Another One Bites the Dust

"Welcome to Facebook!" taunts the social network's home page. By typing your email and your password, you are entering into a world of connectivity and opinions. On this website, you are vulnerable to the happiness and upsets of your family and peers. What started as a technological forum for communication, now stands as the worlds largest platform for egocentrism and contention of people's happiness and sufferings.

I think that Gulati is completely correct. Users on Facebook have become so addicted to this form of social media that being on it actually threatens our happiness. You see people posting pictures and status' that almost seem competitive, like showing the world that one person is better than another. It may not seem that way to most people, but from an outsiders point of view, its a never ending competitive cycle.  I believe it when Gulati says that there are some forms of jealousy or anxiety when it comes to using Facebook. I saw the proof of it last night.

One friend on my list, without naming names, posted a status update. Some friend of his commented on it and flat-out told him the most negative things that I'm sure would destroy my self esteem if it was inflicted on me. Not only did the aforementioned friend get a comment, they got a war. So many hate comments were on that one status update that I couldn't BELIEVE what was happening.

Facebook not only causes a competitive nature in its users, but it encourages them. Facebook allows each person to log on to multiple devices. Phone, computer, iPad, Kindle, iPod, you name it, you can probably get on to Facebook with it, that's for sure. Its ridiculous how many college students I see actually looking at Facebook on their laptops and then checking it on their phones. We've all been guilty of that, forgetting that you've already looked at the computer monitor, why not update on your phone as well?

The point is that Facebook is the leading event for multiple causations. It leads to a loss of  face-to-face interaction, creates a competitive nature in its users, allows for access on multiple devices that spark the intense addiction, and others.

If everyone limited their amount of time spent on Facebook, they could have more hours in a day to relate with actual people and not the profiles they see on a computer screen.

No wonder people think there are not enough hours in a day...

Gettin' "Digital" With It?

Is technology something we choose to have in our societies or is the development of technology inevitable? This is the main topic of Bonnie Nardi and Vicki O'Day's "Framing Conversations in Technology". Our society today uses technology for information, contact, and entertainment. Do we assess the functions of our technology and how much we depend upon it? Or do we simply use it because we have to? The answers seem endless and there will always be controversy on the topic of technology.

Teenagers today would not complain for the advancement of technology. As with the new iPhones and Macbooks taking over college classrooms all across the world, technology has seemed to be a staple in our economy. Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites serve as effective means of communication. Through the use of phones, laptops, desktops and other technological devices, teenagers can connect with each other faster. What people - teenagers and adults - need to understand about technology is the implications that come with having technology.

For one, I do not believe that having the latest technological advancements is a bad thing. As Nardi and O'Day describes a person like me, I am a "technophile". Other "dystopians" though, as they describe those who oppose technology in our communities, believe that technology is like a haunt on our society and that it negatively effects us.  I believe that because of the developments we are able to better our understanding of humans, as people, and not as the objects that Nardi and O'Day describe. The use of medical scanners helps us determine disorders and diseases that without it we may have not have recognized. People are able to see unborn children and look up information that another person halfway across the world wrote. Information is spread like wildfire.

Overrall, the issue of whether technology is an inevitable part of life, or whether we have the choice to have technology continues to be a controversial topic. The Internet has proven to be a useful tool. Technology has improved our society, regardless of the "dystopians" opinions. I have to agree with Nardi and O'Day.

I mean, how else would you all be reading this right now?

One Small Step for Man, One Long Blog Post for Mankind

College is like a compacted urban city bustling with students hoping to achieve their dreams of becoming successful. As a freshman, a student is exposed to new situations and new enviroments that are beneficial to their personal knowledge and experience. A student is expected to create long-lasting friendships and make memories that would last a lifetime. For the most part, college achieves most of these aspects.

In my view, college is more like a jungle with thousands of different species of animals all competing for resources in the same setting. In the wild, animals are expected to find their own source of food, shelter, and provide for their protection against animals. In the academia setting, it's survival of the fittest. I am in a competition with others and myself to achieve my goal of graduating and eventually obtaining my Ph.D in Archaeology. The only way to accomplish this goal is to fight the thousands of animals that are all gathered in this enviroment called college.

Its the first week back and already I'm overwhelmed with the amount of work I have to do for my classes. I know, I know, "Alyx, come on, you're only in introductory courses, it's not supposed to be that challenging." Well, for me, it is. I've always had a difficult time learning and grasping concepts. But I've been successful since starting college. It's the second semester of my freshman year and I'm already looking forward years down the road. The only problem is where I'm going to go with after my undergraduate degree, I still have a bit of thinking to do. For now I have to fight this jungle, taking things one step at a time.

Now, the real quetion, what is the purpose and aim of my blog? As a wannabe archaeologist, lately my thoughts have been forming around questions about everything. Which, I've been told, is the basic proponents of studying archaeology. Originally, this was a 'required' activity of my English class, but when I think about it, this blog may help me understand some things and give me an opportunity to voice my own opinion. The purpose and aim of my blog is to expand my writing and put my thoughts and opinions out for the rest of the world to see.

Furthermore, let the 'scientific' study of my blog begin!


Alyx

P.S. I love moose. I think they're adorable.