Today in class we are doing specific exam preparation going thru some practice multiple choice questions. Exam is on wednesday so this will be my last post for my new com tech blog :( I have enjoyed this class more than i expected and it has broadened my horizons in the IT sector. So farewell, wish evryone the best of luck with future travels,
Peaceout, Ez :)
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Weeks 9-12
These weeks i have used my time wisely by working on my essay draft, final product and also starting exam preparation. So no blog tasks for these weeks!
Week 8: Parts 1 & 2
This week there were various tasks for tutorial.
Part 1 consisted of both Excel and Word. Now i'd have to say that this was one of the easiest tasks for this subject, as i completed certificate III in Business Services/Office Administration at TAFE in my last year at highschool. And my 1st year out of school i worked as an assistant front office manager for a small internet company, which allowed me to put to practice all the office stuff i'd learnt from my course. So the tasks set for this week i had already mastered years ago, and used on a daily, sometimes weekly basis. I can see how these tasks would seem daunting to first-timers but once you have completed them a few times they become alot easier and are very valuable in an office environment.
Part 2 is where we have to look at the qualitative differences between regular IM programs (eg:MSN) and 3D environment. The obvious differences would be that one is 3D like real world and MSN is simply chatting about personal subjects to your friends or family or people you know thru a message window. When i think of 3D chat rooms i think of a game one of my ex-boyfriends used to play called counter strike where u not only play the game but there is constant interaction with other players and their characters thru microphones or typing but it looks real. There are positive and negatives to both, it depends what you're into but i suppose MSN would be more widely used for general communication. 3D environments would be more useful for the hard core computer people.
Part 1 consisted of both Excel and Word. Now i'd have to say that this was one of the easiest tasks for this subject, as i completed certificate III in Business Services/Office Administration at TAFE in my last year at highschool. And my 1st year out of school i worked as an assistant front office manager for a small internet company, which allowed me to put to practice all the office stuff i'd learnt from my course. So the tasks set for this week i had already mastered years ago, and used on a daily, sometimes weekly basis. I can see how these tasks would seem daunting to first-timers but once you have completed them a few times they become alot easier and are very valuable in an office environment.
Part 2 is where we have to look at the qualitative differences between regular IM programs (eg:MSN) and 3D environment. The obvious differences would be that one is 3D like real world and MSN is simply chatting about personal subjects to your friends or family or people you know thru a message window. When i think of 3D chat rooms i think of a game one of my ex-boyfriends used to play called counter strike where u not only play the game but there is constant interaction with other players and their characters thru microphones or typing but it looks real. There are positive and negatives to both, it depends what you're into but i suppose MSN would be more widely used for general communication. 3D environments would be more useful for the hard core computer people.
New Comms Essay
Cyber bullying is a relatively new and pervasive form of bullying that is rapidly effecting today’s youth. This essay will demonstrate the main effects cyber bullying has on adolescents. In doing so this essay will firstly define and outline cyber bullying; secondly, clearly state the main effects associated this form of bullying; and finally, detail the two main social networks used in cyber bullying: MySpace and mobile phones. It will be concluded that cyber bullying effects not only the physical but also emotional aspects of a person, with sometimes extreme outcomes. The social networks used by today’s youth are very firmly embedded as a part of day-to-day life, therefore, it is considered punishment, to the victim, to ban usage of such networks in order to prevent bullying.
Cyber bullying is said to be one of the most prominent issues facing today’s youth. This new form of bullying is a 24 hour occurrence that often goes undetected by parents. “Cyber bullying describes bullying using mobile phones and the internet” (Smith et al., 2008: 376) to humiliate, threaten and tease other persons. While fundamentally the concept is the same as traditional bullying, there are some different characteristics (Smith et al., 2008: 376) that highlight this form of bullying as something new and of high importance. Cyber bullying is a result of this new communication era that has emerged with the invention of the internet and mobile phones. Both means of communication have existed for quite some time, however, it is this “always-on generation” (McKenna, 2007: 26) that has catapulted cyber bullying into society. Today’s bullies in cyber space still use gossip as their main form of ammunition against their victims, be it in the form of text message or internet chat rooms. Even though such bullies maintain traditional weapons of bullying, the characteristics that differentiate play-ground bullies from cyber bullies are the methods used on their victims. These include, but not limited to, e-mail, blogs (or Web logs), mobile phones, instant messaging” (Sparling, 2005: 18) and also social networks such as MySpace. The general appeal of cyber bullying as opposed to the traditional methods of cyber bullying, is the anonymity and lack of face-to-face contact with the victims. This allows the bullies to gain confidence and therefore, heightens levels of nastiness. The level of concern raised for this form of bullying is because “cyber-bullying transcends school boundaries into the so-called virtual world” (Tomazin & Smith, 2007) and doesn’t allow for any period of rest or peace for the victim.
