What this book acknowledges is the reasoning behind successful communities through the use of social tools. I commonly utilize open sources but I never realized how this information came to be so credible and accurate. Shirky shares, "...just as everyone eventually came to treat the calculator as ubiquitous and invisible tool, we are all coming to take our social tools for granted as well." From his perspective and experience with having to unlearn previous technologies, he creates an awareness for individuals like myself who have grown up in a social networking world. He doesn't take ample time describing various sites or technologies but rather explains why they succeed and continue to grow in popularity.
Until this book I never acknowledged why I trust Wikipedia when I know it's created by the public or why I turn to group chats about various problems instead of calling the company first. I frequently refer to these tools and yesterday's iPhone malfunction was no exception. When it appeared that my phone was stuck in headphones mode I took it to AT&T to get it fixed. Instead I was given a piece of paper with a phone number on it so I could ship the phone myself and have Apple fix it. Needless to say I left disappointed. As a college student I don't have the luxury of not having a phone for more than a day and driving to Spokane would take too much time. From this frustration I looked to the Internet and found group chats tailored to my problem.
After browsing the first page I instantly had a handful of solutions and could scroll through 20 more pages of related conversation. Shirky's comment of how "Members of the community listen to each other's problems and offer answers as a way of taking care of one another," immediately registered in my mind upon viewing this mass quantity of content. It was reassuring to see so many ideas that I could personally try but even more of a relief when my phone actually worked after the twelfth suggestion I attempted. Turns out I had to suck in air on the headphone jack and let it cool down in front of the fan for a few minutes. "If a large enough population of users trying things, then the happy accidents have a much higher chance of being discovered." If the user with this solution had never posted this idea or group chats weren't even available, I would probably still have a broken phone.
With these social tools, connecting is easier and the world is constantly becoming smaller as a result. I actually love that I get news on Twitter faster than the shows that specifically broadcast current events. I love that I can search Skyrim dragons for a design project and find an entire Wikipedia specifically created for that particular video game. Even Pinterest shows me the best work outs, crafts or fashions more quickly than top selling magazines. I believe social technology is the most powerful because large communities can interact, contribute and support each other a million times faster than any print or commercial company. Don't get me wrong, I do prefer print to online. Yet nothing can beat the speed of the Internet or the power of social networks.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Shirky, Part II
"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... and gets posted on Facebook." These were the first wise words spoken to me as I walked along the Las Vegas strip. This phrase not only came from a resident who took a picture of my group in front of the famous Bellagio hotel fountain, but was also shared by a different stranger later that day. Naturally, my Spring Break comrades laughed it off and we continued our stroll in the warm sun. Unfortunately for me, I couldn't shake the reoccurring comments and I began to analyze every picture I appeared in based on whether or not my grandma or mother would approve of it.
Of course the only reason anyone of a younger generation censors Facebook pictures is either due to being friends with a family member or, more importantly, to ensure that upon seeking a job, inappropriate personal profile pictures or comments won't arise and jeopardize potential employment. It makes sense why employers observe online profiles during the application review and hiring process. Businesses want an employee who is professional inside and outside work because they represent that business at all times. Even though I prefer to have a private profile and separate my social life from my working life, the content that arises is still public regardless of my intentions. Similarly, Shirky mentions, "Now that the cost of posting things in a global medium has collapsed, much of what gets posted on any given day is in public but not for the public."
Obviously Shirky expands on the power and ease of reaching out to viewers other than immediate friends and family. Publishing on social networking sites meets both communicating and broadcasting content, which then collects attention and promotes further conversation. "As mobile phones and the Internet both spread and merge, we now have a platform that creates both expressive power and audience size." This ability is powerful and shows that any individual can make a positive impact on a large scale through the ease of online collaboration and awareness. However, this point also ties hand in hand with the Spring Break article because the power of convergence paired with a lack of privacy has started to become an alarming concept. Many are starting to realize that their personal reputation is built upon profile content, which can then influence future opportunities, relationships and potential experiences.
I've actually witnessed Facebook profile evaluations and even participated in a couple. Even if the profile is private, the profile picture that does show can say a lot about the applicant and even decide whether they get an interview or not. The other day, my mom actually sent me an article discussing businesses that ask for a username and password to log onto the applicant's Facebook profile during the interview process. While I disapprove of this method, it is obvious that my examples and personal experiences confirm the Times article entirely.
Overall, social media has shown me that if I want a respectable job, I should appear professional and appropriate for all events, both online and offline. I believe this precautionary approach is a good thing because as I get closer to starting a career, I don't want a Facebook profile to hinder me from acquiring my dream job. If anything, I want potential employers to judge me on aspects like my personality, my portfolio and my interview answers rather than a photo in Vegas that was taken over Spring Break. So while this decision may be an "inconvenience" at social gatherings or other informal events, it has taught me to be much more aware of my actions and that is a trait I'm happy to have acquired earlier rather than later.
Of course the only reason anyone of a younger generation censors Facebook pictures is either due to being friends with a family member or, more importantly, to ensure that upon seeking a job, inappropriate personal profile pictures or comments won't arise and jeopardize potential employment. It makes sense why employers observe online profiles during the application review and hiring process. Businesses want an employee who is professional inside and outside work because they represent that business at all times. Even though I prefer to have a private profile and separate my social life from my working life, the content that arises is still public regardless of my intentions. Similarly, Shirky mentions, "Now that the cost of posting things in a global medium has collapsed, much of what gets posted on any given day is in public but not for the public."
