hard to keep other gamers abreast of political issues related to gaming and to combat any legislation that infringes on gamers' rights. ECA also provides ways for gamers to connect and socialize - again breaking stereotypes. The ECA also runs a website called Game Politics which offers reports on all the latest news items which involve gaming and politics. Game Politics is one of my favorite news sites as a game developer - check it out.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Interview Responses
I can't say that I received the longest, most articulate responses, but there is info there to analyze. Sorry for the text mix-up in the one entry, I have no idea why Blogger is doing that but I can't fix it. Here they are, in no particular order:
Name: Shannon
Age: 18
Where did you grow up? Golden, Colorado
Who did you grow up with (mother, father, grandparents...)? mother and father
Did your parents/guardians go to college? yes
If so what did they study? business, accounting, computer science
How old were you when you were first introduced to a computer (including games)? around 9 years old
When did you start using computers on a regular basis? when i started highschool
What do you do online? check email, myspace, research
Has what you do online changed over time? yes
What was your parents or guardians' attitude toward your computer use? Please explain. They were cautious and they controlled it as much as possible by allowing no internet access and only allowing us an hour a day to play games
How did their attitude come into effect or influence your ability to do what you want online? it put a limit on it
Have their attitudes changed today? they are still very cautious, but not as extreme. They give us a little more freedom. We can use the internet, but they use parental control programs for the internet
Why or why not? I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we are growing up so we are trusted with more
Name: Samantha
Age: 19
Where did you grow up? Littleton, COWho did you grow up with (mother, father, grandparents...)? Parents - father and mother (mostly mother)
Did your parents/guardians go to college? Father, not mother.
If so what did they study? Engineering
How old were you when you were first introduced to a computer (including games)? 3rd grade
When did you start using computers on a regular basis? Middle school
What do you do online? Myspace, Facebook, email, AIM, music
Has what you do online changed over time? No Myspace and Facebook until recently.
What was your parents or guardians' attitude toward your computer use? Please explain. They appreciated it when it was for school, but when I interacted with others online they were concerned with who I was associating with.
How did their attitude come into effect or influence your ability to do what you want online? It did not influence online activity. I talked to whoever I wanted to.
Have their attitudes changed today? They are still concerned but know that I can take care of myself and make wise choices without their intervention.Why or why not? Because I have grown older.
Name: Jonathan
Age 14
Where did you grow up? Littleton, CO
Who did you grow up with (mother, father, grandparents...)? Parents, mother and father
Did your parents/guardians go to college? My dad did
If so what did they study? Accounting, Computers
How old were you when you were first introduced to a computer (including games). 5
When did you start using computers on a regular basis? 6
What do you do online? MMORPG's and homework
Has what you do online changed over time? Not really
What was your parents or guardians' attitude toward your computer use? They weren't pleased How did their attitude come into effect or influence your ability to do what you want online? I don't play online as often
Have their attitudes changed today? no
Why or why not? because they are concerned over my grades.
Name Brian
Age 19
Major Marketing
Where did you grow up? arvada colorado
Who did you grow up with (mother, father, grandparents...)? mother father and brother
Did your parents/guardians go to college? yes
If so what did they study? accounting
How old were you when you were first introduced to a computer (including games)? 12 years old
When did you start using computers on a regular basis? when i was 15
What do you do online? talk to people online and check email and homework
Has what you do online changed over time?yeah
What was your parents or guardians' attitude toward your computer use? they were fine with me using it. they basically trusted me and thought i would do the right thing.
How did their attitude come into effect or influence your ability to do what you want online? since they trusted me i didnt feel the need to do dumb things online.
Have their attitudes changed today? nope because they still trust me and feel the same way.
