websites

I think making a website is one of the most difficult projects i have ever done! I cannot imagine doing this all the time and now I realize how much work actually goes into it. This class was a really valuable learning experience and I gained a lot out of it. I never knew how many different aspects there were to an online world.

Bye Bye traditional media

I think it is very alarming that online print is taking over news papers and traditional forms of news media. We grew up turning to the Chicago Tribune or watch the 9 p.m. news to find out what was going on across the country and in our communities. I think without the forms of traditional media, we lose a sense of closeness and a sense of community. We are no longer focused on our individual communities, but as the world as a whole. My parents still enjoy reading " The Doings" (our local newspaper in my town). It lets you know what is goin on a few blocks away at the police station, or what is going on with our high schools. With out it, I think my town wouldn't feel like normal.

COPYRIGHT

I think it is so funny that you can use a T.V. clip, article, or picture if it is for educational purposes or criticism. I LOVE the show "The Soup" it is the funniest show ever. I like it because the host gets away with showing celebrity clips and making fun of people without getting in trouble. Also, from our class discussion, I think it is absurd that record label companies could sue people for downloading songs off of the internet. 24 songs, and a woman was charged thousands of dollars? SO REDICULOUS

Lawyers Blogging??

I found it very off that lawyers were one of the people that blogged the most on the web. I think that is so random? The fact that Andrew Sullivan was making a profit from blogging was CRAZY to me. I can’t really see myself donating to a blog, maybe that is why I do not understand it very much. This is interesting because I never knew it was such a focus in some people’s lives. However, I think it is a great opportunity to get our your personal thoughts and opinions. It is like an activity that cannot be tamed and isn’t so restricted like the radio and television. Every song on the radio is changed. A BLEEP is added in place of a swear word. It is stupid to me. Aren’t we all mature enough to hear it?

Sensorship

I think so many rules and restrictions to television shows are going a little too far. I know that I always found ways to watch things that my parents did not want me seeing. When I was little, I was not supposed to watch South Park. My parents never even attempted to block the TV shows or use the V-CHIP discussed in class. If my older siblings were watching South Park, I would just sneak into the room and watch it with them. There is always a way around it. I personally think it makes kids want to see it more if you restrict them from mature content, and then they will go to further extremes to see it.

identity

Today’s class was very interesting. That Lamdamoo exercise was crazy. I do not really understand what you do in it, but it was really cool to talk to people in class and interact with multiple people at once. I think the issue on identity in cyber space can be argued a lot. I think the fact that you can be whoever you want on the internet can be kind of scary. This is why we have the issue of online predators. I think the internet has to be more controlled because having a completely false identity can be somewhat dangerous.

SMSs

Today, our discussion about SMSs made me think a lot about facebook. Why is it so addicting? I know I spend and waste SO much time on it. I can even check facebook from my phone. Is this pathetic? Even though I may spend many useless hours on facebook, when I could be studying for a test, I am thankful that I am part of that community. Facebook has introduced me to many new people. Because of facebook, I started talking to my freshman year roommate, I have kept in touch with friends who go to school across the country, and I have networked with people with the same interests as I have. Even though facebook is addicting, it may be a good kind of addicting. I love being able to show my friends at school in Michigan or Indiana what I have been up to on the weekends. It is a place where you can reflect on past events with your friends when you look through old tagged pictures. I think it would be hard to maintain friendships with people who are far away without the help of facebook.