CH 11: Medium is the Message

CH 11: Do you agree with Marshall McLuhan that the medium is the message, i.e. that the format or logic of a medium is as important as its content and, in fact, determines what content will be broadcast through that channel? Evaluate his idea that television is a cool medium.

Yes I would agree with Marshall McLuhan “the medium is the message” because the way and style a message is transmitted may affect the way the message is received (p. 307). For example, each business has their own format for when sending out messages internal and external. There are many forms of channels to broadcast content, such as television. McLuhan mentions, why television has cool medium because “it demands that viewers fill in detail” (p. 307). With all the new technology, television is still a good way to ones message to a certain demographics looking at both format/logic and content. However, I can not help but think how important format and logic is in today’s society with all the content being thrown at us everyday.

Have a good one!

Thanks,
Vanessa

CH 11: Cyberspace vs Face-to-Face

CH 11: Have you made friendships that exist exclusively in cyberspace? If so, how are they different from face to face relationships? If you have not formed cyber relationships, why not?

There are some people who love to talk face to face and for those you do not may use cyberspace to communicate with other individuals. I am one of those individuals who really enjoys and prefers face to face communication with friends, family, co-workers and my boyfriend. I have never built friendships from cyberspace and really do not intend to in the future. I believe face-to-face communication is more effective and helps a person grow within their relationships. For example, I know I like face to face communication because just tonight I told a friend that “ lets meet for coffee to discuss some things instead of online.” Also, I have never used a blog page before this class, if that tells how much I like face-to-face communication then computer communication. I know there are many positive and negative aspects to cyberspace but this is a new method that could help communication grow more globally by video conferencing through cyberspace for but those who like face-to-face and the internet.

Have an awesome Friday!!!

Thanks,
Blondie

CH 11: Interesting term

CH 11: Pick one interest concept or term and discuss it.

We live in a world that allows the media to reach us in many styles and methods. Mass media has grown with the times, allowing more people to be reached with multiple sources of mass media making information with a push of a button. I found certain characteristics of mass media interesting, such as “Interposed Channels” (p. 300). When reading over this chapter I could not help but think of how mass media reaches us today. For example, electronic media many involve equipment and financial commitment and so forth, however it is the norm to use technology to receive information from the mass media (p. 300). Just think about how internet, myspace and commercials were used in the 2009 US President elections. Mass media and the candidates used electronic media because that is the best way to reach the majority of US citizens and others in the world. However, I believe there are both positive and negatives that will come with the future methods and styles of all mass media (electronic versions). One thing for sure, the world is at our finger tips, which mass media will continue to use to their advantage.

Thanks,
Blondie

CH 8: Organizations and Environment

CH 8: How are organizations tied to the environment? What is the relationship between the school you attend and the city or town in which it is situated? What, if any, an ethical obligation does an organization like a college or universities have to the local community?

I believe organizations fall hand in hand with the environment they are formed, practiced and grow to be. Trenholm states, “ Organizations depend on their surroundings for resources and energy” (p. 215). An organization can do well when the economy is doing well and sometimes suffer when the economy is not doing well. For example, I come from a small town named Hollister, CA. When I was growing up this small town everyone knew everyone and what clubs everyone was involved. However, when it came to Friday nights or Saturday afternoons and our high school football team was playing mostly everyone in town would attend. The people would talk about the game the next day and you could read about in our newspaper. As you can see our schools play a big part within the community and the way the school is viewed will affect the way outsiders view out community/city.
Another example of how organizations can effect the local community can be seen right here at SJSU. I belong to a sorority that is from SJSU and the way we are viewed by the local community will affect out school and our future growth within our community. I believe that is why our sorority does so many different ways of community service to better the community we are a part of and help them understand us. Either way, organizations and the community must work together to better the growth for the area they live in for the future.

Hope you have a Great sunny weekend!

Thanks,
Blondie

CH8: etiquette rules for information age

CH 8: Review the etiquette rules suggested in the text. Respond to each one. Have you ever been bothered by cell phone, answering machines, or beepers? What do you feel about call waiting? Is it rude to put people on hold to take another call?


I would agree with the “Etiquette Rules for an Information Age” which are listed in out textbook. The most popular would definitely be the cell phone rule. There is nothing worst then having to hear someone else conversation or hold up a line because the user of the cell phone has no cell phone etiquette. I am a strong believe there are certain times and locations for cell phone use and then there are those times or locations where one should not answer their cell phone in a verbal or text way. For example, I work at a law firm where cell phones are not allowed to be spoke on outside of your office or outside of a conference room. The purpose of this is so other employees and clients in the common areas do not hear personal conversations or other case information. To tell you the truth I really like this rule for cell phones because if we did not have this rules attorneys would have their ear attached to the cell phone at all times.

The next rule popular rule would ring tones and screen names because more and more individuals are turning to this technology to be original. However, some people do not understand that some ring tones just do not want to be heard by others. In addition, there is nothing worst then typing in a weird or silly screen name to talk with someone. No matter what people will make up ideas about you based on your screen names, which I think a screen can tell a lot about a person.

In addition, answering machines are a helpful tool if both parties are clear with their message. The way a person leaves a message such as the words they choose, tone, length and so forth can tell the other how that person is feeling the topic. However, I can not stand it when people leave really long voice messages because when you call this person back they will say the same thing all over.

Conference calls are used some much more today because we were do business all over the world. Conference calls are an important communication tool for the growth of any business. I must saying being is a few conference calls at work really shows how important it is to use names and make sure everything you say is clear and to the point.
As for faxing, we still use this at work occasionally, but when we do send then it is necessary to send a cover sheet and make sure it is being sent to the correct number.

