Social Media: Benefits and Disadvantages

Social Media: The Disadvantages

      The benefits of social media are plentiful and usually easy to recognize. You stay in touch with family, friends, get knowledge quickly. These are reasons why we sign up for these websites in the first place. Many people see the benefits of social media but don't look at the disadvantages and faults in the system.

      One common occurrence I see on my social media websites is scams and fraud. An example of this would be a friend messaging you telling you to go to some website because they got a $50 gift card to sky mall. If you click the link, it gives someone else access to your account and they use this information to contact all your friends hoping some will fall for the same scam. If you have personal information on your Facebook page, that is now susceptible to fraud.

      Looking around in class today I noticed a good amount of people on Facebook and Twitter. This is not a terrible thing since we are in a Comm class, but what about a business law class? I would say 75% of my business law peers who use a computer are browsing Reddit, Pintrest, or Facebook on the daily. This lack of productivity and attention is the reason why some classes don't allow computers. They are too much of a distraction and students don't have the willpower to pull themselves away (myself included). 

      The last fault is about enjoying the moment. Most of my friends are so caught up taking pictures of themselves, their food, and life experiences that they are missing the experience. Instead of enjoying a concert, we all take out our phones so we can block the view for the people behind us. We do this to remember and cherish the moment. "It will live forever, if it's online," we think to ourselves.

      It is these reasons why we should reconsider using social media as often as we do. We are addicted and thrive on staying connected to the world, and these disadvantages are not good enough reasons to stop it all together.

      

I Am a Gym Geek

Gym Geek

I understand that using this definition of geek is a very loose meaning. The word seemed to be thrown around in a lot of scenarios, so here is my best attempt to connect it to my own life! My main purpose for conveying this message is to show the similarities to being a geek for pop-culture or comic books, and lifting weights in a gym.

After thinking about it the way Caleb explained it in class, I am a geek for the gym. I admit to not being the most in shape guy in the world, but going to the gym has been something constant in the life for the past couple of years. It is my passion, and I will talk about it like a geek talks about video games.

I like to talk about it with my close friends, research new techniques, and force myself to go every day whether I want to or not. I believe, this makes me a geek for the gym. So why do I have to use the label of geek? Because I was once very into video games and comic book at a young age. I obsessed over them with my cousin all the time. We had that bond and it was all we talked about. We played online for hours on end and let that affect our social life and grades.

 Now, little has changed. Instead of making a habit out of video games, it's going to the gym 1-2 hours a day. Earlier this year I would wake up at 5:50 a.m on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays just to get an early morning workout in. I have always hated mornings with a passion! This was until a bigger passion came into my life.

I go with my closest friends and it is an awesome bond we share. We motivate and compete with each other, like I did so often with video games. We "geek" out about new routines, meal plans, and training sessions.

Why i distinguish myself as a geek and not a jock? It is because people think it  is abnormal to be so into working out. Friends and family didn't understand why I took it so seriously, and some have made fun of me because of it. It was this "You're different" mentality that distinguished me as a geek. Following your passion even if it's odd to other people, is what I consider to be a "geek."

Reality Television: Moonshiners Debunked

In my group we are discussing the truth behind reality TV- exposing some myths and common misconceptions with popular reality TV shows. I did a good amount of research on my topic and we ended up not using it. So I wanted to present a few point about the show, which many people may not know.

The first misconception is that they are actually filming something illegal. The Discovery Channel has come out and said, “If illegal activity was actually taking place, the Virginia ABC Bureau of Law Enforcement would have taken action.” This statement pretty much sums up the whole show, FAKE. In other words, the show is a recreation of what might actually be going on. Tim Smith (One of the main characters on the show) backed out of the show from getting too much recognition, so there could be some truth to the moonshining.

But if the events are recreated, the situations are staged. All the “panic” from getting caught is little more than a good animated actor. If this is the case, then what is “real” about this show? They have not come out and said what they are doing is real, so why do they have anything to hide?

I think this show and situation comes down to common sense. On everyday television you do not often see illegal activities taking place unless they are recreation or on the show Cops. And even then, that show has hundreds of hours of footage before they can put together one episode. Illegal activities are very frowned upon and are often much less severe than the crime of moonshining They have proof that what they are doing is real and do not hide in the corners about it saying, “Maybe it is and maybe it isn't.”

Common sense says it isn't.

Jerks Learn how to Write Articles

The past couple of weeks I have been on Facebook and have noticed a peculiar trend. People have been sharing articles with titles resembling this one, “5 Reasons to Date a Girl with an Eating Disorder.”

