Great Class

OMG! This was a great online class. I must say Kris, you can bring-it in cyberspace also. I hate missed some of the blogs, due to some health issues, that sometimes make me bring things down a notch or two. Thanks Kris for letting me get back in line.

Anyway, I must admit we had a community, I'm not sure if any of us have exchanged any additional information, to do a face-2-face, but we have definitely created asynchronous "knowledge community". Although, we shared some character traits and likes and dislikes through our post and chat sessions, I came to expect certain comments during those chats and reading post. I also gather from posting that we were a diverse group within our selves, which was another reason why our view points would differ.

From observing the different blogs for class I see that people use different SNS media to meet new people and or display themselves. I did start to question some of my own relationship with people that know have to be on FaceBook or Twitter all of the time. I wander would I be surprised of the things I read or saw? I also thought would I look at them differently?

Technology has changed the way we communicate and that's a good thing. I know one day, probably tomorrow, our face-2-face will be reduced to molecules images of ourselves, talking to friend and family.

Thanks Kris this was really fun.

Make up for Chat 4/21

I am posting to make up for missing the chat on 4/21. I apologize for missing again but have had to deal with serious medical issues with my stepfather.
On with the post. I had a little laugh attack at the start of yall's chat because rats were the hot topic. Then the discussion moved to assure that we know the difference between communities and SNS sites. I look at these like chat rooms vs. Facebook. Facebook is about me as one individual connecting with who I know. A chat room or communities such as this are formed around a topic or subject rather than an individual. Then ya'll discussed the idea behind SNS and if anyone had more than one. I have a blog that I created for out of town family to keep up with pictures of my kids. I am horrible at updating it frequently. I also have a profile on FB and twitter. Although I only check facebook about once a week or so, and I have never "tweeted." I think I am in these SNS so I don't feel out of the loop. It is as if I don't want to get left out of all of the SNS hype but I'm not really great at keeping up with them like a lot of people. Wow, then Kris shocked the group with the profile thing by Yahoo that cannot be deleted. That is disturbing in itself. For the record, I loved reading the back on the chats. Our class is funny. Anyway, after reading the chat SNS has several benefits such as keeping up with folks and communicating with people you may not have given a chance in the first place. I thought the talk about how people have changed the way they hang out was so interesting. I've never thought about that because I am in mother mode and I hang out with my friends at lunch groups, play dates, baseball games, vacations ect...I don't really think about how the youth of America is hanging out together. I still think to some degree the small town southern kids are meeting at fast food restaurants or at least I hope so...it is fascinating that online communities is indeed changing that concept to some degree. Sorry again for missing the chat...it looked like a great one and thanks for allowing the make up post! :)

Tis the end

Well, Twas the night before finals....where we all hope to pass, not a false ID stolen, well not in this class...the papers were sent to the drop-box with care, in hopes that our teacher would see we prepared. The students lay worried all restless in bed, while visions of failing were stuck in their heads. And your full time status, and I with mine too- awaiting graduating and our final debut. When out on the web, there arose such a knowledge. I jumped to my conclusions in hopes I pass college. Away to my laptop I rushed to see grades, and realized what a help this class is an aid. I learned some neat stuff and met people as well, writing papers and blogs on the web is real swell. When, what my illuminated brain should disclose, that Facebook really has more cons than pros. With some wise words from a writer or two, I first found out about social cues. More rapid than white river the course did become, I found myself drowning in the next rule of thumb. Now Communities! Now Networks! Now Norms and Cues! On Identity! On Texting! For without you I'd lose! To the top of all hope! To leaving comments on your wall! Now dash away, do I pray, pass shall we all? So up to the teacher the course grades do lye, I promise I learned many things that I must imply. And then in a twinkling, I saw pass right by, the semester and my classes all can't deny. As I drew in my brain a good final thought, what fun this has been, what a great teacher that taught. And I heard her explain as she left in good time, that though this is a blog- my rhyme is real lame.

I really enjoyed this guys, and though its not Christmas- I somehow always get real excited for the end of the semester. My favorite part was actually trying to troubleshoot our chat sessions with video haha. I likes learning of social cues and norms online, and wrapping them up in the end with an online community and reading of one on my own time. Had a blast guys! See ya next time.

#14

Well, I've certainly enjoyed the class. Most of my career I've been intimately involved with the Internet in one or another and so have been able to see it "grow up", as it were. Especially the web. Web sites have grown from static pages needing constant manual updating to constantly changing web pages that interact with you on an individual basis. For a tech person, it's been kind of exciting to see it happen and be a part of it.

Seeing the way CMC has become such a large part of a lot of people's way of life is just that much more of a testament of the power of the Internet and the communications abilities it provides, whether it be email, bbs, muds, chat, texting, website forums or video...it's amazing to see it all happening. Being able to keep in touch with anyone who has a internet connection has done wonders for society, I believe, and being able to express yourself to hundreds and thousands and millions of people like it has in the Middle East the all the uprisings and people blogging about it certainly reinforces how much the world has taken to and relies upon the internet and the ability to communication with others, those we know and those we don't. I can't wait to see what the next ten years brings.

What a Long... Strange Trip it's been...

I think this has been a very interesting class... though I have used a blog before I have never thought of them for use in an actual educational way... Though I have learned a lot about communication over the internet and how modern technology has really changed the outcome of how networks affect me daily... I also realized that I am way more connected to the internet and the "Network" than I really should be... Working with a computer for 8 hours a day then going home to do blogs and play xbox, all while playing words with friends and chess on my phone all day is very crazy. To think that people can't get access to these things is mind blowing as I can't imagine life without them. I also found a lot of the statistics in this class to be very interesting, some of the stats about the amount of use and who people are connecting with was a little shocking. But for the most part everything that was spoke of in this class was in a way review of the past 18 years of my life... Sad as it may be it's true... I was a part of the initial wave of nerds that helped the internet become what it is today. I also never really thought about the level of friendships on SNS sites... I have so many different levels that can easily be seen, though I never thought of it that way... It was more... people I hang out with and people that just pad stats on my Myspace profile that is no longer even used... I do have stat padders on my Facebook but more of less it's full of people that I actually know... Looking at the different speech patterns that were created over the internet was basically second hand nature to me as I learned how to use many of those long before people even knew what the internet was... I still remember the 1st time I saw a :) I was talking to the sysop of TFF in a chat session trying to get 24 hour access without paying for it... I was very sneaky... anyway I saw it and had to ask her what it was... I was maybe 12 years old... It's been a long journey from there but now I'm taking an online class with a teacher that has video chat? Holy hell that's amazing...

Great Class I enjoyed it!!!

Sorry I missed a few of the chats...

Wizzle Izzle for the last Tizzle...

I Soo Love This Class!!!!!!!:)

This by far has been my best class. I enjoy talking about identity on the internet and how women and men can be identified through their webspeak. Women use softer words when they text and men are more aggressive when webspeaking. A teenager on the other hand; has takes webspeak to another level. It’s been proven that teenager’s texts on cell phone 90% of the time. When it comes to social networks (SNS) I believe adults are mostly on these sites but it really hard to tell with all the fake identity going on. SNS can be use for expressing oneself. People use SNS to be who they really want to be or to meet other people. Honestly people use SNS for varies reasons. I learned a lot in this Internet Communication class that I can take with me forever. I especially enjoy the video chats it really was a new experience. I’ve taken many online courses but never had to chat in any of them so that was really neat. Remember we are living in a time where a face-to-face environment can be just like an environment online. The question is which one do you prefer? I enjoy everyoneJ