The effects of cyber bullying vary from victim to victim and include not only the emotional but physical as well. Although research into this modern form of bullying is still in its early stages, it has been proven that “symptoms include poor socialisation, obesity, depression, addiction, sleep deprivation and a drop in academic performance” (Tomazin & Smith, 2007), as well as significant self-esteem issues. These are some of the key points that may alert parents to something more serious affecting their child, before it’s too late. Research shows that cyber bullying is most dominant in “11 to 16-year-olds” (Tomazin & Smith, 2007) and is the leader in school abuse statistics. One teenager stated “they've taken my freedom and my happiness away, and now all I ever want to do is really be alone” (
The methods applied in this new-age of bullying are central to the internet and social networks. The key contenders are MySpace and mobile phones, which most teenagers have access to on a 24 hour basis. These social-networks are an integral part to an adolescent’s day-to-day life, being considered a ‘life-line’, and easily accessible, so it is conceivable that these would be the main target regions for bullies. MySpace is regarded as being “a social networking site meant to share music, foster new friendships and a sense of community”, (Hewitt, 2006: 113) thus the appeal to today’s youth. However, this particular social network is also noted as a “preferred venue for cyber-bullies” (Hewitt, 2006: 113) due to its massive popularity amongst adolescents. Mobile phones are largely considered a key aspect in this communication era where cyber bullying has emerged. The technology available on many mobile phones today is inclusive of camera’s that capture both still and video imagery, as well as messaging capabilities that allow these images to be forwarded to a large audience. It is evident that cyber bullying ranges “from abusive text messages and emails, to degrading digital photographs, mobile phone videos and teasing or humiliation within the virtual walls of an internet chat room” (Tomazin & Smith, 2007), which highlights the large area this new form of bullying covers, on such an extreme scale.
The form of bullying present in the twenty-first century is similar to the traditional form of bullying, but uses modern technology as its weapon. The ‘always-on’ culture of today’s youth makes teenagers highly susceptible to cyber bullying, through such social networks as mobile phones and MySpace. It seems bullying has moved from the school playground to cyber space, in this all pervasive form of cyber bullying. The ramifications evident on victims, include the physical and emotional, even tending to the extent of suicide. It is the internet and its capabilities to reach such a wide audience that make cyber bullying so easily accessible and so humiliating. Whether it be MySpace or mobile phones, it is clear that cyber bullying is on the rapid increase and effecting many adolescents in a significant way.
Word Count: 970
Hewitt, B., (2006) MySpace Nation: The Controversy, People.
McKenna, P., (2007) The cyber-bullies are always with you.., New Scientist, London, Jul 21-Jul 27, 2007, Vol. 195, Iss. 2613.
Smith, P.K., Mahdavi, J., Carvalho, M., Fisher, S., Russell, S., Tippett, N., (2008) Cyberbullying: its nature and impact in secondary school pupils, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 49 (4).
Sparling, P., (2005) Mean Machines, Current Health 1,
Tomazin, F., Smith, B., (2007) The bully you can't see, The Age Newspaper, March
10th.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Week 7 - A time for rest..
YAY! this week there is no task set for us. Hope everyone catches up on any weeks lost or makes a start on their essay research! I'll be taking this opportunity to begin my essay before all my other assessments for other subjects get on top of me...
Good Luck, Ez :)
Good Luck, Ez :)
Wikipedia!
This weeks tute exercise was involving Wikipedia, as discussed in the lecture. We were asked to pick 2 topics that we knew alot about. So firstly i have chosen Pomeranians, and secondly the rapper 50 cent. Two totally unrelated topics, i know!So lets start with the article on Pomeranians.
I recently received a puppy for my birthday, a little Pomeranian, who i called Coco-Chanel. And, yes, she is the cutest puppy you will EVER see!! Anyway, so in acquiring such a pup i had to read up and know exactly what i was getting. My best friend, who gave me Coco, has 2 Pomeranians so i did know a bit about them already but its always interesting to read more. I've read everything from the history of Poms to how to toilet train them! So by now i'd say i know a fair bit..
