Recently I got a little obsessed with FourSquare (4sq), an application where you "check in" to different locations to get points and meet up with friends. Within this application you can become the "Mayor" of a location by checking in to locations enough times, and even oust others from their mayorships, giving it some friendly competition.
While it's fun to check in and share on Twitter or Facebook, a lot of people question the danger of the application. Isn't it a little creepy to share with everyone where you are at all times? Yeah, actually. It is really creepy. And while my mother likes seeing where I am, when I get home, etc, a phone call or text would be fine.
But it's hard to quit 4sq. My friends and I use it when we go places together. But it eats up my twitter feed and no one really cares about where I am besides Mom!
It's gotten to the point where I am holding 16 mayorships- and I freak out if someone takes one from me! It's just a game... so why do I care so much about "checking in" everywhere? I guess I secretly hope that if I ever get abducted the police will be able to track my phone, but I don't think that's likely, if even possible. I think I'm just getting too obsessed with 4sq, and not really paying attention to real relationships.
So I'm thinking of quitting 4sq. What do you think about it? Do you use it, or does it creep you out too much? Leave a comment and let me know!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Facebook. It's an epidemic.
Facebook has over 500 millions users.
I, along with virtually everyone at my college, are part of those 500 million users. It's a great way to connect with friends, family, and class mates. It's become a million times easier to throw parties, express your opinions, and share photos.
However, I am starting to hate facebook. It's been festering for a while now. But it's really become unbearable in the past weekend.
See, I had to turn my facebook wall off for recruitment. I'm the head Rho Gamma (recruitment guide) and I need to set an example and a standard for my Rho Gammas to follow. I made it so literally no one, with the exception of my family members, could see, write on, comment, or like anything on my wall.
Within hours I was getting emails and messages from members of my sorority complaining. I'm supposed to be disassociated. That's the whole reason I turned my wall off. I understand that these women aren't involved in recruitment as Rho Gammas, so they don't have to hide their things to the extent I do.
But it's unfair that people are giving me a hard time for following rules. Even worse? Some facebook friends have gone the passive aggressive route and turned their walls off to me, as if it was something personal I did to them. And, by using friend lists, have made sure I knew that it was turned off to me.
In short, I don't want to be a slave to Facebook any longer. I don't even want to log in anymore. So I might just clear everything out.
Have you joined the Facebook craze? Do you love it or hate it?
I, along with virtually everyone at my college, are part of those 500 million users. It's a great way to connect with friends, family, and class mates. It's become a million times easier to throw parties, express your opinions, and share photos.
However, I am starting to hate facebook. It's been festering for a while now. But it's really become unbearable in the past weekend.
See, I had to turn my facebook wall off for recruitment. I'm the head Rho Gamma (recruitment guide) and I need to set an example and a standard for my Rho Gammas to follow. I made it so literally no one, with the exception of my family members, could see, write on, comment, or like anything on my wall.
Within hours I was getting emails and messages from members of my sorority complaining. I'm supposed to be disassociated. That's the whole reason I turned my wall off. I understand that these women aren't involved in recruitment as Rho Gammas, so they don't have to hide their things to the extent I do.
But it's unfair that people are giving me a hard time for following rules. Even worse? Some facebook friends have gone the passive aggressive route and turned their walls off to me, as if it was something personal I did to them. And, by using friend lists, have made sure I knew that it was turned off to me.
In short, I don't want to be a slave to Facebook any longer. I don't even want to log in anymore. So I might just clear everything out.
Have you joined the Facebook craze? Do you love it or hate it?
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Social Calendar
It's been busy the past couple of weeks. Spring Break consisted of homework, and then this week is all meetings and assignments.
In these busy times, it's easy to get muddled. Which is why I recommend a planner of some kind: on your computer, on your phone, or even the good ole agenda book.
I personally choose to use a paper planner. I've used iCal on both my phone and my computer, and it's great, but I prefer to have a paper planner. I don't know why, it's just something that I prefer.
