Comments on: Blogging as Active Sociality

By: Kris

Kris — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:17:53 +0000

I think that this is interesting, especially when viewed through an “age filter”. I have long considered myself behind the times when it comes to technological innovation, but I find that when I “plug into” something, I become easily frustrated with others who are choosing not to participate (in the use of MySpace, cell phones, email, what have you)
Especially when that person is younger than I.
I have stumbled into online blogs and MySpace in particular only recently and am considering what my responsibility to emerging technology as a teacher is: my students are all low income, recent immigrants who don’t move in a cyber world, but will be required to as they continue their educatio in the US and eventually move into the work force.
My question remains: what can possibly be done with MySpace that is important? It’s fun and all, but…

By: Doug

Doug — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:15:27 +0000

This is interesting because we (adults) were talking some time ago about how this would annoy the kids, adults participating in THEIR world, but now I doubt that having an account at MySpace would do much more than amuse the kids. I’m curious to see if teachers with MySpace accounts end up using them in any important way. THAT would be the telling thing. Nobody expects me to have a MySpace account, so it isn’t consequential for me to have one or not. Nobody expects me to be a blogger, either, but it has become consequential (for me) because of the use I’ve made of the practice, though I still see it as more of an “enrichment” activity than a necessary part of my everyday life.

By: Mark Ahlness

Mark Ahlness — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 06:13:16 +0000

Doug, I think a more important question to consider, rather than worry about a cell phone, is… do you have a MySpace account? Teachers ought to have one - just to understand where their kids are going, to understand the culture in which they “live”. - Mark

not much, but I’m there… http://www.myspace.com/ahlness

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 01:04:44 +0000

Al, sometimes the “simple life” CAN get pretty damned complicated. It was 10 miles to the nearest phone at a little mom and pop store. Calling the doctor to make an appointment for an infant with who-knows-what was a major problem.

As to the email situation that Nancy mentioned, Yeah. People say, “I don’t need it. I never had it and I don’t miss it.” OK, but what about US?

In my case, podcasts and videos online are a real problem. Dial-up bandwidth doesn’t cut it for that stuff, and other solutions aren’t going to be available where I live for….? I’m doing the best I can without moving back to town or the “lower 48″ and no offense, but nobody is worth THAT.

By: Nancy McKeand

Nancy McKeand — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 17:40:52 +0000

I think you are absolutely right. Email is, I think, an example that even people of my (over 50) generation can understand. My brother refuses to get email. That means we don’t stay in touch very well. He lives a life that doesn’t require email, but it is somewhat isolating. His wife has email (but only at work!), and he does have a telephone, so he isn’t really cut off. But it makes for a huge gap between us sometimes.