Journal 4-An American Dream

 

Journal 4-An American Dream

Mauricio Garcia’s presentation, “Find Your Passion, Live Your Purpose” was extremely thought provoking.  I must admit that I have been struggling with this my entire life.  I have never really known what I wanted to do with my life and I have honestly just been coasting through my life hoping that somewhere along the way I would figure it out.  I am now 44 years old and I think that I have finally discovered what that I want to be a nurse.  While struggling to find his place in a new country and fighting it every step of the way, Mauricio discovered his true calling.   His family wanted him to grown to have not only a life, but a good life.  We don’t always know what we need, but if we are lucky we can figure it out.

This presentation made me ponder my own life travels and things that made me who I am: being afraid to be out in public by myself, hiding back my emotions, being afraid of the unknown.  I continue to struggle everyday to overcome these obstacles.  

I could also relate to Mauricio’s stories of being in an unknown country, knowing only a handful of people and not being able to communicate effectively.  In 2005, I spent 2 weeks in Uruguay.  I knew very little Spanish and had to convey my wishes to others.  It is a challenge to say the least.

Social Media Etiquette

Janet Dodd                                                                                                                             Dodd 1

Professor Kelly Warren

ENC 1102

February 12, 2013

Social Media Etiquette

 

     Laptop computer, smart phone, tablet or gaming system; these are different types of electronic media devices.  Most, if not all of us, have at least one of these devices in our home or with us at all times.  With electronic devices being so readily accessible to us, social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, My Space and others have become the social norm.  We no longer communicate face to face, by phone or mail.  It is now by text, email or Facebook posting. Why say what you want to say to one person when you can say it to millions?  Although these media sites are popular and allow people to connect with long lost friends, provide quicker communication with friends and loved ones and post pictures others might not ordinarily get to see, they must still be properly maintained and managed to “weed out” the people that would use them to do harm to others.   

     The largest social media site, Facebook, was founded in 2004 as an exclusive online student directory limited to Harvard University students. . . . In 2006, Facebook was made available for public use and since then has witnessed exponential growth (Cheng 197).  Hilary Scott of PC Magazine Online reported that in June 2011, Facebook reported over 750 million users. People can log onto Facebook and locate childhood friends, past relationships, long lost relatives, and many more.  There is a sort of nostalgia feeling associated with locating past relationships.

 

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According to a research study conducted by Cheng, Facebook attracts users to spend too much time on the internet and despite its friend-making and gaming activities, overuse of Facebook

can result in a number of social problems affecting rest, relationships, and employment (Cheng 197). Regardless of the feelings that may be felt after locating and “friending” a person that you may have completely forgotten about until they were located on Facebook, these sites can be potentially harmful to areas of our lives.  Some people tend to develop somewhat of an obsession with the site. They stay continuously logged in just in case someone happens to “check in” or comment on a page or post a picture of what food is being consumed at the moment.  Meanwhile in the “real” world, the work that you are being paid to complete is not getting done, or a special person in your life is upset about a posted comment because you did not think anything of it when it was posted. There is no way to effectively communicate emotion in a post, text or email, therefore, the possibility of hurting the feelings of another is extremely great. If you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, remember that even in cyberspace, it’s important to mind your manners(Moore 096).

     There are positive aspects to social media sites. These sites allow us to communicate with friends and loved ones both close and far away.  In today’s busy world, it is difficult to keep in touch with others. Websites such as Facebook, email or texting allows us to send a quick, “Hi, how are you?” message to loved one overseas without the cost of the long distance phone call. However, the problem with this type of snippet communication is that it can be extremely empowering. When the face to face discussion is absent; communication, good or bad, has lost the “human” aspect.  According to an article in The Times called “Anti-Social Networking,”

                                                                                                                                               

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online media can empower the week and stir a revolution, but it can also empower a quiet fool, oaf or bigot to make himself into louder one (2).  This is so true.  There is no filter to make someone ponder what they are posting before they post the comment.

     Picture posting on social media sites is another issue.  Although it can be such a great way to allow loved ones to see parts of lives missed, or special events, it can be a way for unsavory characters to locate children and become fixated on them.  Nuance, restraint, libel law and the etiquette of public debate are all crafts learnt, and most have not yet learnt them (The Times 2).  I, myself have experienced this with my fourteen year old niece.  While “surfing” one day, I happened upon some pictures that she had posted on her Facebook page.  Being the concerned aunt, I sent her a short email stating how much I loved her and that I felt that the pictures were a bit too risqué for every person to view on the Internet.  As we all know, there are people in cyberspace looking for things like that; which may not be not nice people.  The reaction by her was as if I had handcuffed her to a steel pole and left her to die essentially killing her free speech. I attempted to explain how my comments were only out of love for her, but her reply was  extremely nasty.  This caused us to not speak again for over one year. Young people seem to have tunnel vision when it comes to their online postings. They act as if they are only talking to their personal friends, however once something is posted, it is visible for all to see. Privacy settings are really an oxymoron. Once a friend of a friend of a friend views a posting or picture, it is no longer private.