I found the article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomeranian_(dog)
It is a very informative, detailed and accurate piece. It talks about all the normal details of a dog that you need to know, as well as health problems, history and an interesting part about famous people in history who owned Poms and celebrities who own them today. Quite interesting to note that Paris Hilton has 2 Poms! The article goes into detail on Pomeranian appearance and standards which is good for the beginner who wants or needs to know about this type of dog. It also has external links for further reading which is quite helpful. It is hard for this article to be biased as it is written as an informative piece, not an argument trying to influence you to pick a side.
Finally, one thing i would add to this article would be "traits", which i noticed has a heading on the page but is empty. In fairness, all dogs do have their own personality but there are certain traits that these Poms do posses that would be helpful to people who are considering getting a Pomeranian or for those who have just got one.
Now for the second part, American rapper 50 cent.
50 cent is an artist who people may think is a little out-of-left-field for my tastes, but theres always more than meets the eye and what people don't know about me is that i like all types of music. I have seen 50 cent's movie "Get rich or die tryin" and i must say i was quite impressed! It is a good insight into his life and the battle he's had. It actually provokes feeling and emotion, not your typical singer-turned-actor movie, that's for sure.
You can find the article here on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_cent
It is quite long and detailed, discussing the history of the artist, his rise to fame, controversies and disagreements with other rappers, his business ventures, a lawsuit, and the list goes on. It may seem like alot to read but i think you definitely need to read all aspects of this article in order to understand who 50 cent is and what he's about. It definitely covers all areas of importance in regard to 50 cent and his life, which is important for understanding this topic. It even goes as far to offer many links to related articles and subjects mentioned in the article. There are quite alot of references in this article which makes it fairly accurate, as it has not just come from one persons point of view. Which also coincides with the article being mostly unbiased, i'd say. There are alot of opportunities for bias in this piece, especially as it discusses controversies concerning certain other rappers, which leaves it open for people to take sides. But all in all it is pretty fair. I don't think i would want to add anything to this piece because if i was reading it for the first time i would know a fair bit about him!
I hope you have all learnt something today and perhaps gained a bit more insight into my life.
Til nxt time, Ez :)
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction.
Walter Benjamin. An ideas man. A thinker. A person way beyond his time. Well i think so anyway.. The piece he wrote in 1936 (title mentioned above), set about some serious thought processes in my mind over the last week. It has made me look at the world we live in, things surrounding us, day to day life, very differently, albeit in a different light. We don't realise how much we take for granted and how much passes us by without us taking a second look and appreciating it all. It has also opened my eyes to much of what is real and what is, for a better word, edited.
Some questions posed for us to think about and answer...
First of all, it is important to establish that when Benjamin refers to 'art' he does not simply mean paintings or drawings. His reference is to everything artistic from painting to acting to singing. He encompasses all the different art forms. Benjamin states "when the age of mechanical reproduction separated art from its basis in cult, the semblance of its autonomy disappeared forever", which basically sets the theme for the rest of his piece.
The ideas suggested by Benjamin are that of authenticity and originality disappearing because of the technology we have invented in the modern age and this digital era that allows anything to be edited, changed, reproduced etc. without a second thought. Through the lack of authenticity the "total function of art is reversed", that is the process changes, both mentally and physically. It is no longer "based on ritual, it begins to be based on another practice - politics". So for the first time in our history, art is no longer dependent on ritual, this due souly to mechanical reproduction. Therefore, art is now more widely available to the masses in exhibition form. In this instance Benjamin shows the ease of a portrait being exhibited, compared to "the statue of a divinity that has its fixed place in the interior of a temple". This now leads me to the idea of an 'aura' in works of art. So while we may not be able to see the 'original' statue of a divine god, modern technology allows these to be easily mass produced and sent anywhere in the world. I would have to say that literally being there, standing in front of a statue of a divinitythat is thousands and thousands of years old brought all the way from Greece, in the British Museum last year, is priceless compared to looking back on those memories in pictures. Same goes for beautiful sunrises i've witnessed on tropical islands in the pacific where the moon is still setting as the sun is rising, and viewing this all through scattered coconut palms over the ocean. Words could not explain how amazing it was, yet looking back at the picture just isn't the same. So when Benjamin talks about the 'aura', he is referring to the essence of the object that it accumulates over time from beginning to end in "testimony to the history it has experienced". The "authority of an object" is also jeopardised through mechanical reproduction which in turn eliminates the "aura of the work of art". In a sense, the reproduced object is removed from tradition through this technique and all essence or 'aura' is lost. The same can be said for live performances. Viewing live concerts or acting enables the audience to become deeply involved and to experience the performance and the ambience. Whereas watching a movie, someone acting on a screen "permits the audience to take the position of a critic, without experiencing any personal contact with the actor", says Benjamin.
