Have we lost our privacy?
Hmm.. I don't know.. ask the clerks running the scans and pat downs at the air port. Or ask the creator of Facebook. Ask your mom what it was like having a diary and trusting that no one would actually read it, let alone post it online!
I feel as though the internet has definitely made us make a choice between being private or letting it all out there. People will argue "you have the choice to get online, no one is forcing you.." BUT! Over my past week trying to live without the internet, I missed emails and messages that lead me to being late for important meetings and events. Things on Facebook can ruin lives, let alone ruin your privacy.
As for those saying "well you don't have to have a Facebook.."
Go to the airport. Get patted down, better yet.. just watch someone get patted down.
On my recent trip to Miami, I watched an amish woman be patted down.. REALLY?! I felt bad for the poor woman, she looked like she was going to cry! The way she was dressed, long skirt, sneakers with socks, a sweater with pockets, made her the ultimate target of a pat down. She could have had a bomb! Right.
I think that everyone would agree that yes, we do want to be safe, yes we do not want to be blown up on an airplane. But, in retrospect, why would we target people who we know in our heart would never hurt us?
After we get so far as to say "we are doing this for your safety" the government will take privacy and throw it out the window. In the novel the government is always pressing a "we are doing this for you" aspect, but by scaring people into doing what they want, they are in no way helping anyone. I think if that was not the amish woman's first plane ride, it certainly would be her last. She was scared so much that she couldn't even walk away with dignity. Maybe that is what they are trying to do to us.. Scare us and make examples out of people. Why else would people have their phone lines tapped.. they're trying to protect us.. right?
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
day 6.
Well, the past week I have not watched one movie. That is AWESOME! I only ever watch movies when I'm extremely bored, which I know now what being bored really means, and to have not turned on the DVD player in six days kind of amazes me.
I usually always have the TV on when I go to sleep, and since I truly have not turned on any TV I am fancinated that I have gotten better sleep!
The only problem I had with this experiment was that everyone else around me was trying to text me and call me, including my mom who knew I was doing this, so I constantly had to leave my phone on because she would go nuts if I didn't answer. The other problem was that people would purposely text me to see if I would answer giving me the temptation. To overcome the obsticles, I did not bring my phone with me to campus. I realized I was taking better notes and less worried about who's text I was missing.
The last issue I had was when I went out to dinner, or even on campus, there are TVs EVERYWHERE!! I never realized it before but I noticed that everywhere has some kind of sport show or news playing.
The positives of this project were better notes, which also is very helpful because I have three exams this week, better sleep, and I payed attention more to things going on around me rather than having my eyes glued to my text messaging. I actually spent four hours in the library on a Thursday and did not bring my computer so I had nothing other than work in front of me.
I think that this experience definitely opened my eyes to how much I rely on my cell phone. Turning the TV off was not the hard part, but not being able to answer a text rocked my world.
I usually always have the TV on when I go to sleep, and since I truly have not turned on any TV I am fancinated that I have gotten better sleep!
The only problem I had with this experiment was that everyone else around me was trying to text me and call me, including my mom who knew I was doing this, so I constantly had to leave my phone on because she would go nuts if I didn't answer. The other problem was that people would purposely text me to see if I would answer giving me the temptation. To overcome the obsticles, I did not bring my phone with me to campus. I realized I was taking better notes and less worried about who's text I was missing.
The last issue I had was when I went out to dinner, or even on campus, there are TVs EVERYWHERE!! I never realized it before but I noticed that everywhere has some kind of sport show or news playing.
The positives of this project were better notes, which also is very helpful because I have three exams this week, better sleep, and I payed attention more to things going on around me rather than having my eyes glued to my text messaging. I actually spent four hours in the library on a Thursday and did not bring my computer so I had nothing other than work in front of me.
I think that this experience definitely opened my eyes to how much I rely on my cell phone. Turning the TV off was not the hard part, but not being able to answer a text rocked my world.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
What would "pop up" on my feed?!!?!?
When choosing these advertisements I thought very closely about the needs of everyday living TODAY. Not the needs of those characters living in Feed.
Number 1: You need to eat!
"Bada ba ba ba! I'm lovin' it."
McDonalds spent around $1.2 billion dollars in advertising in 2008. McDonalds to me would DEFINITELY be an ad that would pop up on our feeds if we had them today. Just think.. How many commercials and billboards do we see for McDonalds each day, now times that times 3 considering your taking tv, radio and billboards and throwing them into one feed system. BAM MCDONALDS.
Number 2: You have to sleep!
Awe these little sheep will keep you soft and cozy all through the night! If there is one thing I hate seeing when I'm tired, it is Serta matress commercials but guess what!? That's why they play them! Because when I went shopping for my matress, I TOTALLY bought a Serta.