Blog 14

I have enjoyed Communciation on the Internet. I have most enjoyed the articles that talk about the positive role that online communication has had and will have in our culture. I know that the SNS that I am involved in and the particpation in email and online research I enjoy, however, I was a cynic about real relationships being made online. I did not see the positives over face to face communication. However, as we have read and discussed in this class the online communities are redefining what our culture considers to be relationships. There is a need for people that have trouble communicating face to face or need an avatar to escape something that is hindering them and then be allowed to interact with other humans free of judgement. I loved learning this and becoming someone that can see both sides.
Another thing I was guilty of before taking this class is seeing harmful affects on written language because of netspeak. I have enjoyed talking and reading about how netspeak is becoming a part of our culture and should be embraced. It does not have to be a negative influence on young people and it does not have to have an age limit. I remember posting about how sometimes netspeak makes me feel old and out of the loop. However, someone said in the class or I read it that we are very much a part of this changing generation. We are eyewitnesses of the digital age and to me that is really revolutionary. I have gained from this experience and would like to take another online class in the future. :)

Blog 14 Reflections

My reflections of this class is that I have learned that new technology is of the horizon. I have learned of topics that I was not aware of like CMC-speicific lingo and text abbreviations like i.e., LOL, ROTFL. I didn't know that all these languages and online technology existed to make life more easier. While in enrolled in this class, I have dipped in and out of social sites that I would never have gone. Facebook, Myspace and other sites that were unfamiliar to me became at some point a little interesting. I am not saying that I am convinced to join, but was interesting to view the site. I didn't like blogging at first, and it even became interesting to me, It allowed my to voice my opinion and to comment on others as well. I enjoy reading the books, journals and articles on certain technology that have advance the world today. I enjoy reading the peer reviews of authors and writing which enlighten my understanding of the internet. I don't think that I will use any other the sites any time soon, but I am glad that I know to protect my privacy information when using the sites. Also, I must add that I do use yahoo messenger from time to time to communicate with family and friends far and near. However, the information about the phone, texting and other hand held devices were amusing to me, because we now why we are so distracted and slowful in doing what we need to do. These today advances in technology have truly made us lazy and withdrawn from responsibilty. Especially for the teens, they have been ruined with all the easy access to electonic devices. Like somebody once said, "you can't lives with it or without it". Smile.

Blog #13

Ellison, Steinfield, and Lampe recognise that SNS support both existing relationships as well as the new ones that develop because of the online Social Network Sites. I think the existing relationships are usually the connection for developing new relationships.

Now when it comes going from online to offline, the idea of Social Capital is referenced by Ellison, Steinfield, and Lampe from (Adler & Know, 2002) to explain the cause of the development of these relationships; Relationships and the resources that are accumulated because of the means in which they are formed, in this case we are looking at the virtual resource. I feel as we evolve, humanity, we do find ways to communicate and make new friends, acquaintances, I think it's part of our DNA.

Although, Facebook has over 21 million registered members per (Needham & Company, 2007), BlaclPlanet.com has a loyal following for race-specific information. Now, I'm not sure how this research was captured, Detlefsen,(2004) concludes that African American participation increases when sites are interactive and multimedia features that feature other African Americans. I didn't quite get interactive multimedia part? I think how relavent is the information is really what I am interested in, also, I do enjoy reading about other African Americans historically or famous ones? The reality is, to me, being interactive and having multimedia is a part of mostly all SNS, so that would mean not just African American enjoy the options but everyone else who accesses a SNS. Didn't mean to harp on that...

All in all, relationships, information whatever a persons purpose for accessing, loggin into a SNS, keeping up with friends or making new ones, it doesn't go unnoticed.

Bizzle 13tizzle Got Eaten by the Memphis Grizzllle!!

Social Networking is the most formidable control system of all time. The most amazing way to tally information about people in such a quick and perfect way. Watching the interconnections of all kinds of kids and their popularity clans shows you so much about the human mind. When I found out on the boyd interview that SNSs make connections between kids inside or outside the popularity sector was interesting. This is something that was free information that was right in front of our faces, knowing that SNS pages not only boost good behavior it's an amazing way for the installments of bad behavior. Every bit of this stems from one simple Principal, people want to be around people that they can relate to. Facebook even if people don't want to admit it, is pretty well protected if youi want your information hidden. This is a, as Boyd explained, way for kids to select who they want to be and try to make themselves appear as normal or cool as possible. This means the person can show themselves as one way on the computer and not be who you would picture in the classroom (for kids). The good and the bad for children are there but I would say that the positive sides of connection with others and sharing some sort of social live, even if it is online, is a positive thing for someone who otherwise wouldn't be able to experience.
SNS networks are also a means for weaker relationships to stay alive, and for this gift they are amazing. I know so many people that come into Memphis that I would otherwise never see again that I can catch a comment on facebook and boom I can connect with them and meet them out when they are in town and keep an old relationship alive.


And uhum..... GO GRIZZZZZZZ

-Whizzle Izzle...

blog 13

Ellison, Steinfeld and Lampe (2007) support the proposal, through research, that social networking cites help maintain relationships that have formed offline as well as create new relationships online. They explain briefly the history of Facebook and how it started as a site for college students. As it has broadened its horizons, the direct affect on the social structure of our culture has morphed into a different type of realm. The authors research also focuses on the term social capital. They site within the article, “Bourdieu and Wacquant (1992) define social capital as "the sum of the resources, actual or virtual, that accrue to an individual or a group by virtue of possessing a durable network of more or less institutionalized relationships of mutual acquaintance and recognition" (p. 14). The resources from these relationships can differ in form and function based on the relationships themselves.” The idea that social capital on the rise, according to the researchers, outweighs some of the negative light that is placed on SNS. Social capital lowers crime rates, increases public health awareness and helps citizens become more involved in the community. I believe that when people are “friends” with their community’s facebook account it is just one more way to stay involved. I know that personally I received schedules for my son’s baseball, what days our recycling has switched to, reminders to vote in our town’s elections and much more simply because I am friends with my city on Facebook. It is a steady feed of community connection. Blackplanet was also evaluated by Byrne (2007) in his study. Blackplanet, one of the very largest SNS for African Americans, also increases civil involvement among its members. In Boyd’s (2006) article he addresses an important question. What is friendship? Are these friendships real on SNS? Boyd covers a lot of ground in his work. He looks at friendship, choosing people to be friends on SNS, self esteem and even the affects of having the choice of top friends on some SNS. However, this excerpt near his conclusion stood out to me. “ In thinking about Friendship practices on social network sites, it is crucial to evaluate them on their own terms, recognizing the role of technology and social navigation rather than simply viewing them as an extension of offline friendship.” I agree with Boyd. These sites are often times connected to our real lives. We have friends that we have face to face that we have on SNS, however, there are many, dare I say most, that we don’t really have much to do with at all. Therefore, we must look at them separately because they are indeed two different types of friendships.

Children are Just Having Fun On the Net (blog#13)

D. Boyd, describes children online as taking up space. There are different children from different cultures with all sorts of ideals. Children online assume they are not harming anyone online they look at their behavior online as “normative behavior.” Boyd, Ellison, Byrne, Steinfeld and Lampe feels the same things that happen face-to-face with children will also happen online. Children still play, joke, flirt, and take pictures. SNS can identify a person in a way they want to present themselves. One major benefit is meeting people all over the world that comes from varies of cultures. I find it amazing to meet people all over the world and just start up a conversation with them. On Twitter it’s really cool because someone would ask a question such as, “What celebrity would you date?” and everyone starts answering it. It’s funny because mines was Mekhi Phifer the actor and my Twitter fans would say something like, “Girl he don’t want you!” lol. Now the major drawback would be getting too personal with someone you do not know. The reason being you really don't know if the person is really identifying themselves.

blog #13- The past always comes back to haunt you

As Dana Boyd discussed in the video the online environment is sort of the same as the offline environment in that it is a place for friends to come together and “hang out” in a sense. She also says that “kids” are using online networking sites primarily to interact with their friends whether they’re from the same school, different school, apart of after school activities, etc. A really good point is brought up in the video in that whatever is put online is basically going to be there forever. I remember when I was in highschool when facebook began to get really popular, a speaker came to talk to us about the dangers of what we post online and that pictures that get posted could stay on the internet forever and I have heard a couple of stories of how these pictures have come back from the past to bite people when they are looking for jobs. A new thing college kids are doing are changing their names on facebook when it’s time to apply to grad schools and look for jobs because they don’t want anything on their page to backfire on them and blow an opportunity. I have seen a couple of crazy name changes but mainly I’ve just seen people switching around their first, middle, and last name.