I tend to have a lot of events, and not all of them fit on the tiny space on the iCal app. And they change. Frequently. So I like to pencil (I've recently discovered just how useful this is) my events, and erase and edit as necessary.
But for some, especially those who tend to be late, a digital calendar can be a godsend. Simply program your meeting, and set an alarm for 15 minutes before and Voila! You'll never be late again.
What kind of planner do you use?
In these busy times, it's easy to get muddled. Which is why I recommend a planner of some kind: on your computer, on your phone, or even the good ole agenda book.
I personally choose to use a paper planner. I've used iCal on both my phone and my computer, and it's great, but I prefer to have a paper planner. I don't know why, it's just something that I prefer.
I tend to have a lot of events, and not all of them fit on the tiny space on the iCal app. And they change. Frequently. So I like to pencil (I've recently discovered just how useful this is) my events, and erase and edit as necessary.
But for some, especially those who tend to be late, a digital calendar can be a godsend. Simply program your meeting, and set an alarm for 15 minutes before and Voila! You'll never be late again.
What kind of planner do you use?
Monday, February 28, 2011
Uhhhhh....
Uh. Um. Er. Em. Eh.
We all know these filler words. We know that Speech 101 tells us to avoid these words at all possible. We all know these words make you look unprepared, nervous and unpassionate. We know, or at least try our damnedest, not to use these words when speaking.
So, is it okay to use these words online?
Most people don;t use them, but they do have their place: the only time I have really seen anyone use filler words is when the situation has gotten really awkward and you want the other person to know just how awkward it is.
For example, if this chat window were to pop up on your Facebook:
Hey guh wats ur sign
Then this would be an appropriate answer. Followed by an X-out and "Go Offline"
ummmmm...
But to be frank, these words are awful. I know I use them and I wish I didn't. So our online voice has the right idea: cut 'em out!
We all know these filler words. We know that Speech 101 tells us to avoid these words at all possible. We all know these words make you look unprepared, nervous and unpassionate. We know, or at least try our damnedest, not to use these words when speaking.
So, is it okay to use these words online?
Most people don;t use them, but they do have their place: the only time I have really seen anyone use filler words is when the situation has gotten really awkward and you want the other person to know just how awkward it is.
For example, if this chat window were to pop up on your Facebook:
Hey guh wats ur sign
Then this would be an appropriate answer. Followed by an X-out and "Go Offline"
ummmmm...
But to be frank, these words are awful. I know I use them and I wish I didn't. So our online voice has the right idea: cut 'em out!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Keep it Classy: Analog versus Digital.
Technology has become a vital part of our school work. As a college student, I have to say I run into a lot of technical difficulties.
Some teachers treat your class like an online class and put EVERYTHING on your campus's eLearning site. Some teachers are anti-tech and refuse to allow computers, assuming that all students are fooling around on Facebook instead of writing notes.
I've experimented with both the "old fashioned" and the digital method. I lean toward the digital method, mostly because I prefer typing over writing (hand cramps are expected with 17 credit hours). But I found a happy medium. So how did I balance digital and old school studies? It turned out to be really simple.
*Keep a Binder. My mom got me some really nice fabric-covered binders.
*Page Protectors. Instead of messy hole puncher, use page protectors to keep handouts, note cards, and whatever else safe. Unless you carry your binder upside down, there's no easy way to loose them.
*Highlight the Good Stuff. I used to be very anti-highlighter. Mostly because I over highlighted. I found that if I highlighted what my teachers covered, I was pretty much set. However, this does vary from professor to professor.
*Type your notes. Super easy to make edits, and it's okay if you spell something wrong or jumble something. You can make sense of it after you've typed what your teacher said to turn into true verbatim.
*Thank your Prof for spending time typing up notes and uploading them for your use. A thank-you note would be a nice touch. Another nice touch would be using them.
*Pay attention. Don't Facebook in the front row. If you have real trouble, go to "File" and check "Work Offline" to try and keep yourself in check.
