Online Class 1: Barlow and Whalen...Discuss

Here is the text:
A Declaration of Independence of Cyberspace-John Perry Barlow
The Mayhem is the Message-John Whalen

My Two Cents:
Two words: Net Neutrality. Barlow and Whalen would have supported net neutrality which is defined by Google as "the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet. [...] Fundamentally, net neutrality is about equal access to the Internet." (There's all sorts of OTHER stuff related to net neutrality which can be found on Wikipedia.) But for the purpose of this post I am going to define net neutrality as freedom of the internet.

Specifically...

Barlow
Barlow stresses that the internet is free, vast, permeable, welcoming, and free flowing. There is a dual sense of unity and disconnect. Internet users are not bounded by common laws of government but by one single GOLDEN RULE. Barlow's description is almost religious in tone, recruiting readers to resist THE MAN! How powerful his words must have been in the early days of the internet. As with all new technology, the introduction of something so epic as the internet forces us to question many elements of the status quo.

Whalen
Whalen's article introduces us to those freshly recruited readers of Barlow's Declaration, now bent on enforcing the freedom of the internet in creative and often humorous ways. This article stresses the continuing divide between those in support of net neutrality and those who want to control the internet. Perhaps its another case of liberalism vs. conservatism? Change vs. stability? Security above all?

I think it's interesting that back then jamming and such techniques were labeled "cultural terrorism" and now its hip new guerrilla media. Oh how the times have changed.