Obviously Shirky expands on the power and ease of reaching out to viewers other than immediate friends and family. Publishing on social networking sites meets both communicating and broadcasting content, which then collects attention and promotes further conversation. "As mobile phones and the Internet both spread and merge, we now have a platform that creates both expressive power and audience size." This ability is powerful and shows that any individual can make a positive impact on a large scale through the ease of online collaboration and awareness. However, this point also ties hand in hand with the Spring Break article because the power of convergence paired with a lack of privacy has started to become an alarming concept. Many are starting to realize that their personal reputation is built upon profile content, which can then influence future opportunities, relationships and potential experiences.
I've actually witnessed Facebook profile evaluations and even participated in a couple. Even if the profile is private, the profile picture that does show can say a lot about the applicant and even decide whether they get an interview or not. The other day, my mom actually sent me an article discussing businesses that ask for a username and password to log onto the applicant's Facebook profile during the interview process. While I disapprove of this method, it is obvious that my examples and personal experiences confirm the Times article entirely.
Overall, social media has shown me that if I want a respectable job, I should appear professional and appropriate for all events, both online and offline. I believe this precautionary approach is a good thing because as I get closer to starting a career, I don't want a Facebook profile to hinder me from acquiring my dream job. If anything, I want potential employers to judge me on aspects like my personality, my portfolio and my interview answers rather than a photo in Vegas that was taken over Spring Break. So while this decision may be an "inconvenience" at social gatherings or other informal events, it has taught me to be much more aware of my actions and that is a trait I'm happy to have acquired earlier rather than later.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Shirky, Part I
My personal understanding of Here Comes Everybody, Chapters 1, 3 and 5 consists of the power of group action and how easy it is to make an impact through the Internet. As Shirky elaborates on the story of losing a Sidekick, I immediately compared this group action concept with the power of convergence. "The loss and return of the Sidekick is a story about many things, but one of the themes running through the story is the power of group action, given the right tools." From my involvement in the Convergence group, one of the topics we specifically covered was the power of convergence and how groups of people can easily have a heavy impact on any situation.
This concept reminds me of a video we showed as an example regarding Mr. Splashy Pants and the power of the Reddit community. The Sidekick story is fairly similar to this because it links encompasses an individual bringing awareness of an event. Once that individual captures the attention of a group, the focus and publicity essentially creates a snowball effect. "When people care enough, they can come together and accomplish things of a scope and longevity that were previously impossible." With enough popularity, the group has the power to cause any situation to bend toward what they want, even if it involves recovering a lost Sidekick or naming a whale Mr. Splashy Pants.
Ten years ago, nothing like this would have been possible. Websites were used for retrieving information, just like a television or radio, and popular social networks did not exist. It's incredible how far we've come and how much social media and the Internet in general impacts our lives. My constant connection to friends, the Internet and email is more than just accepted by society, it is expected. However, the issue of privacy and the ease of personal publication for the world to see and share is often brought up and discussed in this book.
"It demonstrates the ways in which the information we give off about our selves, in photos and e-mails and MySpace pages and all the rest of it, has dramatically increased our social visibility and made it easier for us to find each other but also be scrutinized in public." It doesn't take a genius to realize that my age group, or rather the Net Generation, doesn't understand that what they post on the Internet is often permanent and can instantly spread on a global scale. Even in Grown Up Digital, Tapscott mentions that out of the main worrisome Net Generation traits, privacy is the most concerning because we still don't grasp the weight of this concept.
Obviously professionalism is highly valued among employers and today most applicants' Internet profiles are viewed with good reason. All it takes is one inappropriate comment, status or picture to ruin a career or even a reputation. I personally think this future problem must be learned the hard way for a lot of users and hopefully over time, others will recognize this risk and begin to value keeping some aspects of their lives private.
This concept reminds me of a video we showed as an example regarding Mr. Splashy Pants and the power of the Reddit community. The Sidekick story is fairly similar to this because it links encompasses an individual bringing awareness of an event. Once that individual captures the attention of a group, the focus and publicity essentially creates a snowball effect. "When people care enough, they can come together and accomplish things of a scope and longevity that were previously impossible." With enough popularity, the group has the power to cause any situation to bend toward what they want, even if it involves recovering a lost Sidekick or naming a whale Mr. Splashy Pants.
Ten years ago, nothing like this would have been possible. Websites were used for retrieving information, just like a television or radio, and popular social networks did not exist. It's incredible how far we've come and how much social media and the Internet in general impacts our lives. My constant connection to friends, the Internet and email is more than just accepted by society, it is expected. However, the issue of privacy and the ease of personal publication for the world to see and share is often brought up and discussed in this book.
"It demonstrates the ways in which the information we give off about our selves, in photos and e-mails and MySpace pages and all the rest of it, has dramatically increased our social visibility and made it easier for us to find each other but also be scrutinized in public." It doesn't take a genius to realize that my age group, or rather the Net Generation, doesn't understand that what they post on the Internet is often permanent and can instantly spread on a global scale. Even in Grown Up Digital, Tapscott mentions that out of the main worrisome Net Generation traits, privacy is the most concerning because we still don't grasp the weight of this concept.