As for photoshopped images being classed as authentic. I think it really depends on the object and the reason. Generally i'd say no in a sense, that photoshopped images wouldn't be authentic if you edit, crop and change an original image then they lose all value. But that then poses the question that if an image is changed enough, is that classed as authentic to the new artist? But also what is classed as enough? And if an artist creates an image from scratch on photoshop then who's to say it's not authentic? Photoshop can create some great altered images, like black and white etc. It definitely is up to the individual but it's also a bit of a grey area as far as rules and laws of authenticity go! Benjamin states "mechanical reproduction of art changes the reaction of the masses toward art". I guess this is due to all the technology we have at our fingertips we are now able to create or change any form of art so it no longer surprises people anymore. We are in a world moving forward and art will never be the same again!
Some questions posed for us to think about and answer...
- How do the ideas from Walter Benjamin's "The work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction" apply to contemporary digital media?
- There was a time when "Art" was made by artists who were skilled professionals. Now that anyone with a computer can create things digitally (music, images, videos, etc), what does it mean for art?
- Is a Photoshopped image authentic?
- Do digital things have an 'aura' (in Walter Benjamin's terms)?
First of all, it is important to establish that when Benjamin refers to 'art' he does not simply mean paintings or drawings. His reference is to everything artistic from painting to acting to singing. He encompasses all the different art forms. Benjamin states "when the age of mechanical reproduction separated art from its basis in cult, the semblance of its autonomy disappeared forever", which basically sets the theme for the rest of his piece.
The ideas suggested by Benjamin are that of authenticity and originality disappearing because of the technology we have invented in the modern age and this digital era that allows anything to be edited, changed, reproduced etc. without a second thought. Through the lack of authenticity the "total function of art is reversed", that is the process changes, both mentally and physically. It is no longer "based on ritual, it begins to be based on another practice - politics". So for the first time in our history, art is no longer dependent on ritual, this due souly to mechanical reproduction. Therefore, art is now more widely available to the masses in exhibition form. In this instance Benjamin shows the ease of a portrait being exhibited, compared to "the statue of a divinity that has its fixed place in the interior of a temple". This now leads me to the idea of an 'aura' in works of art. So while we may not be able to see the 'original' statue of a divine god, modern technology allows these to be easily mass produced and sent anywhere in the world. I would have to say that literally being there, standing in front of a statue of a divinitythat is thousands and thousands of years old brought all the way from Greece, in the British Museum last year, is priceless compared to looking back on those memories in pictures. Same goes for beautiful sunrises i've witnessed on tropical islands in the pacific where the moon is still setting as the sun is rising, and viewing this all through scattered coconut palms over the ocean. Words could not explain how amazing it was, yet looking back at the picture just isn't the same. So when Benjamin talks about the 'aura', he is referring to the essence of the object that it accumulates over time from beginning to end in "testimony to the history it has experienced". The "authority of an object" is also jeopardised through mechanical reproduction which in turn eliminates the "aura of the work of art". In a sense, the reproduced object is removed from tradition through this technique and all essence or 'aura' is lost. The same can be said for live performances. Viewing live concerts or acting enables the audience to become deeply involved and to experience the performance and the ambience. Whereas watching a movie, someone acting on a screen "permits the audience to take the position of a critic, without experiencing any personal contact with the actor", says Benjamin.
As for photoshopped images being classed as authentic. I think it really depends on the object and the reason. Generally i'd say no in a sense, that photoshopped images wouldn't be authentic if you edit, crop and change an original image then they lose all value. But that then poses the question that if an image is changed enough, is that classed as authentic to the new artist? But also what is classed as enough? And if an artist creates an image from scratch on photoshop then who's to say it's not authentic? Photoshop can create some great altered images, like black and white etc. It definitely is up to the individual but it's also a bit of a grey area as far as rules and laws of authenticity go! Benjamin states "mechanical reproduction of art changes the reaction of the masses toward art". I guess this is due to all the technology we have at our fingertips we are now able to create or change any form of art so it no longer surprises people anymore. We are in a world moving forward and art will never be the same again!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Search Engines and You!
