So...I'm trying to write a paper for one of my classes right now that's due on Friday that is worth about 1/4 of my grade. On one hand, I am loving media because it makes my research so much easier. I can do it from the comfort of my living room instead of trekking to the library in this cold weather. It is wonderful that way.
However, since I am on the internet doing the research, it is so much easier to get distracted. I find myself going to random sites and looking through them instead of reading the articles. I need more self-restraint.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Keeping connections?
Ok. This is another post about Facebook. So if you're bored of that topic by now, stop reading. If you want to hear another rambling from me about it, by all means, read on!
So... I know I said this before, but I really think Facebook is great. I love being able to keep in contact with friends from high school and college that I can't see that often anymore. But do I really need to keep some of those connections?
I think I touched on this in my last blog post and I think we also talked about it a bit in class. Friendships used to have a more natural progression before Facebook. You drifted apart for whatever reason and it was okay. You both moved on with your lives. Now you keep these friends on Facebook and are inundated with information about them when you don't even know how comfortable you'd be talking to them in person anymore.
Case in point: Maybe it's just me, but it's hard for me to still be "friends" with my ex-boyfriend on Facebook. We haven't talked in person in over a year, and haven't had any sort of contact (text, Facebook message, etc.) in over six months. But we're still friends on Facebook. So whenever he publishes a status, I see it. Whenever he adds pictures with his new girlfriend, I see it. Whenever I see a mutual friend writing on his wall about the fun thing they just did or plans they are making, I see it. Before, stalking involved pulling mutual friends for any and all information, driving by their house at night, or possibly calling and hanging up as soon as they answer. Now we can just hop on Facebook and this information is shoved in our faces.
I honestly think one reason it was so hard to get over him was because of the technology and media we have at our fingertips. If we had dated 20 years ago, I think the healing process would've been significantly shorter, since I wouldn't have known every new thing he was up to without me. It still would've hurt, but it would've been okay. However, with Facebook, I felt like an old wound was being reopened whenever I checked my account. I'm fine now, but I doubt this was ever a problem for our parents...
So... I know I said this before, but I really think Facebook is great. I love being able to keep in contact with friends from high school and college that I can't see that often anymore. But do I really need to keep some of those connections?
I think I touched on this in my last blog post and I think we also talked about it a bit in class. Friendships used to have a more natural progression before Facebook. You drifted apart for whatever reason and it was okay. You both moved on with your lives. Now you keep these friends on Facebook and are inundated with information about them when you don't even know how comfortable you'd be talking to them in person anymore.
Case in point: Maybe it's just me, but it's hard for me to still be "friends" with my ex-boyfriend on Facebook. We haven't talked in person in over a year, and haven't had any sort of contact (text, Facebook message, etc.) in over six months. But we're still friends on Facebook. So whenever he publishes a status, I see it. Whenever he adds pictures with his new girlfriend, I see it. Whenever I see a mutual friend writing on his wall about the fun thing they just did or plans they are making, I see it. Before, stalking involved pulling mutual friends for any and all information, driving by their house at night, or possibly calling and hanging up as soon as they answer. Now we can just hop on Facebook and this information is shoved in our faces.
I honestly think one reason it was so hard to get over him was because of the technology and media we have at our fingertips. If we had dated 20 years ago, I think the healing process would've been significantly shorter, since I wouldn't have known every new thing he was up to without me. It still would've hurt, but it would've been okay. However, with Facebook, I felt like an old wound was being reopened whenever I checked my account. I'm fine now, but I doubt this was ever a problem for our parents...
Friday, October 23, 2009
I didn't post about Facebook after the lecture last week, and so I'm gonna jump on the bandwagon and write down my feelings about it now.
I really like Facebook. A lot. It's so wonderful to be able to keep in touch with friends and stay updated with their lives. It's also pretty fun to Facebook-stalk people. But I will admit that I probably spend a bit too much time on it. It's so easy to get distracted by looking at pictures and sending messages and writing on people's walls instead of doing homework. I definitely need to work on getting a bit more self-control in that regard.
