CMC Magazine / February 1, 1996
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Anarchy on the Web
There can be little doubt that there is a strong sense of anarchy on the
World Wide Web. At present, the infobahn is a free-for-all: everybody can
publish web pages without spatial or social distinctions, as long access to a
server is available. Such servers are maintained by commercial
companies, by online providers and by educational institutions. In many
cases, copyright is flaunted or blatantly violated both in content and in
terms of computer code. The anarchy is fostered by independent-minded
academics controlling much of the content, and it is further fueled by
"technophiles" or "techno-junkies." Any development of teaching packages on
the World Wide Web is endangered by creeping technological determinism,
whereby educational paradigms and communication ethics are overlooked or
blatantly ignored in the name of technological progress (December 1995). As
the Web grew in popularity, institutions quickly realized its potential for
publicity. Finally, the entry of commercial interests into online services
has served to entrench competition between sites as the norm.
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