This week we've been asked to look at search engines and how they work. Things like how do pages get ranked and what makes one more important or relevant than another one. Complicated stuff, i know, so here we go..
Each search engine follow a set of rules known as an algorithm, but how each engines algorithm works is a trade-secret. Generally, they follow what is called the location/frequency method. This involves the location and frequency of keywords used on a web page. Also used is how pages link to each other, which may give them higher ranks, thus determine how one page is ranked higher than the other. But also based on relevance of the page when you're searching keywords.
It's all very technical as far as im concerned, so this is just my general take on how its done, according to the reading i've done.
My favourite search engines would be yahoo.com and google although i do use altavista occasionally. Google scholar is also another good one for academic research, i highly recommend it!
Feeewww...i need a break now. Keep a look out for my nxt update on my travels in New Comms Tech and wat else ive discovered..
Til nxt time, Ez :)
Each search engine follow a set of rules known as an algorithm, but how each engines algorithm works is a trade-secret. Generally, they follow what is called the location/frequency method. This involves the location and frequency of keywords used on a web page. Also used is how pages link to each other, which may give them higher ranks, thus determine how one page is ranked higher than the other. But also based on relevance of the page when you're searching keywords.
It's all very technical as far as im concerned, so this is just my general take on how its done, according to the reading i've done.
My favourite search engines would be yahoo.com and google although i do use altavista occasionally. Google scholar is also another good one for academic research, i highly recommend it!
Feeewww...i need a break now. Keep a look out for my nxt update on my travels in New Comms Tech and wat else ive discovered..
Til nxt time, Ez :)
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Tutorial
Scavenger Hunt!
Last week we got a list of questions and had to find them without using google. so i tested out some other search engines and discovered they do exactly the same thing. Thus, poses the question "why does everyone use google?"
Below are the questions and answers:
philippines.lovebug.02/index.html
http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/paperclip.htm
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070215111506AAXHZJq
http://openmap.bbn.com/~tomlinso/ray/firstemailframe.html
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2007/10/the_storm_worm_maelstrom_or_te.html
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/10/the_storm_worm.html
http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~toxicoh/blackas.htm
http://socialsoftware.weblogsinc.com/2005/09/29/approaching-a-definition-of-web-2-0/
Well i'll leave that with you coz im sure you're on information overload as it is.
Til nxt time, Ez :)
Last week we got a list of questions and had to find them without using google. so i tested out some other search engines and discovered they do exactly the same thing. Thus, poses the question "why does everyone use google?"
Below are the questions and answers:
- Who was the creator of the infamous "lovebug" computer virus?
- Who invented the paper clip?
http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/paperclip.htm
- How did the Ebola virus get its name?
- What country had the largest recorded earthquake?
- In computer memory/storage terms, how many kilobytes in a terabyte?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070215111506AAXHZJq
- Who is the creator of email?
http://openmap.bbn.com/~tomlinso/ray/firstemailframe.html
- What is the storm worm and how many computers are affected by it?
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2007/10/the_storm_worm_maelstrom_or_te.html
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/10/the_storm_worm.html
- If you wanted to contact the Prime Minister of Australia directly, what is the most efficient way?
http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm
- Which Brisbane-based punk band is Stephen Stockwell (head of school of arts) a member of?
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~toxicoh/blackas.htm
- What does the term 'Web 2.0' mean in your own words?
http://socialsoftware.weblogsinc.com/2005/09/29/approaching-a-definition-of-web-2-0/
Well i'll leave that with you coz im sure you're on information overload as it is.
Til nxt time, Ez :)
Something to Ponder..
