How I use CMC

Since before taking Comm 301, I used Computer Mediated Communications. I text, I have a Facebook account, I use e-mail to communicate, and I utilized Internet resources for information. However, before the class began I was not aware of the many different social networks that are out there and how people tend to use these sites. Some in which I have learned about I found very useful and may keep up with the site such as, Linked In. There are other sites that I believe are not very interesting, to complicated, or almost to socially interactive requiring too much time such as Second Life.

Learning about different CMC probably will not change my habits too much. I will try to use CMC to connect with others for career purposes. I learned many different ways to make connections and how I should not use CMC while I am looking for a career. There is not much change that I will make with my time spent using CMC. I never used it to much before, even having a Facebook account, I can say I am not one of those who could be considered addicted.

I feel that I do have better knowledge on my Facebook account and how to manage it. I have made changes to my privacy settings and other settings on my account when we had discussed potential negatives that could happen. I also have been more particular about who I accept as my friend. I used to always accept friend requests, after the articles I have read and through our research and class discussion, I no longer just click accept. For the first time while being in Comm 301, I ignored friend requests.

Although my habits have not changed much, the minor changes I have made I know will be beneficial. An through my CMC experience I have learned and I am continuing to learn the positives and negatives of CMC. CMC has my attention and I am noticing what a big part it plays in today's generation.

My Death Space

After viewing different social networking sites in Comm. 301 this past week, I went in search of some social networking sites that we had not touched on. In my search I found a social networking site whose global resource is Myspace.com. This social networking site, http://www.mydeathspace.com/, is a site of online memorials that allow family and friends to pay respects and vent their griefs of loved ones who had a Myspace account and have past away. Mydeathspace.com, actually tracks individuals profiles on Myspace.com that are deceased.

It is interesting to see social networking used in this way. It can be nice to have a place where people can get together and share their feelings and provide other with emotional support. Another positive for the site, is that they provide archive, containing news articles, online obituaries, and other publicly available information. When first reading the name of the site however, it sounded morbid and unattractive to visit. The name could potentially be a downfall because I can not see many people wanting to be a member of a social networking site with the work "death" in the link. Also, even though this may seem like a great way to remember a loved one and comment on the person they were, there have been problems with people posting rude, disrespectful, and insensitive comments such as, “I am happy she is dead."

Site manages are supposed to be tracking these kind of comments and deleting them. It may be hard for manager of the site to stay on top of the comments considering there are numerous members and many posts. If they can not find a way of stopping these comments they should think about taking down the site. I am not sure what they will do if they can not keep up with tracking comments but something needs to be done because it is disrespectful and hurtful to friends and family.

Overall the site has a lot of positive aspects for people who lose someone they love to create an online memorial. Also Mydeathspace.com seems to be a healthier and more productive way to use technologies to bring people together in a time of grief and allow them to provide one another with support.