Blog #12- Social networking vs networking

I agree with boyd and ellison’s difference between social networking sites and networking. Facebook was created because people wanted to know what their friends were up to not so people could look for strangers. Like Will I mainly use SNS to keep in contact with family and friends but SNS are becoming more and more popular when people are looking for something (like relationships) or when people have something to give (housing, cars, etc). I have stumbled upon many facebook pages which advertise things like shopping sites and houses for rent. SNS have made it so much easier to keep in contact with people especially the new facebook with the facebook chat option. If someone feels uncomfortable having their personal information on their profile they can set it to private or having nothing on it at all and simply use it to chat and share pictures with friends and families. SNS have made it easier to multitask as well. You can be messaging with multiple friends at a time.

Lucky #13

As pointed out in the boyd reading, an SNS, if organized properly, can be a great way to communicate with like minded people and discuss lifestyles and life issues and can be great sounding boards for "call to arms" issues. The Dana Boyd video emphasizes what we should already know and that is that SNS's are just an extension of our offline environment but that we have to learn to take our online "trail of self presentation" in context of what it was at the time. Meaning a teenage guy might post a picture of himeslef taking a hit from a bong (ala Michael Phelps) but it shouldn't be assumed that that is his evening habit now that he is thirty something with lots of resposibilities (family, house, job). But we do need to be careful of what we do post and say online because it can come back and haunt you, especially if it can be tied to your current acts as an adult. I certainly don't post anything incriminating online, just innocent pictures of trips, pets, family and the like.

12

Although both articles define "social network(ing)" sites the same, Beer, referencing Boyd and Ellison, and yes, they have been used interchangeably but there is a difference. I feel the social network is, just that socializing with people that you are already acquainted wth in some shape or form. These people may not be your go-to people if there is a crisis, but they are individuals that there is an existing relationship. With that in mind, I started to think about my FB page, every person that is a friend I have had a face-to-face with, I know them. Now, there have been individuals that I have also, ignored or denied their request to be a friend, because I could not figure out how or where I might know them from, so I just didn't bother to start any communication or networking. I didn't ask questions or anything, I just didn't respomd. On the other hand, for people that I have known, them for one reson or another, I apologized for taking so long to respond as I aknowledge request. I like the options that a SNS sites give us. The Online community can be very open there are no limits. People that have something to say can say it, it doesn't matter. One thing about Online communities they usually stick to one subject or focus, this is what keeps the community going strong. Whereas, SNS, has an individual that dictacts everything that will be a focus and subject change at the drop of a hat. I think both the SNS and the Online communities have something interesting to offer it just depends on what the individual is looking for.

Blog 13 SNS Benefits and Drawbacks!

Based on the readings, SNS are different in many, many ways. In the readings SNS are characterized by race, gender and relationships. The writers describe SNS as a way of connecting groups nation wide of all culture. The readings constant reminds us that SNS ties us in to the social network, which keeps us online for hours to bring us closer to one another. SNS on the other hand allows relationship to bond through the technology of messenger, facebook, myspace and other SNSs sites. I will definitely agrue that social network sites is used different for me. I mostly use it to connect with family and friends far away. Most participants use SNSs to find relationships, dates, friends and roommates. SNS is frequently used 24/7 to enhance the ability to meet and greet. I don't believe SNS is never at a 0 usage. Some people sleep at the computer while on social network. The benefits of SNS is the ability to chat with all cultures of all aspects of life. Also, there is the point where the technology is easier than writing or traveling out to meet or connect. The drawback is that personal data can become a threat to people that are too trustworthy. Also, too much online usage can invade your privacy at some point when constanly on the net.

Blog 12

Boyd and Ellison(2007,describes social networking as web based services that allow individuals to contruct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, second, articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and third, view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. They also added that the nature and nomenicature of these connections may vary from site to site.

Boyd and Ellison(2007),stated that when the term 'social networking site' is use to describe phneonmenon, the term 'social networking site' also appears in public discourse, and the two terms are often used interchangeably. We chose not to employ the term 'networking' for two reasons: emphasis and scope. 'Networking' emphasizes relationship initiation, often between strangers.

I agree with Boyd and Ellison in narrowing down what social networking really is. Social means casul and networking mean grouping or doing something together with several peoples. Networking is use for gathering ideas, thoughts, issue, questions or concerns on a partiuclar thing or subject.

Beer(2008), responses on how SNS sole purpose is to communicate on the web. It is use to connect people of all ethnic backgrounds together to share ideas. The way people use it proves that it is a networking site to bring strangers together, far and near. Communication usually starts just by a joke or simple post, then everybody begins to bring something to the network.

#12

Boyd and Ellison prefer to use the term "social netowrk site" vs. "networking" because they say "networking emphasizes relationship initiation, ofter between strangers." And I would have to agree. I didn't sign up on Facebook looking to meet strangers. I signed up to interact with friends who were also on Facebook. My dictionary defines network as "a group or system of interconnected people or things : a trade network. • a group of people who exchange information, contacts, and experience for professional or social purposes : a support network" vs. "networking" as "to interact with other people to exchange information and develop contacts, esp. to further one's career" with the key words being "develop contacts". In my eyes, a social network site is different from an online community in the way the word network is different from the word networking. I participate in an online community to exchange information and develop contacts, i.e., get to know people I don't already know. Facebook is for people I already know. To allow a complete stranger to be your friend so they can see your profile and all your friends is goofy. But, as we (I) found out in our previous paper, some people put it all out there anyway.

Social Networks (Blog#12)

A social network can be defined as many things but in the case of Boyd and Ellison it’s define by three major points. First, it allows individuals to construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system. Secondly, it articulate a list of others users with whom they share a connection and finally, view and traverse their list of connection may vary from site to site (Boyd Ellison). In other words; social networks are connections to multiple viewers. Networking emphasizes relationship initiation, often between strangers. It also shows different CMC between the two users. Beer looks at it from a different angle. He ask the question what is missing? What might be missing from the existing body of work and to use this suggest some alternative ways forward to that imagined by Boyd and Ellison. Beer describes SNS in this age difficult and has earned the name “knowing capitalism.” I totally agree with Boyd and Ellison’s definitions. Today’s social networks are nothing but public profile of people lives at that moment. I strongly believe that SNS attract viewers and later build great relationships. But a community online is different from a social network. A social network in this case is trying to get to know someone or just trying to get to a certain amount of friends. Where as a community online is sometimes local within a local community that really aims to have an interpersonal relationship.

Blizzle 12 SN-onsense-S

By definition the Social Networking Sites, though they have got to be the best way a person with an office job can burn a few hours of their horrible day, it seems as though they are becoming more and more a way for people to "hook-up" Legal E-stalk, and make people mad. I agree with Boyd and Ellison's definition of the social network. I also like the amendment that Beer (also cool) added to it. The definition for social network or "Networking" could be compared to that of the term "Damn" There are so many different ways to use it that there really can't be a single way to define what it is. It can be used to make people happy, sad, mad, cry, or as some of us have seen it can completly CRUSH your heart and soul. So To try to define it is just a waste of time. I do feel as though they have attempted and for the most part succeeded in giving a suitable definition to an otherwise impossible "thing" to define. The SNS sites are (in my opinion) 100% the same as an online community. The only factor is that you can add friends that aren't a part of your actual life or (community). This could be the only thing that I can see that could make the major SNS's not completly the same. The thing is that you don't have to freind those that are not part of your own personal life. You can choose only those that you interact with on a daily basis, I on the other hand choose to interact with 100s daily and yes, I do use facebook. So you sum it all up, Why try to define that, that cannot be defined? On top of that whats the point in attempting to define something that changes faster than the universe? What to create a book that you make students buy with their hard earned money so they can read pointless blabber about something like facebook when all it really boils down to is something meaningless life "Getting my nails done!! Yayyy!!" -Sheryl

Defining these things as a community or not a community doesn't matter, it's understanding of what the technology is capable of is whats more important and finding new ways to expand the "community" and bring more people together. Because knowledge is power and SNS's spread knowledge faster than any telephone or TV ever did.

