BFTP: Typos

A weekend Blue Skunk "feature" will be a revision of an old post. I'm calling this BFTP: Blast from the Past. Original post November 23, 2008.

 

Why one should never trust a spelling checker...

I admit it. I make errors. Public ones. Like writing this:

For those of us who were once English teachers, to funny not to share... Doug

And of course, the misspelling was brought to my attention:

I am a devout reader of your blog (not that I always agree with you), but I felt, as an English teacher, the need to point out the irony of the mistake in your first sentence...

"For those of us who were once English teachers, to funny not to share"

"too funny"

No offense intended!

So, OK. That was embarrassing. I replied:

Hi,

Here are the possible reasons I made such an error:

•  
  • I deliberately left out the second “o” because my computer is running low on them and I need to conserve.
  • I’ve always been confused about to, too, and 2 (as well as tutu – both the costume and the politician).
  • This was actually a contest to see who could find the error – AND YOU WON!
  • Like the Navajo blanket weavers, I purposely make an error in each thing I write, honoring the belief that only God is perfect.
  • I suck at proofing my own writing and need to take the time to do a better job of it.

Anywho, I will leave the error in situ as a lesson in humility. Thanks for the catch.

All the best,

Doug

While making such a dumb mistake and being called on it never exactly makes my day, it doesn't really slow me down much either. Concern about your own writing being perfect prior to publication should not keep you from writing and publishing. Fear of errors keeps too (or to) many people from contributing to the common good.

After writing I don't know how many words in books, articles, columns and this dumb blog, you'd think I would get better at crafting a decent sentence and avoiding typos. But I still can't re-read a single thing I've written without the urge to re-write - even if just a little. And deliberate or not, I bet almost everything I've written still has grammar or spelling errors still in it.

Age, Energy, Privacy and Morals

This evening is the Unconference here at AASL. It starts at 9PM and lasts until midnight.

I started a 5AM. My guess is I will not last until midnight.

Not that many years ago, a midnight end to a conference would an early night. 

In experience, most morally questionable activities tend to be committed late at night. So as my bedtime gets earlier, my opportunities, temptations, and need for privacy/secrecy diminish. This may be why I am less concerned about privacy issues than some of younger colleagues. No one has yet to respond to my question: 

Why do we as humans value privacy so highly?" One doesn't need to be a criminal or a pervert to still not want all of one's life in the public eye. The need for privacy is at a gut level, an inalienable right, and must have some primitive survival component behind it. But what are the tangible benefits of choosing what to share - and what to keep to oneself?

While I don't keep the "location" services turned on for most of my phone apps, I have yet to discover a concrete reason I should not.

The age/energy continuum may also explain why it seems people become more judgmental the older they become. My guess is that they condemn the things they not longer have the energy to participate in themselves. Personally, I don't think I behave better because I've gone older, wiser, and more ethical - I just don't have the energy to be bad. Being bad is usually a lot of work and just takes more energy than I care to expend anymore. I save my energy for more important things like breathing and remaining upright.

They're my theories and I'm sticking with them. 

Oh, any Facebook or Twitter from tonight's event that include me were Photoshopped.

Ethics scenarios - made better!

One of my favorite t-shirt saying is "I need minions." While I don't have minions, I do have some very smart and thoughtful Blue Skunk readers who leave great comments. Since I am at AASL this week and may not have a lot of time to get much original writing done, I'm sharing a couple guest posts.

This email came last week. I always love it when some takes something I've done - and done it better! 

Hi Doug,
 
I heard you speak at our State Library Conference many moons ago (I honestly don't remember the year...) Anyway, at the time you shared case studies involving ethical dilemmas re: the use of technology.  I have adapted and used those case studies for years now (with great success).  In fact, am presenting a (short) round table on them this November 2013 at the MI Assoc of Media in Education (MAME) Conference in Kalamazoo. 
 
Thank you for YOUR case studies, providing the impetus to get me started on this, and most of all for the 'germ' of the idea.
 
I've attached what I am presenting at the Round Table. 
 
I hope you approve of my Paying It Forward Professionally.
 
Martha
...
Martha J. Spear mspear@berkleyschools.org
Library Media Specialist
Berkley High School

This shared GoogleDocs folder containing Martha's materials  (The folder includes an extensive list of scenarios, benchmarks for state and national standards, a worksheet/activity guide (below), and Martha's presentation outline and notes Be sure to read each of them.) Thank you for sharing and paying it forward.- Doug)

DIRECTIONS :

Round 1:
1 group; answer questions 1­6 …

Round 2:
2 groups; answer questions 7­9 … 

Round 3:
4 groups; answer questions 10­13

­­­­Technology Ethics Case Studies Work Sheet

Student Name ___________________________________________________

Student Name __________________________________________________

1. What is the number and title of your Case Study ? 

2. Who is hurt in this Case Study ? Why or how ? 

3. Who is helped in this Case Study ? Why or how ? 

4. Does it violate any BHS rules? If yes, why or how?

5. Does your Case Study violate any Michigan or United States Law/s? If yes, why or how ? 

6. On the following scale, how ‘bad’ is this Case Study?

         1                               2                     3                      4                                5

not wrong at all           kinda wrong         wrong           very wrong         call the ethics police!

ROUND 2 (2 groups join and share their Case Studies)

7. What is the number and title of the new (different) Case Study ? 

8. On the following scale, how ‘bad’ is this Case Study?

         1                               2                     3                      4                                5

not wrong at all           kinda wrong         wrong           very wrong         call the ethics police!

9. Based upon the rating for your original case study, is the new case study worse or better… Why?

ROUND 3 (2 groups join another 2 groups and share their Case Studies)

10. What is the number and title of the 2 new (different) Case Studies, a & b ? 

11. On the following scale, how ‘bad’ is Case Study “a”?

         1                               2                     3                      4                                5

not wrong at all           kinda wrong         wrong           very wrong         call the ethics police!

12. On the following scale, how ‘bad’ is Case Study “b” ?

         1                               2                     3                      4                                5

not wrong at all           kinda wrong         wrong           very wrong         call the ethics police!

13. Choosing the ‘worst’ case study, explain what would be the worst outcome and why you rated it so high.