     We are living in a digital world.  I am learning to accept it; however I continue to struggle to keep some type of handle on it. I do not allow electronic devices to be on during meals. I limit time spent on electronic devices. I continue to tell my son that these items are privileges, not

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rights.  I have been out to dinner in a restaurant and seen families with all members on some type of device instead of spending quality time together. Electronic devices, social media sites, emailing and texting needs limits and to be managed by someone, why not the parent.

 

                                                                                                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Works Cited

 

Mancuso, Joan, and Karen Stuth. "Mind Your Manners." Marketing Research 23.3                   (2011): 40. Business Source Complete. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.

Anti-Social Networking." Times [London, England] 1 Aug. 2012: 2. Academic OneFile. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.

Moore, Fernanda Bashaw. "Curb Your Urge to Overshare." Women's Health Jan.-Feb. 2010: 096. General OneFile. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.

Cheng, Julian Ming-Sung, et al. "Social media usage and work values: the example of Facebook in Taiwan." Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal 40.2 (2012): 195+. Academic OneFile. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.

"Report: Facebook Hits 750 Million Users." PC Magazine Online 27 June 2011. Academic OneFile. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.

 

 

 

 

    

Journal 3 - Digital Nation

The video Digital Nation provided me with much to think about.  Trying to pick just one topic out of so many poses quite a challenge.  I have to say that I do feel that digital technology is very necessary in our world, but I am concerned about the video games and our young children.  I am a single mother of a 6 year old boy.  He has ADHD and when not medicated, it is difficult for him to focus on anything, unless it is something that captures his attention completely.  Video games seem to do just that, medicated or not. However, I have to limit the time that he spends on the computer or on his DS.  Luckily for me, he is still at the age that he likes younger children games and activities, as is on Disney Jr or Nick Jr.  I do not buy video games about killing people or that contain adult language.  I believe that children will learn about inappropriate things eventually and I would prefer for my child to be a child for as long as possible. 
Computers are wonderful teaching tools when handled correctly.  I loved the part of the video that talked about teaching "internet manners" to the children.  Personally, I think that there should be a class required to be taken anytime someone purchases a digital device for the first time. I have personally experienced several situations where a relative has posted something on Facebook that would be deemed "inappropriate" and when it was commented on by other family members, the emotions flared up and feelings where hurt to the point of causing one family member to stop speaking to another family member for over a year.  The entire problem could of and should have been handled face to face to avoid the hurt feelings.  One of the biggest problems with posting comments online or thru emails or texts is that there is no emotion in the message.  What one person may be sending as a joke could be misinterpreted as hurtful comments. 

Reality Television

Janet Dodd

ENC 1102

February 5, 2013    

Journal 2 – Reality Television

 

     Reality television is a practical joke that has been played on the country.  Producers have taken the fact that people are unable to look away from drama and the unknown and have turned it into a monster money making business.  Someone dreams up an idea, submits it to a television producer, a deal is carefully and legally agreed upon, cameraman invade the lives of the shows participants for however long it is deemed necessary to get the “meat” of the show, lastly, the editing room takes over and produces a show consisting of what the producer deems television worthy.  Humans have this innate need to know what other people are doing, even though it has nothing whatsoever to do with their own lives.  For example, we have a term for “nosey bodies” that drive past a car accident and just absolutely have to see what is going on or what happened.  These people are called “rubberneckers.”  A charming term awarded due to the fact that these people keep moving forward, however their necks will stretch as far as possible in an attempt to find out the “scoop.”

     There is a reality show about almost anything that you can possibly imagine and some things that you would rather not.  Personally, I don’t watch much television; however I try to stay away from these types of programs.  They are not as real as they are publicized to be.  Hanging out at a friend’s house one afternoon, I had the great pleasure of viewing a marathon of a show called, “Amish Mafia.”  As you can imagine, it is about the Amish community in Pennsylvania and the group of individuals who “protect” the community.  I will admit it, I got hooked!  I got home and just had to find out when the seasonal finale was going to be aired so that I could watch it or record it for later viewing.  Turns out, the editing of the show, convinced the viewer to believe that something very bad would be occurring in every episode, however nothing ever happened.  Yes, there was mutiny in the ranks, infiltration of a competitor from another Amish community in Ohio to take over the business, and a love interest; all the components necessary to grab the viewer’s attention.  When I stopped and analyzed the show, I realized that I felt dumber for watching this show.  I started viewing the channel guide in an attempt to find something worthwhile to watch, but found things like, Moonshiners, Duck Dynasty, Toddlers and Tiaras, and best of all Hoarders.  I wonder if I call a TV producer and offer to allow cameras to film the drama of my family relationships, going to school and working fulltime and being a single mother to an ADHD six year old, if it would be another hit.  I could call it “Life.”