FYI: The term count the sheep came from hired barn help that would sleep in the barns and the sheep were the only thing to look at when they couldn't sleep =)
Number 3: You have to take a shower!
I picked Herbal Essences because.. well, that's what I use. But! Another necessity of life, if you are a normal showering person, would be body wash. Herbal Essences grossed about $80 billion in 2009. If that doesn't say good product, I'm not sure what does. Why wouldn't you want someone laughing while taking a shower to pop up on your feed?!
Number 4: Put some clothes on!
In 2009, Nike made an estimated $19 billion. That doesn't seem high enough to me, but when does wikipedia ever lie ;) As far as clothing goes, Nike has EVERYTHING. Hats, shoes, shirts, jackets, pants, shorts, sports bras, underware, socks.. I can keep going. But on a feed for today Nike would DEFINITELY be on there as a "great sports wear choice."
Number 1: You need to eat!
"Bada ba ba ba! I'm lovin' it."
McDonalds spent around $1.2 billion dollars in advertising in 2008. McDonalds to me would DEFINITELY be an ad that would pop up on our feeds if we had them today. Just think.. How many commercials and billboards do we see for McDonalds each day, now times that times 3 considering your taking tv, radio and billboards and throwing them into one feed system. BAM MCDONALDS.
Number 2: You have to sleep!
Awe these little sheep will keep you soft and cozy all through the night! If there is one thing I hate seeing when I'm tired, it is Serta matress commercials but guess what!? That's why they play them! Because when I went shopping for my matress, I TOTALLY bought a Serta.
FYI: The term count the sheep came from hired barn help that would sleep in the barns and the sheep were the only thing to look at when they couldn't sleep =)
Number 3: You have to take a shower!
I picked Herbal Essences because.. well, that's what I use. But! Another necessity of life, if you are a normal showering person, would be body wash. Herbal Essences grossed about $80 billion in 2009. If that doesn't say good product, I'm not sure what does. Why wouldn't you want someone laughing while taking a shower to pop up on your feed?!
Number 4: Put some clothes on!
In 2009, Nike made an estimated $19 billion. That doesn't seem high enough to me, but when does wikipedia ever lie ;) As far as clothing goes, Nike has EVERYTHING. Hats, shoes, shirts, jackets, pants, shorts, sports bras, underware, socks.. I can keep going. But on a feed for today Nike would DEFINITELY be on there as a "great sports wear choice."
Day 4.
Though the first few days of a technology ban came with opportunities to become creative I felt as though I was getting alot accomplished. I cleaned my bedroom, went to visit my mom at home (about a 40 minute drive without a radio), and then helped my mom make cheerleading bows (FOUR HOURS.) Even though there were a few times my phone rang and I had to take the call (for work and sorority bid day) I took advantage of sleeping in because my phone was shut off. I do not miss waking up to a text message or phone call from someone and it has definitely provided me with better sleep.
At first I thought I would turn my phone off completely and ignor television and computers for a while, but then I realized, doing just that would make it seem like I dropped off the face of the Earth. I leave my phone on, but on silent. I do not take my phone to class or my laptop, a huge adjustment, but a huge benefit for not getting destracted.
I have learned so far that I pay attention to other things around me. Such as... walking on campus... there is no possibility of running into someone because I'm not paying attention and texting. Or, who knew there was a rock in the quad that says "Shippensburg State University." I NEVER PAYED ATTENTION. And that is a lesson that I am glad I have learned so far.
3 days to go. Lets see if the phone will stop ringing.
At first I thought I would turn my phone off completely and ignor television and computers for a while, but then I realized, doing just that would make it seem like I dropped off the face of the Earth. I leave my phone on, but on silent. I do not take my phone to class or my laptop, a huge adjustment, but a huge benefit for not getting destracted.
I have learned so far that I pay attention to other things around me. Such as... walking on campus... there is no possibility of running into someone because I'm not paying attention and texting. Or, who knew there was a rock in the quad that says "Shippensburg State University." I NEVER PAYED ATTENTION. And that is a lesson that I am glad I have learned so far.
3 days to go. Lets see if the phone will stop ringing.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Day 1.
SO! Today is the first day I am supposed to being living without technology.
I regret to say that my phone IS on, for emergencies and considering I lost my set of keys over the weekend so if anyone finds them I need to know!
At first I forgot it was Sunday and the day I was to start my project so I ended up calling my sorority sister for help for tonight's meeting.
In Feed when the children are disconnected from the feed and frustrated.. that's how I feel.
My boyfriend keeps saying "no technology don't touch your phone.. and when we go over to Abbies pretend like you've never seen a computer before." I think people's reactions to the project are the best part about doing it. Everyone thinks it is a catastrophe! And everyone automatically assumes they can not do it, but I'm not so sure I failed... just yet.
