BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Morals and taboos in cyberspace: Do we play by the same rules? - D
 r. Monica Whitty\, Nottingham Trent University
DTSTART:20101112T130000Z
DTEND:20101112T140000Z
UID:TALK26846@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:15306
DESCRIPTION:Virtual affairs\, rape\, murder and torture\; all this\, plus 
 more\, individuals can play out in cyberspace. This paper questions whethe
 r any behaviours in cyberspace might be considered immoral or taboo acts? 
 It questions whether our moral values are able to transcend spaces and to 
 what extent they should be permitted to do so. In answering this question 
 it is of course important to acknowledge that cyberspace is not a generic 
 space. The expectations I have of how my partner ought to conduct himself 
 on facebook\, for example\, might be very different to my concerns about h
 ow he plays out his character within World of Warcraft (WoW). And yet\, ev
 en within a game\, it seems that certain behaviours are not permitted. In 
 WoW\, for instance\, characters are permitted to murder and even cannibali
 se\; however\, other taboo behaviours\, such as rape are not built into th
 e game. In contrast\, other MMORGPs games\, such as Sociolotron\, permits 
 rape and is seen as a regular feature of the game. I argue here that it is
  important for psychologists to consider the psychological impacts of acti
 ng out taboo or immoral behaviours in cyberspace and whether or not cybers
 pace ought to be a taboo free zone? Drawing from my own work and my work w
 ith colleagues I consider what the psychological and social consequences a
 re for engaging behaviours considered taboo and immoral offline within cyb
 erspace.
LOCATION:PPSIS Seminar Room (Free School Lane)
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR