Since before taking Comm 301, I used Computer Mediated Communications. I text, I have a Facebook account, I use e-mail to communicate, and I utilized Internet resources for information. However, before the class began I was not aware of the many different social networks that are out there and how people tend to use these sites. Some in which I have learned about I found very useful and may keep up with the site such as, Linked In. There are other sites that I believe are not very interesting, to complicated, or almost to socially interactive requiring too much time such as Second Life.
Learning about different CMC probably will not change my habits too much. I will try to use CMC to connect with others for career purposes. I learned many different ways to make connections and how I should not use CMC while I am looking for a career. There is not much change that I will make with my time spent using CMC. I never used it to much before, even having a Facebook account, I can say I am not one of those who could be considered addicted.
I feel that I do have better knowledge on my Facebook account and how to manage it. I have made changes to my privacy settings and other settings on my account when we had discussed potential negatives that could happen. I also have been more particular about who I accept as my friend. I used to always accept friend requests, after the articles I have read and through our research and class discussion, I no longer just click accept. For the first time while being in Comm 301, I ignored friend requests.
Although my habits have not changed much, the minor changes I have made I know will be beneficial. An through my CMC experience I have learned and I am continuing to learn the positives and negatives of CMC. CMC has my attention and I am noticing what a big part it plays in today's generation.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
My Death Space
After viewing different social networking sites in Comm. 301 this past week, I went in search of some social networking sites that we had not touched on. In my search I found a social networking site whose global resource is Myspace.com. This social networking site, http://www.mydeathspace.com/, is a site of online memorials that allow family and friends to pay respects and vent their griefs of loved ones who had a Myspace account and have past away. Mydeathspace.com, actually tracks individuals profiles on Myspace.com that are deceased.
It is interesting to see social networking used in this way. It can be nice to have a place where people can get together and share their feelings and provide other with emotional support. Another positive for the site, is that they provide archive, containing news articles, online obituaries, and other publicly available information. When first reading the name of the site however, it sounded morbid and unattractive to visit. The name could potentially be a downfall because I can not see many people wanting to be a member of a social networking site with the work "death" in the link. Also, even though this may seem like a great way to remember a loved one and comment on the person they were, there have been problems with people posting rude, disrespectful, and insensitive comments such as, “I am happy she is dead."
Site manages are supposed to be tracking these kind of comments and deleting them. It may be hard for manager of the site to stay on top of the comments considering there are numerous members and many posts. If they can not find a way of stopping these comments they should think about taking down the site. I am not sure what they will do if they can not keep up with tracking comments but something needs to be done because it is disrespectful and hurtful to friends and family.
Overall the site has a lot of positive aspects for people who lose someone they love to create an online memorial. Also Mydeathspace.com seems to be a healthier and more productive way to use technologies to bring people together in a time of grief and allow them to provide one another with support.
It is interesting to see social networking used in this way. It can be nice to have a place where people can get together and share their feelings and provide other with emotional support. Another positive for the site, is that they provide archive, containing news articles, online obituaries, and other publicly available information. When first reading the name of the site however, it sounded morbid and unattractive to visit. The name could potentially be a downfall because I can not see many people wanting to be a member of a social networking site with the work "death" in the link. Also, even though this may seem like a great way to remember a loved one and comment on the person they were, there have been problems with people posting rude, disrespectful, and insensitive comments such as, “I am happy she is dead."
Site manages are supposed to be tracking these kind of comments and deleting them. It may be hard for manager of the site to stay on top of the comments considering there are numerous members and many posts. If they can not find a way of stopping these comments they should think about taking down the site. I am not sure what they will do if they can not keep up with tracking comments but something needs to be done because it is disrespectful and hurtful to friends and family.
Overall the site has a lot of positive aspects for people who lose someone they love to create an online memorial. Also Mydeathspace.com seems to be a healthier and more productive way to use technologies to bring people together in a time of grief and allow them to provide one another with support.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Threads
With the recent discussion in class of addiction and Facebook, I have noticed what we might question as Facebook addiction. In class a group gave a discussion of things that make someone an addict such as habitual action.
For the past couple weeks or so every time I log into Facebook I have an inbox message. This message is a thread that is sent to whomever and it is conversation only between those certain people. My friends from home started the thread and have been writing messages back and forth every day. Now, when I say everyday I do not mean once a day. It seems that they write back and forth numerous times during the day, almost every hour. I have not yet posted on this thread because I do not check my Facebook as often nor do I have much time with school and work.
