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Internet Connection





1

One of the more interesting examples of argot comes from the prison subculture. To see an extensive glossary of terms used by prison inmates, visit The Other Side of the Wall (http://www.prisonwall.org/) and select "Prisoner's Dictionary."
  1. Look over the first set of words (actually, numbers) in the dictionary. From where do many of these words derive? What does this tell you about the structure of prison culture?
  2. Browsing through all of the words in the dictionary, what do they tell you about the rhythm of daily life in a prison? What are some of the most common concerns of prisoners, as indicated by these terms?
  3. What do these terms tell you about the relationship between prisoners and guards?
  4. Browsing through the dictionary, do you see issues for which multiple words or phrases have been developed? Why, in your view, are there multiple terms for certain issues or concepts?
  5. Think about the language you use in the subcultures to which you belong. Is there an argot? If so, is the argot as complex as that of prisons? Reflect on the reasons for this.
2

Our society recently developed a new set of norms to govern behavior on the Internet. Are you familiar with the rules? Test your knowledge of appropriate behavior on the Net by exploring the Netiquette site (http://www.albion.com/netiquette/index.html):
  1. From the Home Page, click on "The Netiquette Quiz." How well did you do?
  2. Click your Back button and select "The Core Rules of Netiquette." What is Netiquette?
  3. At the bottom of the page, click on "Core Rules," and then select "Rule 1: Remember the Human." Summarize what this rule tells us.
  4. Click your Back button and select "Rule 5: Make Yourself Look Good Online." How can you make yourself look good online?
  5. Suppose you have been assigned to revise the core rules of Netiquette. What changes would you make? Why?





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Schaefer, Sociology Brief, 6/eOnline Learning Center

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