Online Communities

It's funny with all of this talk about online communities in class and on the quiz, that I am starting to notice how much I am involved in them.  I am getting a medical test done tomorrow, and my doctor told me it will "hurt like hell."  Not the most reassuring words I would choose to hear from my doctor right before the test!  So now I'm paranoid that I am subjecting myself to pain.  Well, I went online and searched medical forums to see what this procedure is and why it will hurt.  I guess it's different for each person, so I will know tomorrow.  In a way this online community helped give me peace of mind that other people have already experienced the test, but at the same time I didn't get a distinct answer.  I'll just have to take the test and post my experience on the forum tomorrow...

Election Day

Personally, I am so ready for Election Day to be over. No more annoying, demeaning political ads, uninformed statuses on Facebook and Twitter, and repetitive phone calls reminding me to vote.  This was the first election I could vote in, so I was very excited to cast my vote!  Since this is a social media class, I think it is fitting to comment about the obnoxious posts on all social media sites today and leading up to the election.  People use social media as an outlet to voice their opinions, and the election has given uneducated voters a platform to push their views on society. However, with Freedom of Speech, they are allowed to write whatever they want, and people should respect that.

            I have been anxiously awaiting any results or early predictions for the election, but so far I have not heard anything.  I read an article in The New York Times last week about how news stations were told to not express any election news on social media sites until a final announcement is made on a state-by-state level. In the past, leaked information has lead to chaos and frustration from both parties about not receiving accurate information about results.  With a close race this year, it is imperative that news stations do not announce any results until they are supported and true.  Social media is a great, fast way to share information, but it can also foster rumors. I'm sure the first place I will see who won the election will be on Twitter.

Debate

It was interesting watching the debate from an academic standpoint and examining each candidate’s position and presentation. I will mainly focus this blog on their presentation not the content.

This debate was much more interesting and heated than the first debate. The main reason was because President Obama appeared more prepared and confident.  Some viewers will not fully understand the questions and responses, and they will base their decisions on the more eloquent and confident speaker. Tonight, I believe President Obama handled himself more professionally and answered the questions to a better extent.  Mitt Romney sat in the background smirking at Obama and constantly interrupting him.  Romney also portrayed an aggressive, confrontational attitude towards Obama.  At one point, I thought Romney was going to punch Obama! This was definitely a heated debate, both physically and about the substance of questions asked.

Obama appeared to answer the questions better. He used specific, personal examples. He also addressed the audience in caring, motivational way.  On the contrast, Romney spit out statistics, but he had no continuation to back them up. He kept mentioning his “5 Step Plan,” but he did not expand on his plan.  Both candidates addressed touchy subjects and handled them well.  They were both so motivated to share their views that there were constant interruptions. I have seen other debates, but none as spirited as the debate tonight.

Aside from a few discussions, I feel like the candidates stayed on topic and answered the intended question. This debate confirmed my voting decision. 

"Do Not Disturb"

This week I discovered the “Do Not Disturb” function with the new iPhone update.   This is one of the greatest inventions since the iPhone itself!  How amazing that all I have to do is flip a switch and I will never again be woken up by annoying phone calls, emails, texts, you name it. 

I think this function on my phone is so refreshing.  Our society has become so dependent on our cell phones for various uses, and we are constantly checking them.  While it is nice to be so connected with everyone, I also need time for myself.  I blogged about spending less time on my cell phone in one of my earlier posts, and hopefully the “Do Not Disturb” function will help me.  I can turn it on and put my phone away while I sleep or get work done. 

MySpace

The article "Identity Production in a Networked Culture: Why Youth Heart MySpace" by Danah Boyd highlights MySpace when it was in its prime.  It is interesting to read an article about a social media site that once was so popular but was later overshadowed by another site, in this case, Facebook.  MySpace itself evolved from a site for people interested in music to a social network site where you can post pictures and comments.   

The article states “teens accessed MySpace at least once a day or whenever computer access is possible.”  I remember getting home from school and the first thing I did was log on to MySpace.  This is no different than people’s habits now.  I cannot even begin to count the amount of times I log on to Facebook a week, even if it is just for a quick peek.  Social media helps us feel connected, and we constantly need to check this connection.

It will be interesting to see if the new and improved MySpace will be as popular as the original site.  I would love to check it out, but I cannot seem to remember my username and password from way back in middle school… 

Twitter and Politics

Social media is a key factor for politics during an election year.  Although I had a meeting tonight at the start of the presidential debate, I still feel connected and updated about what each party said.  I was able to see peoples’ tweets right as important points were made, so I could follow along.  Most of my friends’ status updates and tweets were based on the grammar and fluency of the speeches.  I am not concerned with HOW the candidates presented their ideas; I only care about WHAT they said. It is interesting to see my peers’ views, but I mainly rely on the news stations updates.  I do not have time in my schedule to sit down and watch a full news report, but I can easily keep up with current topics through social media. Thank goodness for smartphones! 

Castells Article

The article I want to discuss this week is “Why Networks Matter” by Manuel Castells.  He defined our modern times as the “network age.”  This is an appropriate name because information is quickly shared and accessed on social networks.  Networks are easily accessed with the overwhelming popularity of smart phones, which makes it effortless to check Facebook, tweet, and access the Internet any time you want.  This access on our smart phones is invaluable because society considers information an essential source of wealth and power.  In general, citizens do not know everything about everything; instead they search for information on their networks.   This leads to Castells point that “the technological paradigm is the dominant medium for social organization.”

Castells continued to explain how the network society extends to a global scale.  It is remarkable to think that even though all countries do not have access to the same technological resources, technology and networks affect everyone.  A cause to raise money to fight AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa can be passed through networks and social media.  Although villagers in Africa will not see the post in an online forum, they will still receive the services and benefit from the use of networks.