Blog 12

It seems to me, Boyd and Ellison have a pretty good understanding of SNS, but I am going to place that understanding into an analogy that I feel fits well. They pose 3 major "fabrics" required for SNS such as: 1) public or semi public fabric 2) user connection fabric 3) resources and connections fabric. I use this word, fabric, because without every piece you just have pieces, not the whole. Within the fabric, Boyd and Ellison break down some of the "threads" (bear with me). Under the public system there is a focus for users to have what they call "impression management and friendship performance", which is basically Facebook wrapped up all nice and pretty. Within their definition they use the theory that requires a broad sense of the word "structure", that their needs to be a purpose of bridging online and offline together, a broad idea of privacy, and then finally mentions that each network is a themed network (generally speaking). Well Beer comes in and says no this is too broad, and there is too much room for confusion when there only needs to be precision. Narrow down everything, and to his terms he brings out the fact that their fabric has flaws in it...big flaws....like gaping holes. I agree with Beer in saying that there should be and really is a difference between Social Network Sites and Social NetworkING sites. One has the purpose of networking and friendship and another does not, like in his example "youtube" is not for the sole purpose of friendship, whereas friendster, facebook, and such places perhaps are. He focuses MAINLY that the entire blanket being built with these fabrics should be themed and focused more narrowly in order to discuss.

I believe that SNS and communities coexist closely, but like Beer so states, SNS is for friends. Baym shows largely in that communities are for the support and the resources that sometimes can create into relationships such as friends, whereas SNS is built for interpersonal relationships.

Blog 11

An online community has a common interest that they share and communicate; Baym references Ferdinand Tonnies, as defining community as having an essential condition that individuals share which then cause them to develop a close social bond. The main fuction people can enter into this virtual arena for discussion with others or to just vent in some cases. The shared issue or condition is what brings them together. Some friends of mine, that I have joined different communities, talk about the support that they receive in some of their everyday challenges, because of the seemingly pure relationships they have formed. Also, they have never met. Now on the other hand the SNS, give individuals, one person a platform to say how thet are feeling and the option for others to join in to comment. Also, sometimes you can't really tell how close people are on SNS, one thread can be the link that can possible bring them together, but that's only if the information is disclosed in their profile.

Bonus Dwhizzle Blizzle For Everyone's Enjizzlemizzle...

"We are now entering the finale module, covering online communities and social networks. Thinking back to what we have discussed so far this semester, how do the topics of online language use, online relationships, and online identity/self-presentation relate to the phenomenon of online communities? What connections can you make between the previous modules and this last one?"

How do they relate?
This is somewhat rhetorical because they are the exact same thing... Online communities are all of these things combined into one crazy commenting shat talking forum known as the internet. It's like a smorgasbord of angry opinionated assholes with no filter at all... I like to picture a gigantic party of people with masks on, some are monsters and creatures others use their real faces. I see it like this, when entering the party the host says... no matter what you will not be harmed and after you leave the room (page/blog/SNS/whatever) nobody will ever be able to contact you again unless you want them to. Imagine the things that could go down at that party.

The internet needs all these people (animals/or whatever else people make themselves look like) because without these crazy loons, "the family", internet trolls, or honest people there wouldn't be an online community. All of these identities are what creates the internet world. fake accounts such as the "Catfish" nut job on facebook are what internet identities are all about. The fact that you don't have to be what you want to be, you don't have to show how horrible your life is. People don't have to see a fat lonely depressed person who lacks in social skills and freezes when talking to a real person, when they are one quick google search/cut & paste away from making themselves a skinny smoking hot blond that is oozing confidence, screams sexy, likes walks on the beach and sex with multiple partners. (Yeah... I went there)

I think language is something that can tie all of these things together. Language makes you what you are, you can tell a lot about someone by their lingo, especially the internet lingo. Things like (...) as I like to use would steriotypically imply that this person uses a keyboard a lot for chat and likes to help the reader understand the thought process as they are typing. Someone who used ( :) :( ;) ;( >) >() and many many more) show their emotions and show they can be cute and quirky... The language is what makes people choose if they like you or not. Internet language has to be the most tweakable language possible... You can always mash that backspace button and say something else, this leads to people NOT saying the wrong thing. Take my girlfriend for instance, I am constantly saying things that upset her on accident because I assume things her mind doesn't decode like mine. This type of thing doesn't happen when we are chatting on the internet... I can always think before hitting enter... is this ganna get me in trouble? and then change something I don't like... These types of language also help to create a happier "internet" when it comes to the online communities. There are a lot of people who otherwise may have issues with one another in real life, that can sign on to an IRC chat room and be best buddies with that person. Another great thing about internet communities is you can turn them off whenever the hell you want. If you live in a neighborhood you can't shut your annoying neighbors dog up or make his alcoholic wife stop beating him up... But on the internet... you can just close that laptop up... and any problems are GONE... I know this is more of a riskay post but I feel as though it's more real, and can better explain things that a lot of the readings covered but didn't really fully apply themselves to... For many reasons because, and I know I always come back to this but it's true... They are old studies... I believe personally that any study done before 2006 should be thrown out because things have change DRAMATICALLY from then to now on the internet... It's not a history class it's a current event based class... I don't think we need to be using studies done in 2000 for a class in 2011... Just doesn't make sense to me... These colleges need to get more studies up because this is very interesting information I just feel as though a lot of it would be very different if you applies them to the internet by today's standards... I'm sorry the post was long but that was a very loaded question to comment on...

D-Whizzle Droppin knizzle...

Oh yeah... and thanks for letting me make up the chat session I made 200$ that night and I really needed it... BTW we have some videos up if you'd like to hear what we were doing :)

Blog 11

Well, an online community is a place where people with like interests go to share info or get caught up on the lastest information on whatever topic the site is about, such as a site about your favorite sports team. To me, a random group of people would be places line Facebook, MySpace and other SNS places where you go not because of one specific topic they offer, but what group you can join once you are there. Sort of like the mall. Some might go for Macys, others JC Pennys. People are all there for different (shopping) reasons and while they are all there for shopping, they don't really co-mingle except when getting from one store to another. (I hope that makes sense).

People get involved in online communities for the very reason they are there...to share info and communicate with people with the same interest. I used to "lurk" amongst several Usenet groups back in the day, and I suppose it could be said that I still do as there are several sites I read everyday (lurk) and will once in a blue moon post something, but mainly I'm there to see the major posts and read some of the comments.

Blog 11

Online communities essentially connect online and continue their relationship sharing their lives over the internet. They compare interests, resources and information based on their connection. Bayam discusses how communities on the internet were first formed to build local community and establish relations through interaction on the internet. The norms were re-established as communities formed to support and develop their common ground amongst people and their online friends. A community is formed because people have eachother to share their lives with in a way that offers support and reassurance. They also share interests such as hobbies and activities. Online communities offer people to spread out not only in their smaller offline communities but around the world to connect with people that they share interests. I would say that the only online community I have participated in besides social networking would be this class. The idea that we are all taking this class together, reading the same material and then reading other people's take on the material we read is in some way a community. I feel like we are actively participating in trying to better understand the power of communication through the internet and in this it unites are discussions to some degree. I have never been involved in any type of gaming or interest group communities because I don't have much free time being a stay at home mom. However, I think these types of relationships are important for introverted people that need an outlet that they can release and connect in that they otherwise could not do. These communities fit in our lives because it alows outlets for us to better discover those with common interests as well as rediscover ourselves through connection. For example, I am taking three classes this semester just for fun. People have looked at me like I am crazy but I enjoy it. I have a Master's degree and wanted to take some graduate level classes in Communication because I thought it would be interesting. This class/community has been a way for me to read and learn among other adults. Sometimes, after a long day with play doh and cooking meals, it is fun for me to feel like an educated adult contributing to academic conversations. It is an outlet and very much an online community.