It has been awhile since my last post, so alot to say about whats been on my mind as far as New Comm Tech goes. And although this isnt part of our weekly task, its just something i find interesting so im putting it out there! In the lecture a few weeks ago we were presented with the results of the survey for our subject that asked questions about new and old technologies and how/why we use them and the patterns that they take in our lives. Quite interesting to note that people rely alot on technology these days. I mean, i knew that but these results put it out there in black & white for all to see and its amazing how reliant we have become on all the technology thats available today! Looking back at the "written letter" compared to email, results showed barely any people use letters at all and some claim to have never posted a letter or received one - how bizarre?! Not only is email a whole lot more convenient compared to "snail mail", as i like to refer to it, but it has become deeply etched into our generation and most of society i'd say. Something else that surprised me somewhat, the findings that online usage (the net) is more favourable than time spent on video games. i'm not sure if that has to do with the fact that there are more girls than boys in 1501ART, approx. ratio 2:1, or that video games are slowly being replaced by on-line gaming. The internet also provides more control and convenience for us, as the survey results showed, and people like having alot of information available. But who wouldn't? It makes our lives a whole lot easier, giving us more time for other things in life. I would even go as far to say that the internet improves quality of life somewhat. It definitely saves me time and can eliminate problems, as i do bill paying, net banking, keep in contact with friends and family etc, all on-line and it even gives me access to all my uni subjects and notes on-line. This makes for a greater convenience in my life thats for sure!
One other thing to think about, results of the survey showed that students are working less and studying more. This is an interesting claim and may have many factors contributing as to why this is. I'm sure this has changed alot in the last decade, and definitely since our parents were studying at uni, when they had to work full time as well as study. Again, something to do with the amount of technology available to us today?
Overall, the survey results when put into graph form, indicated that we, being the students, use alot of networks. Email and phones were used 100% by everybody, whereas myspace, facebook and file sharing (p2p) also showed high usage.
Something to ponder...
Till nxt time, Ez :)
One other thing to think about, results of the survey showed that students are working less and studying more. This is an interesting claim and may have many factors contributing as to why this is. I'm sure this has changed alot in the last decade, and definitely since our parents were studying at uni, when they had to work full time as well as study. Again, something to do with the amount of technology available to us today?
Overall, the survey results when put into graph form, indicated that we, being the students, use alot of networks. Email and phones were used 100% by everybody, whereas myspace, facebook and file sharing (p2p) also showed high usage.
Something to ponder...
Till nxt time, Ez :)
Sunday, March 16, 2008
New Communication Technologies
On the topic of new communication technologies id have to say the main networks i use would be MSN messenger, facebook, myspace, email and ofcourse my mobile phone! my phone is my lifeline to the outside world, its my immediate way of keeping in contact with friends and family on a daily basis. As for for MSN n email, thats more on a weekly or sumtimes monthly basis depending on how im feeling with the world... And Facebook/Myspace id say i use weekly.
I generally dont socialise with friends i dont know on the net, well these days anyway. When i was younger and in highschool i would always use msn, it was a daily thing, and i would add what i call "randoms", which is people i don't know, and chat to them, mainly when i was ment to be studying! But today, i dont add anyone to my facebook or myspace account that i dont know, or know of through a friend. it's like its my little personal space and i dont want god knows who looking at my pics or reading thru convo's with my mates. it's all a bit creepy! So i guess thats why privacy isnt really an issue for me coz if i dont know them then i wont add them or talk to them, they get blocked!
Ive been using MSN since beginning of highschool but as there is always something new coming out i have somewhat drifted more towards myspace and facebook. For me MSN was the big thing at school but its amazing to see that for my sisters, just 2 years younger than me, myspace was the one that took over n MSN just disappeared into the back ground, ofcourse it will always be there though. So i have only started using myspace in the last few years, introduced to it by my sisters. And, admitttedly, i hated it at first, with a passion. but as i started to realise how much u can do with it and how many of my friends were using it, i finally gave in! Then came facebook, which i now prefer, as i consider myspace to be "so highschool!" Facebook came to me from friends travelling overseas as it became a more fun way to keep in contact than boring email. but id have to say the type of people, i have noticed, that use facebook and myspace are completely different. Ofcourse a few of them have both, like me, but generally myspace seems to be for the younger just-come-out-of-highschool crew, whereas facebook seems to be widely used by twenty-somethings and up. That said, it also depends i think alot on your peers. if most of ur mates have myspace then that's what you'll probly tend towards. The reason i have both is coz some friends only have one or the other so its my way of keeping in contact with my different groups of friends. And thats what it comes down to basically, is grouping. Different people and different groups prefer a differnt interface to say, another person. So really, its just preference on interface, they both do roughly the same things and keep you in contact with people. and thats all you need!
