HW 13: Blogging is too cool for Buisness

I believe that both blogs for business and blogs for communication are important. Blogs have taken off in both business and communication. But, I think that communication blogs have one step up on the business blogs. I think that blogging for a company or a business might be dangerous. As Baker and Green was explaining, a man by the name of Mark Jen worked at Google. He liked his job, but he posted a blog stating how bad the food was for the employees. He was soon fired. Although he was fired, he got recognition from another company who hired him. Even though he got another job, I don’t think all people are that lucky. Mostly when someone blogs about their job or position, their not praising it. Which leads to controversy. Ultimately, what is at stake here is the job of the employee. I am not saying that all business blogs are going down the drain; blogs are just more of a social connection. But, blogs are being used as a form of media. Which is a good thing. I think that it will come far in the media ideal. When blogging for business, its more sugar coated. I think that businesses are more likely to exaggerate about the business or company than tell all the pros and cons. As Green and Baker states: “Take a look at blog advertising today, and it’s hard to see a glittering future.” But, who knows what the future hold for blogging. It could have a high just as fast as blogging will make its downfall. You never know.

HW 11: World Wide Express

I chose to view Rconversation blog. Ideas, links, and occasional rants by Rebecca MacKinnon: journalist, blogger, and educator. The background is kind of plain. There is a maroon bar at the top which is really the only type of color on there. The URL is as listed: http://rconversation.blogs.com/. The topics include: journals of Bush, Democracy in China/Chinese bloggers, media, social justice. The style is in open conversation. They are just regular people with a strong opinion of the subject. The style of writing in informal. I think that Rebecca Mackinnon demonstrates a good understanding for this web blog. She says that the blog is a good way of communication for people around the world and in different countries. I expected to see people talking about global issues and people from different countries responding to them. It is hard to tell who is from what country however. Some people have a common name like Charles. There are not really any different languages which I was sort of expecting after I read “Making Global Voices Heard”. Of course, many will disagree with this assertion that speaking English can mean you are from a different country. There were not a lot of comments on these blogs, but there were some strong opinions on mostly the Chinese bloggers and the democracy in China.

HW 9: Blogger life saver?

I am responding to the interview of Ayelet Waldman. Waldman is a novelist. She likes to write down her feelings and create them into a novel. Most of her stories are about her children and the difficulties of giving birth. This woman has been through a lot in her life. Her troubles led her to blog. Blogging helped her cope with some of her problems. She became addicted to blogging a little before her son was born. She explains how blogging is a good way for stay at home moms to shout out their feelings. Well, she is glad that she made her feelings public on one night. She has bipolar II, which is a mild case. This one night, she had the urge to commit suicide. Blogging saved her life. If she had not blogged about her suicide that night, she probably would have done the deed. I agree that “when you blog, you blog about what outrages you”, a point the needs emphasizing since so many people believe that blogs are just a fun way to communicate nicely. Which also makes me believe that “there is no second set of eyes, so the first thing that comes into anyone’s mind is the thing that comes out on the page.” Which Waldman is not use to being a novelist. She claims that she probably could have written more novels if it weren’t for blogging. She says that since her feelings were broadcasted on the internet, she cant write a book about it. I disagree because not everyone has read those blogs. I believe that she still could have written that novel about her suicide thought. Blogging really can influence people. There are so many supporting people but so many deceiving people as well. You never know who is really real.

HW 7: Private or Public: That is the question!

I believe for the most part that live journaling or blogs for young teens is harmless. In some ways however it can be hurtful. The whole point of having a journal is so that people can write down their feelings and keep it to themselves. That’s why in most movies or shows, someone will sneak into someone’s room and look at the journal or diary. It’s not really meant for anyone else to read it. But, there is no harm whatsoever to make it public if you choose to. If you don’t choose to have a live journal, then you don’t have to. Young teens like these journals because they get to see another side of someone that maybe you don’t see in the classroom. Even though some of the words can be hurtful or gutsy to post. In Emily Nussbaum’s article “My So-Called Blog”, she makes this evident when she states:
As reality-television stars put it, exposure may be painful at times, but it’s all part of the process of “putting it out there,” risking judgment and letting people in. (Kline and Burstein 352)
This quote is explaining how even though you may not always like how you are perceived, it shows people who you really are and how you really think. It is the risk of letting people know your true colors. Sometimes that can be a good thing and sometimes people may not like the way you really are. But, in regards to the article, I think that it’s the choice of the reader and the writer. If the writer wants to let out something secret about his or her life, then that is his decision. If they don’t want anyone to know their deep dark secrets then they don’t need to get a live journal or blog. It is as simple as that.

HW 5b: A Whole New World

Have you ever just looked at your life and pictured what it would be like without media? Today I did just that. Everyday someone is looking or reading or listening to some kind of media. Whether it would be a newspaper, book, magazine, internet or radio. These sources are what makes our life flow. These sources are what keep our mornings, afternoons and nights on track. How would we know about the war or weather reports without some kind of media. It is almost like the battle of the media now these days. Every type of media is competing. I admire the fact that Kline explains the different types of media in “I Blog, Therefore I Am”. Most of the media back in the 1950’s were basically newspapers. Everyone read and listened to the same information. Now, there are different types of information and different types of opinion based articles. I believe that Kline was right in saying that blogging has come along way, but still isn’t nearly as big as other media. He demonstrates that “CNN’s Website draws more than 22 million users a month more than bloggers can only dream of matching.” He explained that “more than 352 million magazines were sold in the US from last year.” Which is really good. But, I argue that as much as magazines are selling now, it cost money to buy them. When you could just go online and find all those articles on a website. I disagree with Kline’s paragraph that suggests that “bloggers are more transparent than the mainstream media about the process use in writing their articles, providing readers with links to documents and other information sources.” (pg 240 paragraph 4). I disagree with that because you really don’t see where the sources are coming from. Even with the news. You don’t know if its real. With blogs, you hear it from the real people manufacturing real item, or real people talking about the issues. Its more personal. But cant trust that they are telling us the truth.

