Ethics In Computing/Service Learning Project

Okay, so for my Service Learning class we are designing a website for middle school kids to learn how to use the internet responsibly. It is set up like a board game with 5 different stages. My stage is Cyber Bullying. This is my story written for 6-9th graders:

Cyber Bully:
Today, while playing on MyFace, a message appears in your inbox. You get really excited and immediately check it, but when you see whom it’s from you’re kind of confused. It’s from Susie, the girl who has been talking about you behind your back at school. The subject line reads: “About Tyler/Rachel.” You get really curious because that’s your crush’s name, so you read the message:

“Hey %n,
I was talking to Tyler/Rachel, the other day at school and he/she said that they thought you were pretty cool and would like to hang out with you some time, but don’t worry. I made sure to tell them you thought they were a total loser, and couldn’t stand even talking to them. Sorry!
~ Susie”

{Could we maybe try to do a Screen Shot of an actual Facebook message here with this typed into it?}

You’re infuriated and want to tell Susie exactly what you think of her. What do you do?

Should you A:
Send Susie a nasty e-mail back telling her that you think she’s a really bad person, and that she has no business talking to your friends.

Should you B:
Just ignore Susie’s mean e-mail. You’re pretty sure this is one of those times where you should be the bigger person like your parents always told you to be. Also, she’s kind of stupid and probably didn’t even talk to Tyler/Rachel, but just made the whole story up to get a rise out of you.

Consequence A:
Wrong. You and Susie start an online war, exchanging mean messages, and making each other miserable. Eventually this leads to you two yelling at each other in school, and in the midst of your heated exchange a teacher walks up and separates the two of you. You both end up in the principal’s office where he gives both of you in-school suspension.

Consequence B:
You were right about Susie lying about the whole thing. You ask Tyler/Rachel the next day if they had talked to Susie, and turns out that Tyler/girl name can’t stand Susie, and when she tried to tell them those things about you they told her to stop lying and go away. Susie doesn’t bother to message you anymore and now looks embarrassed every time you walk by.

This is what I really wanted to type, but that was perhaps too offensive/over the head of middle schoolers:

Cyber Bully:
Today, while playing on MyFace, a message appears in your inbox. You get really annoyed because you had just cleared that out, but nevertheless check it, but when you see whom it’s from you’re further exasperated. It’s from Susan, that dumb bitch who has been talking shit to everyone behind your back on campus. The subject line reads: “About Tyler/Rachel.” You get really concerned because that’s the guy/girl you've been talking to. So, despite your better judgement, you read the message:

“Hey %n,
I was drunkenly slurring to Tyler/Rachel, the other day at the bar and he/she said that they thought you were pretty cool and have been dying for the two of you just to run into each other at the Mexican place downtown that serves minors, so the two of you can drunkenly hook up and regret it in the morning. But don't worry I made sure to tell them you thought he/she was a fugly bitch/ass, and wouldn't even make out with them or risk Chlamydia. Sorry, haha!
~ Susie”

{Could we maybe try to do a Screen Shot of an actual Facebook message here with this typed into it? And then a picture of the player seething plotting young Susan's untimely death in a tragic laptop explosion?}

You’re infuriated and want to throw a malotov cocktail on that bitch's Hyundai. What do you do?

Should you A:
Send Susie a vitriolic e-mail back telling her that you think she’s a sleezy, fugly, slut, and that she has no business living, and to stop going around telling everyone about her Venerial Diseases... You said that you were afraid to talk to her or risk Chlamydia, not Tyler/Rachel.

Should you B:
Just ignore Susie’s mean e-mail. You’re pretty sure this is one of those times where you should be the bigger person like your parents always told you to be. Also, she’s kind of stupid and probably didn’t even talk to Tyler/Rachel, but just made the whole story up to get a rise out of you. --- THIS IS NOT TRUE KIDS. THIS SLUT IS NOT GOING TO LEAVE YOU ALONE UNTIL YOU GET UP IN HER BITCH-ASS FACE AND TELL HER TO BACK THE FUCK OFF.

Consequence A:
Wrong. You and Susie start an online war, exchanging appalling messages, and trying your best to make the other snap and come after you. Eventually, this leads to you two cussing each other out at school, and in the midst of your heated exchange a teacher walks up and tries to seperate the two of you, but you both just end up punching her in the face. You both end up in the principal’s office where he expels both of you for being "fucking morons".

Consequence B:
You were wrong about Susie lying about the whole thing. You ask Tyler/Rachel the next day if they had talked to Susie, and turns out that Tyler/Rachel had talked to Susie. This is determined when they spit in your face and walk off. You go looking for Susie, and Consequence A ends up happening anyway. Congrats.

I don't think my CS 340 would appreciate the second one very much...
I'm seriously tempted to turn in the second one anyway. If I want to be ethical about it I should at least tell these kids the truth, haha.




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