Week#13 Discussion Question# 3

When it comes to the function of media, in the book it describes that it had four functions which are surveillance, correlation, cultural transmission, and entertainment. The first on to show info, the second is the analysis of info, the third is education, and the fourth is to entertain people. I feel that all of these are important for media, but I feel that the most important are correlation and entertainment. The reason why we engage in media is to be entertained. It doesn’t matter what program you watch or listen to ranging from Howard Stern to Oprah, we watch them because we find their programs interesting and entertaining. Correlation is analyzing the info that we are given and we must decide if the info we are given is accurate. I feel that this is a good function of the media to expose lies because the fact of the matter is that we aren’t taught to question media that much, we tend to go on face values, instead of trying to find the truth. That’s what news is all about, trying to find the truth, and I think that media does a good job with these functions.

Week#13 Discussion Question#2

I agree with Marshell McLuhand that the medium is the message. As part of an audience, we have become either interested or disinterested on a subject/topic depending on what we first see or hear. For example, in watching television, we like to see changing pictures and things that are direct in order to understand what is trying to be conveyed to us. McLuhand states television has a mosaic logic which stimulates thoughts from the audience by providing information that resembles puzzles that have to be put together. He states television “encourages sensory involvement”. I like to watch CSI and Law and Order and I find myself more immersed in the show if I'm watching it directly. If I were to hear this show on the radio, I do not think I would be as involved to solve the crime. Another example that McLuhand provides is the linear logic where messages are transmitted through print media and people understand the topic in an orderly sequence. Watching or hearing a baseball game going on over reading the newspaper provides different information for the audience even though the topics are usually the same.

I think McLuhan's statement about a television being a “cool medium” is interesting. I agree that TV does demand its viewers “fill in detail”. As a TV viewer, I like to be actively watching a show. I prefer to think how a story is going to end rather than a spokesperson or narrator telling me what is going to happen. Because TV provides rapidly changing images, the audience is constantly changing their ideas; it is not static. 

Week#13 Discussion Question#1

As far as having friendships in cyberspace, I generally don't keep them unless they are family members and friends who I used to hang out with but now live too far away to see them frequently. Since talking online is free and can be accessed anywhere, especially with my Iphone, I find it easier to keep friendships remotely. I generally use Google Chat or Skype to stay in contact with family and friends. As convenient as it is with the online chat, I don't think it's comparable to face-to-face communication. I like to see the reactions of the people I am talking to rather than seeing emoticons. Also, people may not be able to convey their feelings or emotions appropriately online because words or messages may be interpreted differently. Another thing is that people can easily fall into the “fake” category when chatting online because there is no one to stop them from not being genuine, whether it is someone you know or a complete stranger. I had one experience where I befriended a person online and later learned he was not a genuine person. Luckily, I didn't let the person damage me, but the experience did leave me to be more aware of cyber communication and favor more face-to-face relationships.

Week#12 Discussion Question#3

After reading chapter 8 what I found to be the most interesting to me was the section on the "Promoting Professionalism in Workplace Relationships". I have plenty of friends that I have workplace relationships. I met a co-worker through my current job and we have become the best of co-workers. We are really close at work, however that's where the relationship stays, we both have our own set of friends outside of work. With Office Romance, this one is interesting because when I went to the new hire orientation for my job it simply states in the work handbook that a line staff cannot date a supervisor or a manager because it is a conflict of interest, but it’s ok if you are line staff and the person you are dating is a manager as long as he/she works in a different department then you. I personally would never date anyone from my place of work because it can be ac ward and sometimes cause unwarranted conflict.

Week#12 Discussion Question#2

Cellular phones: I completely agree with this etiquette rule because it is not polite, considerate, or respectful to intrude on someone else's privacy or intimate time by answering your cell phone in a class, a restaurant, or movie.
Answering machines: I don't really agree with this etiquette rule because I do feel that it is a convenience to its owner and I do not feel pressured to think about the message I leave on my machine to please others. Also, I think that people who leave me messages most always know me in one way or another and I love listening to the funny, interesting, and sometimes vague messages that are left because I know how to encode them. I especially like it when a friend leaves a message that I understand, but anyone else probably wouldn't because we know each other and many times we have sayings, phrases, or jokes that we get because of the nature of our friendship.