I will include a link to the article but it is basically about how these, “types of women,” are easy, vulnerable, cost less money, and so on. Females and Males share this article on Facebook saying it is ridiculous and condescending, not realizing what they are actually doing.

What these angry feminists are doing in linking an article to Facebook and giving the author revenue from his work. His opinions and words could have been total fiction, but with every visit to the website, there is more and more revenue generated. This vicious cycle has questioned whether people who write articles are looking to talk about something serious or trying to get on the front page of everyone’s Facebook account.

Why do you think the article is so popular anyway? It is because of the harsh language and female slut shaming. If the majority of people thought like this, then I don’t think it would be as popular to share. Instead of ignoring the message and limiting potential views on the website, they are sharing the content to friends who are likely to have similar views (and do the exact same thing).

It doesn't matter whether the author gets to think a certain way or change your mind. At the end of the day, he wants viewers to be attracted to his website and make revenue from those views. My suggestions for those who find any other articles like this are to IGNORE THEM. Reject them from social media all together. Some might actually believe what they are saying and others might as well be writing fiction. Either way, they are using this topic as a way to take control of female (and male) emotions while laughing all the way to the bank.

(Link to article below)

http://www.ibtimes.com/5-reasons-date-girl-eating-disorder-demonstrates-trollings-cynical-power-1475568

Video Games: An Escape from Reality

      Video games have been in my life since I was 4 years old. One of the first video games I got was Pokémon red and Pokémon blue version. I remember spending hours upon hours reaching new stages, catching new Pokémon, and progressing through the game. That moment I beat the elite four and faced my rival, was my very first “Epic Win.” I was hooked.

               

      Many older people have yet to understand what is so great about video games. I work in retail (Target electronics) and I would often have old people ask for suggestions and gift ideas. I had one customer ask me, “What is so special about this video game? It is so popular with the kids and I think it looks stupid...” I asked her if she watched TV and she said yes. I asked her if she had a favorite book or TV program and she replied with another yes. I asked her why she did these things almost on a daily basis, and she replied with, “It gives me an escape from reality. I can be those people in the books. I can relate to the emotions on the television.”

             

      She had answered her own question! Video games are amazing in certain aspects of life. They allow you to be the person you want to be, or do the things you could not do otherwise. I can be Batman, a soldier, or even a NBA superstar. Could I do these things in real life? Hell no. Through video games I have become more persistent in my everyday life. I have the mentality that there can always be a way to succeed or accomplish something. My hand-eye coordination is top notch and I find I make quicker real life decisions (on average) than my counterparts who don’t play them.

              

      Although there are many positives, there are negatives as well. Too much of anything can have negative consequences, and we must recognize this. I am not a violent individual and I play very violent games. I look at video games like the older women looked at books or a TV show. It is a journey, it is made up, and it is often fictional. It is something that we have grown up with and are used to. It brings us back to simpler times where all you wanted was that next achievement, that next level up. To lose yourself in the moment.

My favorite quote from Winnie the Pooh:

“What day is it?"
It's today," squeaked Piglet.
My favorite day," said Pooh.” 
― A.A. Milne

To lose yourself in the moment, is why I play video games.

Ghosts of Pasha Gig: Was it Cruel?

When listening this story of a group pretending to be fans of a band named Ghosts of Pasha, lots of opinions arose on whether it was a cruel joke or a favor to the band.

Looking through Lee's perspective (The agent who came up with the idea), it might come off as a nice gesture. But for the band members who are dying to have a real fan base, it was almost like a taste of something they might never have again.

For example: Let's say you are a professional basketball player. There is one game you dominate everyone and score every time you shoot. It's almost like they can't guard or block your shots, you are just too fast! You end the game with 53 points 23 assists and 14 blocks. You soon realize after the game it was rigged and the other team was told to lose. Your big crowd was there because they were payed to be there. It was all a big lie.

In my opinion, my hypothetical basketball scenario and the Ghosts of Pasha example are very similar. Just because you make a few extra dollars in the end does not cover the fact that your performance was fake. I feel that the lead guitarist felt cheated because of the fact that they were not "true fans" of his band. It was almost of lie of how good they felt they were, like like my basketball scenario.

On top of all that, they were later made fun of online to millions of people! Some people might argue at least it got the band name out there. Marketing tactics believe "all publicity is good publicity."

If you go to Google and Type in "Ghosts of Pasha," 3 out of the 5 first links are related to this Gag. This means the band will not be known for their music, but how they got fooled. Does this kind of publicity actually help the band? I don't think it does. They want to be taken seriously, have real fans, and live the regular band dream. I feel like this was ruined for them during this demonstration and some have the right to feel upset.

I feel many might have opposing thoughts to this statement, please respond with your thoughts and comments!


-David Cardimen