The essay entitled "Cyberspace for All" by Esther Dyson and the article entitled "Welcome to Cyberbia" by Heidi Pollock take different views of the future of the Internet. Esther Dyson expects a future of cyberspace free of any restrictions, while Heidi Pollock doubts the limitless world of communication the Internet promises. .
In "Cyberspace for All," Esther Dyson defines cyberspace with connection to real estate. She argues that the censorship of cyberspace will cause more harm than good. The regulation of the government is not only unconstitutional but also "misinterprets the nature of cyberspace"(484). Dyson claims that "cyberspace is a voluntary destination"(484) where the Internet surfers need self government instead of government control. Dyson defines the territory available on the Internet, where people can have private conversations, download information freely and have community meetings according to the rules on the Internet. Cyberspace frees people from the constraints in their real lives and allows people to have personal choices. Additionally, Dyson offers her solution to the problem of potentially indecent contents on the Internet by advocating user responsibility and labeling of offensive materials.
In "Welcome to Cyberspace," Heidi Pollock takes a rather dimmer view of cyberspace. She argues that the "fabulous, wonderful, limitless world of communication"(491) the Internet promises is far from the truth. Pollock offers detailed Internet surfing analysis to illustrate how the Internet works to limit a user's experience of diversity. After spending a lot of time choosing and reading junks, an Internet user only ends up with settling into "an electronic suburb"(493). Pollock criticizes that the inefficient Internet service does nothing but wasting users' time and money.
Works Cited.
Dyson, Esther. "Cyberspace for All." The Bedford Reader. 7th ed. Eds. X.L. Kennedy, Dorothy M. .
Kennedy, and Jane E.
