Tech Auto Thesis

For my Technology autobiography paper i will highlight points that illustrate how technology has impacted my life. Its stemmed from my past, shaped my future and is defiantly present in my life right now.  I am also going to discuss how its defined our lives in today's society and how we communicate with others.  My argument will be that although technology has given us many positive perks that ultimately it is a poor substitution for human one on one communication. 

Online freedom of speech???

The question is this: Are online spaces appropriate sites for discussing troubling race and other such controversial topics?

In my opinion there are pros and cons to this answer.  I feel like posts/replies and other discussions about controversial and sensitive topics displayed online is just another way for people to express themselves and utilize their freedom of speech rights.  For one expressing yourself online gives you time to really think and reflect on what you want to post about a certain topic.  It allows you the time needed to decide and debate on how you feel as a person on a subject as oppose to having to come up with an almost instant answer or response like you would if you normally would had you been in person.  It also creates some safety for you.  Communicating opinions about highly emotional topics online takes away that face to face element which obviously includes the emotional aspect of debates which can often times become hostile.  Online you may create an argument or a hostile backlash but because it's online there is no physical threat.  
Discussions about such topics online though can be very impersonal and dialogue online is often times taken out of context.  This is a main problem of having these kinds of discussions online.  A reader may take your opinion of a certain topic in a way that is meant to come off totally opposite, but because all it is is words online its hard to interpret the authors tone and sincerity.  This can cause hostility and ultimately misunderstanding by both parties, and the point of the topic to begin with will be lost in translation.

-TOP 5 MEDUIM ANALYSIS TOPICS-

Some possible topics I'm thinking of:
1. Xbox live
2. www.avamovement.com
3. www.dvxuser.com
4. you tube videos specifically about 35 mm adaptors
5. www.griptionary.com

These are my top 5 choices. I believe xbox live will provide me with the most information and research and its also the most well known medium out of all my choices.

elmo is burning

I thougth it was useless to burn an Elmo doll but funny at first.. but there was a part of me that felt bad for the little guy.. i guess when you give something a voice and eyes that's associated with laughter, love and children and set it on fire , that it can evoke compassion even if its just a doll.

ww2 picture MAN THE GUNS

I found this picture to be interesting and very symbolic.  I feel that its representing the war in the aspect that its for strong men who want to be apart of all the "guts and glory" being in the military has to offer.  The fact that the two navy guys have there shirt off both with huge bulging muscles is expressing that it takes a manly man to join the navy.  Soldiers never fight with there shirt off, this is definately representing strength and brute force.  This poster is definately meant to intice men and perhaps men who feel a bit inadequate to join the navy so that they can become hero's and icons of strength. 

newNEW media readings!

I found the reading very interesting as well as informative.  I've always know i live in a digital age and that its only getting more informative and accessible, however after reading chapter 1 of our book and seeing how well and extensively the author compared "new new" media to "new" media i am a little overwhelmed by it all.  From just 5 years ago technology has leaped all sorts of hurdles and some of the things our society can do now days is amazing.  To be able to grab my phone and just connect to the world wide web in seconds as well as see what people from all over the world are currently  via there facebook "status updates" is insane! It makes me realize how many more possibilities there are out there right now for me as i try and graduate and make a name for myself in my career, it also definitely made me feel lazy and like I'm not doing as much as i can to explore the avenues and possibilities that this digital age and the accessibility this century has given us.

Digital Native

I'm definitely a digital native. I didn't grow up with parents who were technologically savvy, but i always had an interest and grew up experimenting with gadgets and learning how they work.  I find a sense of satisfaction when i come across technology or a software that seems foreign and complicated to me, but that i research and learn about .