Virtue Community (Blog 11)

In chapter four Baym describes, “How a community can fall apart in the face of variety” (Baym 74). Chapter four also describes a community as a, “Common group through mere use of the site” (Baym 74). A community can be defined as many things but in this case it is known as a virtual community. People have been using computers for the past decade to communicate with each other. In the video Howard defines this as a virtual community. An online community is people you meet online and over time develop a relationship with. This relationship can later lead to face-to-face communication. A normal group of people is one that you just comment and chat to over the internet. This would be a social network such as, Twitter, Facebook, My Space and things in that nature. Most of the time online relationships are establish by someone who is looking for attention (in a good way) and someone who need a person to talk to. As Howard explained in the video the community came about through ancient technology when you had to do everything local. Which later on drew the group of people closer to each other. These people were there for each other (funerals, birthdays, weddings ect) and really try to make an online chat out of a relationship. Although I’ve never been a part of an online community, I think it’s a cool idea. In today’s society you really don’t have much of a choice when it comes to an online community. If you are on these social networks you would realize almost everyone has the same friends. So it's no longer local but worldwide and everyone is socializing between each other.

My Online Community Is Gated

Online communities were created for several reasons and though some see them as potentially bad, many see them as great. The idea of an online community is a comunity that exists online where members enable its existence through taking part in membership ritual. Online communities can take the form of information systems where people can post any information they want. Online comunities as explained by a loon named Rheingold can be good because there are groups of people who otherwise wouldn't get any kind of social interaction if it wasn't for the online community. Rheingold states that he works from home and without his friends online he could potentially go days without human interaction. This is a very valid point that some people can be disabled as our last reading touched on, and cannot, or do not, want to go out into the world because it is to hard on them physically or even mentally. The point is that some people don't feel the need to have face to face relationships. The problem with the online comunity that is new is the fact that when Rheingold 1st started his internet community it was before the "internet" as we know it today. The basic way it worked was someone used multiple phone lines in order to connect everyone that would call into them together. I was probably about 10-12 when I joined my first online community. The difference between then and now is, you could only connect to people that lived in your area back then, now you can connect with people all over the world. Where as in the early days you could easily just say meet me at _____ now that person can be on the other side of the world. Also in the beginning of the online community days the internet, though I know it's hard to believe, was more just tech junkies who were not looking to steal credit card numbers or claim they have a prince for an uncle that needs 10000$ for a 500% return... Scams were not the way they are today and meeting a complete stranger was not quite as risky as it is today... The internet as well as it's communities have REALLY changed since I had my 80/88... Yes I know you don't know what that is... maybe google it? :)

Hahaha actually I tried and I couldn't find anything on it...is that computer really that old? Makes me feel old... am I old?? Am I talking?? Did they hear me??

I know Im crazy...

Thanks for reading...

-Whizzle Izzle...

Blog 11 Online Community

Baym definition of Community is shared practice of the same values and interest. Online bloggers are there for mostly conversation and interaction on different levels. Shared space is acquired to enhance the ability for others to share ideas and interest that may be helpful or inquiring.
The difference between community and a person is that community identifies grouping and random singles out bloggers that lurk in and out from time to time. Being a part of a community occupies great space that endures long hours at a time. Then, being a random participate only put in maybe 30 minutes here and there, with no intent or interest at all.
Community involvement helps to connects to other people that are blogging on the web. This is done by creating a web page that allows you to sign in online with a user name to identify a specific page. After this is establish anybody that has a page can view your page and send messages. This allows interaction between grouping online.
By taking this class allows me to be a first time member of online community. I always hated to communicage online. I think it is too time consuming. I could be doing something more important. I do enjoy this class thought, it introduce to me a broader outlook on online communication. I may not create page,but I will know what the do's and don't are. Most important not to post personal information online that will hurt my identity. Also, not to trust every Sue, Ann or Pat.
Online community fits into our social lives by exchanging personal informatin back and forth online. Sometimes we exchange too much personal information to strangers that we don't know. Online community allows us to ask questions and to create a relationship online without face to face contact.

Blog 10- online anonymity

Qian and Scott discussed how anonymity is used in online blog forums. A pseudonym or a real name is equally acceptable to use and the provision of any other personal profile information, such as one's real name, gender, date of birth, location, job, homepage, and interests, is optional. Users can select to share or withhold their profile information as they like. I do think that in some cases, like in WoW, anonymity is very important. If a person on WoW used their real name I think it would increase the chance of online harassment, especially by people who take the game very very seriously. Like the former girl gamer discussed in her posting, girl gamers are harassed on the game either because no one believes their a girl or pervs won’t leave them alone. I think that anonymity in online games give people more freedom to do what they what (within the rules of the games). If one character kills another character they might get constant harassed about it if they’re real name was shown. Just by knowing someone’s name nowadays means that you can find out almost anything about them online (if youre willing to pay a few bucks or are a really good hacker) like their address, phone number, and email address. Someone who doesn’t have all the cards in their deck might track down someone and want to have a face to face meeting with them. Yes, online anonymity does give people room to fib and lie here and there but I feel like it also gives people security in some cases.

Blog 10

Bowker and Tuffin's goal was to investigate the online experience. They essentially looked at how disabled people experienced an online community. People with disabilities, who have become a "different" group among people of their culture. They have in some sense been left behind in face to face communication because of their lack of power of being able to meet physical demands. Their differences, which of course or noticed in person to person contact, have no grounds and play no role in the online sense of community. Their disability no longer defines them. This is such a prime example of the power of the internet. In so much of the sense people are more free to become something they are not in life when the construct who they want people to really see. They have the control. Bowker and Tuffin found that this research deserved some attention because of some negative results. They often begin experiencing alternate subjectivities during their online lives. They are longing to be creative and form a new outlet of self expression, however, this type of made up self-representation can be harmful to others in the process.
Quian and Scott's findings show that that people with a higher degree of discursive anonymity may also have more self-disclosure, and when writing and communicating their own information on the internet to a certain audience determines the amount of anonymity. I think it is important to look at how and why people are disclosing so much information on the internet as well as what extreme opposite selves they are representing (such as the disabled man that is blogging as pro athlete). I believe it is important psychologically to evaluate this type of behavior to try and project the new sense of community and trust that we will have to form as a world that is online even more so in the future.

Blog 10

I would think that there are some places on the internet you would want anonymity and other places you would not. It's unfortunate that some people just can't act like human beings and be responsible and not act irresponsibly online, but even if everyone did, there would still be times when you might want to post anonymously. Even off line there are times when you want anonymity, like when calling 528-CASH, the crime tip hotline. When you want/need anonymity online, such as those with disabilities as referenced in the Bowker-Tuffin article, being able to safegaurd yourself is a good thing. A sensible thing. Because some people can't be responsible human beings. But when you are being harrassed, it would be nice to be able to find out who the anonymous person is that is harrassing you. But you can't have it both ways. The WoW references are a prime example. Women being harrassed/bothered like there is no tommorrow when all they want to do is beat your butt at the game. And while anonymity affords some protection online, online life should mimic offline life to a certain extent, i.e., there are places you don't go to after dark in real life, and there are places on the internet you shouldn't go to, unless you're prepared to deal with the environment.