Another interesting note... as I was defending the use of Facebook to someone, I was saying that I'm able to find out a lot of what's going on in the lives of my friends. I've found out about several engagements, pregnancies, illnesses, and whatnot on there. And it's really good to know that information. But as I said that, I wondered why that mattered. I mean, if I were really friends with them, I would find out this information with or without a Facebook, right?
The social penetration theory definitely makes sense to me in regards to Facebook. It's easy to be a friend on Facebook, but I pretty much always have my Facebook chat off because I don't want to talk to most of them in that way, anyways. And I definitely wouldn't feel comfortable texting or calling most of my "friends." And that's with going through my friends list every so often and deleting people that I'm really not sure why I added them in the first place. But somehow, I always end up adding more people and my friend count keeps going up. Do I really have 400 friends? I mean... really. That's kind of ridiculous. Oh well.
But despite some of Facebook's problems, I'm not planning on giving up mine anytime soon. I like it too much. :-)
I really like Facebook. A lot. It's so wonderful to be able to keep in touch with friends and stay updated with their lives. It's also pretty fun to Facebook-stalk people. But I will admit that I probably spend a bit too much time on it. It's so easy to get distracted by looking at pictures and sending messages and writing on people's walls instead of doing homework. I definitely need to work on getting a bit more self-control in that regard.
Another interesting note... as I was defending the use of Facebook to someone, I was saying that I'm able to find out a lot of what's going on in the lives of my friends. I've found out about several engagements, pregnancies, illnesses, and whatnot on there. And it's really good to know that information. But as I said that, I wondered why that mattered. I mean, if I were really friends with them, I would find out this information with or without a Facebook, right?
The social penetration theory definitely makes sense to me in regards to Facebook. It's easy to be a friend on Facebook, but I pretty much always have my Facebook chat off because I don't want to talk to most of them in that way, anyways. And I definitely wouldn't feel comfortable texting or calling most of my "friends." And that's with going through my friends list every so often and deleting people that I'm really not sure why I added them in the first place. But somehow, I always end up adding more people and my friend count keeps going up. Do I really have 400 friends? I mean... really. That's kind of ridiculous. Oh well.
But despite some of Facebook's problems, I'm not planning on giving up mine anytime soon. I like it too much. :-)
Monday, October 19, 2009
Another reason to love new media...
On Facebook, My friends often post links to YouTube videos that then introduce me to new shows, songs, and media sensations. I definitely waste some time clicking on some of these links, but sometimes they actually post a gem. Like this music video. I love Michael Bublé and it's such a catchy song. It's definitely been stuck in my head the past few days. And I don't mind. :-)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Why I Love to Read
I really love reading, and one reason that I love it is that it can transport me to other worlds, as this PSA shows. (And side note: apparently, BYU Ad Lab students helped to make it. Awesome!)
Monday, October 12, 2009
Personal Media
I know that most people (including myself) think of mass media when the word media is said. However, I have a huge appreciation of personal media. I check my e-mail multiple times a day. I text my friends often and I have phone calls with my family. I think I often take for granted how amazing this use of personal media with is. I can communicate with people hundreds (and even thousands) of miles away instantly. I really think it would've been hard for me to live before this great technology that is able to help me keep in touch with friends and family.
One reason I am especially grateful for personal media is that it's Monday. That may not mean much to you, but I have a bunch of friends on missions right now, and it seems like a majority of them have their P-days on Mondays. Most of their parents will forward the missionary's e-mails to the family to the missionary's friends (including me), so that we can hear (in pretty much real time) how the missionary is doing. It's great to hear how they are doing from one week to the next. This is especially nice when I compare that to how long simple letters take. I'm writing some missionaries and don't hear how they are doing other than that (no family e-mails or anything) and it takes FOREVER! If they are outside the U.S., it will take at least a week to get there. Then the missionary has to wait to go to the mission home to get the letter, so if you time it wrong, that will take another couple of weeks. Then they actually have to find time on a P-day to write back, then they have to mail it and it takes a while to get back. So it can easily take a month or two. And that's with a semi-dependable mail system!
I really don't know how friends or family survived without e-mail on missions and long trips. It's such a blessing to hear how people far away are doing. Phones, e-mail, texting, and other forms have really revolutionized how we communicate... and I am grateful for it.
