“Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities, featuring free classified advertisements (with jobs, internships, housing, personals, for sale/barter/wanted, services, community, gigs, resume, and pets categories) and forums on various topics” (wikipedia).
An article in the New York Times came out last week about a controversy Craigslist was facing with people selling prostitution on Craigslist.org. Code words, provocative cyber-advertisements, and offering escorts were the ways they went about it on the site. They would be typically suggesting more. Additionally, words have even been used on Craigslist for drugs.
I was surprised to hear this because I have used Craigslist before searching for housing and furniture, even though I never followed through with them. So to hear that this everyday, popular website has secret illegal activity going on came as surprise. I particularly liked this quote by Richard McGuire, a detective in Nassau County who was investigating the case: “Craigslist has become the high-tech 42nd Street, where much of the solicitation takes place now. Technology has worked its way into every profession, including the oldest.” This is so true. What’s next? It’s amazing how far social media networking has gone…people are not just selling household products, renting out their apartment anymore. People are selling their houses and their bodies! This also shows how advanced networking on the internet has become! Has it gone too far? Craigslist may be in need of some good PR after this scandal. However, they have so many positive features and good feedback, that I don’t think they are going to have any trouble with the occurrence of this incident.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/nyregion/05craigslist.html
2 comments:
The internet is the last medium that I think people still feel is ours. The Craigslist prostituion and drug selling problem reminds me of the the early days of messageboards. Like the class reading said, in the beginning it was chaos but them admins regulated what was suppost to be there and what was not. However, there is a fine line between regulating and censorship. So is prostitution or selling drugs OK on the internet? I dont believe so, however we need to watch censorship and resist it on the internet because it might be our last stand on what is "ours".
I'm honestly not surprised to hear about people trying to sell drugs on Craigslist or prostitution for that matter. Technology has completely taken over society. I love Craigslist, and I use it for many things. I always look at items for sale, housing, pets, activities, and the jobs. It is one of the most popular and convenient websites for buying or selling items, I mean it's easier than ebay. Prostitution and selling drugs is bound to happen some time or another. So anyways, I love Craigslist and I check it daily, but I'm definitely not surprised this is going on.
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