Lastly, timing your communication for calling, faxing, talk with others, leaving messages and so forth must be done at appropriate times. For example, when doing business over seas it is important to keep in mind the time difference when wishing to communicate with another individual.

As for call waiting I am not a big fan of it because either party will not feel important to you if you do not switch over, interrupt the conversation or even end the conversion to speak with the other person. Also, there is nothing worst then speaking with someone and the phone keeps beeping for call waiting. I really do not like putting people on hold because I find it rude. The last thing I want to hear in the middle of a conversation is “can you hold on a minute? So and so is calling” because by the time they get back on the phone we find ourselves trying remember where we were at in the conversation. Overall, there needs to be communication etiquette for the new ways of communicating in this very busy world we live in today.

Have a good one!

Thanks,
Blondie

CH 8: Interesting Term

CH 8: Pick one concept from the assigned reading that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

Organizational communication is more important then ever in today's society with the multiple methods of communication. Just think about an organization you are involved with and the way the group communicates with members in the organization. No matter what organization you are involved in their is a gatekeeper. A gatekeeper is "someone who is in a position to pass on or discard information" according to Trenholm (p. 222). I believe a gatekeeper has a huge responsibility of weeding out the good/important information from the non-important information. For example, I work at a law firm where I answer the phone to see who is calling the attorneys and make sure they are speaking with the correct individuals for each case. I am a gatekeeper, which is a big responsibility to make sure I tell the attorneys the correct information of each caller. I tell co-workers sometimes when clients give me to much information I am not always 100% sure I am passing on all the information the attorneys would find helpful. Either way a gatekeeper must pass any information in a timely and effective manner within the organization to reach the correct person. Organizational communication will always need improvement within and without the organization because of the new styles/methods of communication that are to come in the future.

Have an awesome week!

Thanks
Blondie

CH 6: Patterns

CH6: Which pattern (rigid complementarity, competitive symmetry, or submissive symmetry) do you think would be most difficult to change? Why? Which would be the most damaging to a relationship? Which would be the most potentially damaging to the self-esteem of the individuals involved?

I believe every relationship starts to have patterns, over time. With that said, rigid complementarity, competitive symmetry and submissive symmetry would be difficult to change within a relationship once those patterns have began. However, I would think rigid complementarity is a little more difficult to change from my personal experiences within my own relationship with my boyfriend. On a light note of rigid complementarity I have experienced this with my boyfriend when it comes to going out. The reason is most of the time I am the one who plans what we are going to for the night, such as where, when, with who and what to wear. At first I did not mind this but now after reading this chapter I realize it is difficult to change this pattern even though we both have discussed this every so often. I do get tried of being in charge of what we are going to do and make sure i plan accordingly the factors in our life at that moment. After gaining a better understanding of the possible patterns we can fall into when in a relationship I will be able to better my relationship with my boyfriend for the future.

On another note, I believe complementary pattern would be most damaging in a romantic relationship. I am sure you would agree, there needs to be a balance between partners. If a partner takes the submissive part to often then the relationship would not be balanced and not be healthy for both partners. I would also say this term would be most damaging ones self-esteem in the relationship. If both parties don not have positive growth in the relationship then self-esteem will not grow in a positive direction as well.


Hope you enjoyed the rain this weekend! :)

Thanks,
Blondie

CH 6: Filters

CH 6: Think about the filters you use to eliminate people from consideration as potential romantic partners. What characteristics or behaviors lead you to judge others as unattractive? Does Duck’s theory make sense to you? Have you ever eliminated someone by using sociological or pre-interaction cue only to reconsider them based on interaction and cognitive cue?

I believe everyone who is human uses filters when meeting anyone, especially when considering an individual as a potential romantic partner. I know when we meet someone and start to date that individual our friends also use filters when they meet their friend’s new boyfriend/girlfriend. With that said, I have used all the filters our textbook discusses in chapter six; everywhere from sociological to interaction cues. It’s funny because when I was showing my boyfriend this part of the chapter, he mentioned how I did use all these filter either through questions or looks about where our relationship may lead. After reading the chapter and speaking with my boyfriend I realized Duck’s theory makes sense because no matter what we as humans will use many filters in beginning of a relationship. I know I am somewhat of a judgmental person (I am working on changing this), however there are behaviors or characteristics that make people unattractive to me, for example, no eye contact, bad words, do not look clean or match their outfits, no future goals, hang with the wrong group of people and so forth. However, even with all the filters, I have for a romantic partner because filters can help a person realize what they are looking for in another person. Maybe that is where the saying ‘my better half’ came from? Lastly, no I have never eliminated potential romantic partner by using sociological or pre-interaction cue only to reconsider them based on interaction because I did not really date my first four years of college, which may have been because of my many filters.

Have an awesome weekend!

Thanks,
Blondie

CH 6: Interesting Term

CH 6: Write about an interesting term you found from the reading.

The term I found interesting was looking-glass self (p. 144). This term seems so simple, but made me think of the way I view myself when I communicate both verbally and non-verbally. We live in such a fast pace world, where if you did not have the correct image it is difficult to be heard in certain groups. However, looking-glass self reminds us that we must understand who we are as a person. We gain a good understanding of who we are based on who we wish to hang-out with, have relationships with, organizational involvement or even our future goals. Looking-glass self helps individuals see how others view them by looking their surroundings, i.e. people. We can use others as a mirror to see how we are viewed (p. 144). I found it amazing that all the talk about “you are who you are by the company you keep” could be found in a textbook. However, I would agree with this statement because we all experience looking-glass self within our lives and others we communicate with regularly. I believe we need to take more time to use the looking-glass self idea to grow as a person and a communicator.

Hope your week goes GREAT!

Thanks,
Blondie