Obviously professionalism is highly valued among employers and today most applicants' Internet profiles are viewed with good reason. All it takes is one inappropriate comment, status or picture to ruin a career or even a reputation. I personally think this future problem must be learned the hard way for a lot of users and hopefully over time, others will recognize this risk and begin to value keeping some aspects of their lives private.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Tapscott, Part III
Upon completing this book, I admired how Tapscott countered every concern and negative opinion made toward my generation. He proves credible in his arguments and it honestly felt great to have someone outside of the Net Generation be supportive and actually defend our evolving lifestyle. After all, it's not like the Boomer generation was perfect considering my generation will be inheriting all of their problems and mistakes. If anything, our continuous intellectual growth from the web and constant interactivity will help us to fix a lot of these leftover issues.
Yet I can understand concerns regarding our lack of reading books. Personally, I only read books if they're assigned for class or if I'm at home visiting my parents and don't have anyone to hang out with. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy hanging out with my parents, not to mention the cats are good company as well, but every son or daughter needs his or her own personal "freedom" after a while... (Refer to previous blog for a more in depth explanation of this concept.) Honestly though, if I actually had the time to read a book for personal enjoyment, I would. It's a hobby I don't get enough of. But when I'm expected to amp up my productivity because technology has granted me access to email, clubs, group projects, sorority life, social media, texting, phone calls, interactive gaming, etc. I simply don't have the time. And when I do have the time, I'd rather be social or actually zone out watching TV.
I don't mean for my tangent of productivity and technology to sound like this lifestyle has become a burden, but I will admit to getting somewhat tired of everyone's demand for immediacy. Yet that's exactly what everyone wants. Heck, it's the reason why I get impatient waiting for my popcorn to get done in the microwave or why I become irritated with a slow internet connection. Once Web 2.0 caught on and rapidly integrated into our culture, there was no looking back. Days of writing letters and reading books are over, unless it's a special occasion (or I'm at my parent's house). And frankly, I'm okay with that. I'd prefer surfing the internet to find the information I need over reading a 300 page novel.
Perhaps this idea is why so many boomers freak out and think our world is doomed. My daily actions and beliefs contradict popular practice of traditional reading and writing dating back to its origin. However, because this lifestyle is different and unfamiliar doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Obviously integrating technology has been a good change for society and even for older generations, but fear of the unknown tends to blind reasoning and credible observation, a concept Tapscott recognizes throughout the book.
But overall, I'm not too worried about the older generation's "concerns." It's just like any other evolution, which forces them to participate and will eventually become transparent in their lives as well. Clearly their inexperience with immediacy will take them a while to get used to. Though what's ironic is it's the older generations that invented the beginnings of this lifestyle, so shaking a finger at a generation born into it is not a concept I would categorize as reasonable. Thank you Tapscott for making this clear and for giving the Net Generation some credit.
Yet I can understand concerns regarding our lack of reading books. Personally, I only read books if they're assigned for class or if I'm at home visiting my parents and don't have anyone to hang out with. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy hanging out with my parents, not to mention the cats are good company as well, but every son or daughter needs his or her own personal "freedom" after a while... (Refer to previous blog for a more in depth explanation of this concept.) Honestly though, if I actually had the time to read a book for personal enjoyment, I would. It's a hobby I don't get enough of. But when I'm expected to amp up my productivity because technology has granted me access to email, clubs, group projects, sorority life, social media, texting, phone calls, interactive gaming, etc. I simply don't have the time. And when I do have the time, I'd rather be social or actually zone out watching TV.
I don't mean for my tangent of productivity and technology to sound like this lifestyle has become a burden, but I will admit to getting somewhat tired of everyone's demand for immediacy. Yet that's exactly what everyone wants. Heck, it's the reason why I get impatient waiting for my popcorn to get done in the microwave or why I become irritated with a slow internet connection. Once Web 2.0 caught on and rapidly integrated into our culture, there was no looking back. Days of writing letters and reading books are over, unless it's a special occasion (or I'm at my parent's house). And frankly, I'm okay with that. I'd prefer surfing the internet to find the information I need over reading a 300 page novel.
Perhaps this idea is why so many boomers freak out and think our world is doomed. My daily actions and beliefs contradict popular practice of traditional reading and writing dating back to its origin. However, because this lifestyle is different and unfamiliar doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Obviously integrating technology has been a good change for society and even for older generations, but fear of the unknown tends to blind reasoning and credible observation, a concept Tapscott recognizes throughout the book.
But overall, I'm not too worried about the older generation's "concerns." It's just like any other evolution, which forces them to participate and will eventually become transparent in their lives as well. Clearly their inexperience with immediacy will take them a while to get used to. Though what's ironic is it's the older generations that invented the beginnings of this lifestyle, so shaking a finger at a generation born into it is not a concept I would categorize as reasonable. Thank you Tapscott for making this clear and for giving the Net Generation some credit.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Grown Up Digital, Part II
The freedom indoors opposed to outdoors struck a note with
me. In the final chapter of Part II, Tapscott talks about how Boomer parents
interact with their Net Generation children. I was obviously able to relate on
a number of points made throughout the chapter but I never contemplated the
reasoning behind these concepts.
Firstly, the idea that I can tolerate my parents, regardless
of my inability to wander unsupervised, is due to my freedom through the
Internet. When outdoor adventure turns into online browsing, I am able to
venture anywhere while also staying in close proximity to my parents. This
capability has provided both my parents and myself with a comfortable living
arrangement and over time, a closer relationship. Although I’ve noticed this
same connecting among my friends, I never thought that helicopter parenting was
common.
As an only child, my parents are naturally protective, which
is understandable considering I’m all they have. To add to the smallness of my
family, my parents have never divorced and the cousins I do have I’m not
allowed to associate with because they’re bad influences. Naturally, this adds
a lot of pressure on my part and more attention than I care for. So when my
parents want to attend the college parent orientation or help me find job
applications and put in a good word, I assume this is only normal for my
family. That is, until I started reading Tapscott’s book and learning about the
increasingly common helicopter parent.
However, what surprises me is the idea that parents are more
protective and almost more controlling than ever before, but with a change in
the family structure and freedom of the internet, the net generation is closer
to them as a result. From personal experience, I admire my parents and
appreciate their help when they offer it. It doesn’t mean I’m lazy or can’t
take care of myself, but it’s rather a win-win situation for everyone. They get
the satisfaction of helping and I receive that help, which saves me time and
gives me further insight on opportunities I may have missed.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Grown Up Digital, Part I
Upon reading the Introduction of this book, I was rather offended by the negative comments about the characteristics of my generation. Frankly, it's not our fault we were brought up through technology and when I think of the boomer generation growing up, I picture partying, raves and riots. While I admit technology has weakened my generation's verbal communication skills, this digital accessibility has provided us with more information and social interactions than ever before.
Personally, I found segments within the The Net Generation Brain chapter extremely interesting. Particularly, the portion covering video game testing and how gamers develop various skills as a result of regular participation. Although I'm rather biased since I regularly engage in this activity, I have supported the benefits of video games for years and I know video games truly prepare you for real life situations. Let's walk through a typical scenario.
I am in the Xbox Live menu of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and am about to start a game of Capture the Flag. As I spawn, I am given a team to complete the objective of capturing the flag with and choose to equip myself with a Famas since it's versatitility will help me adapt to my surroundings. Since the other team will be guarding the flag, I know that I must work with my team in order to win. As the game starts, I immediately notice the map is small and filled with many destroyed buildings. Opponents could be around any corner so I cautiously move from one building to another and watch my team mate's back while I assume he's doing the same for me. I see movement off in the distance but don't have a clear shot so I throw a grenade because I know this weapon and my spatial reasoning have a better chance of killing than my gun.
Once the coast is clear, I notice the flag but don't go for it yet. I tell my team to look for snipers who are guarding the flag from a distance and we all check our radar for good measure. During this time I note my amunition is low so I can either use my secondary weapon, a pistol, which isn't as powerful and better for short range attacks, thus causing me to stay in buildings to have a better chance of survival, or I could find an unclaimed gun and use that. However, since I am low on amunition and have chosen the perk of Extreme Conditioning, which allows me to sprint for longer periods of time than I normally could, I alert my team mates and run for the flag.
Immediately, an enemy appears in my periferal so I shoot at him while continuing to run toward the flag. Suddenly a grenade indicator pops up and I have a second to jump out of the way before I'm toast. I attempt to jump out of the way but the explosion blinds me from seeing an opponent crouched in the window across the street. Before I can blink my dead body appears on my screen and I'm watching my death. I make a mental note of the location of my attacker but if he's smart he'll move to a different location. When the recap is over I respawn at the end of the map and am given another chance to capture the flag. I'll have to be faster this time. Luckily, I've pieced together the outlay of the map and understand the defensive strategy and skill level of my opponents.
"Games force you to decide, to choose, to prioritize." In a mere 5 minutes I implemented skills crucial to my survival but can easily be applied to real life situations. Whether I'm managing a team at work, driving in traffic, sifting through a messy room to find my keys, prioritizing homework and events in my busy schedule or catching a ball that racing toward my head, I know I've gained and strengthened these skills through video games. As far as I'm concerned, trial and error situations and a little friendly competition never hurt anyone and I'd take virtual learning experiences over a lecture that covers these same skills any day.
Personally, I found segments within the The Net Generation Brain chapter extremely interesting. Particularly, the portion covering video game testing and how gamers develop various skills as a result of regular participation. Although I'm rather biased since I regularly engage in this activity, I have supported the benefits of video games for years and I know video games truly prepare you for real life situations. Let's walk through a typical scenario.
I am in the Xbox Live menu of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and am about to start a game of Capture the Flag. As I spawn, I am given a team to complete the objective of capturing the flag with and choose to equip myself with a Famas since it's versatitility will help me adapt to my surroundings. Since the other team will be guarding the flag, I know that I must work with my team in order to win. As the game starts, I immediately notice the map is small and filled with many destroyed buildings. Opponents could be around any corner so I cautiously move from one building to another and watch my team mate's back while I assume he's doing the same for me. I see movement off in the distance but don't have a clear shot so I throw a grenade because I know this weapon and my spatial reasoning have a better chance of killing than my gun.
