To be honest, I was fairly intimidated by the assignments that were part of this course. Discussion groups? Blogging? What IS this business? Fortunately (for my nerves, and my grade…) I was able to face my fears and enter the online world…and even come away with a better understanding, and in some cases, some appreciation for this form of communication. To begin with, the assignments I struggled the most with. These were definitely the “Abstinence” exercise and the Internet Group exercise. In all honesty, I was somewhat irked by the abstinence assignment, as this is not my only online class and I was not excited about the feeling of falling behind in my other classes for the sake of only one class. However, it was very interesting to see how intertwined of role the Internet plays in my life. I’m interested to see how this will increase (or decrease- but I doubt it) while in grad school next fall…If my analysis of my use as is, is any prediction to the next two years- I will likely be chained to my computer. Also, in combination with my HDFS Families and Poverty class, the idea of being a person who had absolutely no access to the Internet became a tangible (and terrifying) idea. I now wonder how/if it is even possible to succeed in our society without having a least limited, if not complete, access to a computer and the internet. The second assignment that was difficult for me was the discussion group. While I am now have a clearer idea of how these groups function, and – to an extent- understand the point of even being part of one, I am still thoroughly amazed that for some this style of communicating can actually match or replace face-to-face relationships and communicating. My brief involvement was interesting, and at times fun- but I still have a lot to learn about the process. I currently am a research intern for Eloquence Communication, and when I mentioned this particular assignment to my boss, she immediately was inspired to assign me to familiarizing the company with the ways of the online world- through discussion/support groups, Twitter, Linked In…you name it. It has been grueling and at times, satisfying. I think that why I have such a difficult time “understanding” the online communication world (e-mail and Myspace aside) is because it isn’t a mapped out, definite process- at least not yet, for me. I say this because I realized how I am comfortable with face-to-face because I already have a predetermined layout of the interaction based on cultural assumptions. When entering a different community, in this case online, I find that these cultural assumptions are not so easily applied. Hence, I feel like I’m trying to speak a different language to a wall…and expecting it to communicate back to me. The assignments I enjoyed the most were the interviews and the letters. The interviews because I learned a lot about the various ways in which a range of ages makes use of the internet. I think the assignment was beneficial because (in my case) it challenged my preconceived notions regarding who used the internet for what. That, and the 78 year old Claudia, who I interviewed, has made it her responsibility to update me on all things “webby”. At least once a week, she sends me an invite to some online ‘resource’, group or site. Even after this class, I had no idea soooo many were out there! The letter writing/e-mail composing (?) was also another eye-opener for me. The differences in communication styles, as well as the unanticipated adaption to the ways of the Internet (in the case of my dad)- were striking in that they demonstrated just how a part of our lives, how engrained in our societal norms, the internet has become. And to think that when I was in 2nd grade we were playing Oregon Trail on computers that were, like, six times the size of my laptop…not to mention 40 times SLOWER! Also beneficial to our learning outcomes was the Sources assignment, because so often people overlook the need to verify their facts, and make certain they are using credible sources. I am obviously a huge fan of the library…and the e-journals service (wonderful!!). Clearly, even though I list two that I found difficult- the assignments I referenced made considerable impact on what I learned in, and took away from, the class. This is not to say that the other assignments are ones I would do away with, as they carried equal weight, I just wanted to emphasize on the assignments that really defined the course for me! Thank you class, for an interesting term!
Craigslist- The Dark Side… March 11, 2009
I recently heard an interview with Cook County, Ill. sheriff Tom Dart, on Talk of the Nation (NPR) on the topic of the misuse of Craigslist
Miscommunication…. March 3, 2009
One particular Internet miscommunication experience I have had was in my perception of a professor [Professor A] of one my online classes. Throughout the course of the term, I continuously found myself feeling on the defense, baffled, and rather put off by her ‘attitude’. Knowing full-well I can be overly sensitive, I even went to the point of conferring with a classmate in the area. Even she expressed the feeling that this particular professor came off as abrupt and disdainful. The majority of the term, I refrained from e-mailing to ask her questions and did my best to avoid direct communication with her, as being the daughter of an excellent teacher, I have great dislike for teachers who neglect the true purpose of being a teacher.