This makes me wonder how they are getting their school work accomplished. Are they maybe using this Facebook thread not only to keep in touch but as a procrastination technique? Also if they are logging into Facebook every hour just to see who has responded and to write back is that considered a habitual action? All these questions lead up to the complicated question we have discussed in class, are they addicted to Facebook?
For the simple fact that they log on every hour, I think can be considered a form of addiction. I can not say however, that I know of any of their grades being lower then usual because I have not talked to them much but I am guessing that their time spent on Facebook just being involved in this thread is consuming time that could be used for studying. I do think it is nice to keep in touch with old friends, and a thread is an easy way of bringing everyone into one conversation, but if it is necessary to check and respond every hour that really may be part of an addiction.
This thread has made it easy to see the way in which Facebook may become an addiction. Although my friends may just look at this messaging as fun conversation, their actions could be leading to possible addiction.
For the past couple weeks or so every time I log into Facebook I have an inbox message. This message is a thread that is sent to whomever and it is conversation only between those certain people. My friends from home started the thread and have been writing messages back and forth every day. Now, when I say everyday I do not mean once a day. It seems that they write back and forth numerous times during the day, almost every hour. I have not yet posted on this thread because I do not check my Facebook as often nor do I have much time with school and work.
This makes me wonder how they are getting their school work accomplished. Are they maybe using this Facebook thread not only to keep in touch but as a procrastination technique? Also if they are logging into Facebook every hour just to see who has responded and to write back is that considered a habitual action? All these questions lead up to the complicated question we have discussed in class, are they addicted to Facebook?
For the simple fact that they log on every hour, I think can be considered a form of addiction. I can not say however, that I know of any of their grades being lower then usual because I have not talked to them much but I am guessing that their time spent on Facebook just being involved in this thread is consuming time that could be used for studying. I do think it is nice to keep in touch with old friends, and a thread is an easy way of bringing everyone into one conversation, but if it is necessary to check and respond every hour that really may be part of an addiction.
This thread has made it easy to see the way in which Facebook may become an addiction. Although my friends may just look at this messaging as fun conversation, their actions could be leading to possible addiction.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
I am always finding articles in Cosmo Girl about social networks or forms of CMC that take me right back to subjects we discussed in electronic communications. We talk about the reason for why people have so many friends on Facebook and are these people really who they say they are? Why do people just accept friend requests from anyone even if they are not a friend or a friend of a friend? I just presented an article I read, to the class that suggested maybe people like to see their friend list grow to outrageous proportions and see how many friends they can get. Even if this is true what if there was someone in the list of 200 friends that shouldn't be or that you already accepted their request but no longer want them as a friend?
The article I came across in Cosmo Girl is called "De-Friending Done Right." First there is the total stranger. Either do not accept the friend request or if that's already happened and you want to de-friend him/her just go ahead and do so and hope they don't sent a message. In the even that they do just Cosmo Girl says you can send them a message back explaining its nothing personal but I think that it is unlikely for people to do that. Also there are ways to protect your information. If you have a friend who is not really a well known friend, change the privacy settings. This is a way to limit what that friend can view. I think this is also good because I know of situations where people have not been hired for jobs because of things they had on their page. If you limit what others can view then it should not become a problem if you happen to friend a potential employer.
Also the article just gives specific ways to handle situations through messaging. Just telling a person in a nice, rational way why they can not be their friend or why they keep that friendship at a certain level. I agree with not friending just anyone however I know that I tend to. In class we are trying to figure out many of reasons why people use the social networks in they way they do. I do think for some people just seeing how many friends they can have is something that keeps them going back for more. Having an extraordinary amount of people on a friend list may make people feel popular, however how many of those people are actually their true friends and someone they want to talk to. I just suggest, after all the things we have discussed in class about negative CMC, and people pretending to be someone they are not, if someone wants to friend just anyone then they should select their privacy settings carefully.
The article I came across in Cosmo Girl is called "De-Friending Done Right." First there is the total stranger. Either do not accept the friend request or if that's already happened and you want to de-friend him/her just go ahead and do so and hope they don't sent a message. In the even that they do just Cosmo Girl says you can send them a message back explaining its nothing personal but I think that it is unlikely for people to do that. Also there are ways to protect your information. If you have a friend who is not really a well known friend, change the privacy settings. This is a way to limit what that friend can view. I think this is also good because I know of situations where people have not been hired for jobs because of things they had on their page. If you limit what others can view then it should not become a problem if you happen to friend a potential employer.