Once the coast is clear, I notice the flag but don't go for it yet. I tell my team to look for snipers who are guarding the flag from a distance and we all check our radar for good measure. During this time I note my amunition is low so I can either use my secondary weapon, a pistol, which isn't as powerful and better for short range attacks, thus causing me to stay in buildings to have a better chance of survival, or I could find an unclaimed gun and use that. However, since I am low on amunition and have chosen the perk of Extreme Conditioning, which allows me to sprint for longer periods of time than I normally could, I alert my team mates and run for the flag.
Immediately, an enemy appears in my periferal so I shoot at him while continuing to run toward the flag. Suddenly a grenade indicator pops up and I have a second to jump out of the way before I'm toast. I attempt to jump out of the way but the explosion blinds me from seeing an opponent crouched in the window across the street. Before I can blink my dead body appears on my screen and I'm watching my death. I make a mental note of the location of my attacker but if he's smart he'll move to a different location. When the recap is over I respawn at the end of the map and am given another chance to capture the flag. I'll have to be faster this time. Luckily, I've pieced together the outlay of the map and understand the defensive strategy and skill level of my opponents.
"Games force you to decide, to choose, to prioritize." In a mere 5 minutes I implemented skills crucial to my survival but can easily be applied to real life situations. Whether I'm managing a team at work, driving in traffic, sifting through a messy room to find my keys, prioritizing homework and events in my busy schedule or catching a ball that racing toward my head, I know I've gained and strengthened these skills through video games. As far as I'm concerned, trial and error situations and a little friendly competition never hurt anyone and I'd take virtual learning experiences over a lecture that covers these same skills any day.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
A Better Pencil, Part II
An interesting question is brought up in the beginning of Chapter 8 regarding whether or not communicating through technology is killing conversation and rupturing social relationships. Baron simply responds with, "English survives, conversation thrives online as well as off, and on balance, digital communications seems to be enhancing human interaction, not detracting from it." While Baron answers this deep question in only two sentences, my personal experiences push me to look past his focus on how it has boosted interactions and analyze what I have personally witnessed amongst my peers.
With a growing popularity for online services and the existence of entirely digital businesses, I view these additions as outlets for avoiding face to face interaction. Although I personally prefer to speak with someone rather than send an email, I'm still guilty of technology dependence as well. For example, I regularly avoid uncomfortable situations by resorting to my phone. Even when I'm on a date or enjoying a meal with my parents, I have to frequently remind myself not to check my phone in order to remain engaged in the conversation.
So to summarize everything I just mentioned, I disagree because it seems like the younger generations have a harder time with social interaction and have more confidence in text than in a face to face conversation. Therefore, I believe it has weakened conversation offline and these interactions are only strengthened through the use text, which is not necessarily strengthening society.
Personally, it makes me wonder how future parties and businesses will work under my generation and those after. At this point I almost entirely receive internet invitations and thank you notes in replacement of letters through the mail - and by mail I mean in a mailbox rather than inbox if there's any confusion regarding my terminology. Of course I love technology, heck I want to design websites as a career, but regardless, I do occasionally wish it was socially acceptable not to have a cellphone or a Facebook. I say this simply because I may never have the opportunity to attempt to detach myself from this pressing technological dependence and I'd actually like to have a chance to appreciate life without it.
Monday, January 30, 2012
A Better Pencil Part I
Personally, I find the lack of art in our penmanship extremely interesting considering how recently we have lost a desire to focus on the artistic elements of our writing as a result of computers. It seems this change has occurred most significantly during the transitioning stages of my parent's generation to my own. When I often compare my mother's handwriting with mine and notice her elegant cursive, I reflect on how my schooling taught me to type in year long classes while cursive was covered in a mere week.
However, it makes sense that an appreciation for beautiful handwriting has withered away. Clearly we write less than we type considering how much longer it takes to physically write something down. And by observing the historical progression of writing tools, from stone to clay to pencils to typewriters to computers, each invention boosts our writing efficiency. We therefore transition to that new technology because it makes communicating easier and we leave the dated method behind with other old inventions.
"Nonetheless, we still fear that the new communication technologies will sap our intellectual strength." While each new technology increases efficiency, it also increases our dependency on complimentary tools and we frequently resort to technological help. Although I no longer have the desire to memorize how to spell words or to know simple multiplication, it causes me to heavily agree with Plato on his point of our memories weakening. Yet my heavy editing and frequent errors will never be uncovered once I submit a typed assignment. The basic teaching of spelling, grammar and calculations seem no longer relevant, and while I have an appreciation for learning this in school, I doubt I will need to hold onto this knowledge. It makes me wonder if schools will stop teaching this material and resort to technological subjects, such as how to build iPhone applications, how to reach a potential customer base online or even how fonts effect content and are perceived by viewers.
Another point to mention is how significant fonts have become. Even as I enter the words, "good handwriting," Google suggests adding "fonts" to the end of my search for better results. "Typography has become a cultural phenomenon, and computer fonts are the new wine." While fonts automatically provide an artistic element to our writing and an aesthetic consistency, I find we still lack creativity unless design is the prompt. For example, teachers request Times New Roman for assignments, which perhaps ties to the past request for cursive handwriting to create a formal appearance. Based on these common requirements, I would hardly consider experimenting with other fonts unless the assignment was actually graded on design.
While it may seem writing is dying, I believe it will continue to be used. Personally, I prefer writing notes in class because it helps me remember the content better and I don't get distracted by social media, online shopping or interactive games. While I appreciate the latest technology and have noticed schools, jobs and daily activities revolve around computers, I will continue to value writing regardless of my poor penmanship. It shows my individual personality better than any font will ever manage.