Finally, I happened to be having technical issues with another class [Professor B], and as this online business gives me heart tremors and anxiety (only a slight exaggeration) and correction of the issues were not successful online, I drove over to Corvallis to handle the conflict the way I know best, face-to-face. That, in itself, is an excellent example of miscommunication that would have been avoided had the Internet not been the primary communication tool, but the whole situation exhausted me (and some of my patience) and I do not have the desire to relate it.
What actually ended up happening was when I went to meet with Professor B, Professor A happened to share an office with Professor B, so I had face-to-face contact and communication with A also. Not only was I able to resolve the issue with Professor B’s class, but I was able to correct my own perception of Professor A. As it turned out, Professor A is an absolutely lovely woman, who is simply of a different cultural background and communicates within her learned cultural codes of communication. Similar to what Wood & Smith addressed with the claim that “The lack of cues limits the quality of interaction”; due to the fact that I missed her nonverbal cues- such as the way in which she ducks her head because she is shy, but also leans in intently and nods her head eagerly and is quick to smile- I also missed the true meaning of her communication; which, in person, emphasizes mutual understanding and the presence of the personal, or, when we talk and listen in ways that emphasize on our uniqueness, responsiveness, reflectiveness and addressability- the aspects that make you you.
Because I met her, and both gained insight into the way she communicated, as well as applied these communication strategies to her online communication, our future online interactions has been far more effective and productive. This is an interpersonal result that mirrors Wood & Smith’s claim (listed in Table 4.1 on page 79) that “learned behaviors can help compensate for the lack of cues. Unfortunately, I do not know that we would have been able to have cultivated this level of efficiency and productivity had I not by chance communicated with her face-to-face.
Which goes back to one of my earlier reflections that I am far more comfortable communicating online with persons I already know, or have come into actual contact with.
What will be interesting, is how I adapt (or don’t..) as our global society functions on a more increasingly online level…Hmmmn.
Over the Decades.. February 25, 2009
For starters, this assigment was great. I wasn’t expecting it to be, I was too busy thinking about how I would fit three interviews into my already jam-packed schedule and complaining about 22 credits. But when I took the time to listen, I found myself intrigued. And provided with a new perspective of how our lives function around the internet. Or don’t.
This was my original perspective: The younger you are, the more fixated your life is on the internet. The older you get, the less you utilize it.
These are the summaries of my interviews:
For ages 18-35, I interviewed my friend’s little brother, Evan. He is nineteen, and rarely uses the internet. Evan says he uses the Internet for Myspace and to watch videos on Youtube. As he is a freshman in college, I assumed that he would use the internet for research, classes, e-mailing, etc. When I referenced research, I was surprised by his response, “Um, I like to just go to the library and look up books, the internet just complicates things”. Evan has always been a 4.0 student, and likely always will be- so I was aghast that he literally rarely uses the internet for class research. I have yet to get my head around how that is even possible… Seeing as Evan uses the internet primarily for Myspace, one would assume he is comfortable communicating online. However, when I asked him about e-mail, he squirmed and said that he didn’t like it much. He said he prefers to go in to speak to his professors, likes to “just call” his mom (and sister, of course) on the phone, and Myspace is a more laid-back (and I’m assuming, comfortable) place to keep in contact with his friends. It seems as though Evan’s life is virtually unaffected by the internet- he goes about his research in the same manner he would without the internet (except possibly, the use of online library catalogs), and if he weren’t watching videos on Youtube he would find them on TV (MXC and comedy central come to mind). Evan thinks the internet is fine, although he “doesn’t get why so many people are obsessed with it, and always attached to it, even on their phones”. He sees how it can be used for resources, and how it can provide a source for communication, and thinks it to be a valuable part of the progress of our society technologically. But Evan points out (in something of a mimic of Postman) that there is the possibility, and ideally, the fear, that technology and the internet will take over the way we think, the way we interact and the way we ACT. Wise, for the age of nineteen…
Ages 36-60: Adele, age 55 (my mother). My mom uses the internet daily- primarily for the purpose of work-related e-mailing. She is a teacher and principal and says that without the internet she would not be able to keep up and on top of, everything she has to deal with day to day. On the flip side, she says that if she didn’t have internet, perhaps she wouldn’t have as much stress because she wouldn’t be aware of all the people/things in need of attention. 
