Prompt 1
When looking at both of the questions, I can see either of them being a valid response. While reading about the BlackPlanet website in the first article, I wanted to see what it was about. The article made it sound very interesting and I even was considering setting up an account in order to see a culture that is more so “underground” (70). I don’t feel that people should be forced to be raceless on the web. I do feel that people should be allowed to join websites that aren’t part of their race or culture in order to understand people more. We only see Ebonics on TV but rarely in everyday use. Joining BP would give one the opportunity to see the language in raw, unedited usage. On the other hand I could see why people would be mad for outsiders to join the site. Some people see the site as a way to be with other people who understand and live in their racial group and culture. If a bunch of people joined that knew nothing about this, people would see them as posers or trying to infringe on their freedom within the website. I could see the more dedicated users of BP taking this stand towards people posing with a black identity. These examples are why I could see either reaction in the prompt 2 scenario.