Blog 10 Make em say uhhh...Annon-y-na Annon-y-na

This blog is about the choice people have in being anonymous versus using real information on the blog/CMCs. I would like to lead in with the fact that this study was done in 2007, though that doesn't seem like that long ago, with the pace that the internet evolves, thats light years. I did however find the majority of the information to be rather shocking yet again with how much personal information people will reveal online. A GREAT example would be, I gamble online mostly with sports. Well there was a pick-em contest on the site I gambled with that showed the top 50 best pickers for every week of college football. I noticed that one person was on the top of this list for many weeks in a row, so I googled the username to try to get an email address to ask for picking advice... What I found instead was his password... What he had done was created an account on an... "Adult" site and made it a public account using his real password. So after watching his account with over 2000$ in it for about 2 months I chose to actually look him up on facebook and tell him about it... And his reply was to cuss me out and say he was going to have me arrested... Needless to say he didn't appreciate my honesty. But this is a perfect example of how people get wrapped up in the internet world and air out more information than they need to. when viewing the statistics of the Qian & Scott study you quickly find that people think they are relatively anonymous or around a 3 in a scale of one being undetected and 7 being full access. I would agree that people probably believe this but what they don't understand is someone with any computer know how will cross reference any information they give and google the crap out of it. So if they are on linked in or facebook there is an instant link to find more information about this person. This is why I feel like a 2007 study is just too old to be able to apply to present standards. Facebook adds 100s of 1000s of members daily, this was not the case back in 2007, in fact it may have still be based more around college students only if I remember correctly. The information about gender is striking, finding out that women tend to display more information about themselves is just flabbergasting. I would think that women would be more inclined to lie about themselves for fear of some cyber nutjob. But then again I don't think that cyber crazies were quite as spoken of in 2007 as they are now.
The study done on disabled people on the internet was more what I would expect out of the majority of people that use the CMCs. They are restricted and don't give out much information, they tend to use email as a form of communication and try to reveal the least amount of information about themselves. This is the way the internet should be and shockingly this was back in 2003!! Disabled people in a strange way can live a normal life online. Nobody can see whats wrong with them and it's as if they lose their "disease" if you will. It's similar to the movie that we watched in another class on Tuesday, "Catfish" Where a woman falls in love with a man based on the fact that her pictures show her as a smokin' hot model that she most defiantly was not. You could say that she had a disabled outlook of herself and therefore created something that she wanted to be her entire life. In the process she kinda broke a guys heart, but hey... He probably made a ton of money off it so I'm sure he's fine with it now.

Thanks for reading!!

-Whizzle

Identity versus Self-Disclosure (blog #10)

After reading these articles I honestly believe there should be different levels of identification. The reason being is, there are different ages groups who surf the internet . Now one might say teens, younger children, and adults should be on different sites but the truth is one never knows whom is on the website. The well know role play game called, World of Warcraf (WoW) has been the enterainment for many people since 2004. This game reach out to different cultures and the fantasy life of others; which allowed this game to become the number one game in the world. This game has massively mutiplayer (MMORPG) which gives a player ( such as yourself) to hide your identiy. The funny thing is over 12 million people are on this site from different age groups hiding their identity but is this ethical. The CMC that is used whitin these games , blogs, and chatting ect should not be hidden identity. If it's a child one should know and if it's an adult one should know and so forth with a teen. It's important for each age group to use their lanuage in a sence others would know when palying the game or on a blog. Qian and Scott expresses self-disclosure and how it is self communication. Anonymity and CMC allows a person to express their feelings, information, and thoughts to others in ways they probably couldn't do face-to-face. I believe this is why you see people expressing themselves a lot on these blogs because it is a releases; a matter of freedom. Then there are others whom chose to stay anonymous because of personal reason such as: married, insurced, and their age group. These types of people only expesses things to a limit to keep their identiy safe. Bower and Tuffin decribes the danger of having online talk with strangers can lead to serious situations such as trust and realtionships (take the movie Cathfish for example). Greater identity is always good for someone is trying to be in the lime life. In other words someone who is trying to become an artist, model, paniter ect someone whom is trying to make a name from themselves not a relationship. This is when a person photoshops their life into what they want it to be (fantasy life). On the other hand; if you are a person that just blog on social networks, I really think you should be yourself, after all it wouldn't hurt. :)

Blog 10 Anonymity and Self-Disclosure

Qian and Scott informs us of how some people get online to deceive people they don't know, whether then people they know. Bloggers do this because they can get away with their past, or who they really are. They tend be more cautious about targeting people that may know them. I do believe most bloggers read web pages and then go and research that person. Once this process is complete, and the background check comes back good, the blogger began to plan an attack. That's why real names and contact information should never be displayed online. Some people make themselves easy targets by trusting people they don't know, or can't see.

Disable people tend to want to conceal their identity while online, is what Bowker and Tuffin describes. A disable person don't want to be known for their disability. They will go on for a long period of time chatting online, and not let the other person know that they are disable and can't do what a regular person does. I do believe this is done out of fear of losing communication on the web. Some disable people are bored and need a hobby, while confined to their homes. I don't believe that they are being deceitful due to evil. But, I think it is done out of lonliness. Their is definitely a difference between bloggers that are after things of value, where as a disable person is after companionship.

Blog 9

Whenever I read people’s blog posts I rarely look at the names of the people who posted it. I just read the post and then look at the name when I need to put their name in my comment so I don’t really notice any differences between the men and women who post things. Huffaker and Calvert(2005) found that females used more graphical accents, including emoticons, to express emotion in their discourse than males and that females use more words to express their emotions while males generally hide their feelings (what a surprise!). Males rarely use emoticons in conversations with other males, but do use them with females, while females use an equal amount of emoticons in both male and female conversations Women are also quicker to text and send longer texts then males who generally send shorter text messages just to get the main point across and leave out useless things that women usually include in their text messages. They also found that females, on the internet, use more pleasant words while men use harsher words and are more brash. I don’t think that that is evident in our blog for class even though Grasmuck, Martin, and Zhao (2009) found that the internet provides an outlet for the expression of one’s “hidden selves” because we are all trying to be our “student” character. I haven’t really thought about who people are or what they look like because it is harder to determine in an online class.

Blog 9,

Expressing one's self has become the "in thing" and the internet has made this possible. When I started to read Huffaker & Calvert's study, I thought this doesn't sound right, communication is anything but traditional via the internet and CMC networks. Women may be polite in some forums, but shy and reserved, I don't think so. One of things that I have observed from bloggers, mostly women, that we are very vocal, we have a voice and we want to be heard and in some cases seen. Also, when It comes to men using emoticons, all of the guys that I know use emoticons when blogging or texting. Also, the idea of feeling connected is felt more when someone in using IM, as opposed to blogging another individual, because the order in which the comments are received. I can see people feeling the directness of IM, texting, the messages are clearly for one person.
Another part of the study that was interesting, homosexuality is still a touchy subject. I thought the idea of being able to choose who and what a person communicates is what usually takes place on the internet.
Lately, I have started to wander about a person's identity based on their perspective on a particular subject. I don't give it too much thought, because of the diversity of the internet and its growth. I also know that some CMC communities attract a certain idea of thinking based representation so" like minds" are drawn together. That leads me to Grasmuck, Marin, and Zhao's and the study of minority groups being more expressive via Facebook. I would not say more...it's not like minorities (we) have not had a voice. I mean like everything else, technology has changed the way people express themselves and with, Facebook being one the most popular and diverse CMC community, why not join in with everyone else. People usually see themselves in a certain light and embracing their heritage, knowing who and where you come from is important to our very being. So the fact that everyone else is catching up to what other CMC communites such as Facebook have to offer, is a good thing.
Now, whether or not I have given any thought to the race or gender of the class members that are not pictured, yes, I have and it was, merely based on comments made in the chat sessions and some postings. As far as assumptions, I can't say that I made any, so no, and I can't really think of a reason.

Blog 9

One of the first things I did when we got signed up for the blog was go down the list, click on each users name, and see who posted pictures of themselves. And I did it again just now. Three women did (including Dr. Markman). Two users chose to post satirical/comical pictures and the others no picture or set their profile to private. And while the Huffaker & Calvert research show no difference in males and females showing personaly identifiable info, I find it interesting that only females in our group chose to show pics of themselves. Is that because we are a closed group? Just like in high school, you want to find out the attractive men/women in the class, who the class clown is going to be, who the slackers are, etc., etc.

It was also interesting, and to me unexpected, that Huffaker & Calvert's research, while their hypotheses seemed logical, they were for the most part proved wrong. The fact that teen agers used weblogs as an extension of real life was also suprising, but after thinking about it also seems logical. Most people wouldn't want to hide behind an online personae but would want to embrace its ability to extend their social life as teens tend to look for ways to interact with as many people as possible.