Mom feels that the internet has greatly affected the way in which she lives her life, internet never having been a part of it previously. These are the positives she listed:
1. She keeps in better contact with me and my sister.
2. She and longtime friends have become even closer because in the absence of seeing one another, they send each other e-cards, videos, etc.
3. Competitive analysis and educational inspiration sources are more accessible.
These are the negatives:
1. People are constantly e-mailing, and expect immediate replies. (Wrongly assuming I wait around for their communication)
2. Misinformation is too accessible for students/children/people these days.
3. Distrust of communicating with people she does not know first-hand.
4. The fear of putting her credit card number online to order something because of….fear?
In general, she thinks the internet is useful, and can provide a wonderful array of information. But she worries about the misuse of the internet, worries about online stalkers/predators, worries that our society is becoming too disconnected on a facial level, and thinks students spend too much time online and ruining our eyes. (AGREED-hehe).
Finally, ages 61+: I interviewed a client of my sister’s (she is an interior designer) while I happened to be in her office waiting to car-pull home. Claudia is 78, and single-handedly the coolest lady I have ever known. I should not have been surprised to learn what I did. When I asked Claudia what she uses the internet for she responded, “OH, where do I START..?”
“Well, to check my e-mail, of course, and to upload pictures to my blog or our [her and her husband Lawrence] website….I always check the weather first thing in the morning- online is so much more RELIABLE than those silly tv men..I do most my shopping online- isn’t it just amazing all the stores you can go to on the internet!? Well I know they aren’t really stores, but I just feel like I’m in a mall…Oh! and looking up recipes [she apparently learned to cook...online...] there are some of the most DELICIOUS recipes online. We hardly eat out anymore!…and, did I mention e-mailing? Yes? I e-mail alot. ..Here her purse starts singing “You’re So Vain..” and she pulls out her wait a sec..iphone? Note to self: a 78 year old lady has a WAY cooler phone than me…and giddily informs me that her husband is IMing her from his laptop at home..and then laughs because he also included a link to a StupidVideo clip of an old woman being yanked off her feet by her huge dog pulling his leash. All I can do here is laugh.
Her list of uses of the internet go on to include just about EVERY aspect the internet even offers (save porn, thank goodness!) and I am left completely baffled.
My new perspective: We are a society completely, comfortably adjusted to the internet. It makes no harsh, negative change on our lives and does not rank as the most negative effect of technology in any way. Despite being easy to assume, the general gap in understanding/appreciating technology is not the standard. I can still appreciate the feeling that the internet sometimes overwhelm our lives- mostly because I feel my life is consumed by the internet- but I can also see that the internet also provides a definite, and sometimes refreshing, way of communicating with one another, and for exploring the world outside of what lies out our door.
If only I myself was so adapted as Claudia….
My Internet Community Experience February 18, 2009
For this assignment, I had a considerably difficult time choosing something I care about enough to carry on an online discussion with virtual strangers about. There are a great many subjects I am passionate about- I just found it difficult to choose one subject that I felt worth allocating extensive online time and consideration. I finally decided upon poetry, becuase while it is something I enjoy- I also feel comfortable in my knowledge and ability to participate in discussion on. There are likely prettier and easier to follow sites than the one I chose, http://www.wildpoetryforum.com/, I found the discussion board world difficult to navigate, thus was grateful to have at least found a site that I could manage.