However, it makes sense that an appreciation for beautiful handwriting has withered away. Clearly we write less than we type considering how much longer it takes to physically write something down. And by observing the historical progression of writing tools, from stone to clay to pencils to typewriters to computers, each invention boosts our writing efficiency. We therefore transition to that new technology because it makes communicating easier and we leave the dated method behind with other old inventions.
"Nonetheless, we still fear that the new communication technologies will sap our intellectual strength." While each new technology increases efficiency, it also increases our dependency on complimentary tools and we frequently resort to technological help. Although I no longer have the desire to memorize how to spell words or to know simple multiplication, it causes me to heavily agree with Plato on his point of our memories weakening. Yet my heavy editing and frequent errors will never be uncovered once I submit a typed assignment. The basic teaching of spelling, grammar and calculations seem no longer relevant, and while I have an appreciation for learning this in school, I doubt I will need to hold onto this knowledge. It makes me wonder if schools will stop teaching this material and resort to technological subjects, such as how to build iPhone applications, how to reach a potential customer base online or even how fonts effect content and are perceived by viewers.
Another point to mention is how significant fonts have become. Even as I enter the words, "good handwriting," Google suggests adding "fonts" to the end of my search for better results. "Typography has become a cultural phenomenon, and computer fonts are the new wine." While fonts automatically provide an artistic element to our writing and an aesthetic consistency, I find we still lack creativity unless design is the prompt. For example, teachers request Times New Roman for assignments, which perhaps ties to the past request for cursive handwriting to create a formal appearance. Based on these common requirements, I would hardly consider experimenting with other fonts unless the assignment was actually graded on design.
While it may seem writing is dying, I believe it will continue to be used. Personally, I prefer writing notes in class because it helps me remember the content better and I don't get distracted by social media, online shopping or interactive games. While I appreciate the latest technology and have noticed schools, jobs and daily activities revolve around computers, I will continue to value writing regardless of my poor penmanship. It shows my individual personality better than any font will ever manage.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Things Fall Apart, Part II
I have to admit, it surprises me that Okonkwo committed suicide. He strived to be an honorable and respectable man and considering "it is an abomination for a man to take his own life," it almost seems unfitting that the book, and his life, should end this way. Nevertheless I enjoyed this novel and noticed a couple key points in the second half concerning the differences, and even disadvantages, between oral and literate cultures.
Firstly, the act and ease of trusting another fluctuates based on individual experiences. Since the book makes no mention of trust issues within a tribe because everyone speaks honestly, I had not even considered a potential need for contracts or proof when a deal, proposition or trade takes place. Yet this idea was sparked toward the end of the book when there was a price of two hundred cowries for the release of the six men in captivity. "On the morning after the village crier's appeal the men of Umuofia met in the marketplace and decided to collect without delay two hundred and fifty bags of cowries to appease the white man. They did not know that fifty bags would go to the court messengers, who had increased the fine for that purpose." After reading this segment, I immediately refer to the trust I have among my neighbors. I have known them for a long time, we have many similar values and we maintain this trust in order to preserve a healthy relationship. However, when I go to the store and interact with the cashier, I would trust a price tag more than his or her word. Perhaps that is why we must have everything labeled or use some kind of a contract for an agreement. We have printed text to prove a fair price for everyone and contracts to ensure guidelines and rules. As a secluded, oral village, Umuofia has likely never encountered distrust and therefore has no need for this prior to the white settlers. It makes me wonder if an oral society could use currency to do business without trust.
Another observation was the frequent use of stories to teach children morals and values. It seems every teaching came from a story in order to prove a point. While I personally love stories, I doubt I could spontaneously create one and have it convey a deeper meaning. I would imagine this is due to my lack of creativity as a college student. Classes require the evaluation of stories rather than telling them and straight forward rules are provided in a document at the beginning of each semester. Since the fictional stories told in Umuofia have been replaced in our society by clear rules, it makes sense why these types of stories seldom impact our daily lives and we refer to relevant books instead.
"The Commissioner did not understand what Obierika meant when he said, 'Perhaps your men will help us.' One of the most infuriating habits of these people was their love of superfluous words, he thought." Overall, the cultural differences are vast but I believe both literate and oral societies can live collectively by implementing respect and keeping an open mind. Obviously Okonkwo's stubborn attitude led to his death and the white settlers' unwavering beliefs caused constant conflict, but had everyone considered themselves equal, peace and appreciation may have occurred. Personally, although I am literate I do not consider myself more knowledgeable than someone who cannot read. We both would have a lot to learn from one another and I appreciate that this book gave me a deeper understanding of life in a primarily oral society.