Blizzle Nizzle

I found the readins once again basically restored all of my original thoughts in the online world as far as gender goes, According to Huffaker/Calvert Men are much shorter, are more paranoid of someone watching or getting their personal information and we (men) don't use emoticons as much, I personally think thats crap because I use them all the time and just about everyone I know does as well. >0
Also blogs are used in the Gay community to express words without being subjected to hate speech from someone who doesn't understand. The blogs are a great way for gay males especially to meet and not be worried about what someone around them may do or say in public. 17% of the blogging community is gay and of that 17% 14% are male... That just goes to show you who is more accepted in the realm of society, and it also shows you how males use the Internet to meet other gay males in almost secrecy. In 50% of the roughly 500k blogs researched relationships were talked about. The majority of this population was male! surprised me... But the majority of gender on blogs are male so I guess that makes a little more sense.
The amount of information people put on blogs is amazing, 70% of people gave, get this, first names 68% age, 61% gave their CONTACT INFORMATION! And at the bottom of the list "full name" It's amazing that someone would be willing, in fact 61%, would be willing to give their location before their real names, kinda scary as well as just plain stupid.

When reading about the amount of post that African Americans, whizzles, Latinos and Indians post shocked me heavily! I do not have a very equal ground to stand on but the friends I have post just about everything they do it's actually quite disturbing. Also with the pictures, were they looking at mostly male pages or female? Did they count tagged pictures? Were there even "Tagged" pictures when this was done? I myself have over 300 pictures on my facebook... I have probably uploaded only 50...I think what I am trying to say is NONE of this information can be considered accurate because facebook is evolving daily and to be able to say "aww aww one race puts up more than another" is VERY ridiculous.

I personally don't think these sites effect gender or race regardless of what this or any study says. I feel as though the internet is an arena where people can be themselves and race (though in some situations is WAY outta control on the internet, IE Videos of black people looting or a white cult leader, sure they draw the racism out of people, and boy it can be nasty) but the other sides of the internet seem to be VERY colorblind as far as my experience. Take the class blog for example, I didn't know the students names at first I Was just reading post, I had no idea what anyone was, they were nothing more than other students to me. This is the outlook that I have always had on the internet because how or who are we to judge someone that we know nothing about, including their race.

"However, ethno-racial groups invest differently in their displays of “the cultural self.” African Americans and Latinos invest most intensively, Vietnamese and whites least intensively, and Indians fall somewhere in the middle of the continuum depending on the enumerated item." Grasmuck 2009

I found this statement to be very funny. In my personal experience with this it's because, quite frankly... I could give a crap about my heritage... I don't even know what I am?? I mean Im considered "white" to the masses but what am I really? I don't know... This is why I think white people don't put as much information about their cultural lifestyle because it's just not as important to us... I know I have Indian in me but how much? I have no idea... Irish? Sure... How much ? I have no idea... At least if you are black/latino/Indian you know what you are and can embrace some sort of heritage/culture... When you're a white mutt, what do you have to talk about when it comes to history that doesn't somewhat embarrass me? ... Not a whole lot... Also not to mention we don't have a great deal of culture to us now do me? We're kinda bland int hat regard... I just felt that would be the common answer to why this statement is the way it is.

-Dizzle droppin knizzle fo shizzle...

Is this really a man or a women? State your nationality? (blog 9)

Online identity has to be the most common thing of the two-thousands. “Physical constraints such as body, biological sex, race or age can have profound effect on self- definition and self – presentation” (Collins & Kuczaj, 1991). Online identity is way of discovering the new “you.” It is what I like to call “your world,” you can present yourself the way you want others to imagine you as, and also say things to either sound older or younger. The age group 13-17 are knows as the adolescents stage. Teens bring blogging and hidden identity to a whole new level of the internet world. Statistic show it’s more female then male blogging and chatting all day with strangers from different races. The problem with race and gender on the internet is, one is not certain if there is a for sure man, women, boy, girl, black, white or, Spanish ect they are chatting with. When people are chatting with unknown people they use cues to help figure out their race and gender. The funny thing is it doesn’t always work. Any race or gender can use words like, honey, baby, love, and sexy so you really have to be extra careful maybe use webcam. CMC states that women may use softer words then men but to me it's pretty much the same. One great example is, I have an older lady in my class but she always writes from a male point of view. So I always thought she was a man. When I found out she was an older woman, I could have kick myself in the head. I ask her one day, “Why do you always write from a male point of view?” She stated, “I raised five sons by myself so that is really the only view I can relate too! I felt crazy after that so, cues really don’t always work! Any other suggestions to unlocking the mystery of a gender or race?

PS: The person I am stalking is on twitter: @lillanaloveable

Blog 9

Researchers have been investing the language used in presenting online identities when interacting with other people. The research of CMC settings has disclosed that people have a trend in which they represent themselves. Huffaker and Calvert look at the age, gender, racial and sexual identity that is portrayed among teens through blogs and chat sessions. There are cues in which blog writers and website keepers are using that enlightens the reader as to who they might be in real life or what they may or may not look like in person. In some cases, bloggers are giving personal information outright, such as where they live or their age. According to Huffaker and Calvert’s article, about 92% of bloggers give a name to their readers. However, in some cases, a writer may be ambiguous and according to Huffaker and Calvert there are trends to watch for as a reader.
One certain characteristic of computer mediated communication that is insightful is emoticons. Huffaker and Calvert reported on Witmer and Katzman’s finding about the signals found through emoticons. “In a case study of 3,000 online messages, Witmer and Katzman
(1997) found that females used more graphical accents, including emoticons, to express emotion in their discourse than males (Witmer & Katzman, 1997), a pattern that is also reflected in adolescent males' tendency to deny their feelings, including sadness (Ruble & Martin, 1998). In an analysis using instant messaging dialogues, males rarely use emoticons in conversations with other males, but do use them with females, while females use an equal amount of emoticons in both male and female conversations (Lee, 2003). I found this part of the research to be interesting because it seems like in most conversations women are more likely to use expressions and extensive emotions and explaining when the speak. I think it is fascinating that it translates through with the use of expressions on the computer. 
According to the article, Ethno-Racial Identity Displays on Facebook by Sherri Grasmuck, Jason Martin and Shanyang Zhao, there are other aspects of identity other than a name, age or gender that has reason for attention as well. Studies have looked at race and ethnicity and how it affects the internet dynamics and communication. I don’t feel as a reader that I am too concerned about race or ethnicity of the author of the material I read. I feel indifferent when it comes to knowing too much about someone when I read online, however, if I was getting into a relationship of some sorts I would obviously care what the background of the other person was. I believe that the nature of the setting or environment constitutes the need for more information when necessary.

Blog 9 Gental and Racial Identities

Huffaker and Calvert(2005), talks about how a female is more freely to express herself, by texting more and using lots of descriptive wording. They describe females as being more freindlier. Females are also said to use emotions and words of feeling to express when they are sad or happy. Males are short on texting and abbreviate wording to get a point out quick. Males are less talkative and don't want to be bother for a long peroid of time. Males are brief in their conversation, so that the other person will know what they want and when they want it. Males mostly text with a style that says, I am a male. Smile...Most males type with a hidden agenda, what I'm trying to say. They wouldn't type in conversation alot of personal information to a stranger, like a female would. Sad, but true!

Grasmuck, Martin and Zhao(2009),desparetly tries to enlighten us with the difference in online contexts. They wants us to know that their really is a difference due to the fact that males and females have different insights. For one, the female may come off as a feminine role of a passive person that's deep in her feeling, while texting online. Some words will give a female away by the way she uses her words, or by the sound of words she uses. On the other hands, males may come off harsh and dominate. They might use profanity and words that are disrespectful. Male sometimes get upset quicker on social networking, whereas, the female delete and keep moving. Here we have patience and impatience.

Also, the female and male character may be given away by his or ethnicity background. This can be determined by the tone and social position. The characteristic can also be a factor in determining male or female gender. Your profile can tell a person if your hard or soft. Meaning some females have soft tenderness tone, and some males have a strong, masculine tone.

