Internet/TV

One would think that with the advent of the internet and the confluence of digital media that there would be a myriad of voice and an out pouring of viewpoints throughout the media world. In fact, I feel, it is just the opposite. The internet, when it first started, was a place where one could find stories, ideas and even blog posts on anything from (then) Bush's tax plan to the best way to stuff a turkey. In areas such a politics, sports and religion the internet opened up avenues and sparked discussion on a wide range of topics. Social media sites and the blogosphere were doing exactly what they were originally intended to do, bring people together to share ideas and connect with each other. But, like with anything else, big business comes in and sees an opportunity to capitalize on the success of the internet and slowly but sure it becomes more and more homogenized. Sure, one can still find opposing viewpoints and interesting articles but those voices are becoming more and more marginalized as people flock to fewer and fewer sites. Year ago no one even knew what the Huffington Post was, they got their news from 3 or 4 different sources be it on the internet, TV or in the newspaper. Today, people get to work, login, read a couple articles on CNN or the aforementioned Huffington Post and go on about their day. The debate and discussion that the internet once sparked is no longer there as it has become watered down by more mainstream sites.
Television is much the same way. In the 1970's there were but 3 stations, ABC, NBC and CBS. People got their news, weather, sports, entertainment and political leanings from one of but three stations. Now, whenever you turn on your digital receiver you get anywhere from 100 to 400 stations ranging from the home cooking channel to need for speed to HBO Comedy 6. Sure, choices are great but just how different are these stations really. For example, NBC owns NBC, Universal, Bravo, USA, MTV, VH1 (I think) and those are just the ones I can name without doing any research. I concede that these channels while owned by the same company are all different but its not about the content its about the message. All these channels send the same message and in the end how is that any different from a time when we had but 3 major networks. Television much like the internet was, at one time, a place for discussion, debate and a multitude of viewpoints and opinions but as time goes on both these mediums are becoming more homogenized and mainstream.

Internet

I think that the internet makes people selfish and self-centered. Today we facebook and skype, text and email, chat and poke but what does it all really amount to, nothing. Most of it is all just meaningless interaction. Going on the computer and surfing the web is a very private thing and while we try and be social by going on sites such as facebook and twitter the control that we have over the situation makes it still a very individual type of interaction. But let me get back to my original point about social media making people self centered. With so many outlets to express one's self it seems like we live in an age of information, but in reality 99% of the facebook wall posts I receive, the texts I get and the tweets that come across are in one ear out the other. But, people feel it necessary to let others know what they are doing almost every second of every day. I have a cousin who is a teenager, she is constantly texting on her phone, and if she is not texting she is talking to someone and if she is not talking or texting she is on her computer updating her facebook status. I said to her once, "You cannot possibly have this much to say to people, you are 15 what is so important that you have to let everyone know?" And of course she didnt have an answer, thought I was just out of touch and old, but to me despite all the outward projections of information we have available to us through social media, we as people are continuing to sink inward.

Red Sox Collapse

The Red Sox are in the midst of an epic collapse the likes of which have not been seen in years. In the middle of July they were 5-6 games up on the Yankees in the AL East and 10 games up on the Rays. Even at the beginning of September they were still 10 games up on the Rays with only a month to go. Since then, they have lost 20 of 24 and cannot seem to buy a win. They were hailed as the best team in baseball at midseason but have been riddled with injuries and just poor play. The part that upsets me isnt that they are losing, over the course of 162 games every team is gonna hit a rough patch whether it be in June or September, what bothers me is that the team seems to be coming apart. David Ortiz is calling for Alfredo Aceves, a reliever, to get a starting role. In effect, Ortiz is calling out the manager and say that he is not capable of putting the right people in there to get the job done. In addition, Ortiz is saying that whoever had previously done that job, long time veteran Tim Wakefield, is no longer equipped and should sit down. I remember an interview years ago with former Red Sock Curt Schilling, they asked him about a player whom the Red Sox were thinking about trading for and how Curt felt about the possible addition. Schilling explained that if he were to advocate for another player to come into that locker than that would in turn mean that he felt that another player, a teammate of his, needed to leave the locker room because that is just how a big league roster works. It makes perfect sense but it seems today's Red Sox do not have the same tact that Curt once did. The collapse of this franchise and this season has nothing to do with the standings, the playoffs, or the Rays, and to me thats the sad part.

I am Important

I think that social media sites are bad for America. I think that it empowers people in the wrong way. Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn are sites created to bring people together and make one feel that their voice could be heard. Democracy and America is all about everyone having a voice and participating in the social discourse, and that is all well and good. But, what I believe social media sites have done is taken this "empowerment" to such a degree that individuals, young and old, feel as though what they have to say matters. I know this is a hard concept to understand and as I write this post I find myself cringing when I write that what someone has to say doesnt matter but let me explain further. People now tweet what they are eating for breakfast or where they buy their socks. The post on facebook every time they switch their laundry over from the washer to the dryer. The constant feedback that these people feel the need to give on their lives is selfish. Facebook and twitter and social media empower people to such a degree that they now feel that anything and everything they do matters to others. "I am going to post what I had for lunch." If someone tweets their lunch menu what are they really trying to accomplish? Is it merely a harmless suggestion to their other potentially hungry friends as to where to grab a bite to eat? Or is it an unconscious selfish act. I think facebook while it is meant to connect us has actually made us a collective group of individuals more concerned with what we are doing and what we have to say than ever before. Plus, the sheer number of posts and tweets and blogs in todays society drowns out the ones that actually have something meaningful and important to say. It is a hard concept to grasp (much less explain) but it is something I truly believe and have felt for years now.

The Internet

I am fascinated by the internet and technology. The more I think about it the more astounding it is. I remember when I was in high school and would sign on to AOL, get kicked off because someone called my home phone line. Sign back on, talk to people via instant messenger and download music on Napster. Back then the internet was what some people have deemed "the wild wild west." There was very little regulation, websites weren't nearly as refined and polished as they are now. In addition, many of the sites we now know and love did not even exist. Amazon, ebay, craigslist, facebook, etc. werent even around back then. Today, everyone has a website, hell people even have their own blogs. Now, there is DSL and ISDN, WIFI and 4G. We are inventing words to go along with our technologies. We no longer have desktops we have netbooks and PDA's. I cannot imagine where the future will take us. In the past 10 years the desktop has become obsolete. If your computer doesnt fit in your pocket then you are behind the times. Some may say that progress has made us more efficient but weren't we efficient before? In the next post I will get into how I believe some of the social media sites are truly harming children and adults alike in a way that could really create problems down the road.

Introduction

Hi my name is Dana Burrill. I am 28 going on 29 and I just recently got married. I am a veteran of the Navy as I served in Pearl Harbor for several years with my brother Doug who is still in the service and schedule to come home soon. I am a Haverhill Police Officer majoring in Criminal Justice (obviously). My expectations for this course are pretty simple. I feel like I am proficient with computers now, I can even work my new IPhone. In this course I would like to learn more about web design so if I ever decide to start a business on the side or just want to play around on the internet I have the skills and proficiency to do so.