To begin with, it took me awhile to assimilate into the group. I joined the group at the beginning of the term, but due to my insane academic schedule- as well as pressing issues of life and death (literally- this term has been tainted with two family births and two deaths). I would have to say that that is likely the cause of my slowed assimilation. I think this correlates with a statement in the reading- “in order for a virtual community to exist, there must be a flow of messages among the participants” (128), as it offers an explanation as to why the group was slow in accepting me. Those who left me welcoming messages and received exceedingly tardy replies, likely in some way felt that I was slighting the intent of the group by failing to contribute to the flow of communication. Their initial attempt at interaction and community was not successful, thus I was not an active, or accepted member of the group.
In the beginning, I was a “lurker”, someone who is “present but offer[s] no comment or contribution. An active member of WildPoetry is expected to share their work, thoughts, and critique, and engage in conversation with others thoughts. Once I gave up on my initial discussion-board reservations, and actually contributed a few samples of my writing as well as remarking on/admiring others contributions- I was accepted. Well, as accepted as a ‘newbie’ can be in a realm they are entirely unfamiliar with. I knew I was accepted, or rather, REaccepted when those who had first welcomed, then snubbed (or perhaps SILENCED would be the more CMC accurate term here..) me, once again included me in discussion and critiqued (both positively and negatively) my contributions. Actually yesterday- Sandra (notice the lack of anonymity- the group is very comfortable, and obviously with their interest- actually do wish to be known by their name- whether it is actually their true name or even their ‘pen name’, they each include both first and last names) commented on one of my comments to offer advise on how to format my conversations as opposed to my poetry contributions so that other participants could access them easier. I have not yet decided whether or not that was a demonstration of community acceptance (showing the newbie the ropes) or if she is one of the regulators and according to netiquette, feels the responsibility to help a member of the community interact appropriately. Hard to say since I’ll never meet her. Or could she be a him?
In conclusion of the assignment, I terminated my membership to the WildPoetry community. While I can now appreciate the niche these virtual communities fill, I do not have the time to allow what this particular community actually deserves. That, and there is STILL something about online interaction with ‘strangers’ that makes me uncomfortable, something I will certainly have to get over considering the way my career is headed…Now I know how my grandparents felt when they were saying things like, “When I was your age I walked to school..both ways…and you talked to a person either in person or by written word- and you NEVER gave out personal information to people you didn’t know…”
Oddly enough, I have to admit that I was rather sorry to see my new found communicators go. Despite not having a clue what any of them were honestly like, their shared thoghts and articulate abilities had me slightly attached… 
Through trial and error, I have narrowed down what act as acceptable sources…. February 11, 2009
A term I came across while reading John Stewart’s Building Bridges Not Walls inspired what I would choose to write an academic paper on- dyssemia. Dyssemia describes a difficulty in the use of nonverbal signs or, basically, provides a condition to explain particular cases of the consistent inability to read and appropriately communicate various situations, conversations, etc.
As a rule, when writing academic papers I use one of three sites to base my research in- the e-journals or databases offered through the library’s site (I primarily use Academic Search Premier or LexisNexis, although for Anthropology classes- AnthroSource is fantastic!), EBSCO directly, or governmental/.org sites. The furthest I ever venture from those is sampling .edu pages! EBSCO, by the way, often pulls up horrid sources such as Cosmpolitan Magazine and Redbook (I’ve seen it!)- so I advise going through Academic journal sites for more grounded information.