Name: Shannon
Age: 18
Where did you grow up? Golden, Colorado
Who did you grow up with (mother, father, grandparents...)? mother and father
Did your parents/guardians go to college? yes
If so what did they study? business, accounting, computer science
How old were you when you were first introduced to a computer (including games)? around 9 years old
When did you start using computers on a regular basis? when i started highschool
What do you do online? check email, myspace, research
Has what you do online changed over time? yes
What was your parents or guardians' attitude toward your computer use? Please explain. They were cautious and they controlled it as much as possible by allowing no internet access and only allowing us an hour a day to play games
How did their attitude come into effect or influence your ability to do what you want online? it put a limit on it
Have their attitudes changed today? they are still very cautious, but not as extreme. They give us a little more freedom. We can use the internet, but they use parental control programs for the internet
Why or why not? I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we are growing up so we are trusted with more
Name: Samantha
Age: 19
Where did you grow up? Littleton, COWho did you grow up with (mother, father, grandparents...)? Parents - father and mother (mostly mother)
Did your parents/guardians go to college? Father, not mother.
If so what did they study? Engineering
How old were you when you were first introduced to a computer (including games)? 3rd grade
When did you start using computers on a regular basis? Middle school
What do you do online? Myspace, Facebook, email, AIM, music
Has what you do online changed over time? No Myspace and Facebook until recently.
What was your parents or guardians' attitude toward your computer use? Please explain. They appreciated it when it was for school, but when I interacted with others online they were concerned with who I was associating with.
How did their attitude come into effect or influence your ability to do what you want online? It did not influence online activity. I talked to whoever I wanted to.
Have their attitudes changed today? They are still concerned but know that I can take care of myself and make wise choices without their intervention.
Name: Jonathan
Age 14
Where did you grow up? Littleton, CO
Who did you grow up with (mother, father, grandparents...)? Parents, mother and father
Did your parents/guardians go to college? My dad did
If so what did they study? Accounting, Computers
How old were you when you were first introduced to a computer (including games). 5
When did you start using computers on a regular basis? 6
What do you do online? MMORPG's and homework
Has what you do online changed over time? Not really
What was your parents or guardians' attitude toward your computer use? They weren't pleased How did their attitude come into effect or influence your ability to do what you want online? I don't play online as often
Have their attitudes changed today? no
Why or why not? because they are concerned over my grades.
Name Brian
Age 19
Major Marketing
Where did you grow up? arvada colorado
Who did you grow up with (mother, father, grandparents...)? mother father and brother
Did your parents/guardians go to college? yes
If so what did they study? accounting
How old were you when you were first introduced to a computer (including games)? 12 years old
When did you start using computers on a regular basis? when i was 15
What do you do online? talk to people online and check email and homework
Has what you do online changed over time?yeah
What was your parents or guardians' attitude toward your computer use? they were fine with me using it. they basically trusted me and thought i would do the right thing.
How did their attitude come into effect or influence your ability to do what you want online? since they trusted me i didnt feel the need to do dumb things online.
Have their attitudes changed today? nope because they still trust me and feel the same way.
Interview Responses
Shannon
19
Psychology / Theater
Suburbs of Denver
Parents, Grandma
Father only
business
8
12
social networking, research, chat, entertainment (video), news (secondary)
yes, used to be only research/education, more for entertainment and socializing now
they mostly misunderstand, they don't mind and aren't concerned, never have been
n/a
slightly less ignorant, still check movie times in the paper
haven't changed because they don't have the need. old habits die hard
Adam
20
EMAD / DMS
Scottsdale, AZ
Parents
both
Matt Matteson
20
Math / Comp Sci
Littleton, CO
Parents
both
Father - Business/Finace / Mother - Education
3 or 4
7 (internet at 10)
email chat games at first. no more work, less games, lots of reading
parents monitored use
yes, cost because of Dial up was hourly with AOL, also prevented phone use
no, views haven't changed much
Justin Stewart
23
Ethics
Nashville, TN
Parents
Father - Political Science
11
15 mostly for educational games
