My links laid bare

Using del.icio.us as a "virtual introduction" is a good idea, particularly if people have some experience with it and the "intro" premise is set up well (which I have no doubt would be the case). Bookmarks can tell you an awful lot about a person.

Upsides:

• People can be as revealing or private as they wish since they make the decision about what to link to.
• Encourages people to get to "know" classmates a little better. Since we don't have the benefit of in-person conversation, every little bit of extra information helps us cement an "idea" of who a person is. We get to have a personality!

Downside:

• Falling into the link wormhole. First, you're casually checking out classmates links, next thing you know it's 2am and you haven't gotten one assignment done. The internet is an evil place for the easily distracted.