Anika’s Blog

I am doing my project on serious online dating sites, specifically eharmony.  i know some friends who met, married and now have a couple children and a happy life because of eharmony.  these people would have probably never met before because they lived a few hours from eachother and led very separate lives. the wife was widowed with two of her own children already and the husband is extremely shy and hadn’t dated in years. the site let these individuals transcend all of these would be barriers.  eharmony has also built a trusted reputation unlike many other dating sites who’s only aim is to get people sex. people on eharmony are mostly looking for–at least they say they are–a serious relationship and/or a lifetime partner. I think it will be an interesting topic b/c its just another way the internet lets us do things that were never before possible before them.  online profiles/Im/other forms of communication are completely different from old fashioned, face to face interaction.  I want to explore the success so far of eharmony couples as well as any negative effects there are of beginning a relationship online.

im open for any further suggestions

I thought the second half of the video today was interesting because it showed an even more ludicrous, insane character portrait of Marshal McLuhan. The comments from his wife and son, along with the clip of his daughter’s wedding day and the fact that another daughter produced the film made it even more notable.  None of them were outrightly bitter or opposed to him, but they did, I think, paint a picture of a stubborn, slightly neurotic man. The best was when he was lying on the couch, talking out of one side of his mouth like he was A) dreamily drugged or B) on a psychiatrists couch and talking about how he only reads the right side of books. His claim that he used his own intellect and knowledge to “fill in the blanks” was ridiculous to the point of hilarity.  A classic example of a know-it-all who is a fool. I’m not saying he didn’t say anything true or profound, but he discredits his own self just in the way he lived/was. All the critics basically said the same thing: he was a nice guy but confusing and often unfounded. Makes me wonder how much I can really take of his as usable knowledge, but then again it is good to question everything.

As far as the video, I wish the we could have a filter on what this crazy/genius guy is saying to know what is ludicrous and what is truth. just like one of the critics on the video said–you cant tell if its a load of crazy garbage or something revolutionary and life-changing.  I think it would be helpful to have ALL of his theories explicated by modern scientists/scholars to really know.  The Tv thing I was kind of on the fence about. It takes a real addict to go into withdrawl like the study in Germany he talked about. Is tv really that much of a trip? I’m not sure. Sure we all watch a lot of it but we also have computers and video games as well as the old fashioned “other” category to fall back on. Unless what he is talking about can be translated into All media instead of just tv. Then  I could see withdrawl happening with a lack of tv/computers/video games/music.–but not to the same degree of say alcohol or drugs.

i had never really stepped back and pondered before WHY i use google and no other search engine. I do really like the whole Google banner theme thing but I’ve never really thought about WHAT i like about it or really WHY. i think i appreciate it because it reaches out to humans on a level of playfulness/fun/humor in an organized, serious environment. It “shows that they care” even though I know they really only care about money and no people, but I’m ok with the sham because it does deceive me nicely.  life is so serious nowadays and the fun extras make life more bearable and interesting. i guess its kind of like the people who go all out decorating for Christmas and the lame neighbors who dont even hang up a single wreath. There is no real purpose to decorations except to be festive and participatory in the fun aspects of our culture. you just appreciate those who get into the holiday spirit. the whole realm of marketing and advertising is really interesting to me and it is thought provoking to think of google’s “ploy” here as one.

the issues brought up in class today were so overwhelming, it would be impossible to blog about everything in one sitting.

the issue of education is SO very relevant, especially to us as college students. How far will things go to the point in which a physical classroom and an actual teacher are obsolete? or will we ever get to that point? Obviously, you can’t learn everything from a computer, but if  technology can enable us to all “be” in a classroom learning together even though we are not in the same space, is this still as effective as old fashioned, face to face interaction. What about those who’s financial status makes it impossible to utilize computers and online technology? will education become more elite or will it rather be able to me available to the masses like never before? i think there is a potential for a huge tragedy or a huge breakthrough.  it seems like today is all about getting through the process rather than being enriched by the process. The pressures of knowing certain facts (like SOLs) and making sure you get into a good college so that you can get a good job so that you can survive and one day retire and be able to live on savings have stolen much from the mystery and delight of learning knowledge and processing it on ones own.

i found today’s discussion on privacy and the internet very relevant and interesting.  it is amazing that in this age of globalization, we like to maintain our individuality while becoming more connected everyday.  people are concerned about their image and reputation but at the same time we are daily becoming more alike in many respects. more and more groups of people exists now than ever: this represents amalgamation/togetherness while simultaneously representing individuality.  the groups are unique (facebook ones for example) and are made of of unique people, but at the same time they are individuals grouping into one entity. a person today has way more options for self definition than ever before but at the same time can be categorized into GROUPS of thousands of others also choosing those options. kinda crazy. as this type of stuff as become more evasive through the implementation of technology, the law or privacy or rights seem unlikely to tame. it will be interesting to see how this plays out in local, state and federal government, as well as any global laws that may come into being concerning this.

i thought the stuff in class today about non-organic tools becoming extensions of ourselves pretty amazing. I never sat back and really thought before how a pen or a keyboard is precisely that.  writing, a now typing, is so second nature it is exactly one of those think to breathe things. im not sure how the bowling game example is quite the same thing unless someone does it hours upon end, because it takes a while for something to become so second nature. its somehow though gives the user the  feeling even if it is only the first time in one’s life they have attempted it. pretty fascinating. it will be interesting to see how this phenomena will play out in everyday future of humankind.

 this system was created in order to “warrant full pursuit by an enlightnemed society if there could be shown a reasonable approach and some plausible benefits” to solving the complex problems that grow more complicated and urgent by the day. they apparently help man apply his native skills but nowadays its seems like we are using our native capabilities less and less and handing the reigns over to the computers. i wonder if we use just as much of our brains today as before the invention of computers or if computers have merely helped us to use our brains more efficiently.