Also the article just gives specific ways to handle situations through messaging. Just telling a person in a nice, rational way why they can not be their friend or why they keep that friendship at a certain level. I agree with not friending just anyone however I know that I tend to. In class we are trying to figure out many of reasons why people use the social networks in they way they do. I do think for some people just seeing how many friends they can have is something that keeps them going back for more. Having an extraordinary amount of people on a friend list may make people feel popular, however how many of those people are actually their true friends and someone they want to talk to. I just suggest, after all the things we have discussed in class about negative CMC, and people pretending to be someone they are not, if someone wants to friend just anyone then they should select their privacy settings carefully.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Death by Texting
In the November issue of Cosmo Girl there was an page called "Death by Texting." As I was reading the points on the page it reminded me of our first week in electronic communications when we had to give up all uses of CMC. Texting was by far the hardest. It has become the most convenient and efficient way to let someone know something. I know I text constantly even in times when I should not for example when I am driving. That is a bad thing to admit to however I am sure many are guilty of this.
The page in Cosmo Girl said that the American College of Emergency Physicians are seeing a rise in injuries and deaths from texting while walking, biking, skating, and driving. There was also a short story on the page of an accident that happened. In July 2007, a 17-year old girl driving in New York state crashed her SUV into truck, killing herself and four friends. Records showed that her cell phone sent a text message minutes before the accident. This shows the terrible consequences of trying to multitask while texting.
Does this show signs of addiction? How is this problem managed? Handing the phone over to a friend to text and have them read responses will reduce risk. You could let the person or people you have been texting know that you are going to be driving and you will text them when you have arrived. Also if it is necessary for you to answer a text, pull over so you are not endangering yourself or others.
Some states have what is called DWT. Driving while texting is illegal in some states. I wonder if people agree with this or not. Even though I am a culprit of DWT, I do think this is a good law and should be illegal in all states. It's scary to think of the consequences that can come from doing something that most people feel is so natural in their everyday life.
The page in Cosmo Girl said that the American College of Emergency Physicians are seeing a rise in injuries and deaths from texting while walking, biking, skating, and driving. There was also a short story on the page of an accident that happened. In July 2007, a 17-year old girl driving in New York state crashed her SUV into truck, killing herself and four friends. Records showed that her cell phone sent a text message minutes before the accident. This shows the terrible consequences of trying to multitask while texting.
Does this show signs of addiction? How is this problem managed? Handing the phone over to a friend to text and have them read responses will reduce risk. You could let the person or people you have been texting know that you are going to be driving and you will text them when you have arrived. Also if it is necessary for you to answer a text, pull over so you are not endangering yourself or others.
Some states have what is called DWT. Driving while texting is illegal in some states. I wonder if people agree with this or not. Even though I am a culprit of DWT, I do think this is a good law and should be illegal in all states. It's scary to think of the consequences that can come from doing something that most people feel is so natural in their everyday life.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Scammed
I came across an article in Cosmo Girl that grabbed my attention right away. With all the talk of CMC and how popular it has become its not hard to find articles informing people and sharing stories. Usually, like most news the articles I find, they are to warn people and make them aware of the dangers of CMC and how to be more cautious.
The article I recently read in Cosmo Girl, "I got scammed on Crigslist," was a good article about research and trust. It was about a girl who received and internship in London and posted a seeking house ad on Craigslist. She was thrilled when a girl named Jolleen responded to her ad and was accepting of her budget. She kept in touch with Jolleen after seeing photos of her and the apartment and sent a down payment to her. She thought they had become friends and she trusted her. She trusted her enough that when Jolleen said she had someone else interested in living with her who could pay upfront that she wired her the rest of the money to hold her spot. Then a friend of the girl saw Jolleen's photos and showed her a Craigslist ad for an apartment in Spain that had Jolleens picture and same apartment.
She had been scammed. She thought she could trust Jolleen. Here she searched Jolleen on Google and was able to find out that she was a fraud. She should have done this prior to sending the money. This just goes to show that you never know how much you can trust someone through an online relationship. It is good that they place these articles in magazines because as CMC is growing I believe it is important for people to know that things like being scammed really do happen. It was funny to me too that all the girl had to do was search Jolleen on Google and she was able to find out different things about her. That also shows that privacy can be a very big deal with CMC. Try googling someone, anyone and you could probably find out something about them.
Everything worked out for the girl in the end, however they haven't found Jolleen and her money has not been recovered. I don't think it would ever be same to send someone money without meeting them in person. Also in their case because it was a housing arrangment there should have been a contract agreement.
Like I said earlier, it is easy to find the bad in CMC because it is the bad that people like to read about. I do not believe that all CMC is bad. It is just a matter of being smart and cautious.