Conference calls: This one is interesting because I have never been in on a conference call, but do agree with the etiquette rules stated in our text. That would be horribly rude to hear a sarcastic remark from someone who doesn't think others can hear, not mention the embarrassment they might feel if they were notified of their behavior. Not to mention to the repercussions it could have on the company they represent and their job with that company.
Faxes: I never really considered this rule and how it suggests calling ahead to ask if it is okay to fax at a certain time. However, I admit that you can never be too considerate.
Timing Your Communications: Totally agree with it and yet I have done it so many times. I will be more aware of my timing and how dangerous it can be to call someone when they are driving. It will also help me to filter out what can wait and what is an emergency and can't wait.
Screen names and Ring Tones: I am kind of flip flop on this one because when I hear someone else's phone go off and a specific song comes on it in a very small way lets me know something about them and the kind of music they like, or how that song has some significance with the caller. But I can see how certain lyrics would be inappropriate in certain arenas.
I have been bothered by cell phones when I am at the movies. It is so annoying! I can understand if it is an emergency, but in my experiences it hasn't been.
Call waiting is cool and is essential to me because I have kids, family, and friends who may have an emergency and can still get through even when I am on the phone.

Week#12 Discussion Question#1

Organizations are tied to the environment in that they are dependent on a healthy respect and relationship with each other. However, many of us know that this doesn't always happen.
The relationship between the school I attend and the city or town in which it is situated is in my opinion a reciprocal one. Sac State brings tons of business to the city through housing needs, shopping, and food. Unfortunately, it also creates a lot of congested traffic and lack of parking for residents and students alike. In addition, the business Sac State brings may create pressure for the city and the residents living in the surrounding area. It can be positive and it can also be negative, depending on whom you ask. Another issue that may arise is litter, loud parties, and a negative impact on the environment. I would think that residents who live in and around a college expect certain things that go along with college life, but they may also have expectations of the individuals to maintain and upkeep their neighborhood.
The ethical obligations that a college or university should have towards a community are, but not limited to, respect for others that share the same space, inclusion to meetings, notification of expansions of the college or any decisions that will be made on structures, ask for input about what communities think about the college and their organization, notice and invites to concerts and sporting events, a consideration of the community and its resources, and an overall good relationship with its neighbors.

Week#11 Discussion Question#3

After I read Chapter 6 my attention was caught by the subject of Suspend Judgment. This is the stage for final deep mental reflection. The nature of knowledge requires that you possess some humility about the results of your work, even though you are ready to take action. While you have spent a lot of time and effort to reach a final decision, you must now change your attitude and suspend judgment. Do not fall in love with your concluding decision. Watch for other concepts or trains of thought as you implement your decision. Things are usually not just yes or no, true or false, or good or bad. Wait until you have heard or researched all the data before you reach a conclusion. Don't be misled by the first person's opinion you hear or the first data given to you. Keep an open mind. Remember the shades of gray principle. Things are not exact, but vary in degree of probable exactness.

Week#11 Discussion Question #2

The filters I have used to eliminate people from consideration as potential romantic partners sociological or incidental cues, physical proximity, pre interaction cues, interaction cues, and cognitive cues. I have used them all. The characteristics or behaviors that lead me to judge others as unattractive are awkward and difficult conversations, little feedback in a conversation, lack of confidence, little to no sense of humor, nonverbal behavior that I encode as negative and bad hygiene. Duck’s theory makes sense to me because whether we know it or not, on some level we do have an idea of the kind of partner we would like and we do go through a process to see who might be a possible date and who will be just a friend, and sometimes who we hope to never see again. I have eliminated someone by using the pre-interaction cue, but not the sociological cue. I place a high emphasis on nonverbal messages and most times they do all the talking needed.

Week#11 Discussion Question#1

I think all relationships go through complementary and symmetrical patterns, depending on how long the relationship goes and the people involved. In my opinion, rigid complimentarily would be most damaging to a relationship. In this relationship one person is dominant while the other is submissive. This type of relationship is common in some marriages (especially in the East, where the husband is dominant and the wife plays the submissive role), parent – child and in friendships. Marriages are a partnership and we must treat each other equally by sharing information, ideas and roles. If the husband always plays the dominant role in deciding everything, the submissive wife may resent this at some point and rebel against this. This is the same in a parent-child relationship, if we constantly decide and play a dominant role, children and teenagers begin to rebel against this control. Any interpersonal relationship has its limits and there needs to be a balance and an appreciation for the other person’s feelings and the context in a given situation.