I think my last few statements accurately summarize how I evaluate a source’s credibility. Typically, if a site is provided by either the government or an educational institution, the source will be credible. When writing academic papers concerning highly contested, controversial issues- I evaluate my source as to whether or not it is an interest group (bad sign for presenting a scholarly perspective), heavily biased without citing references for statistics offered, or not current (to the ‘day’). Although many people feel comfortable using Wikipedia, perhaps because they spend the time sifting out the credible sources- I avoid it like the plague. The is, for the most part, because in the beginning of college- I innocently tried it out, and was reprimanded strongly. But, from further exploring the site I have discovered that, if not reviewed properly, one can find themselves quoting Joe the Plumber, who decided to contribute to the ever-changing compilation called Wikipedia so that he could provide his opinion. A few months back I returned to my (incredibly small and backwoods) hometown and read the paper. The hot topic at the time was, of course, the election- and as you would expect from a town like John Day (Disclaimer- I have actually never LIVED there, I am from 40 miles away…it was just the nearest High School. So please, don’t ever label me a John Dayian..), the population was shaking in their boots with anger because they were certain the first thing Obama would do upon entering office would be to come take their guns away. (Nevermind the recession, wars, etc on hand- Obama wants THEIR guns..) Back to my point, the Letters to the Editor was scattered with angry accusations poorly supported with weak (and upon actually checked out, offensively inaccurate) references to Wikipedia. To me, this is an example of what Postman referred to as manufactured expertise. Anyone can contribute to Wikipedia, and what’s interesting is that- when we read the information provided, we assume accuracy and relevancy (information on topic reasonably current to date- according to Prof. Reed- this is at most a four year span). Basically, instead of diligently searching through credible sources, we often find ourselves guilty of making use of the readily-available, manufactured opinion turned fact. Anyone can be the expert. Also- Postman uses the analogy of the courtroom, where hearsay is not an allowable evidence- Wikipedia, and interest-group sites, offer the online version of hearsay- rather their opinion, or distorted soundbytes that work to prove their position.
I do not find information that is heavily biased, without acknowledging or leaving room for the opinion of the alternate perspectives, to be easily believable. To believe a source is grounded and trustworthy, I find myself looking to see that the material allows for a conscientious outlook, while still providing solid, strong facts.
Personally, I do not value information that does not come from a credible source- and likewise, if I provide inadequate, unworthy sources, then I would expect a professor to not value the perspective or research I provide. Perhaps this is the result of being a teacher’s daughter. More likely, it is that I am surrounded by intelligent peers, and I do, as they do, take myself seriously (academically speaking, I cannot guarantee that outside of the educational setting…)
Children who don’t fit in need help. By: Duke, Marshall P., Nowicki Jr., Stephen, Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter, 10581073, Apr95, Vol. 11, Issue 4
(Database: Professional Development Collection via E-journals provided by OSU)
Indicators of Dyssemia. http://www.fcs.utah.edu/info/cfdc/2610/dyssemia_indicators.pdf
More than words. Christopher Munsey.
Monitor on Psychology- APA (American Psychology Assocation) Online Volume 37, No. 8, September 2006.
http://www.apa.org/monitor/sep06/more.html
So Long a Letter… February 3, 2009
To begin with, I loved this assignment because I love letters and I love feelings.
Out of the many dear souls who have significantly influenced who I am today, I chose my father (of course my parents simultaneously came to mind, but as my mom and I are both equally emotionally expressive there have been numerous occasions in which I have let her know how much she means to me, whereas my dad is more reserved- though equally loving) and, awkwardly enough, one of my ex-boyfriends who is, to this day, one of the best friends I have ever had. Originally my intentions were to write an actual letter to my dad and send the e-mail to KJ (initials for the sake of anonymity…). However, after a reading of Chapter 4, especially “The Impersonal Perspective Reconsidered” and considering emoticons- I decided to reverse the order. My reasoning was simply this: Over the years, the majority of my communication with KJ has been via the internet or through texting. We are both familiar with online communication and emoticons in particular. On the other hand, nearly all my long-distance communication with my dad has been via the telephone or hand-written letters. While my parents have long had an e-mail account, my dad only recently began to have any interest in it, and now sends us picture updates of the horses and well as his classic one-liner messages. A letter, or e-mail, from him often looks something like this: “Hi Sweet. Hope classes are going well. Tahuya foaled this morning. Colt doing well but we’ll. Love, Dad” Can you believe he’d actually pay postage for that?! Back on topic- I thought it would be interesting to see how they reacted to a change in communication.
