Archive for the ‘Web/Techno Addictions’ Category

Today I reached an all time low tolerance for bad manners on the Internet. People get on a social networking site and think it is a license to say or do whatever they want. It isn’t, never was okay, never is going to be okay.

The number one etiquette rule is, “Don’t type something you wouldn’t say in real life. You shouldn’t hide behind a computer and say hurtful things that you wouldn’t dream of saying to someone’s face.” That simply is not nice. How could anyone think that was okay? Even the tone we use in our comments should be considered. It really is hard sometimes to tell if someone is joking or not. And TYPING IN ALL CAPS MEANS YOU ARE SHOUTING. Do we mean to shout? Why?

Another one that floors me is when posting pictures or talking about our personal life it is vital to remember everyone can see it. That means anyone that has ever been in our lives including our employer. Did you know that not only your employer checks you out on Facebook or Twitter but perspective employers, banks and other credit check businesses? Well, they do! And nothing is worse than an unflattering picture posted of you. Or a comment about how you tied one on last night with some hottie. No one likes it, right? Well maybe the mean spirited person who posted it does. This is one post I heard about. A girl was on a date she didn’t like, he dropped her off and she immediately posted a negative comment about her date! And guess who saw it! He did! Did she think she was invisible? How rude is that!

Venting is okay but there is a limit to the rights of freedom of speech in our world today. And guess what? There are laws to protect those who are defamed on social networking sites.  We just don’t get to go out and say and do what we want in America then holler “freedom of speech”.  Yep, everyone gets protection under the Freedom of Expression of the First Amendment.

Recently I read that some high schools students were defaming their principal on Facebook and were shocked when he filed charges. He has rights too. And just in case you are interested, rights protected under First Amendment, Freedom of Expression are: defamation, causing panic, fighting words, incitement to crime, sedition, obscenity, offense, and establishment of religion.

The thing I see is everyone thinks their rights are being stepped on but do they have to gain their freedom by stepping on someone else? Hey, I am not for government controlling our lives and I am certainly more than sick of “PC” being over the top but we have to deal with the Internet making our lives very transparent. And with that comes responsibility.

I enjoy my Facebook friends. I connect with family and friends while meeting new associations. If I didn’t have a social network I would probably rarely talk with my kids and now almost daily I get to intrude oops, I mean share in their lives (hee) This is great. But it doesn’t give me a license to tread on their rights in front of the entire Internet.

And friends, be careful!!!!! For every person who is a good contact there are others out there lurking on the web to create problems. So be aware of the personal information you give out! If I can find anyone I can think of on the Internet so can they. And! I do not have a technology degree, some of these hackers do. They are creeps. So I say know what to say and not say. It is not a place to air dirty laundry or our marital disputes or trouble with the in-laws, kids or whatever. It is not the place to be a drama queen and certainly not the place to make someone feel stalked. Sometimes a good old fashion email would be more prudent to communicate to contact someone.

Hey, listen this isn’t intended to be scary but, a wake-up call is prudent. And finally friends, always remember do not type something you would not say in real life if I was in the same room with you. And I will do the same!

Reference:

http://www.csulb.edu/~jvancamp/freedom1.html

Photo by Prasan Naik

About 18 years ago I brought home my first computer. I was one of those who were satisfied to use the computer at work for all my needs. Interoffice email was just taking off in my office in the 1980s. Then my first computer came home with me, not much more than a data processor. Email wasn’t even that big of deal in my life.

Then I moved overseas in the 1990s and that made a huge difference. My family was here in the United States and I was in Europe. I needed to “connect” and so I took on email, Instant Messaging and web cam options as my primary connection to the people who are so important to me. I even began to work as a Computer Services Director. With the programming support of my husband I maintained an email membership of over 1200 and a website for the American Women’s Club of Brussels as well as a membership supported database. Who knew I could do that? When I was doing their website it barely had a presence and I learned a lot about writing for the Internet.

The computer I worked on while I maintained the American Women’s Club of Brussels was a laptop, 32mb of memory with a 2 GB hard drive. I wore that little puppy out; by the time I pass it on (still working) I had worn the letters off the keyboard! So when I returned home I was ready, or so I thought, for a desktop computer but after having a laptop it seemed like a horse! Oh sure I used it for a while then I gave it up to my husband so he could use it in his networking stuff.

Then I tried a Mac book for a while but I just couldn’t get use to the media options because I wanted it for writing and business. So again I passed it off to my husband (he makes out on my electronic growth). And I went back to Windows on a notebook, I chose what I thought was a small, lightweight computer, Acer Aspire 5570Z which, I still use for all my writing (like here.) And it took me a while to adjust to the Vista system but I am getting use to it. I am very happy to be back to a laptop. Between the laptop and my phone I find I am a techno junkie. It took me awhile to get addicted but here I am and, I want to say I am still on the move.

So let me tell you about my two latest toys, well, I mean, tools. Yeah that’s it, tools! I decided to treat myself to a couple of toys well, tools that motivate me to take care of myself instead of turning to eating. So as goals setters I bought two new techno tools as I met my goals.

First goal I found another Acer, a Netbook. Yep, I did it; I got a Netbook (shoot I didn’t even know this word existed!) It is so cute! And a fully functional computer.

And I got the pink one no less. And it fits in my purse and off I go to be in the 21^st Century. Last week I took it to a meeting and by the time I got home two people emailed me to find out where I got it so they could get one too!! Do you think Acer will pay me a marketing percentage?

And my latest incentive in my world I have added a Kindle 2 book reader. At first I wasn’t sure about this one.

I mean I am a voracious reader but! it fits in my purse and I find that I am reading it just fine. There is a learning curve but probably not for you out there who are more advanced than I am electronically. I like to read nightly before I go to sleep and this is so light and easy to read (you can adjust the font) that I found I am reading just as easily as before and it holds a large amount of books!!! How is that! I can buy one and it is on my system in less than a minute.

And so that is what I have done about electronics over the years. When I see those commercials of the small children who take a picture, download it to the computer and email to their parents I am absolutely amazed and feel like I am so behind the times. In 15 years I have made major strides in electronics. I use my phone for photos, notes, mp3 player, pedometer and I actually call someone once and a while. I am now forwarding my home phone to my cell when I am out and it helps me keep a pulse on things.

Electronics are here to stay so I decided to join in.  And so far I am very happy I did!

Here is an incredible invention that lets your recycle your used batteries in order to provide sustainable light sources for public areas.  The Energy Seed.