email, facebook,and limited research
more communication, including sharing media
they used computers for information processing and limited networking. saw it as a tool
only restricted by time when using the Net
parents use it for email and news (mother) and heavy research (father)
still see Internet as tool
19
Psychology / Theater
Suburbs of Denver
Parents, Grandma
Father only
business
8
12
social networking, research, chat, entertainment (video), news (secondary)
yes, used to be only research/education, more for entertainment and socializing now
they mostly misunderstand, they don't mind and aren't concerned, never have been
n/a
slightly less ignorant, still check movie times in the paper
haven't changed because they don't have the need. old habits die hard
Adam
20
EMAD / DMS
Scottsdale, AZ
Parents
both
Matt Matteson
20
Math / Comp Sci
Littleton, CO
Parents
both
Father - Business/Finace / Mother - Education
3 or 4
7 (internet at 10)
email chat games at first. no more work, less games, lots of reading
parents monitored use
yes, cost because of Dial up was hourly with AOL, also prevented phone use
no, views haven't changed much
Justin Stewart
23
Ethics
Nashville, TN
Parents
Father - Political Science
11
15 mostly for educational games
email, facebook,and limited research
more communication, including sharing media
they used computers for information processing and limited networking. saw it as a tool
only restricted by time when using the Net
parents use it for email and news (mother) and heavy research (father)
still see Internet as tool
Communication, Power and Counter-power in the Network Society
Here's a link to Manuel Castell's article incase you're having a hard time finding it.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Interview Responses
Dan Ritchie
26
Graduated in Business
1. Near Pittsburgh
2. Mother, father, brother
3. Yes
4. Mom—Music, Computers, IT, and Math. Dad—unknown
5. Early Elementary
6. 14—heavy graphics
7. He uses it for research at work, to make money at home->car communities, car parts, car sales; share knowledge; Craigslist; Professional profile
8. Definitely, when he started using it, it was a lot of aol chat and messenger. That was one of the only communities back in ’94. So back then he used it for socializing, now he uses it to his advantage—learning and business.
9. Both parents supported computers fully—his mom was great with them and his dad didn’t use them, but supported them.
10. His mom’s love for the computer probably influenced him to get a programming job, since he has never even done it. Her love for it probably rubs off on him a little.
11. No, their attitudes haven’t changed.
Stephanie Sadler
22
Graduated—International Studies
1. Hawaii, Santa Fe, England
2. Mother, Father, tons of siblings
3. Both Graduated
4. Mom—Animal Medicine and Accounting; Dad—Accounting
5. 8 years old—Minesweeper, games, paint, Word
6. 11—games, IM, chat, Word, Excel
7. Email, TextTwist (game), Online banking
8. Her use has always changed to her needs—if she traveled for a year, she used it for communication, now she uses it to bank, other times for school. She just doesn’t use it for much more than she needs.
9. Dad loves computers and tries to keep up; Mom thinks they’re only useful for banking. They thought computer use was good and didn’t restrict it.
10. The lack of restrictions allowed her to learn as much as she wanted.
11. Their attitudes as accountants have changed dramatically because 15 years ago, everything was paper and pencil and now it’s all computers, but they’ve always supported their children’s use of the internet, but have more of an indifferent attitude.
Mike Sasser
21
Digital Media Studies
1. Galveston, TX
2. Mother, father, brother, sister
3. Mom went
4. PHD in Biochemistry
5. 7 years old—Prince of Persia
6. 5th or 6th grade playing games like Carmen San Diego and MathBlaster
7. Facebook; social networks; email; YouTube—learning photography; research; shopping; music; instant messaging
8. A little bit, he switches through social networks, and at first he was only using it for games, now for more practical stuff.
9. Dad is a little scared of ID theft, but loves computers and is amazed at their capabilities and Mom hates talking online, but both support his computer use. When he was younger, he could do stuff on the computer 1 hour for every hour of reading or HW he did.
10. He was able to learn as much as possible with their support
11. Their attitudes are still the same.
Nick Hughes
21
Accounting
1. Colorado Springs
2. Mother, father, brother
3. Yes
4. Mom—Education, Dad—Unknown
5. Early Elementary School—playing games like pinball on his Dad’s computer.
6. Junior High—doing school work
7. Research, Facebook, email, instant messenger
8. Yes, before he tended to do a lot of chatting and playing games and now he uses it for work and networking.
9. He was allowed to use the computer as much as he needed for school, but wasn’t allowed to use it for other things, i.e. chat, games, etc.
