Questions & Responses on Chapter 10: Writing the Self
I think that electronic communication is just another way for people to communicate. I do not think people confuse online communication and relationships with in-person communication and relationships. The television, radio, telephone, even the telegram were all new at some point and have only added to our society’s form of communications. I do not think the internet harms us in terms of communicating. The questions brought up at the end of the chapter seemed over-dramatic. Why do some people feel that you must choose or traditional print/telephone? Why can’t our society embrace both? Carrie
This chapter was about the writing culture. I really agree with Rheingold argument that these online communities that people have formed are "an ecosystem of subcultures, some frivolus, some serious". I think that these communities that Bolter refrences are new communities and yet I think that this does not take away from the real communities it does not negate real human interaction. He argues that third world will never get to participate in the web which I dont believe fully because while it is a middle class that is a main componet of the web they still get the voices of the lower classes out into the web (say AIDs in Africa, Genocide in Darfur, Ammensty International etc). Bolter speaks intensly about the loss of high culture. I think that high culture is mad that it no longer has the upper hand in society and so they backlash against it by demanding standards and classics yet they are the ones having to reinvent themselves for a internet based world. I still value books and "classic" litrature and I am fully immersed in the technology culture. I dont think culture is dissapearing but I think like any medium it has to change and adapt in order to survive. Hannah K
The author points out that low-quality sites may be better designed than high quality ones (body piercing vs Shakespeare). How much do you think the design of a site reflects the quality of its content? Many very informational and formal sites and online journals are extremely simple and about as bare one could make a site. Do most users consider the design of a site when they read the content, or is it simply an added bonus if a site happens to have a good design as well? Jim
I'm not sure if Bolter is for or against online posting. He seems to be presenting both sides of this. I personally see nothing wrong with online posting. I think we all desire a sense of community and the internet has allowed us to find a new community. Our culture is changing and we are seeking to connect in a new way. Personally I think online is helping us exchanging ideas in which we have never before. If two minds are better then one, then online is helping us become smarter. We are simply extending the community network to the internet and I see nothing wrong with this. Megan
Does Blackboard count as one of these cultural unity on the web.It seems it should because it connects a group. A class. The same applies for group shared folders. Since there are so many untrustworthy sites online about groups is that a wall for true group and culture connection on the web. Terrell
On the bottom of pg. 205-206 the author says that it is a consequence when networking cultures because it abandons the ideal of high culture (literature, music, arts) as a unifying force. He said if there is no single culture, but only a network of interest groups, then there can be no single favored literature or music. Maybe I'm not understanding him totally, but I disagree with his statement. I believe it is good to have a network of various interest groups (such as chat rooms from movie stars to sport teams). And I think that the favored type of music could still be determined with various groups. If you had more people visiting country singers' chat rooms vs. the rappers' chat rooms-- you could still determine what genre of music people that use the internet favor. Stacey
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