Dans Blog

Can’t study without checking your facebook?

// February 28th, 2010 // No Comments » // Random

Are you one of those people who can’t study without checking their facebook or e-mail? Is email or facebook a distraction? SelfControl is an OS X / Mac application which blocks access to incoming and/or outgoing mail servers and websites for a predetermined period of time. For example, you could block access to your email, facebook, and twitter for 90 minutes, but still have access to the rest of the web. Once started, it can not be undone by the application, by deleting the application, or by restarting the computer – you must wait for the timer to run out.

If you got a mac and want the application, download it.

I’m not which side of the fence I should look at this issue. Sure as a whole, the younger generation is better at multi-tasking and knows how to get information quickly and efficiently. However, its as if our internet addictions as becoming too great and we need outside help…

Addicted to the Innertubes?

// November 23rd, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Internet, Life

I’m doing a research paper right now, and I think like everyone, I keep multi tasking.  Switching music, watching youtube, checking facebook, playing a mini game here and there. However I found some information that was striking.

The first U.S. residential treatment center for Internet addiction opened this summer in Washington state.

The Internet has simplified our lives in numerous ways while allowing us to what we want, fast. It has also allowed us to reconnect with old friends, neighbors, co-workers and family through social networking sites such as Facebook. By communicating to others, regardless that is is done through the Internet, we are strengthening our relationships. Social networking along with social media has revolutionized how we live in society today. Social networking sites bring people with common interests together, offer exposure to new ideas from around the world, and are able overcome social anxiety. People who have a difficulty communicating in person are more comfortable interacting via the Internet. And not always are the most sociable people in real life are the most active online. Also, social networking sites allow for creative expression in a new modern way. They provide free messaging, blogging, photo storage, games, event invitations, and many other services to anybody, fast. Social networking sites had a huge impact with the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election and how the Iranian protesters used twitter to organize anti-government protests recently. I personally think the positive things that come from Social Networking and media outweigh the problems, and critics need to understand that it’s time for an information and social revolution.

However, pretty much like everything else in life: Advantages come with disadvantages. Social networking sites make give someone a false sense of security. Are your friends really your friends?  This leads to identity online. Social networking sites have no way to verify that people are who they claim to be, leaving people vulnerable to messages from online predators who are able to hide their true identities. Also, the hours a day of face-to-face socializing has declined as the use of social networking sites and other media has increased. Being anonymous online is so easy, even for sex offenders and criminals. Cybercriminals can gather information to be used for identity theft from social networking profiles, such as birthdays, pet names, mothers’ maiden names, names of children, and other details often used in passwords and security questions for bank accounts or to other important websites.

The bottom question I think is: Were these social networking sites created to make money or to ease people’s social lives?

If you’re curious take the net addiction test.

College Life

// August 27th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // College

I think the biggest transition in anyone’s life the year after senior year.  The year you leave all of your beloved family members friends. Friends who you knew since kindergarden, middle school or from facebook.  School that had strict rules with limited freedom and with lab nazis who would yell at you for restarting the computer because Microsoft Word would take 20 minutes to open up.  Now, in college, freedom is crawling in and out of everybody’s residence halls and out of everyone’s laptops.  You can check our facebook whenever we want, as if that’s all we do in class. The best of all, you don’t have to raise your hand and ask to use the bathroom! I remember in high school I got a detention because I left to use the restroom after I used all my available bathroom passes. Like seriously, teachers go to school to teach, not to babysit our bodily functions.  If high schools are trying to prepare us for college, I think someone should let them know that you don’t need a bathroom pass to visit the bathroom in college.

I’ve been to college for two days already, and I can already spot some leading changes. First of all, the language people use is much more well mannered and mature. In high school, people swore nonstop just because they had no other vocabulary in their insuficient brains.  Now in college, people speak with authority, confidence, and everyone is extremely down to Earth.  It’s such a cool, calm, collective world where everyone feeds off of each other’s personalities, thoughts and ideas. Just some advice: think twice before you say something, you will stand out. In college, if you stand out it’s usually because you made a fool out of yourself.  People tend to remember the times you made a fool out of yourself rather the times when you saved the day.  If you saw Jonny A run into a spotless clean window and break his nose, but later that day pick up dropped books for a classmate, which would event would you remember more easily? Almost everyone would say the event where Jony made a fool out of himself. The point the make a fool out of yourself in college and you will have hell of a time. However, there is a difference between “fun” and “stupid”.  You can make a fool out of yourself in a fun way and everyone will laugh and move on, but don’t be a stupid fool for regrettable laughs that will haunt you in the future.

I go to a fairly small college and I think it’s way better than a University.  Sure the bigger schools have more well-known reputations, but it’s the skills and knowledge you get from your college that matter, not a piece of paper. With smaller class sizes and teachers who know your name and e-mail you to see why you did not show up, it’s hard to not get grasp any hardcore lifeskills for your desired career path.

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Why you shouldn’t post your picture online…

// July 12th, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Life

People think it safe to post your picture online, well think again. Sure it’s somewhat safe on Facebook where you are ‘friends’ with hundreds of people who just happened to go to your school. Do you not have any enemies or anybody who is a computer nerd who uses photoshop like its some simple photo editing program.  Here’s an example of some fat asian kid who is now famous.

“Increasing numbers of employers are checking out potential staff’s social networking profiles, says Careerbuilder.com.

The job-search website surveyed employers and found that 20 percent of companies admitted to checking out candidate’s profiles on social-networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace before deciding to employ them. A further 9 percent said they planned to start reviewing potential employees social-networking pages in the future.

The research also revealed that while 24 percent of employers had hired a member of staff based on their social-networking profile, 33 percent had also decided not to make a job offer after reviewing the content on a profile. Use of drugs or drinking and the posting of photographs deemed ‘inappropriate’ or ‘provocative’ were identified as the most popular reasons why employers eliminated a candidate after viewing their social networking profile.” Bottom line is to separate your personal lives with your private ones.