While I expected a change in THEIR communication (note my use of stresses…) I was not expecting a change in my own.
First in discussion, the e-mail to Dad: After composing my e-mail message, I was surprised to notice a difference in the way I expressed myself to him as compared to written letters in the past. When I write to my parents, especially with letters, I have a tendency to use more elaborate speech, have a less formal tone, and am guilty of many ‘asides’ and even emoticons (though I’m not positive they’re called that on paper?). In my e-mail to Dad, my speech was far more basic, my tone took on a slightly formal sense, and my message was concise, orderly and to the point. It was almost as though I was mirroring the succinct manner of my dad’s e-mails, just with a more wordy approach. This made me reflect on the way I have previously interacted online, and I came up two major self-observations.
1. When I am comfortable with a person/group in face-to-face contact, my online conduct is expressive and identity-reflective.
2. When I am unsure of how a person/group operates or how judgment is placed, my online conduct tends to be reserved and formal.
I found this interesting because in Wood/Smith they noted that students used online discussion boards/e-mails predominantly to socialize, and I actually feel considerably awkward doing so. Perhaps I am less online competent than I thought!
What was MOST surprising about this e-mail venture was my dad’s response. Instead of the short and direct, my dad’s reply was lengthy, warm AND…..he attempted emoticons! If any of you knew my dad, there would be gasps all around. Of course, his smile was a frown, and he included a brief, frustrated message that ‘these face things are a waste of time”- but he did try.
Second in discussion: The hand-written letter to KJ. My hand-written letters are the most constant in manner, perhaps because that is the communication medium I have used the most, but I did notice one slight in my communication- I was less humorous in writing than I am with him in e-mail, and that is not due to the content- as our friendship has lasted the way it has because of our mutual jokster approach to life,even the sappy stuff. The only explaination I have to offer is that I was focused on getting it mailed in time for a response….
KJ’s response was much like my dad’s, more flowery and lengthy than I would have expected from either of them, but then- people DO have warm receptions to being appreciated. I did notice that he included many of the themes of e-mail in his written response- including emoticons, lol, etc (most of which I still don’t know what they mean…not up to par on the lingo..)
Between the two means of communication and relationship maintenance, I think both have positives. I tend to associate value and genuine appreciate with letter writing because it takes more time and effort, but I also appreciate the promptness of e-mailing, you get a response while you’re still feeling the emotions employed in composing the message. So I can see online interaction to be convenient in maintaining a relationship because of the accessibility, but I can also see snail-mail preserving a relationship because of the symbolic meaning behind the act.
All in all, this was a rewarding and insightful assignment, which I obvioulsy enjoyed!
Who I am on Myspace/Facebook January 31, 2009
When it comes to Myspace and Facebook, I don’t really think that I distort myself in any tremendous way. I am straight-forward about my likes and dislikes, goals and aspirations, heroes…and the like. Actually, I think it is fair to say that some people could gain more insight into the way I think by viewing either of my pages than by having a couple sit down visits with me. For one, not one of the friends that I spend every Friday Girls Night Out with knows that I love tire swings, or that I once ate play dough for two dollars. Actually, I don’t know that anyone other than my high school friends know that. Not to imply that I did that in high school……
But then, it is true that I am not always brutally honest in my online depiction of myself. While I will candidly admit that I did eat play dough for money, I do have a minor obsession with Animal Planet, and I LOVE old hardware stores with wood floors- there is not a chance that I would ever share with the online ‘world’ the times when I feel like locking my boyfriend out of our house, I feel let down by family or friends, or perchancem, am worried about a grade. That is when my honestly fails me. So does this fall into dishonestly, or merely omitting portions of the truth, leaning towards a form of anonmity? Is the less-than-accurate portrayal of myself equal misrepresentation, and thus falsifying the way in which others perceive me? Does the internet act as a place where we can present only the parts of ourselves that we deem acceptable to share?
