Robert Stroud Professor Padgett ENGL 1102 March, 1st 2014

Annotated Bibliography Inquiry: What affects do computers play on virtues? Proposed thesis: Computers play a significant role on virtues Because computers allow users to remain anonymous Thus leaving them free to act in ways which they normally Would not.
Comment [AP1]: Can you be more specific with what you mean by virtues?

Bynum, Terrell, "Computer and Information Ethics", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL: http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2011/entries/ethics-computer/

In section 2.3, Terrell writes about how in the 1960s, the government had created large databases of information about private citizens including their most secret information, and how the congress passed a bill, which assigned personal identification numbers to every citizen to gather all the governments data about each citizen under their corresponding ID numbers. Later in the section, Terrell writes about the public outcry of a big brother government and this caused the plan to be thrown a way. After this plan, the government instituted a privacy legislation, and many computer privacy laws were passed. Philosophers in this article defined privacy as control over personal information. Anonymity and privacy over the internet very closely linked, because remaining anonymous, has essentially the same benefits as privacy. Terrell writes that Anonymity and privacy on the internet can be helpful in preserving human

values such as security, mental health, self-fulfillment and peace of mind. He also argues, that anonymity can provide the same benefits as privacy, because if someone is using the internet to obtain medical, or psychological counselling, along with sensitive topics which may cause controversy and potentially comeback and cause self-harm on a user, then anonymity provides a feeling of protection for the user. I feel that all of the information portrayed in this article, is accurate and helps prove my thesis, which anonymity on the internet allows individuals to act in ways which they normally would not, because of the feeling of security and protection given by control over personal information as seen in this article. Unavoidable Ethical Questions About Social Networking: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/submitted/social-networking.html
Comment [AP2]: Okay, but I really want to hear more about what you think. Dont just parrot what you read, but really engage the conversation. Which parts of it do you disagree with which parts could use further discussion? You should be reading these texts rhetorically and searching for gaps (as Kantz writes on) in the conversation.

This Context argues many of the same questions that I too ask about my topic. It states Many of the interpersonal virtues we value evolved in the context of face to face communication. Honesty, Openness, and patience, for example, are honed in the negotiations we must manage when we meet people in person. It asks questions like What impact would social media play on these virtues? and what does honesty mean when youre playing a game not represented by yourself. I ask myself, if youre playing a game where you arent representing yourself, but a virtual character completely different from yourself, what reasons do you have to act as if you would normally on a day to day basis?

Personal interview with a student at UNCC: William Eli Greear. 3/01/2014

Comment [AP3]: Interesting. Good use of primary research.

I met with Eli to ask him questions about my topic, and see if his opinions were similar to mine, and luckily they were. I asked Eli When you play video games where you are playing as an

avatar, or a character who does not represent you, do you play the game like you would live your life; representing the same values and ethics you would normally do in face to face interactions with real people? His response, was something along the lines of what I expected to hear. He said No, I play the game to win. If that means going against something I value in real life, its okay because it is just a video game. Im Not really being myself when I play games, Im anonymous, and only represented by my username. I understand that that really isnt how its supposed to be, but it isnt really going to affect anyone in a way which could cause harm, so I see no problem in doing it. This interview with Eli went further into proving my thesis, which is just because you value certain ethics and values in real life, doesnt mean you have to maintain them over the internet, because you arent forced to be yourself, and you can remain anonymous.

An article on Alcoholics Anonymous: http://www.aaoklahoma.org/PDF's/Anonymity%20and%20Social%20Networking%20Sites.pdf

Comment [AP4]: Okay, this is youre third non-peer-reviewed source.

This article writes about how thousands of people who attend alcoholics anonymous regularly use online chat rooms with fellow members, and how A.As values remain the same, and keep the identity of its members completely, 100% anonymous. This article shows deep concern with A.As anonymity principle and how the members are unsure if they wish to join the social media accounts, because they want to remain anonymous. The organization, has set up numerous new chatrooms, in which members set up his or her A.A id number, and then create an anonymous profile to safely, and privately use the chat rooms to still seek information, and guidance, but without the risk of people identifying them. Many people in the A.A system use these chat rooms, and it further defends my thesis. The people using these chat rooms want to remain anonymous, because they feel uncomfortable with people knowing who they truly are and that

they have a problem. These chat rooms allow people to remain anonymous, and act in ways in which they normally would not. Robert, I think you have some interesting sources here that bring up interesting topics of discussion. But I really want to see more engagement from you in your annotations. I want to see your voice in the conversation, not merely as a reporter. Also, you need more peer-reviewed sources, it seems to me that you only have one and you only have four sources in total. I need a little more research here.