One reason I am especially grateful for personal media is that it's Monday. That may not mean much to you, but I have a bunch of friends on missions right now, and it seems like a majority of them have their P-days on Mondays. Most of their parents will forward the missionary's e-mails to the family to the missionary's friends (including me), so that we can hear (in pretty much real time) how the missionary is doing. It's great to hear how they are doing from one week to the next. This is especially nice when I compare that to how long simple letters take. I'm writing some missionaries and don't hear how they are doing other than that (no family e-mails or anything) and it takes FOREVER! If they are outside the U.S., it will take at least a week to get there. Then the missionary has to wait to go to the mission home to get the letter, so if you time it wrong, that will take another couple of weeks. Then they actually have to find time on a P-day to write back, then they have to mail it and it takes a while to get back. So it can easily take a month or two. And that's with a semi-dependable mail system!
I really don't know how friends or family survived without e-mail on missions and long trips. It's such a blessing to hear how people far away are doing. Phones, e-mail, texting, and other forms have really revolutionized how we communicate... and I am grateful for it.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The Hunger Games
Last week (actually last Friday), I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I'd been meaning to read it for a while, but I always feel so guilty reading a book for fun when I have so much schoolwork and textbook reading that I should be doing. But it had finally become available at the library and I knew I needed a break. So I started reading and I couldn't put it down. For those who don't know about it, the plot is as follows:
"The Hunger Games takes place in an unidentified future time period after the destruction of North America, in a nation known as Panem. Panem consists of a rich Capitol and twelve surrounding, poorer districts. As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol, every year one boy and one girl from each district are forced to participate in "The Hunger Games", a televised event whereby the participants, or "tributes", must fight to the death in an outdoor arena until only one remains. The story follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the Games in place of her younger sister, Primrose." (Wikipedia.)
It was such an interesting social commentary, in addition to just being a fantastic story. I seriously couldn't put it down and I read it in less than a day. I'm eagerly awaiting getting my hands on the sequel, Catching Fire. However, I'm number 210 in line for it at the Provo library, and the BYU library doesn't have it yet, but it's on order. Hopefully I can read it soon!
"The Hunger Games takes place in an unidentified future time period after the destruction of North America, in a nation known as Panem. Panem consists of a rich Capitol and twelve surrounding, poorer districts. As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol, every year one boy and one girl from each district are forced to participate in "The Hunger Games", a televised event whereby the participants, or "tributes", must fight to the death in an outdoor arena until only one remains. The story follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the Games in place of her younger sister, Primrose." (Wikipedia.)
It was such an interesting social commentary, in addition to just being a fantastic story. I seriously couldn't put it down and I read it in less than a day. I'm eagerly awaiting getting my hands on the sequel, Catching Fire. However, I'm number 210 in line for it at the Provo library, and the BYU library doesn't have it yet, but it's on order. Hopefully I can read it soon!
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Baby-Sitter's Club
My favorite thing to read as a child was actually The Baby-Sitter’s Club series by Ann M. Martin. This series was about a group of four friends who had very different personalities. They decided to start a club, called The Baby-Sitter’s Club, where they met together a few times a week and were available for parents to call and set up times to have a baby-sitter. I loved the friendships that these girls had, and how the relationships and friendships changed and grew as the club got bigger and the girls got older. I was so sad when the series was discontinued, even though there were over 130 books in the regular series, besides all the books in the super special books and mysteries.
I loved The Baby-Sitter’s Club series for many reasons. For one, I was really young when I started reading them (probably around seven or eight), so I thought the girls in the club were so cool because they were so much older and seemed so much more mature than me. They also got to baby-sit, which I thought was really so neat, since I wasn’t old enough to baby-sit at the time. I also loved their friendships and was frankly quite jealous of them. They were so close, even though they got on each others’ nerves and fought sometimes. I really wanted to have friends like that. In addition, the characters had many characteristics that I could identify with or they had characteristics that I wanted. It impacted me because the characters gave me something to aspire to and to become. I wanted to be as cool as these girls and have the friendships that they had, and be a fantastic baby-sitter like they were. I don’t know if I accomplished all of these goals, but I’d like to think that I have.
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