Blogging is not easy for me. I've been on the earth a while longer than most of my audience and still prefer a F2F chat when I feel like chatting. But, I will give this my best shot. Blogging seems to be the flavor of the month for most e-classes these days.
My blog is going to revolve around society and how stressed out everyone is. Because I have been on this earth for a while, I have seen big changes in society. Not just the expected technological changes, even though we have all seen how much faster that field grew than anyone ever imagined. I want to take a good look at people's behavior in general. Which I have a feeling, in the end, will come back to being a lot about technology and how we can't keep up with it so we get frustrated.
Hey Kay,
ReplyDeleteI share many of your thoughts. I had never blogged before returning to school and taking some online classes. I don't believe that blogging is an equal substitute for verbal communication, but I do think that it is a positive online learning tool. All of my online classes have included blogs and/or discussion boards. They present a sense of class unity and an opportunity to share ideas.
I took the COTC "Effective Communications" class last spring. Have you taken that class? Based on your comments, I think you would/did enjoy it. One of the exercises effectively illustrated the point that virtually everyone is most comfortable with the communication styles (and media) we learned and used during childhood and young adulthood. The generational differences are profound.
I'm looking forward to your thoughts about stress vs. society. I have a "zero sum" philosophy about that issue.
- Mike
Hey Mike,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thoughts. Your post does lead me to believe that blogging as part of a college course curriculum is probably more beneficial than not.
I haven't taken Effective Communications yet and I’ve heard it can be a lot of fun. I’ll keep you “posted.”
Without a doubt I believe we are all more comfortable with what we grew up with. I am. The problem I fear with too much technological communication tipping the scale on the heavier side of F2F communication would be better off examined in a Sociology or Abnormal Psychology class. It has more to do with the overall psyche of the human being than the act itself.
This week’s guest lecturer, Michael Wesch, presents a compelling story about technological communication. His video "An Anthropological Introduction to You Tube" captivated me more than anything we have studied thus far.
A lot of wonderful, wonderful things can come from blogging. But if the scales start to tip in the wrong direction people start to lose sight of who they are. Maybe it’s because humans are wired for in-the-flesh humanistic response? I don’t know for sure. I have to leave it to the experts to label this type of identity crisis and the type of emotional deficit excessive technological communication creates. I was touched by the man that held up the sign "Free Hugs" at the mall. I loved it! I would have given him two hugs. (o:
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very thought provoking blog. I'm looking forward to seeing what else you have to say. I can totally agree with the stress level in the world today. No matter what most seem to do stress just seems to grow. It's like a weight that continues to grow heavier until you either throw it off or cave to it.
Thanks for an "eye catching" opening. I'll be sure to come back for a visit!
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Kay,
ReplyDeleteI just watched the "Anthropological Introduction to YouTube" video. I agree that it is very compelling. At times it was very enlightening and emotionally moving. I'm sure that similar ideas would apply to Facebook.
100 years ago, our grandparents HAD to talk face-to-face to communicate with others. Since then, we've had the telephone, then long-distance service, then cheaper long-distance service, then cell phones. Now we have YouTube, Skype and Facebook to communicate with others instantly.
I embrace all of the new technology and methods of communication. But it surely seems that the face-to face communication with which we are familiar is changing.
My parents griped at me for being on the telephone too much. I lecture my daughters when when they answer a text message in the middle of our conversations. I wonder how by grandkids will piss off their mothers.
Perhaps it's naive, but I don't think there will ever be an online substitute for a hug and honest face-to-face dialogue.
I understand stress very much and I am far better at face to face than online. I worry that I am not as good as an instructor online. I am much better as a classroom instructor, but I want to do better online. I appreciate your feedback and enjoy communicating. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Im only twenty and its crazy how much things have changed. We can do so much! and it kinda freaks me out haha..
ReplyDeleteI have to comment on Mike B.'s last comment. Mike -- YOU GET IT!!! Even though the comment about your grandkids absolutely cracked me up, texting while being spoken to is rude and disrespectful. Especially if the speaker is one of your parents.
ReplyDeleteComments like yours help me expand my view point on technology and society. I agree, I am going to have to put Facebook in the same catagory as blogging. I really don't like having to do a lot of either. It dawned on me the other day, however, that I really like email. I think the difference is that telephones, cell phones and email are still one on one communication. Facebook and blogging are public forums.
This is what I am still trying to figure out; unless a person is trying to market themselves for professional reasons why in the world would a person want everyone to know (or think that everyone wants to know) what they had for breakfast this morning or how many trips they made to Wal-Mart yesterday? This may be good information to know about your roomate but not your neighbor or your neighbor's neighbor (?!).