10. He wasn’t able to do much online, but that doesn’t affect him now, and he was pretty impartial to it then.
11. Today, they think the same things and have the same rules for his little brother, but don’t care what he does.
26
Graduated in Business
1. Near Pittsburgh
2. Mother, father, brother
3. Yes
4. Mom—Music, Computers, IT, and Math. Dad—unknown
5. Early Elementary
6. 14—heavy graphics
7. He uses it for research at work, to make money at home->car communities, car parts, car sales; share knowledge; Craigslist; Professional profile
8. Definitely, when he started using it, it was a lot of aol chat and messenger. That was one of the only communities back in ’94. So back then he used it for socializing, now he uses it to his advantage—learning and business.
9. Both parents supported computers fully—his mom was great with them and his dad didn’t use them, but supported them.
10. His mom’s love for the computer probably influenced him to get a programming job, since he has never even done it. Her love for it probably rubs off on him a little.
11. No, their attitudes haven’t changed.
Stephanie Sadler
22
Graduated—International Studies
1. Hawaii, Santa Fe, England
2. Mother, Father, tons of siblings
3. Both Graduated
4. Mom—Animal Medicine and Accounting; Dad—Accounting
5. 8 years old—Minesweeper, games, paint, Word
6. 11—games, IM, chat, Word, Excel
7. Email, TextTwist (game), Online banking
8. Her use has always changed to her needs—if she traveled for a year, she used it for communication, now she uses it to bank, other times for school. She just doesn’t use it for much more than she needs.
9. Dad loves computers and tries to keep up; Mom thinks they’re only useful for banking. They thought computer use was good and didn’t restrict it.
10. The lack of restrictions allowed her to learn as much as she wanted.
11. Their attitudes as accountants have changed dramatically because 15 years ago, everything was paper and pencil and now it’s all computers, but they’ve always supported their children’s use of the internet, but have more of an indifferent attitude.
Mike Sasser
21
Digital Media Studies
1. Galveston, TX
2. Mother, father, brother, sister
3. Mom went
4. PHD in Biochemistry
5. 7 years old—Prince of Persia
6. 5th or 6th grade playing games like Carmen San Diego and MathBlaster
7. Facebook; social networks; email; YouTube—learning photography; research; shopping; music; instant messaging
8. A little bit, he switches through social networks, and at first he was only using it for games, now for more practical stuff.
9. Dad is a little scared of ID theft, but loves computers and is amazed at their capabilities and Mom hates talking online, but both support his computer use. When he was younger, he could do stuff on the computer 1 hour for every hour of reading or HW he did.
10. He was able to learn as much as possible with their support
11. Their attitudes are still the same.
Nick Hughes
21
Accounting
1. Colorado Springs
2. Mother, father, brother
3. Yes
4. Mom—Education, Dad—Unknown
5. Early Elementary School—playing games like pinball on his Dad’s computer.
6. Junior High—doing school work
7. Research, Facebook, email, instant messenger
8. Yes, before he tended to do a lot of chatting and playing games and now he uses it for work and networking.
9. He was allowed to use the computer as much as he needed for school, but wasn’t allowed to use it for other things, i.e. chat, games, etc.
10. He wasn’t able to do much online, but that doesn’t affect him now, and he was pretty impartial to it then.
11. Today, they think the same things and have the same rules for his little brother, but don’t care what he does.
Interview Responses
#1 - Carlie
Age: 24
Major: International Affairs
1. I grew up in Durango, CO
2. I grew up with both my parents, and a younger sister
3. Only my dad went to college
4. He studied sociology
5. My earliest memory of using a computer was in the 1st grade, but I may have been introduced to them earlier
6. I started using a computer regularly in 3rd grade
7. I do almost everything it is possible to do online. My main activities include shopping, staying connected with friends, finding roommates and apartments, doing research, downloading TV shows and movies, reading and keeping a blog.
8. My internet use has changed over time. In high school, I mostly chatted and played games. Now, I use the internet for many more practical things and spend less time just goofing around.
9. Both of my parents were involved in the computer industry, so they kept tabs on my use, but never restricted it except as punishment for bad grades or other times that I got in trouble.
10. Since they didn't restrict my use, I was always allowed to do what I wanted online, so their attitudes didn't influence my use at all.
