Digi Says…
How to be a good digital citizen.
Picture of Digi smiling. Paw prints used as bullet points.
Digi Makes Friends in Real Life
Digi the Good Digital Citizen series.
EJ Kuhlman”
Digi is formed on the Internet. He travels down the information superhighway, or IS. He is formed out of the screens of humans who are facing Internet danger. Digi is a dog who was formed to inform. He is here to teach justice to those tempted by the unjust.
Everything started for Digi when he was formed as a pixelated pup on the Information Superhighway, or IS.
When he materialized, there was a surly orange cat staring at him, surlily.
Picture of the information superhighway, which looks like a large river across the page. In the background, there are pitfalls of the Internet (e.g. signs for scams, a “Phishing Hole” sign, crypto currency. etc,) Digi is formed in the middle of the page, formed from swirling 1s and 0s, Binary code. Digi is a cute dog with one ear that stands up and another that is floppy. There is also a picture of the future Digimobile in the background, and a picture of an orange tabby with green eyes, Steve, looking bored and looking at Digi.
Steve: begins to lick his paw while talking to Digi: Well(sigh)welcome to the information superhighway, or IS. I am Steve, if you want to know. Continues to lick his paw and wipe his face.
Steve: It is a disaster. I have watched humanity devour itself with information. This is it, fini, finish, kaput, done. Humans do not have a chance(yawn). Steve lies down nonchalantly.
Digi: Oh, wow! It is really great to meet you, Steve! I just don’t think that-what did you say? Humanity is going to de-vow-er itself with information. Steve, the Internet is good, I just know it. Look, I was made today, and I met a new friend, you! I believe that everyone can be good, they just have to learn how to do it. You know, I think that’s called being a good digital citizen! Yes, we can teach humans to be good digital citizens!
Steve is asleep.
Digi: Ahem, excuse me, uh, Steve?
Steve:(halfway opens an eye) You’re still here?
Digi: Yes, and how do you know my name?
Steve: It’s on your name tag.
“Oh. I think we should get straight to work. We can’t just sit by and watch humanity destroy itself. There’s so much good on the Internet. Kids can learn science, cool dance moves, and even make friends with kids from across the world. How long have you been here?”
Steve looks bored, and is doing cat things(swats at a light projection, scratches, etc.)
Digi: How long have you been here?
Steve: Since 1995.
Digi: Well, there’s no time like the present to save the world by fighting Internet injustice. We need a car!
Steve: I’ve been watching that one for 25 years. It may or may not work(yawn).
Steve with a neutral expression, Digi is smiling and wagging his tail. A flying car(like the Jetsons’) is parked nearby. It has an extended bubble sidecar. The main car has a window rolled down for Digi to stick his head out of when he drives.
Digi: Great! Jump in, Steve! Let’s go!
Digi travels in a car with Steve, his surly sidekick.
Picture of Digi in the main car with his head out of the window, tongue out, tail wagging. Steve is in the bubble sidecar with an unhappy look. They are traveling down the illustrated IS, scattered with various things that can be found on the Internet.
Digi and Steve travel down the IS and begin to see various types of screens lit up with images of things that can be found on the Internet, such as YouTube video, cooking show, Minecraft, etc.).
Digi: Hmm, I wonder what these screens are from. This looks like a classroom. Why does one screen have a frown? Let’s check it out!
Steve: Whatever.
Suddenly, a computer screen appears with a frown.
Digi: Why does this screen have a frown? Oh no, oh dear, we need to find a way to help.
Steve lies down and starts to purr.
Steve: I wonder if there’s a…button…or…Hey these are heated seats. Purrr.
Zoomed-out picture of the Digimobile. Next frame, zoomed-in, zoomed-in again until there is a red button with a switch plate labeled “IRL” Another frame shows Dig’s paw moving toward the button. Next frame, the paw presses the button.
With a whoosh Digi and Steve disappear from the Digimobile. There is a bright flash of light.