This week is going to be interesting =)
I regret to say that my phone IS on, for emergencies and considering I lost my set of keys over the weekend so if anyone finds them I need to know!
At first I forgot it was Sunday and the day I was to start my project so I ended up calling my sorority sister for help for tonight's meeting.
In Feed when the children are disconnected from the feed and frustrated.. that's how I feel.
My boyfriend keeps saying "no technology don't touch your phone.. and when we go over to Abbies pretend like you've never seen a computer before." I think people's reactions to the project are the best part about doing it. Everyone thinks it is a catastrophe! And everyone automatically assumes they can not do it, but I'm not so sure I failed... just yet.
This week is going to be interesting =)
Friday, February 11, 2011
does no tech. mean no music?!
When posed with the question could you live without technology for a week at first I said in my head "hell yeah that's easy." Then... I thought about how much I listen to my ipod and thought "does no technology mean no music?!" With that thought I continued with.. What if people didn't have technology? They would have no way to get music, TV, advertising.. pretty much anything to us!
In Feed, the characters are in the hospital with no way to access the feed. They are left to stare at empty walls and in the quiet. If you have ever been in the hospital, you know the feeling. Quiet. Sometimes I feel as though the only place to be left in the quiet is the hospital.
There are many times that I feel as though I want to get away, turn off my phone, and sit by myself. But then when I try, I find out it is close to impossible. Even when people take vacations to "little cabins in the middle of the woods where it is quiet and snowing" they soon arrive to a television in every room and extended phone service.
In my opinion, I do rely way too much on technology. And I have found as I try to focus on classes and work it is even harder to get away from it. We constantly need to be on the computer or "listen to this and tell me what comes to your head" or "watch this clip and write a paper." This reminds me of Feed when the children have schooling through the feed, no writing, no paper, purely technological. This is definitely the future of our schooling system (minus the chip in our brain.. for now.)
I'm not going to say that I will fail at the Thoreau challenge, but I will say that by the end of the week I may be beating my head on a wall from withdraw. =)
For now.. Here's music.. because this is the only website I'm allowed on.
In Feed, the characters are in the hospital with no way to access the feed. They are left to stare at empty walls and in the quiet. If you have ever been in the hospital, you know the feeling. Quiet. Sometimes I feel as though the only place to be left in the quiet is the hospital.
There are many times that I feel as though I want to get away, turn off my phone, and sit by myself. But then when I try, I find out it is close to impossible. Even when people take vacations to "little cabins in the middle of the woods where it is quiet and snowing" they soon arrive to a television in every room and extended phone service.
In my opinion, I do rely way too much on technology. And I have found as I try to focus on classes and work it is even harder to get away from it. We constantly need to be on the computer or "listen to this and tell me what comes to your head" or "watch this clip and write a paper." This reminds me of Feed when the children have schooling through the feed, no writing, no paper, purely technological. This is definitely the future of our schooling system (minus the chip in our brain.. for now.)
I'm not going to say that I will fail at the Thoreau challenge, but I will say that by the end of the week I may be beating my head on a wall from withdraw. =)
For now.. Here's music.. because this is the only website I'm allowed on.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Virtual Reality?
"... One of the ones with zombies and mutants, and they were all spinning around and shooting their fingers like guns. They couldn't see anything, just the gamefeed..."
Virtual reality games have been a hit since they first arrived on the game scene in the 1970's. When your playing the game you have a mechanism covering your eyes and the real world becomes blinded to the game. You can walk around and be playing a game in a different world!
When reading the section in Feed, I thought of virtual reality games and how familiar it sounded. But, the problem is.. We aren't happy with huge devices making a virtual reality we want something more "real." Now we have wireless video game controllers and most recently a video game that requires no controller.
Feed explains how the world is going toward, a more "realistic" virtual reality. They have embedded chips that "feed" directly into their brain. When the boys are playing the game, its a demonstration of what our technology is going toward, and in some ways it's a very scary future.
Here is a video that proves video games are making their way into our brains!
Virtual reality games have been a hit since they first arrived on the game scene in the 1970's. When your playing the game you have a mechanism covering your eyes and the real world becomes blinded to the game. You can walk around and be playing a game in a different world!
When reading the section in Feed, I thought of virtual reality games and how familiar it sounded. But, the problem is.. We aren't happy with huge devices making a virtual reality we want something more "real." Now we have wireless video game controllers and most recently a video game that requires no controller.
Feed explains how the world is going toward, a more "realistic" virtual reality. They have embedded chips that "feed" directly into their brain. When the boys are playing the game, its a demonstration of what our technology is going toward, and in some ways it's a very scary future.
Here is a video that proves video games are making their way into our brains!
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