Caitlin Robirds, January 26 2009 Reflection Essay #1
Professor Alexander Kuskis, Gonzaga University
The internet has created a cultural phenomenon that has forever changed the way that human beings interact and communicate with one another. According to internet scholar Philip Howard, the internet is a form of “embedded media”. This term refers to the way in which people are becoming increasingly more reliant on the internet for a variety of daily activities such as shopping, advertising professional services, socializing, playing games and even listening to music (Thurlow, p.75). This dependence on the internet in today’s society can have both positive and negative affects-but regardless is molding our culture.
Computer mediated communication, CMC, “is a process of human communication via computers, involving people, situated in particular contexts, engaging in processes to shape media for a variety of purposes” (Thurlow, p.15). CMC has become much more common in recent years because of the number of people with access to computers and the internet.
The internet has also brought a new element into our learning environment. Online classes, web discussions and informational web encyclopedias are now at our fingertips. Thurlow stated that “as a student in the twenty-first century you’re a “cyber student”, if only because your writing practices are usually typing practices and because the internet is one of your major information sources” (Thurlow, p.3) I agree with this observation just from my educational background. I started my schooling career in 1989 when computers were seldom seen or used by common folk. As my education progressed so did computer technology. I remember in second grade we were the first class to have a computer in the entire school-which would be considered a dinosaur today.
I did not start typing papers or using the internet for research until I was in about eighth grade and have since never looked back. I rarely go to the public library to do research anymore because there are so many credible web sites available with a click of a button. At the same time, the internet allows anyone to post blogs (ie. Me) create web sites or start discussions that can be mistaken as factual instead of opinion based. I believe this is one of the major problems with CMC from a learning point of view.
Information can get misconstrued or there can be negative slurs or facts to support an opposers opinion and slander the name of a public official or celebrity or anyone. This is why it is very important to always check your sources when in an online environment. There are positive aspects as well. I now am able to communicate with others across the world and share thoughts and opinions about current events and even just pop culture which
would have been virtually impossible before the internet.
Thurlow even suggests that CMC allows users to express negative thoughts and use vulgar language they otherwise may not due to the anonymity the internet provides. It is much easier to post hateful things and spread rumors online when you do not physically have to look someone in the eyes or can hide behind a screen name. It is as if you can take on a whole entire new identity with the web-which can be both positive and negative. This allows people to express themselves in ways they aren’t able to in person-whether nervous, anxious or have been previously stereotyped into a specific category. Many teens and adults have fallen under the spell of myspace and facebook-which I do admit can be addicting. These sites are a social community in which people interact, post pictures and talk about their weekend trists.
Computer mediated communication, CMC, “is a process of human communication via computers, involving people, situated in particular contexts, engaging in processes to shape media for a variety of purposes” (Thurlow, p.15). CMC has become much more common in recent years because of the number of people with access to computers and the internet.
The internet has also brought a new element into our learning environment. Online classes, web discussions and informational web encyclopedias are now at our fingertips. Thurlow stated that “as a student in the twenty-first century you’re a “cyber student”, if only because your writing practices are usually typing practices and because the internet is one of your major information sources” (Thurlow, p.3) I agree with this observation just from my educational background. I started my schooling career in 1989 when computers were seldom seen or used by common folk. As my education progressed so did computer technology. I remember in second grade we were the first class to have a computer in the entire school-which would be considered a dinosaur today.
I did not start typing papers or using the internet for research until I was in about eighth grade and have since never looked back. I rarely go to the public library to do research anymore because there are so many credible web sites available with a click of a button. At the same time, the internet allows anyone to post blogs (ie. Me) create web sites or start discussions that can be mistaken as factual instead of opinion based. I believe this is one of the major problems with CMC from a learning point of view.
Information can get misconstrued or there can be negative slurs or facts to support an opposers opinion and slander the name of a public official or celebrity or anyone. This is why it is very important to always check your sources when in an online environment. There are positive aspects as well. I now am able to communicate with others across the world and share thoughts and opinions about current events and even just pop culture which
would have been virtually impossible before the internet.Thurlow even suggests that CMC allows users to express negative thoughts and use vulgar language they otherwise may not due to the anonymity the internet provides. It is much easier to post hateful things and spread rumors online when you do not physically have to look someone in the eyes or can hide behind a screen name. It is as if you can take on a whole entire new identity with the web-which can be both positive and negative. This allows people to express themselves in ways they aren’t able to in person-whether nervous, anxious or have been previously stereotyped into a specific category. Many teens and adults have fallen under the spell of myspace and facebook-which I do admit can be addicting. These sites are a social community in which people interact, post pictures and talk about their weekend trists.
In the end just like any other form of technology it is up to each individual to use it responsibly. I believe the internet is a great tool that allows us to communciate in ways previous generations could have never imagined. There are negative aspects to everthing, but I think the positive definitely outweigh anything negative when it comes to computer mediated communication...
References
hurlow, C., Lengel, L., & Tomic, A. (2004). Computer Mediated Communication: Social Interaction and the Internet, Chapter on Computer Mediated Communication (pp. 1- 85). London: Sage.
hurlow, C., Lengel, L., & Tomic, A. (2004). Computer Mediated Communication: Social Interaction and the Internet, Chapter on Computer Mediated Communication (pp. 1- 85). London: Sage.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Caitlin,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on publishing to a blog! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Internet. I appreciate you defining computer mediated communication, and for mentioning embedded media. Embedded media can be an example of ecological change inherent in technological change (Postman, 1998). Both CMC and embedded media can view communication technologies through the lens of cultural impact.
Definitely back up your files! For lengthy pieces, backup every update as a sequential backup. In the past, I've learned that the hard way also. ;)
Thank you for sharing,
Dena