Week 4 Blog Post Response

**Just Followin' the Crowd: Out of the Loop**

I think in my freshman year of high school is when the whole myspace trend began which evolved from Xanga (in 6th grade) then into facebook then twitter when the whole "blog your soul, and what you ate for breakfast" trend started.

I mean I'm not saying there is anything wrong with blogging about you life and what you ate for breakfast, but just to blog with heed or caution, taking note of being "sociologically mindful" when cetain things are T.M.I. For example, the primary reason most of my friends have blogs, myspace, twitter, and what have you, is because everyone else had one, and to stay in the loop or "connected". If you didn't have one it was an absence within the little world of digital communication, and you were "out of the loop".

Personally, I have received many a request with "so and so has invited you to facebook!" message, and the ever increasing "Follow us on twitter!" temptations, even from those you least expect from religious communities to local government.

So just how did this tech communication blogging trend evolve you ask? Well one of my interviewees in response to this retorted and I quote: "Myspace is dead or mostly for old people", which to no surprise the majority of my peers seemed to agree. But how exactly did this particular "group think" take shape? Simply because when something newer, better, and more advance comes along it automatically renders the previous form of communication (in other cases arguably face to face and phone conversations for texting) obsolete? So if I asked if there was anything to regret about keeping in tune with the ever-changing complex world that is online blogging/communication what what said was this:

1. "Yes, because my others can see my relationship status as "single" including my boyfriend."
2. "Yes, because my friend posted those embarrassing pictures of me from when my hair was longer."
3. "Yes, because my mom can see it somehow even though I blocked my page."
4. "My other friends post under my blog without my permission."
5. "No, because I have a lot to friends."
6. "Yes, because I have seen hurtful things posted about me and others."
7. "Yes, because my friend posted those embarrassing pictures of me when my hair was longer at that one party."

When asked if any of the interviewed did any of these things such as post on other people's blog without permission or embarrassing pictures, most said yes, but only because their other friends had convinced them to do so thinking "it would be fun, as a joke". But later on many regretted it due to hurt feelings, strained relationships, lost friendships, and in some cases school punishment.

The last instance of school punishment reminded me of a recent court case where a student had posted a hurtful blog about a faculty member, and many fellow student bloggers joined in on the site to rant as well. Another example, of influenced group behavior. Soon afterward the creator of the site was sued by the faculty member, tried in court for libel, and suspended. I think its safe to assume there was regret on the part of the student/students involved.

In conclusion, the moral of the story: be careful what you blog and communicate online to others, especially in it is influenced by the opinion of others upon what you blog, even if it is what you ate for breakfast. In the meantime I will just be checking my email (apart from occasionally posting here of course ; ] ).