CS192 - Answers to Questions 2

1. Visit this site.
http://www.itc.virginia.edu/pubs/docs/RespComp/rchandbook.html
This is about the student handbook on computing for the students of Virginia University. Read and understand their handbook.
a. If you are to become a part of the VSU team who will formulate a handbook like that of Virginia University, give at least 2 policies that you want to be implemented in VSU or even just for CS students like you, regarding computing. Also include sanction or sort of punishment to those who will violate the said policy.

• Unless instructed to do so, students or any computer user will refrain from changing the current settings of the computer, such as changing the resolutions, adjusting the colors or any form that will alter the state of the computer. This includes downloading from the internet, and installing and uninstalling software. Any violation against this policy will render one hour of community service.

• Students will not access files or websites with malicious content using the computer. These are frequently found in pop-up advertisements and spam in e-mails. Any devices to be read by the computer must be scanned and cleaned of suspicious files. This is to avoid corrupted files from harming the computer. The last user of the computer found to be infected with a computer virus will be subjected to questioning. If guilty, the user will pay a percentage for the service fee of repairing the computer.

2. According to the definition of ethics, it can be connected to the norms or custom of the society. What could be ethical to one, could be unethical to another. If this is the case, in which ethics seem to be subjective in nature, why is there a need to study computer ethics at all? Support your opinion with facts.

• One of the reasons is because studying computer ethics will make us behave like responsible professionals. We still need to contribute to the community and this is one of the least things we can do. By doing so, we can avoid computer abuse and catastrophes. We can protect ourselves from devastating effects of computer technology. Furthermore, because of the involvement of computers in human conduct, there is a creation of new ethical issues, unique to computing, that do not surface in other areas, such as phishing and spamming. If these will not be taken into consideration, then there will be no progress in the community, and the whole realm of computer technology will be lost.

3. There are 4 types of non-jural law. Divine, natural, moral and physical. If you are to practice just one type of the non-jural law for the entire existence of your life, what would it be and why?

• I would have to choose moral law. I am a human being and I cannot avoid the fact that I make mistakes. However, being able to do the right thing will make me feel better than having to do something which will seem right for others, even if it's a mistake. It does not matter how people will perceive me as long as I know I am doing the right thing to others, and to myself. Pretending not to do something, just for the sake of others is not a good thing. Being myself is a lifestyle that I will have to follow in order to live. As the famous song goes, "Life's not worth a damn, until you can say 'I am what I am.' " However, there is a difference between being myself and being rude. Surely, I can monitor that.