The answer is yes. But then, I would vehemently argue that it is not any different than face to face. Dr. Dollar (one of my favorite professors of all time) said the other day, “I used to be reluctant to use the Internet as means of communication, I mean how do you know that the person on Facebook is telling you the truth, how do you know they are being real about who they are? That is why I value face-to-face. Then I realized that you don’t even know that the person you are talking to in person is being 100% honest at all times.” She brings up an excellent point I believe. We are a cliche society in some ways. We walk through our busy days, and while we do pause to greet those we encounter, it is with the traditional- “Hello, how are you?” To which, of course, each person responses with “Great, good, doing well, couldn’t complain..and so on. In doing so we present the part of ourselves that is positive, because sure- in comparison to someone in less than fortunate circumstances, we are having a fine day. But how often is it that we truly open up, and tell the person who asked how we are really doing? (By this, of course, I do not mean our significant others, close friends, and other people who actually care..)Really what I’m trying to say is, I don’t think that Facebook or Myspace is particularly stunting to the honesty of communication for two main reasons.
1. For many people, these sites pose a unique opportunity to them to open up and really dissect what makes them THEM.
2. As a society, we practice the same formalities and glossing over of communication in person to person contact as is possible through the internet (to a great extent- though I would not claim that it is to the exact level)
So Much Cooler On-line…. January 20, 2009
To begin with, although this music video has its humorous moments, I mostly found myself depressed by the messages it was sending.
The video followed the “life” of a less fortunate man as he trudged through his daily activities of delivering pizza, wishing he was someone else (what a surprise that that someone else was none other than Brad Paisley…) dealing with the disadvantages of living at home (STILL) and unabashedly shielding himself from potential human contact with an apparently sweet and eagerly interested neighbor-girl.
Offline, the man is balding, short, chubby, nerdy (he’s into sci-fi), drives a beater car, inexperienced when it comes to women and sex, and has no skills that he views as socially acceptable. Oh, and to top it off, his room is in his parents basement and he plays the tuba and chats on-line between bouts of asthma. Sad!
Online is, of course, the bipolar opposite. He goes from short to tall, chubby to having six-pack abs, driving a beater to driving a Maserati, being inexperienced to just plain mysterious, and of course he’s ridiculously loaded and has skills. Because girls only like boys who have skills, right?
I am sure this is an accurate, though unfortunate, portrayal of how many people do use the internet. Paisley clearly demonstrates the freedoms of self-expression allowed by such online features like chat rooms, myspace, facebook and so on. Postman discusses the abandonment of social and symbolic traditions, and I think this is applicable here. This free space for self-expression dissipates the confining roles of our social traditions, giving individuals an opportunity to reinvent how they express, introduce and act within themselves. In some ways, this new opportunity to develop the definition of self is wonderful. In example, I have a number of friends who I actually have only truly gotten insight into their lives and their feelings via the Internet. Poems they post, the music they choose to place on their profile or the way in which they describe themselves transcends any previous lines of traditional introductions. What we feel comfortable expressing on the Internet is not always what we may feel comfortable approaching in person. However, as in this video, this opportunity can be misused in the form of misleading others about your true self. Some people use the Internet to create the selves they wish they were, or even to release a portion of themselves they deem unacceptable in the social environment they exist in.
What I found frustrating about the music video was that the end, in which he embraces who he is and goes for the girl (the neighbor girl, not someone from online) and goes of marching down the street- playing the tuba, seems so unrealistic. Are we supposed to believe that by pretending to be something we’re not online is going to suddenly provide us with a relevation and send us right back to who we were really- loudly and proudly?