11. Their attitudes haven't changed, they still don't restrict my access.
12. They no longer have any control over my internet usage because I am an adult.
#2 Elly
Age: 25
Major: Undergraduate - Italian/ Graduate - Architecture
1. I grew up in Durango, CO
2. I grew up with my parents, an older brother, and a younger brother
3. Yes, both my parents went to college
4. My mom studied liberal arts, and my dad studied economics
5. I was first introduced to a computer in 1st grade
6. I started using a computer regularly in 5th grade
7. I do almost everything it is possible to do online, but most of my time is spent shopping, doing research, reading webcomics, playing games, chatting, and running an online business
8. Yes, my internet use has changed. In high school, I spent most of my time chatting, emailing, and designing web pages. Now my interests have branched out and become more practical.
9. My parents thought I was a genius with computers, so they pretty much let me do whatever I liked, but they were very paranoid about releasing personal information online, so they always made sure I knew not to ever give out any personal information to anyone over the internet.
10. This attitude made me very paranoid about giving out any of my personal information, so it was many years before I even used my real name in any fashion online. I also never visited shopping websites or other sites that asked for any personal information.
11. As time has gone on, my parents became much less paranoid about the personal information angle.
12. They loosened up about it after seeing their children do many things online, go shopping, and meet people without ever having their information stolen or meeting anyone dangerous, which convinced them that it was not as big a deal as they had thought it was.
#3 Vinnie
Age: 23
Major: Clinical Psychology
1. I grew up in Ellsworth, Maine
2. I grew up with my mom, and a brother and sister
3. My dad went to college
4. He studied accounting and finance
5. I was first introduced to a computer at the age of 5 or 6
6. I started using a computer regularly when I was about 5 or 6
7. I do everything online, though my primary interests are email, RPGs, pictures, tv shows, and reading
8. I have always done as much as I possibly can online, but what I can do online has changed over time as the technology and the content of internet websites has changed. I have always tried to follow the advancing trends in internet usage
9. My whole family shared one computer, so our use was always visible to my mom, but we were only distantly monitored, with no hard and fast rules or restrictions.
10. The lack of restrictions gave us the freedom to explore, with no desire to do anything that would cause rules to be put in place. For example, one unspoken rule was no downloading porn, which we never did because it was something that we knew would be noticed and cause restrictions to be put in place.
11. My mom's attitude hasn't really changed because she was so open about it to begin with.
12. Her attitudes haven't changed because I never gave her any reason not to trust me, and I'm an adult now, so she doesn't control my access at all any more.
#4 Joe
Age: 25
Major: Computer Science
1. I grew up in Pueblo, CO
2. I grew up with my mom, dad, and younger brother
3. Yes, both my parents went to college
4. My mom studied nursing, and my dad studied English and automotive mechanics
5. I was first introduced to computers in elementary school, in 2nd or 3rd grade
6. I got my first home computer in 1992, when I was about 10
7. I use the internet for work, shopping, gaming, personal information management, reading, research, social bookmarking, banking, streaming music, downloading music and videos, among other things
8. Yes, what I do online has changed over time. I do more now because there is more to do - speeds are faster with broadband when I used to have dial-up. I started out on the original bulletin board system before the internet became what it is today, and I have changed my usage habits as it has changed
9. My parents pretty much let me have free reign over my computer use because they didn't know enough about the computer to make any specific rules regarding my use and habits
10. Since I had no restrictions, I always did pretty much what I wanted online
11. My parents know more about computers now, but their attitudes about use haven't changed
12. They haven't changed their attitudes because their computer knowledge grew as I matured and their trust of me grew as well, so they never saw any need to restrict me even as they learned more about what I did. Also, now that I am an adult, they have no say over my computer use.
Age: 24
Major: International Affairs
1. I grew up in Durango, CO
2. I grew up with both my parents, and a younger sister
3. Only my dad went to college
4. He studied sociology
5. My earliest memory of using a computer was in the 1st grade, but I may have been introduced to them earlier
6. I started using a computer regularly in 3rd grade
7. I do almost everything it is possible to do online. My main activities include shopping, staying connected with friends, finding roommates and apartments, doing research, downloading TV shows and movies, reading and keeping a blog.