Firstly, the act and ease of trusting another fluctuates based on individual experiences. Since the book makes no mention of trust issues within a tribe because everyone speaks honestly, I had not even considered a potential need for contracts or proof when a deal, proposition or trade takes place. Yet this idea was sparked toward the end of the book when there was a price of two hundred cowries for the release of the six men in captivity. "On the morning after the village crier's appeal the men of Umuofia met in the marketplace and decided to collect without delay two hundred and fifty bags of cowries to appease the white man. They did not know that fifty bags would go to the court messengers, who had increased the fine for that purpose." After reading this segment, I immediately refer to the trust I have among my neighbors. I have known them for a long time, we have many similar values and we maintain this trust in order to preserve a healthy relationship. However, when I go to the store and interact with the cashier, I would trust a price tag more than his or her word. Perhaps that is why we must have everything labeled or use some kind of a contract for an agreement. We have printed text to prove a fair price for everyone and contracts to ensure guidelines and rules. As a secluded, oral village, Umuofia has likely never encountered distrust and therefore has no need for this prior to the white settlers. It makes me wonder if an oral society could use currency to do business without trust.
Another observation was the frequent use of stories to teach children morals and values. It seems every teaching came from a story in order to prove a point. While I personally love stories, I doubt I could spontaneously create one and have it convey a deeper meaning. I would imagine this is due to my lack of creativity as a college student. Classes require the evaluation of stories rather than telling them and straight forward rules are provided in a document at the beginning of each semester. Since the fictional stories told in Umuofia have been replaced in our society by clear rules, it makes sense why these types of stories seldom impact our daily lives and we refer to relevant books instead.
"The Commissioner did not understand what Obierika meant when he said, 'Perhaps your men will help us.' One of the most infuriating habits of these people was their love of superfluous words, he thought." Overall, the cultural differences are vast but I believe both literate and oral societies can live collectively by implementing respect and keeping an open mind. Obviously Okonkwo's stubborn attitude led to his death and the white settlers' unwavering beliefs caused constant conflict, but had everyone considered themselves equal, peace and appreciation may have occurred. Personally, although I am literate I do not consider myself more knowledgeable than someone who cannot read. We both would have a lot to learn from one another and I appreciate that this book gave me a deeper understanding of life in a primarily oral society.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Things Fall Apart, Part I
Before reading this book I felt nervous it would be similar to the last. Don't get me wrong, the last book was interesting and forced me to consider new perspectives, but I really wasn't in the mood for concepts quite as challenging or difficult to grasp. Luckily, I learned it was the story of a man in a village and found myself whipping through pages in no time. Although I found myself intrigued with the plot, I noticed fairly often how it tied to Orality and Literacy, the very concepts I initially wanted to avoid. Yet this book clicked with everything I learned last week about oral societies and it was nice to tie that newly acquired knowledge to a realistic story.
For me, the first indicator that his village was an oral society was due to the daily ceremonies and traditions. "As he broke the kola, Unoka prayed to their ancestors for life and health, and for protection against their enemies." This instance frequently repeats throughout the book, along with many other formal customs and religious rituals. Additionally, the process of asking for a woman's hand in marriage tends to follow the same pattern as asking for a favor or making a request. When there is a particular topic one intends to discuss, he waits until drinking and casual conversation have occurred. Clearly, this is a huge difference between oral and literate societies considering we value immediacy more than tedious formality.
For me, the first indicator that his village was an oral society was due to the daily ceremonies and traditions. "As he broke the kola, Unoka prayed to their ancestors for life and health, and for protection against their enemies." This instance frequently repeats throughout the book, along with many other formal customs and religious rituals. Additionally, the process of asking for a woman's hand in marriage tends to follow the same pattern as asking for a favor or making a request. When there is a particular topic one intends to discuss, he waits until drinking and casual conversation have occurred. Clearly, this is a huge difference between oral and literate societies considering we value immediacy more than tedious formality.
Also, I observed that how one speaks demonstrates his or her role in the village, which then reflects what that society values. In particular, supplying for your family, which primarily consists of hard labor, shows that strength is worthy of respect. "Whenever the thought of his father's weakness and failure troubled him he expelled it by thinking about his own strength and success. And so he did now. His mind went to his latest show of manliness." Additionally, considering this is a society of tradition, respect is also given to the wise, such as the Oracle or the elderly. Yet, of course, this makes women and children insignificant and weak.
While I have no disagreement that in Okonkwo's society, judging a man by the work of his hands is credible, I can't say it surprises me that the result of this ideology leads to a masculine culture. It makes me wonder if all oral societies are primarily masculine since strength and survival tends to be valued most. Regardless, I feel fortunate to live in a society where we can afford to appreciate thought more than physical strength.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Orality and Literacy, Part II
After reading Orality and Literacy, I must admit to experiencing an overwhelming number of thoughts running through my head. In very few pages, Ong covers a vast number of topics and explanations that I may never have come to realize or consider had I not read this novel. But perhaps the most intriguing idea brought up for me is how we express our written thoughts in a form that attempts to represent the emotion and gestures that naturally come with oral conversation.
This concept portrays a glaring disadvantage of writing. As Ong shares, "To make yourself clear without gesture, without facial expression, without intonation, without a real hearer, you have to foresee circumspectly all possible situation, and you have to make your language work so as to come clear all by itself, with no existential context. The need for this exquisite circumspection makes writing the agonizing work it commonly is." Obviously our attempts to achieve clarity consist of effective punctuation, placing content in an orderly format and matching our writing style to the character of our intended audience. Yet I have found that a conversation through text is far less effective than speaking regardless. Usually I become frustrated and resort to a phone call, or better yet, schedule a time to meet in person.
There is a reason why we use all of our senses in oral conversation and why words in a space will never meet that standard. Most of communication comes from subconscious bodily gestures and while writing tends to be a pain more often than not, thanks to work related or school assignments, I find it to be remarkably helpful when I am in the process of organizing my thoughts and usually prefer it to giving speeches.