Even with the “happy ending”, I still found the overall message of the video disconcerting. The guy wants to be Brad Paisely, because apparently Paisely has what society considers to be the most acceptable and admirable, quite the opposite of the poor, chubby, balding guy. When he realizes he can’t be him, he decides to just be himself- which involves the very “uncool” act of tuba-ing it up down the street while being fawned over by the dorky neighbor girl. Well if you can’t be cool….just be happy being uncool? Everyone will love you for being the short, chubby, balding guy we poked fun at earlier in the video- but now you’re surrounded by Taylor Swift and Kelly Pickler……
Media accessible via the Internet, and communication via cyberspace in general, affects the way people perceive themselves and societal standards. It affects the way we interact, the goals and standards we set for ourselves, affects the way we judge others and ultimately affects the quality of our life.
Abstinence… January 16, 2009
The first assignment for this term was to abstain from using the internet for a complete 24 hour period. This was ridiculously difficult for me, the first day I set out to ‘remove the internet from my life’, I failed. With three on-line classes, two research classes, a language class that incorporates the use of on-line work into the daily grade, and an internship based solely on the practice of on-line research, marketing and coordination- I immediately “fell off the wagon”. The second try proved more successful, although perhaps in part that I became ill halfway through the day…….
Despite being sick, I there were so many times I reached for my laptop to access the Internet (but remained abstinent), that I eventually stopped counting. I think I stopped at 57. I remember sitting at the dinner table with my parents and listening to them complain about kids and their cell phones, “I can remember when we didn’t even HAVE cell phones…let alone phones we regularly used!”. This of course, inspiring moments of self-reflection wondering what I would do without MY phone. I never thought I would be as relient on anything (other than water and food, of course) as I was to my phone. Since this assignment, I have realized I am fully capable of functioning successfully without cell phone in close proximity. The same cannot be said of me without the Internet. My LIFE is on the Internet. My work schedule is procurred via e-mail. Assignments and lectures are supplied via Internet. I even listen to NPR on the Internet as I get ready for class in the morning. Before this assignment I would never have considered myself an Internet-junkie, but now I certainly feel as though one.
Things I use the Internet for:
Finding phone numbers for businesses I need to call- personal and work-related.
Mapquest (despite having lived in Bend for a year, I still rely on this site to get me basically anywhere..)
Blackboard (for both schools I attend)
5 diffferent e-mails- 2 school, 1 work, 1 personal/work, 1 research-related
To coordinate with friends
To browse that evenings activities i.e. bands playing, bars having specials nights, etc
Check weather….for here, home home, places I will be going
*GOOGLE* I Google EVERYTHING! From something I find interesting in the news to the lyrics to a song heard on the radio in the car, recipes for tonight’s dinner, gift ideas, health/fitness ideas, shopping, and the list goes on.
Research- both academically and for my internship.
To keep up to date on my best friend’s belly (baby!)
To name a FEW…
What to do with yourself when you cannot get on the Internet…
The better half of my day was spent in the library- researching the “old fashioned way”, at Townsend’s Teahouse catching up on reading, going for a run down Farewell Bend.
Then I came down with a 104 fever- which confined me to bed for the remainder of my Day of Abstinence. Ironically (in light of my previous failure to truly abstain) I was then so ill, that I was virtually unable to even LOOK at my computer for the next five days, let alone navigate the Internet.
The assignment was the ultimate for reflection, both of self and of society. Previously oblivious to my own Internet-dependency, I am left in awe by how much technology has taken over our lives. We are not just consumed by it, we are driven- we function- underneath its “power”. Is Postman’s comparison of our societal submittion to words/technology just the tip of iceberg? What exactly have we created? There is quite obviously both negative and positive effects, but does the good outweigh the bad? Which way are we headed- where does our control sit?