8. My internet use has changed over time. In high school, I mostly chatted and played games. Now, I use the internet for many more practical things and spend less time just goofing around.
9. Both of my parents were involved in the computer industry, so they kept tabs on my use, but never restricted it except as punishment for bad grades or other times that I got in trouble.
10. Since they didn't restrict my use, I was always allowed to do what I wanted online, so their attitudes didn't influence my use at all.
11. Their attitudes haven't changed, they still don't restrict my access.
12. They no longer have any control over my internet usage because I am an adult.
#2 Elly
Age: 25
Major: Undergraduate - Italian/ Graduate - Architecture
1. I grew up in Durango, CO
2. I grew up with my parents, an older brother, and a younger brother
3. Yes, both my parents went to college
4. My mom studied liberal arts, and my dad studied economics
5. I was first introduced to a computer in 1st grade
6. I started using a computer regularly in 5th grade
7. I do almost everything it is possible to do online, but most of my time is spent shopping, doing research, reading webcomics, playing games, chatting, and running an online business
8. Yes, my internet use has changed. In high school, I spent most of my time chatting, emailing, and designing web pages. Now my interests have branched out and become more practical.
9. My parents thought I was a genius with computers, so they pretty much let me do whatever I liked, but they were very paranoid about releasing personal information online, so they always made sure I knew not to ever give out any personal information to anyone over the internet.
10. This attitude made me very paranoid about giving out any of my personal information, so it was many years before I even used my real name in any fashion online. I also never visited shopping websites or other sites that asked for any personal information.
11. As time has gone on, my parents became much less paranoid about the personal information angle.
12. They loosened up about it after seeing their children do many things online, go shopping, and meet people without ever having their information stolen or meeting anyone dangerous, which convinced them that it was not as big a deal as they had thought it was.
#3 Vinnie
Age: 23
Major: Clinical Psychology
1. I grew up in Ellsworth, Maine
2. I grew up with my mom, and a brother and sister
3. My dad went to college
4. He studied accounting and finance
5. I was first introduced to a computer at the age of 5 or 6
6. I started using a computer regularly when I was about 5 or 6
7. I do everything online, though my primary interests are email, RPGs, pictures, tv shows, and reading
8. I have always done as much as I possibly can online, but what I can do online has changed over time as the technology and the content of internet websites has changed. I have always tried to follow the advancing trends in internet usage
9. My whole family shared one computer, so our use was always visible to my mom, but we were only distantly monitored, with no hard and fast rules or restrictions.
10. The lack of restrictions gave us the freedom to explore, with no desire to do anything that would cause rules to be put in place. For example, one unspoken rule was no downloading porn, which we never did because it was something that we knew would be noticed and cause restrictions to be put in place.
11. My mom's attitude hasn't really changed because she was so open about it to begin with.
12. Her attitudes haven't changed because I never gave her any reason not to trust me, and I'm an adult now, so she doesn't control my access at all any more.
#4 Joe
Age: 25
Major: Computer Science
1. I grew up in Pueblo, CO
2. I grew up with my mom, dad, and younger brother
3. Yes, both my parents went to college
4. My mom studied nursing, and my dad studied English and automotive mechanics
5. I was first introduced to computers in elementary school, in 2nd or 3rd grade
6. I got my first home computer in 1992, when I was about 10
7. I use the internet for work, shopping, gaming, personal information management, reading, research, social bookmarking, banking, streaming music, downloading music and videos, among other things
8. Yes, what I do online has changed over time. I do more now because there is more to do - speeds are faster with broadband when I used to have dial-up. I started out on the original bulletin board system before the internet became what it is today, and I have changed my usage habits as it has changed
9. My parents pretty much let me have free reign over my computer use because they didn't know enough about the computer to make any specific rules regarding my use and habits
10. Since I had no restrictions, I always did pretty much what I wanted online
11. My parents know more about computers now, but their attitudes about use haven't changed
12. They haven't changed their attitudes because their computer knowledge grew as I matured and their trust of me grew as well, so they never saw any need to restrict me even as they learned more about what I did. Also, now that I am an adult, they have no say over my computer use.
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