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"She's
(girlfriend) not too fond of it. She wants me to turn it
off. Some things you've got to keep private."
"If I want big brother to stop looking at me I just turn the camera off." |
Early in the semester, Madman, as he is known on the Internet, filled out a preliminary application for WebDorm on a Tuesday. He sent in a second application on a Wednesday and by Friday there was a Web cam on his doorstep. The camera was
given to Madman courtesy of the WebDorm
experiment. Madman was the first WebDormer in California and
the experiment includes 28 other WebDormers. Madman has had his problems as a WebDormer, but has enjoyed the experiment and has learned to deal with a camera in his room. "Sometimes it gets annoying, the fact that a lot of people could be watching ... I've learned to change in the bathroom," Madman said. In one situation, Madman was in his room with his girlfriend (use imagination here) and he wasn't sure if the camera was on, it was, and then he turned it off. "She's not too fond of it," Madman said. She wants me to turn it off. Some things you've got to keep private." At first, Madman had the camera on in his room almost 24 hours a day, but he gradually learned when to turn it off. When the camera is on, it refreshes every 30 seconds. "If I want Big Brother to stop looking at me, I just turn the camera off," Madman said. When visitors go to WebDorm, they can participate in group chat sessions. Most of the chats consist of a few people talking about whatever comes to mind. Each WebDormer has a biography page and a journal where people can post messages. Recently, the WebDormers met in person during a trip to Boston. Madman did acknowledge that some of the other WebDormers weren't all they were cracked up to be in person, but he did make a couple of good friends on the trip. Madman thinks it was a good experience, but it hasn't taken over his life and he has adjusted to the changes. "It's just there," Madman said. "You get a new toy and it gets old and then you find something new." Go directly to Madman's site at
WebDorm:  |
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© copyright by Cat Bytes; Magazine produced by online students of the journalism department, California State University, Chico. Page maintained by Dr. Glen Bleske. |
He
lives off campus and is a sophomore at Chico State. His
semester online is coming to an end on May 10, but the
experience has landed him a free camera and a free trip to
Boston where he was able to meet other WebDormers from all
over the country.