"You've Got Mail"

I just want to start of by saying this is such a cute movie. I love Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Ok but back to the education part of the movie. The movie hit on a lot of things that we discussed in class. Anonymity was a big part of the movie. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan did not know who each other were when they first met online in a chat room. Until Tom Hanks found out that it was Meg Ryan, there was a mutual agreement that they would not share too much personal information. There was acctually a part in the movie when Tom Hanks asked what her line of business was and she said "remember nothing personal." If it were not for anonymity online, I do not believe that they would have continued to chat online and form the relationship that they did. It also seemed as if they both a an addiction to the words "You've Got Mail." They both immediately checked their e-mail after their significant other left in the morning. There was also a part after Tom Hanks found out that it was Meg Ryan, and he could not resist going to his computer and writing back to her. This brings up the topic of online affairs that we discussed in class. Could Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks's relationship be considered an affair. I think that in a way they were cheating on their significant others because they would not check their e-mail while they were around and also ended up breaking up because of "the idea of someone else." There was also the use of symbolic markers in the movie. Their log on names can be considered as symbolic markers. There was the scene when Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were discussing what the 152 meant on his log in name. Her log in name was shopgirl which portrayed herself well because she owned a shop. Tom Hanks also did a little identity play in the movie. He pretended to be someone other than Joe Fox. He displayed different aspects of himself to Meg Ryan through their online communication. To conclude, the movie represents today online communication between two people fairly well. The way they met and how they built a relationships through CMC.

Reading for this week

So...I just finished reading the article that was assigned to us and the first thought that comes to my mind is interesting. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I first began reading the article, but I definitely was not expecting anything like it was. I am interested to know exactly how long her online relationship with Rob lasted because I don’t believe the article ever really mentioned it. The author went into a lot more detail than I expected. I was not expecting their relationship to become such a sexual and intimate one. I think that that was crossing the line BIG TIME. If the guy needed someone to talk to, he should have grabbed one of his buddies or kept it friendly with someone online. I don’t think that the author should have taken the relationship to the level she did knowing he was married. I found it interesting that she became emotionally attached to Rob and was basically having an online affair with him but continued to give him advice on how to fix his marriage. First, she gave Rob something to think about his marriage and how he can make it better. Then, she got upset when he decreased his amount of mailing, and then she told him her feelings to encourage him to think about her. I feel like she was being two-faced and hypocritical. I understand that she has a disability, but I don’t think that she needs to be spending so much time online. I think it would be physically and mentally healthier for her to spend less time online. Although, the article never went into detail of how severe her disability was other then the idea of her PC being voice activated incase she couldn’t type??? The concept of her disability was a little confusing to me. In all, I believe that online affairs are just as bad as real life in-person affairs. Although they never actually engaged in physical sexual activity, the author and Rob basically had a sexual relationship, replacing physical sex with cyber-sex. To be honest, I’m not a very good person to talk about online relationships and meeting strangers online because I just find it weird and un-natural. I know CMC is becoming a much bigger part of our everyday lives, but the ideas of online relationships and cyber-sex just really creeps me out. Meeting people online can be nice to make new friends and share common interests, but I just don’t understand how people get so into it and form intimate relationships!? It’s interesting that the internet has become a way for relationships and marriages to begin and a major cause for why relationships and marriages are ending.

You Tube

Sooo…I can’t stop thinking about the videos we watched in class the other day. I’m pretty sure I told all my friends about them. I just am shocked at how a group a strangers formed an online community all for one little girl. I think it’s amazing. At first when Mr. Corso told us that the mom had documented her daughter’s struggle with cancer, I thought it was a little odd and strange, but after watching the video it didn’t seem strange at all. I can’t believe how brave that little girl was. It made me think about how I over-react when I think I have a problem. That little girl was struggling with cancer and she was still laughing and telling jokes. I also thought it was a little weird for the lady to respond with a hugs for Jaycie campaign video. But once again, after watching the video and knowing that so many people responded, I think it’s pretty awesome. Without the use of video, the internet, and other technologies, none of that would have been possible. I think that posting videos is a great way for people to build a community or support groups. It is interesting how the internet can inspire people and form a bond between perfect strangers. I’m going to search you tube and watch some videos as soon as I’m done with this post…haha.

Continuing with Avatars

I really am just shocked about this avatar and virtual world idea. I had no idea that these things really existed until learning about them in class. I find it interesting that people really use these type of things. I thought that I was dependent on the internet and my computer a lot for instant messaging and e-mailing, but these people are addicted to it for their "made-up" virtual world. I just don't know why anyone would want to spend their time on there. It is good to be creative and use your imagination, but this is a little extreme. I'm sure some people get really into and lose their real life identity. I thought the idea was creepy to begin with, but now the idea that people make churches and are even bringing religion into it!!! Maybe I shouldn't knock it till I've tried it, but to be honest I do not ever see myself trying something like that. I just don't think that someone envolving themself in virtual worlds too much is very good for a person's real life social life.