CMC is looks upon as a way to determine gender as well. CMC context single out how females uses words that are gentle to the touch, whereas males uses wording of aggression attitude.

Doing this class, I have never thought about the gender and race of anyone that I interact with in this class. I look at each individual as a whole. We all bleed red blood, and there is only 1 God. So, I am content knowing and believing in that powerful statement.

I will say that I label a person on the internet by male or female, by their names. It's hard, but I can tell a female name from a male name. MOST of the time. Smile.

Baym, references " pure relationships" as a relationship or a shared connection with another person online, made possible by one of a SNS community;this is the alternative to a face-to-face meeting. How pure is the relationship if or both are in la-la land, living out some fantasy.

Turkle's, "Aspects of Self", gives a very alarming perspective, of SNS communities, alone with detailed real life scenarios. The world is changing because of information technology so rapidly and how we interact with each other is at the forefront. Yes, people do pretend to be someone else and yes, I feel the Internet, alone with the MOO's and MUD's communities are where some the performances take place. Where as, watching the news and crime shows, really bring things to life. Personally, because of my background in IT, I have always handled the Internet with a "long handle spoon". I mean it's as trusting and reliable to us as the person's waiting to respond, especially in the SNS communities.

The blog that I am following is very informative by Dr. Melody McCloud who is a contributor for "Psychology Today" and several television magazines. Her profile list various credits and accolades obtained during her career. Nothing or any information seems questionable. I'm sure there's a possibility that her photo may need updating :)

Blog 8

In chapter 5, Baym talks about how questions are raised about whether people are honest about themselves online and whether they can be trusted. It is very easy to fool someone online and go by a different identity. She also says that “in many online environments, people seek to individualize themselves as different from other people”. The blog I’m following is a perfect example of someone using the internet to express themselves and individualize themselves. I’m following the blog of Tavi Gevinson, also known as the “style rookie”. Tavi, who started blogging at age 11, is only 14 years old and has gained fame and attention from publications ranging from the New York Times to Vogue. She frequently describes herself as an “outsider” and has been using her blog to express her individuality and share her ideas with the world.

Blog 8 Identity

I am following a blog about single malt monkey. This blog has alot of interesting pictures followed by text. It is amazing how the communication used by the person that is texting, ties it all together. Identity is characterized in this blog by the person with their usasge of description and feeling. The text appears to filled with the most exciting technology use of message texting. The person creating text is sending out a message that will give a more detail description of what's really going on. The most important point in the blog I'm following is that all messages text uses action words. Action words helps the viewer see how the picutures relates to the text. Like Baym describes in his topic on identity how we can be trick in to believing what we want to believe. Meaning, we want or like something so much, we let our imagination go wild and miss the real "picture". In the day, we want what we want and when we want it. Instead of interperting how something is presented. We fail to see the person for who they really are that's why we are mislead into deception. Characteristics are in every individual for a reason. So, we much reach out to explore both side to be able to choose the right side.

Blizzle Eizzle On St. Pizzle Dizzle...

The readings were very interesting as I have played several games similar to MUDs when Iwas younger. Nothing recent like FFX or anything like that but I used to dabble a little when I was 10-14. The Turkle reading was very interesting, I found myself agreeing with a lot of things that were mentioned such as finding the MUDs to be more realistic than "Real Life" or even asking people on the games how things were going in "real life". You come to find that games can lead to real friends even if you never get a chance to meet them in person. The story of Julee was more disturbing that people play games face to face where they act out events, I found that to be a little strange. The best part about MUD games is that if you don't like how your character is, all you have to do is create another one, or delete the old one. In some cases creating a password with your forehead is a suitable way to keep yourself offline. The stories of addiction to these types of games and lifestyle changes is VERY real. I know several people who have been so involved in games of this sort that they have lost friends, relationships, jobs, and some to the extent that they lost their health (Gaining over 100 lbs.) Baym Bring up great points in the identity section about how she has separate identities for each section of herself on the Internet. Like for example if my blog had all my personal information and my political views, that would be separate form my facebook persona of a crazy weekend worrior who loves to party. Where some people hide who they are and give lies about age, gender and location. Baym explains that though this is possible it is rare that people lie like that. This was shocking to me as 99% of the information I put on the Internet is BS... Maybe thats because I have seen what can happen to people who don't.

blog 8

I am following a girl that is figuring out how to be a good wife, good mother, good teacher and a good person as she finds herself through different storms of life. She is honest, open and leaves me wanting to learn more with each read. She is so quick to confess flaws she finds in herself and through her posts she seems very real. I would hate to think she is an entirely different person on the other end of the blog, however, there is always that possibiltiy.
As Bayam points out in Chapter 5, "When people's bodies arent' visible, will people like about who they are? Can they be known? Can they be trusted? Can the relationships they form be valid." He continues to discuss how the notion has always been believed in many cultures that every one has one true self, and yet, digital media is changing this belief up by allowing people to desembody their identities. This discussion opens that, while many honest people are using the internet blogging and posting on SNS, there is still the idea that most people are going to put themselves in the light in which they choose to be seen by the public. Therefore, this choice allows people to change or tweak as they see fit. What I liked most about the Bayam's discussion was the cues and competence. This explains how people can still be honest but basically they are deciding how their audience will perceive them. This is what I am hoping for my blogger. I think she is honest but is leading us down confessions and tell-all posts so that we get to know her better and root for her when she isn't quite so perfect.
In Turke's chapter, describes online identities as something that we self-create to allow ourselves the freedom. She best describes internet identity by saying that it is the new way for us to construct who we are in life. My blogger, Katie, does just this type of writing. She is describing herself and her views as if she is figuring it all out as she writes from day to day. I feel that Turkle's observations of how people change or construct to put pieces of self together is true for my blogger. One of Turkle's questions that was raised in the article read, will the commupter mediated relationships satisfy our need to connect? I thought this was interesting because my blogger really does have a lot of feedback (she is a published blog), and I thought about how she asks for responses to things or writes about controversial topics and I wonder if this is her main source of friendship feedback. She has talked about how she hasn't made a lot of new friends in Florida where they recently moved. Maybe the computer, for my blogger, is replacing he human connection. This then would suggest that some of her confessions and honest raw material is coming from a place of wanting to connect with her readers and give them a reason to write and discuss back with her. As natural and wonderful as she sounds on her blog, I have thought before (I have followed her blog before this class), that we could really be friends (not in creepy, stalker way), but I have just thought of how we read the same books, have kids, great husband ect.. and yet Walther's article pointed out something that stood out to me. It explains that the unique thing about CMC is the time that can or may be spend in editing writing. This time allows someone to really put effort into exactly waht they want to say. This idea makes me consider that there is a possiblity that what she puts out there may not match up to make some awesome, fun girl on the other side of her writing. There is a chance that she is just a really great writer.

Happy St. Patrick Day (post #8)

It’s amazing how a person can define a persons’ identity without even meting them, although their characteristics can play a major role too! I like to call this type of greeting, “cyber relationship.” In out textbook Baym, describes new relationships that are formed online every day. How can you form a relationship without meeting a person or shaking their hand? With the help of technology anything is possible. In the reading Turkle, describes humans as, “learning to see ourselves as plugged-in-technobodies” (Turkle). The internet is taking over the world even in our love life.lol Human beings identity has become multiplicity. People who use the internet are capable of building themselves to whatever and whoever they want be. The problem is, it becomes manipulative and unfair to the person whom is sharing their real identity (if one is sharing). Turkle explains how some people are able to go months without meting a person and still carry on an intimacy relationship. People are usually able to do this through a virtual chat session. One virtual social network is MUD (multi-user dungeons), this site allows you to meet and collaborate with different people within a room something like Twitter,Facebook, and MySpace. My blogger main focus everyday is minding someones' business. He has a creative style, post pictures and videos, and shows varies of interviews about today's relationships even the ones online. Freddy O has been around for a while and yet is the only non-celebrity that gets all the celebrities pictures. Can we say nosy lol. I hope he doesn't catch me stalking his twitter page or i'll be in social network jail!lol