"With writing, words once "uttered", outered, put down on the surface, can be eliminated, erased, changed. There is no equivalent for this in an oral performance. Corrections in oral performance tend to be counterproductive, to render the speaker unconvincing." Through writing, I find further confidence in my opinion due to the structure text brings and my ability to constantly move information in order to strengthen an argument. Although the full potential of personal meaning is only met in oral conversation, I believe this opportunity cost is low enough to remain fully appreciative of writing and the benefits it brings.
If I learned anything from Ong, it would be encapsulated in this quote, "What functionally literate human beings really are: beings whose thought processes do not grow out of simply natural powers but out of these powers as structured, directly or indirectly, by the technology of writing. Without writing, the literate mind would not and could not think as it does, not only when engaged in writing but normally even when it is composing its thoughts in oral form. More than any other single invention, writing has transformed human consciousness." Without writing, we would never reach the full potential of language and overall, I believe writing is a key reason for our remarkable progression in society today.
This concept portrays a glaring disadvantage of writing. As Ong shares, "To make yourself clear without gesture, without facial expression, without intonation, without a real hearer, you have to foresee circumspectly all possible situation, and you have to make your language work so as to come clear all by itself, with no existential context. The need for this exquisite circumspection makes writing the agonizing work it commonly is." Obviously our attempts to achieve clarity consist of effective punctuation, placing content in an orderly format and matching our writing style to the character of our intended audience. Yet I have found that a conversation through text is far less effective than speaking regardless. Usually I become frustrated and resort to a phone call, or better yet, schedule a time to meet in person.
There is a reason why we use all of our senses in oral conversation and why words in a space will never meet that standard. Most of communication comes from subconscious bodily gestures and while writing tends to be a pain more often than not, thanks to work related or school assignments, I find it to be remarkably helpful when I am in the process of organizing my thoughts and usually prefer it to giving speeches.
"With writing, words once "uttered", outered, put down on the surface, can be eliminated, erased, changed. There is no equivalent for this in an oral performance. Corrections in oral performance tend to be counterproductive, to render the speaker unconvincing." Through writing, I find further confidence in my opinion due to the structure text brings and my ability to constantly move information in order to strengthen an argument. Although the full potential of personal meaning is only met in oral conversation, I believe this opportunity cost is low enough to remain fully appreciative of writing and the benefits it brings.
If I learned anything from Ong, it would be encapsulated in this quote, "What functionally literate human beings really are: beings whose thought processes do not grow out of simply natural powers but out of these powers as structured, directly or indirectly, by the technology of writing. Without writing, the literate mind would not and could not think as it does, not only when engaged in writing but normally even when it is composing its thoughts in oral form. More than any other single invention, writing has transformed human consciousness." Without writing, we would never reach the full potential of language and overall, I believe writing is a key reason for our remarkable progression in society today.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Orality and Literacy, Pt. I
The first half of Orality and Literacy, while daunting, provided me with a plethora of new insight. Although it's a bit slow for my taste, I was extremely impressed with how Ong managed to successfully integrate an immense amount of complex information into the first three chapters. While I frequently struggled to grasp concepts Ong mentioned, I found immediate interest with a few points.
The idea that because we are not part of a primary oral society, we can never fully understand or would never be able to live life without literacy is a concept that makes perfect sense but is an idea I've never even considered. While I believe I hold a partial mindset of primary orality, particularly due to the sounds in my head spilling out as I type this, my daily habits and actions constantly intertwine with literature. And as a student, this literary dependance impacts how I learn, interact with others and overall, my progression through life.
I also found it interesting that there is an overwhelming amount of languages spoken but only a small handful that have literature. Luckily Ong covered characteristics of orally based thought and expression and my understanding significantly increased. This portion of the book is where I learned that aural language in itself is a phenomenon we must naturally pick up through experience. Once we have accumulated enough knowledge of this basic form of language, we are then are we able to "study" literature.
Although I believe that writing has enhanced orality in many ways, like by giving it structure and freedom from a constant dependance on patterns, my original ignorance of primary oral cultures will no longer go unnoticed. As a result, I look forward to increasing my knowledge and awareness of this topic as I continue to venture into the second half of this book.
The idea that because we are not part of a primary oral society, we can never fully understand or would never be able to live life without literacy is a concept that makes perfect sense but is an idea I've never even considered. While I believe I hold a partial mindset of primary orality, particularly due to the sounds in my head spilling out as I type this, my daily habits and actions constantly intertwine with literature. And as a student, this literary dependance impacts how I learn, interact with others and overall, my progression through life.
I also found it interesting that there is an overwhelming amount of languages spoken but only a small handful that have literature. Luckily Ong covered characteristics of orally based thought and expression and my understanding significantly increased. This portion of the book is where I learned that aural language in itself is a phenomenon we must naturally pick up through experience. Once we have accumulated enough knowledge of this basic form of language, we are then are we able to "study" literature.
Although I believe that writing has enhanced orality in many ways, like by giving it structure and freedom from a constant dependance on patterns, my original ignorance of primary oral cultures will no longer go unnoticed. As a result, I look forward to increasing my knowledge and awareness of this topic as I continue to venture into the second half of this book.
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