With a whoosh, they were in the computer programming classroom at Cybernated Springs Elementary School.
Suddenly, Digi and Steve pixelate out of a computer screen that reads, “<h1> Digi help! <\h1>” with swirling binary code. They are in a classroom full of upper elementary students and a teacher.
Digi: Wow! That was cool! The IRL button whooshed us right into In Real Life!
Steve: Shocking.
The classroom features at least three students, one with a concerned face, another who is crying, the third kid is standing at the computer that evidently cued Digi and Steve. There is a teacher in the front of the classroom, looking sad and mad, in a teacher kind of way. The TV, projector, r whiteboard at the front of the classroom reads, “Digital Citizenship is Fun!”
Kid at computer: Digi! I’m so glad you’re here! I didn’t think this would work.
Steve: Ahem, I’m right here.
Kid at computer: Hi, um, digitally-manifested feline with surprisingly lifelike features, and (achoo) realistic fur?
Steve already begins to lazily swat at a loose wire hanging from a table.
In classroom:
Digi: So, what happened?
Teacher: Finnigan?
Finnigan: I didn’t…I didn’t think that I would hurt anyone. I was just doing it because I could.
Frame zooms into the third kid, John, who is crying. The kid drops his head downward, and shakes his head.
Finnigan: Ok, so I opened a separate school account with the name IMBully253. That’s all.
Teacher: And?
Digi: And?
Steve: (still playing with the wire) I will destroy you, evil hanging wire of doom. I am a ferocious…
Rest of the class: (leaning in, forward toward Finnigan) And?
John (Turns his laptop screen toward reader, next frame zooms in. We see a screen that reads, “John stinks!”)
John (clicks classroom page, shows screen that repeatedly reads, “John stinks!”
Everyone in classroom, except Steve, looks shocked.
Kid 3: The school bosses tracked down Finn using school computer magic.
Steve: (Stops batting wire, holds up a paw intelligently) Actually, that’s called a cyber investigation.
Class and Digi turn to stare at Steve.
Steve: What? Just because cats aren’t interested, doesn’t mean we’re misinformed.
Class turns to Digi.
Digi: Why’d you do it, Finn?
Finn: I thought it would be funny. I know how to set up an account, and…I guess it isn’t funny in real life.
Class: Or IRL
Digi: John doesn’t feel that way.
Finn: I didn’t mean to. I really didn’t think about John, I just wanted to see if I could do it. I’m sorry. I’m sorry, John.
Entire class looks disappointed, Steve starts to bat at the wire again.
Digi: You should never say online what you wouldn’t say to another person in real life.
Steve: (rolling on floor to catch the wire) IRL
Finn: Ok , I will delete the account and delete everything.
Teacher: Unfortunately, our school policy says you will be using this instead of a computer for a while.
Hands Finn a stack of paper and a chewed up pencil with no eraser.
Finn slaps his palm to his face. But then agrees. Walks to John and shakes his hand.
Finn: Thank you, Digi! I will practice that from now on. I will imagine how I would feel IRL if anyone said what I want to say. If it seems hurtful, or makes me feel bad, I will delete it.
Steve: (sits up, straightening his fur with his front paws) That works for emails and texts, too.
Digi: If you’re really angry when you type it, pause, turn off the screen, go for a walk, and come back. Delete the message if you don’t mean it. You could also talk to someone-IRL. You might find that you feel better.
Finn: Thanks, Digi. I can practice what I am going to say online or text with my sister’s pet bird, Beck. Picture of canary in the frame with an 8-pointed star behind it. When I say words out loud, they may come out differently, huh?
Digi scratches his chin with his front paw.
Digi: Super-duper! And, one more thing. Way back, when I was a pixelated pup…
Suddenly, there was a whoosh!
Whoosh! Digi and Steve find themselves back in the Digimobile. Steve looks disgruntled, but Digi is wagging his tail and has his head out of the window.
Digi: Let’s go, Steve!
To tell everyone the Internet can be good!
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