Comments on: Creepy is as creepy does

By: The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same?

The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same? — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:48:32 +0000

[...] of social spaces online in education. For now I’ll pick the Creepy Treehouse posts at ACRLog, See Also, and Reflections from a Small College Library. For budding humanists, will integrating research and [...]

By: Tim K

Tim K — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:56:08 +0000

Greg hit it the proverbial nail on the head. Using the definition given for a creepy tree house, 90% of the web would be in the “creepy” category, including Facebook.

By: Steve Lawson

Steve Lawson — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:52:39 +0000

Thanks, all for the comments. Michael, that’s so funny about the image. I saw from the Flickr page that it was some kind of poster, but didn’t realize it had that iconic power. (Something tells me that the CC license on that photo isn’t very valid if the work is by someone other than the photographer.)

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:22:12 +0000

Of course, the kids are already using Facebook for academic ends, whether Blackboard is there or not. Remember the kid who faced expulsion for starting a Facebook group to discuss chemistry answers?

Sure, Blackboard isn’t in Facebook as a service to humanity, but who is? They have an agenda like any business…like, for example, Facebook. I trust the kids to make an appropriate value judgment on whether it makes sense to install this seemingly straightforward app or not. Now if it starts surreptitiously broadcasting to my friends how much of my chemistry homework I’ve completed or which SparkNotes I accessed to finish my English assignment, then we’ve got problems.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:18:51 +0000

Good post.. I agree with your thinking. I use Facebook in my teaching a bit with those students who choose to use it.

Moreover – I was blown away by the image. I hadn’t seen it in YEARS!

Just put this comment on the pic at Flickr:

This is incredible! I had this poster in the 70s… I was in junior high and involved in some fundraiser, selling candy I think. This was one of the prizes or selling a high number of bars. I was so happy to sell enough to get this poster. It hung in my basement rec room for years. Thanks for bringing it back.

Thanks Steve!

By: Iris

Iris — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:23:53 +0000

I think the key for me is in that last paragraph. It’s not the fact that there’s an academic presence on Facebook that makes academic things cool. It’s whether those academic presences are there in a way that’s sensitive to Facebook cultural norms. As long as it doesn’t intrude or offend, it can be a great place to aggregate the social and academic aspects of a person’s online life if that person is so inclined.

Now, if the Blackboard app suddenly starts awarding points based on the number of friends you invite to add that app… that’s got creepy treehouse written all over it.