*Keep Everything on a JumpDrive. I have a cute penguin one! This way you aren't relying on your computer if it crashes.
*Guard your JumpDrive with your life. I've had success keeping it on my keys or in a special spot in my bag.
*Keep both a digital and hard copy agenda. Therefore there is no way you will miss something.
*If you just can't pay attention, Record your Lecture. You'll thank me later....
So this is how I do it. The multimedia method will of course need some tweaking for each person, but it's worth a shot if you stand in the middle.
How do you stay organized in class? Paper, Digital, or both? Let me know how you do it!
Some teachers treat your class like an online class and put EVERYTHING on your campus's eLearning site. Some teachers are anti-tech and refuse to allow computers, assuming that all students are fooling around on Facebook instead of writing notes.
I've experimented with both the "old fashioned" and the digital method. I lean toward the digital method, mostly because I prefer typing over writing (hand cramps are expected with 17 credit hours). But I found a happy medium. So how did I balance digital and old school studies? It turned out to be really simple.
*Keep a Binder. My mom got me some really nice fabric-covered binders.
*Page Protectors. Instead of messy hole puncher, use page protectors to keep handouts, note cards, and whatever else safe. Unless you carry your binder upside down, there's no easy way to loose them.
*Highlight the Good Stuff. I used to be very anti-highlighter. Mostly because I over highlighted. I found that if I highlighted what my teachers covered, I was pretty much set. However, this does vary from professor to professor.
*Type your notes. Super easy to make edits, and it's okay if you spell something wrong or jumble something. You can make sense of it after you've typed what your teacher said to turn into true verbatim.
*Thank your Prof for spending time typing up notes and uploading them for your use. A thank-you note would be a nice touch. Another nice touch would be using them.
*Pay attention. Don't Facebook in the front row. If you have real trouble, go to "File" and check "Work Offline" to try and keep yourself in check.
*Keep Everything on a JumpDrive. I have a cute penguin one! This way you aren't relying on your computer if it crashes.
*Guard your JumpDrive with your life. I've had success keeping it on my keys or in a special spot in my bag.
*Keep both a digital and hard copy agenda. Therefore there is no way you will miss something.
*If you just can't pay attention, Record your Lecture. You'll thank me later....
So this is how I do it. The multimedia method will of course need some tweaking for each person, but it's worth a shot if you stand in the middle.
How do you stay organized in class? Paper, Digital, or both? Let me know how you do it!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Social Network or Social Life? Why Choose!?
We all know that the Internet, Facebook, and Twitter, make our daily lives easier. It's easy to stay connected with friends and family member. It's a great way to network!
Unfortunately, we as a society have messed up. Big Time.
We've let these websites run our lives. We've let them take over our social interactions. Everything from phone calls to parties have been made so much easier by Facebook. We let it do the work for us. So simple! No need to use a phone to call someone or mail a letter... just do it via Facebook chat.
And there in lies the issue. I let Facebook take over. I use it know what people are up to without talking to them. Instead of the original idea to stay connected with old friends and family member, I use it instead of spending time with them.
Bad. Bad bad bad.
So I'm on a mission. A mission to balance life and the internet.
I am in love with technology. And it's part of my career, so I have to learn to draw the line between helping my career and hurting my social life!
So let's go back to having a social life... not just a social network.
XOXO,
Alyson
Unfortunately, we as a society have messed up. Big Time.
We've let these websites run our lives. We've let them take over our social interactions. Everything from phone calls to parties have been made so much easier by Facebook. We let it do the work for us. So simple! No need to use a phone to call someone or mail a letter... just do it via Facebook chat.
And there in lies the issue. I let Facebook take over. I use it know what people are up to without talking to them. Instead of the original idea to stay connected with old friends and family member, I use it instead of spending time with them.
Bad. Bad bad bad.
So I'm on a mission. A mission to balance life and the internet.
I am in love with technology. And it's part of my career, so I have to learn to draw the line between helping my career and hurting my social life!
So let's go back to having a social life... not just a social network.
XOXO,
Alyson
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