The article I recently read in Cosmo Girl, "I got scammed on Crigslist," was a good article about research and trust. It was about a girl who received and internship in London and posted a seeking house ad on Craigslist. She was thrilled when a girl named Jolleen responded to her ad and was accepting of her budget. She kept in touch with Jolleen after seeing photos of her and the apartment and sent a down payment to her. She thought they had become friends and she trusted her. She trusted her enough that when Jolleen said she had someone else interested in living with her who could pay upfront that she wired her the rest of the money to hold her spot. Then a friend of the girl saw Jolleen's photos and showed her a Craigslist ad for an apartment in Spain that had Jolleens picture and same apartment.
She had been scammed. She thought she could trust Jolleen. Here she searched Jolleen on Google and was able to find out that she was a fraud. She should have done this prior to sending the money. This just goes to show that you never know how much you can trust someone through an online relationship. It is good that they place these articles in magazines because as CMC is growing I believe it is important for people to know that things like being scammed really do happen. It was funny to me too that all the girl had to do was search Jolleen on Google and she was able to find out different things about her. That also shows that privacy can be a very big deal with CMC. Try googling someone, anyone and you could probably find out something about them.
Everything worked out for the girl in the end, however they haven't found Jolleen and her money has not been recovered. I don't think it would ever be same to send someone money without meeting them in person. Also in their case because it was a housing arrangment there should have been a contract agreement.
Like I said earlier, it is easy to find the bad in CMC because it is the bad that people like to read about. I do not believe that all CMC is bad. It is just a matter of being smart and cautious.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Fatal Desire
Recently I watched a Lifetime original movie, Fatal Desire. A movie based on true story. This movie is about a divorced ex-cop who meets a young, married woman in an online chat room, and they begin a love affair. As his new girlfriend convinces him that she is trapped in a dangerous and physically abusive marriage, She ends up going to see him a couple of times to make him trust her and then lies bout being pregnant with his child. He goes to great lengths to protect her from her violent husband. After he commits murder, he is shocked to learn that the woman of his dreams is not at all who she seems to be.
The woman lies about her life, the baby and her identity, she used him to kill her husband so he would be out of her way to do what she pleases. When he finds this out, after she stops responding to his e-mails, and he finds her, he commits suicide. At the end of the movie there was an epilogue that said the lady in question is now serving a life sentence for conspiracy to commit murder in a state prison.
As we discussed in class online relationships can have problems. For the ex-cop, he reached every one of the 10 stages of an online relationship even trying to make it work. However, he was falling for someone who wasn't real. This is a great example of why meeting people online can be and issue. There is no way to decide if they are telling the truth.
This also brings up another topic we briefly discussed in class. Although she physically did cheat on her husband in the movie, their relationship started off innocently in a chat room. This is how many relationships start. So is that considered cheating or having an affair? I think that people who engage in online chats believe what they are doing isn't necessarily wrong because they're not having any physical contact with the other person. They also may use the excuse that these online affairs harmlessly fulfill a need which is not being met by their off-line relationships. I have heard of emotional affairs. I think that becoming close and personal with someone online would be considered an emotional affair.
I was sad to see that this movie is based on a true story because it proves that things like this can happen and affairs do occur. This shows how innocent communication on line could lead to harmful and inappropriate affairs.
The woman lies about her life, the baby and her identity, she used him to kill her husband so he would be out of her way to do what she pleases. When he finds this out, after she stops responding to his e-mails, and he finds her, he commits suicide. At the end of the movie there was an epilogue that said the lady in question is now serving a life sentence for conspiracy to commit murder in a state prison.
As we discussed in class online relationships can have problems. For the ex-cop, he reached every one of the 10 stages of an online relationship even trying to make it work. However, he was falling for someone who wasn't real. This is a great example of why meeting people online can be and issue. There is no way to decide if they are telling the truth.
This also brings up another topic we briefly discussed in class. Although she physically did cheat on her husband in the movie, their relationship started off innocently in a chat room. This is how many relationships start. So is that considered cheating or having an affair? I think that people who engage in online chats believe what they are doing isn't necessarily wrong because they're not having any physical contact with the other person. They also may use the excuse that these online affairs harmlessly fulfill a need which is not being met by their off-line relationships. I have heard of emotional affairs. I think that becoming close and personal with someone online would be considered an emotional affair.
I was sad to see that this movie is based on a true story because it proves that things like this can happen and affairs do occur. This shows how innocent communication on line could lead to harmful and inappropriate affairs.
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