HW 6: What Interests me as a student?

There was actually only three social computing technologies that I use on a daily basis. These technologies include chat rooms and text chats, instant messaging, and social networking services. These three technologies are the most used among teenagers. Instant messaging has been around for a while, and I would be surprised if someone didn’t pick instant messaging as one of their top choices. This is my favorite use of communication. I think that it is easy and fun. The only thing that I don’t like about it, is that you sometimes can’t tell whether or not your friend is joking or being serious. I also like it because I talk to people that I wouldn’t normally talk to on the phone. I also use www.facebook.com and www.myspace.com. These are the two social networking services that I use. I like these because you can meet people and look at photos. I would never meet up with someone I don’t know. You really cant trust anyone on these services. People can easily pretend to be someone they are not. I only talk to my good friends. The websites itself is easy to set up and easy to manipulate. I also use chat rooms and texts to talk with my friends. I think that text messaging is my favorite because I know that the person I am texting is not someone that is sketchy. It’s also easy if you want to send them something that you don’t want to call them about. Just a little sentence.
My sister took a woman’s history class last year and I got really interested in sexism. There are some things that I couldn’t believe when she told me. Racism also interests me. It is apart of my history and it has decreased over the years even though there is still racism. Also I wanted to find out about the war and refugees. In different countries like Africa and even the US. I wanted to look into Africa because I think that it relates to racism. Like where it all started and interesting facts about the refugees in our country. Hopefully I will be able to find out more.

HW 4: Responding to "The Voice of the Customer"

PURELL® is a type of hand sanitizer that I found in my room. The promise of this product is “Imagine a Touchable World.” I think that it makes the hand sanitizer seem that that is the only thing you need to put on in order to touch something. I defiantly touch computer keyboards, toys for pets, remote controls, light switches, doorknobs, handles, and kitchen countertops without using hand sanitizer. I do use it, but I only use it if I feel the need. I don’t usually put it on all the time. In the add, it seems as though if you don’t use it, then you are dirty. They also say that the people who have PURELL® see the world in a different light. I see the world the same. Even if I did use this hand sanitizer, there will still be germs on me. I like the hand sanitizer, but even if I use CVS brand, it still feels the same way. It also promises a healthier life. I am a healthy teen, and my doctor never really said “Kerri, since you use this product, you are healthier”. I like PURELL® but I don’t use it as accessibly as the ad wants us to. I don’t think anyone uses it every single second of the day. I don’t think someone will say “WAIT, I can’t open this door right now…I need to put some hand sanitizer on first and after I open the door”. I think that goes a little too far in the ads. But every ad exaggerates just to get the costumer to buy it. Well, I guess it worked for me, cause I have it.

HW 2: Politics and Blogging?

Toward a More Participatory Democracy



The chapter Politics and Policy Toward a More Participatory Democracy discusses politics in a way we’ve never heard of. You would think that most politicians would use the newspapers, news and magazines to campaign, but in fact, some are starting to use blogs. The chapter talks about how the media has been giving us false information, misinterpretation and exaggeration. There were only social blogs, not political until recently. The political life mentioned that “no one reads blogs”. Blogs were basically for young adults. Now, that has all changed. Almost six months after the 2004 elections, blogs sites were being visited 11 million visits per month. So the media and blogging eras have defiantly changed. It seemed like the media just wanted to make money, because of all the lies that they make just to draw an audience in. It seems that they don’t care about relaying the real news, it all about the money and the publicity that they get. The chapter expresses that the media is not fair nor balanced. The news is trying to compete with reality TV shows and entertainment.
Blogs is now the new “newspaper” in politics. Politicians are actually taking advantage of the blogging system and using it to campaign. In my opinion I think that it should go back to the old fashioned posters and newspapers. Blogging should be left to the teens and young adults. All people do is spread animosity. I don’t think that it’s worth all the trouble and fighting. I personally like blogging, but I’m also not a politic. I think that the politicians should not argue about positions on the internet. I just don’t think that it is there place to campaign. Politicians are not the kinds of people who have respectful conversations to each other. Until they can be civilized people, then they can feel free to campaign on the online blogging sites. But until then I would leave blogging up to the teenagers.

HW 1: Only The Start of Global Blogging

"From Cave Painting to Wonkette"


In blog! how the newest media revolution is changing politics, business, and culture, Kline and Burstein explains how blogging is becoming a global success. In the introduction, they talk about the blogs and how blogging impacts different groups in society. A variety of people are actually becoming united by blogging. There are even different blogs in different languages, such as Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Farsi, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. In my opinion I think that this could be an upbringing experience for different cultures. In the opening sentence, it shows us that not only Americans use blogging. In fact Kline and Burstein states that “there are numerous examples of how blogs are already changing culture and politics around the globe.” I believe that it is a good thing that blogging is going global because we can find ourselves connecting with these other countries.
Even though we are probably the biggest blogging country, I feel as though other countries like China can really benefit from these online blogs. As Kline and Burstein mentioned China has actually been impacted by the influence of blogging. The government, technology, and the voices of free people have improved immensely.