As i get older i tend to shy away from socialising online as i prefer to do it face to face or over the phone. but new communication technologies such as myspace and facebook is more of a fun way to play around n socialise with friends and also share pics. I went thru a phase about a year ago where i was a little bit on the addicted side to these two networks but now its not so much a neccesity n more just a fun convenience. It's quite good to see that the older generations have taken a bit of an interest n understanding in these new technologies. My parents have actively taken to mobile phones, i suppose as a way to readily keep in contact with us kids but also for convenience. and my grandparents have gradually accepted email which is good, but taken a while and alot of teaching! But i suppose for their generation it is alot to take in and understand, but im glad they're making an effort. All these new technologies definitely have their conveniences, which i love!
Till nxt time, Ez :)
I generally dont socialise with friends i dont know on the net, well these days anyway. When i was younger and in highschool i would always use msn, it was a daily thing, and i would add what i call "randoms", which is people i don't know, and chat to them, mainly when i was ment to be studying! But today, i dont add anyone to my facebook or myspace account that i dont know, or know of through a friend. it's like its my little personal space and i dont want god knows who looking at my pics or reading thru convo's with my mates. it's all a bit creepy! So i guess thats why privacy isnt really an issue for me coz if i dont know them then i wont add them or talk to them, they get blocked!
Ive been using MSN since beginning of highschool but as there is always something new coming out i have somewhat drifted more towards myspace and facebook. For me MSN was the big thing at school but its amazing to see that for my sisters, just 2 years younger than me, myspace was the one that took over n MSN just disappeared into the back ground, ofcourse it will always be there though. So i have only started using myspace in the last few years, introduced to it by my sisters. And, admitttedly, i hated it at first, with a passion. but as i started to realise how much u can do with it and how many of my friends were using it, i finally gave in! Then came facebook, which i now prefer, as i consider myspace to be "so highschool!" Facebook came to me from friends travelling overseas as it became a more fun way to keep in contact than boring email. but id have to say the type of people, i have noticed, that use facebook and myspace are completely different. Ofcourse a few of them have both, like me, but generally myspace seems to be for the younger just-come-out-of-highschool crew, whereas facebook seems to be widely used by twenty-somethings and up. That said, it also depends i think alot on your peers. if most of ur mates have myspace then that's what you'll probly tend towards. The reason i have both is coz some friends only have one or the other so its my way of keeping in contact with my different groups of friends. And thats what it comes down to basically, is grouping. Different people and different groups prefer a differnt interface to say, another person. So really, its just preference on interface, they both do roughly the same things and keep you in contact with people. and thats all you need!
As i get older i tend to shy away from socialising online as i prefer to do it face to face or over the phone. but new communication technologies such as myspace and facebook is more of a fun way to play around n socialise with friends and also share pics. I went thru a phase about a year ago where i was a little bit on the addicted side to these two networks but now its not so much a neccesity n more just a fun convenience. It's quite good to see that the older generations have taken a bit of an interest n understanding in these new technologies. My parents have actively taken to mobile phones, i suppose as a way to readily keep in contact with us kids but also for convenience. and my grandparents have gradually accepted email which is good, but taken a while and alot of teaching! But i suppose for their generation it is alot to take in and understand, but im glad they're making an effort. All these new technologies definitely have their conveniences, which i love!
Till nxt time, Ez :)
Sunday, March 9, 2008
An insight into me
The facts: I'm 21, female, green eyes, blonde hair.
Well in my life it goes a lil like that. Music, the beach, sun, friends, & family are all the things that mean the most to me, they are the best things in my life, and u guessed it..they're FREE!
I love sunny days, music festivals, hot summer days at the beach, chillin with friends, crazy random nites out, and yummy cocktails with the girls.
I'm a real girly girl, a daddy's girl, i love inspirational stuff, i can't wait to travel the world, i love meeting new people, and i'm a sucker for red frogs, thats my weak point!
So thats me in a nutshell, the short version of the long story...
Ez :)
Someone once said "The best things in life are free!"
I love sunny days, music festivals, hot summer days at the beach, chillin with friends, crazy random nites out, and yummy cocktails with the girls.
I'm a real girly girl, a daddy's girl, i love inspirational stuff, i can't wait to travel the world, i love meeting new people, and i'm a sucker for red frogs, thats my weak point!
So thats me in a nutshell, the short version of the long story...
Ez :)
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