journal 5

Today was a very productive Facebook day for me. I created an event, accepted two friend requests, wrote on a few walls, and chatted with someone via Facebook chat (which I hate and hadn't realized was on).

So obviously there are negatives to all this connectedness, like I can't even browse FB without people knowing I am on unless I make a choice to turn that off. I've been reflecting on how we talked in class about how Facebook makes you choose to make things private rather than letting you choose what becomes public. That's really true, after further reflection, and it lets you present whatever image you want to the world. I think that's one of the reasons people like it so much, too, is this idea of having priveleged access into others lives without them knowing it.

I also found this website which I think you'll all enjoy: www.lamebook.com

Journal #5

So I really don't have much to say about Facebook this week, so I got a little help from my friend. Here are some pet peeves I have about FB. 1) the notifications about complete crap I don't care about like "Your new images are here!" 2)the emails that you get updating you that a picture you were tagged in along with 50 other people has been commented on, and 3) the emails you get updating you that a status you commented on has also been commented on by other people that you don't know or care about.

1) I know that you can turn off the notifications that you don't want to see, but every time I try to get rid of every thing that I don't want, something sneaks through. I don't know how! I keep going back and trying to make it just perfect and I still get those annoying notifications. Very pesky indeed!

2) I understand that I do want to be notified if someone I know comments something about me or something that I need to answer, but I hate checking the pictures and seeing someone I don't know saying something about someone I don't know like "omg your face!!!". I don't care about their face. I wish there was a way to make those stop. Especially when five other of their friends then continue to comment like "were you high!?". There should be a "stop updating me" button. If there is something like this, please let me know.

3)Very similar to the previous comment. If I ask someone a question on their status and all of their little friends just keep making stupid comments, I don't care! I, again, wish there was a way to ignore them.

Those are some of my rantings about facebook this week. Maybe next week I'll have more good things to say. Or maybe the friends whose thoughts I ask will.

Journal #5 Sept. 30

I know it is quite early to be writing my journal for the week, but I would rather write this than my Faith and Self in a Global Context paper.

So ever since last class I have been really looking at the ads that pop up on my facebook; and true to what they are supposed to do I was drawn in by things that I enjoy, like ads for HP and Dell, some Best Buy stuff, and Gamestop, music and such. Then I refreshed my page to see what else it would come up with and sure enough there they were: all three ads on the page were for over 40 dating sites. The first was an ad for Big and Beautif Singles! With a picture an over 50 couple embracing on a cliff somewhere. The next was just an ad that said DATE SENIOR MEN! OMG what did I do to get these ads! The last one was for Want Local Romance? With a picture of a middle aged man with a streak of gray runnign through his hair. GRRRRRRR if anyone is doubting me on this I called Sara into the room and she saw them, I also snapped a photo of the screen, it's an epidemic. I started deleting them like crazy, yet they still show up.

I have no idea what cookies I've been eating to get these ads on my profile. Before I knew that the ads were tailored directly for me I didn't mind them, I just thought there must be a lot of lonely single people over 40 on facebook. But now that I know it really bothers me that facebook thinks that I want that.

Okay rant complete, I'm sorry you all had to go through this with me.

joiurnal 4 (make up)

I went on facebook tonight to look at some videos a friend had posted from a leadership training camp I was at two summers ago.

One of the things I enjoy most about FB is that -- it's sort of a memory catalog of things. College has been by far the most formative and enjoyable four years of my life, and as I get closer and closer to leaving I really love having the ability to look back at pictures, videos, and even old wall-to-walls.

Then I found out that a friend of mine from home at school in Oregon is involved in a branch there of the same RSO that I am involved in here, which was a really cool discovery! So I IMed him and we caught up (and talked about a mutual third friend who is now a freshmen here). We reminisced a bit about "the old days" (I'm old enough to have them, being a senior and all...) -- more of the same connection to community that I love about FB.

Prompt #5: The Global Village due October 5

For this week's prompt please read the following speech presented by Al Gore:

http://w2.eff.org/Infrastructure/Govt_docs/gii_gore_buenos_aires.speech

Please review your initial reactions about the speech. Do you think he has a valid point? Is it realistic or too rosy? How do you feel about our progress as a globe knowing this speech was delivered almost 15 years ago? Do you think that social networking helps or hinders a "global information infrastructure?"

If this concept interests you, feel free to find out more information at:
http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue5_8/borgman/#b12

Do note this is probably the only reading I will assign all semester. Although it may seem long it really isn't. It is a speech. Please spend the 20 minutes reading it and reflecting upon it as we will be discussing your reactions in class.

journal #4

(brendan m)


I think in the future, facebook will slow down with the influx of new users in the 18-24 demographic. We're a rather capricious lot, and an anti-social networking fad could pick up just as fast as facebook.

With a large online population, but no resurgence of usual networkers, Facebook might have to rethink their strategy. I predict in the future Facebook will tailor new features to certain age groups- with the digital integration of kids that I see everywhere, I wouldn't doubt that a kid-friendly outlet is possible. All the time I see ten year olds with wheeled shoes, grasping game boys and cell phones while texting in public. That was unprecedented a few years ago.

But that's just my humble opinion. Maybe Facebook is like Pokemon, making money off of Americans ten years from its intoduction. Something tells me that the information age and globalization are inevitabilities, so social networking will never really disappear...

It'll most likely keep up with the times.

Journal #4 September 28

Today, I learned how annoying and unresponsive facebook chat is. I was having a conversation with a friend, and it took forever to send my instant messages. My friend was getting very irritated as well. He kept thinking that I didn't want to talk to him and that I was bailing on him. That was definitely not the case. The facebook chat kept losing its connection. This helped me realize how unreliable facebook chat is. It can even cause drama, which is something no one wants. It's also great when sometimes I accidently sign off of facebook by exing out of it, especially when I am having a conversation with someone. That person ends up feeling ditched. That feeling is clearly no good. I end up feeling that when I am having a conversation with someone and he or she decides to sign off with out telling me. Facebook chat seems very unreliable and I personally think it is better to use AIM or Skype. That is one thing that facebook fails to make everyone happy about.

Another interesting thing I did today on facebook was change some statuses. My friend was on my laptop and on his facebook. He forgot to sign off and so I decided to play around with his facebook status and even have a conversation with a friend. It was quite entertaining talking to someone who believed to be someone else. This definitely brings up privacy issues. It is a good thing that I would not cause any harm at all, and it is also very important to sign off of your facebook before leaving the computer.