The Fake life of Facebook

The dominating social media platform Facebook makes the bold claim that the lives of our generation can be successfully represented and shared by means of Facebook. Zuckerberg's goal (and he's just about achieved it) is to make everyone's lives connected via the internet, and have that a normal part of human life. But is it genuine? Writer Zadie Smith doesn't think so. She clarifies herself though. It's not that Zuckerberg is some evil person too unconcerned to care about how our lives are captured online. That's only the sensational representation that hollywood has to shape out of his life in The Social Network. She realizes that he was only a kid who wanted to create something cool for people to freely represent themselves. But in making this website of freedom, he forgot to actually give us control, a core concept to allow freedom to exist. Facebook is too formulaic, and pushes people to only share certain things about themselves, or rather, the way in which we can express ourselves is very limited. This results in a seemingly wholesome, but limited representation of ourselves on the internet. And I think its true. My Facebook profile is only a sliver of Forrest Jackson: Just a slice of what I do, where I've been etc. But do to internet social repercussions and the websites own limitations, you can't see my true feelings, my thought processes, none of that. But will I delete it? Probably not.Facebook he created a "community" that has such a strong hold socially, that if my double life on the internet were to die, I would be missing a part of me, even it is fake... But perhaps, I'm just being a baby. Or maybe just part of a generation who can't handle the real.

Information or damnation?

http://youtu.be/corY-FZAZog Probably out of any other rapper, hip hop artist Lil B has used technology extensively to promote his music and connect with his fans. Throughout his solo career, he has put out thousands upon thousands (and i mean thousands) using multiple myspace pages and Youtube. His style and tone varies, sometimes its lazy and party-going (but mostly for satirical reasons, other times its hard hitting and poignant. either way, the "BasedGod" primarily uses the internet to get his quirky messages out. so its interesting that he released this song "Age of Information". Here, he questions how much technology really advances the human race, citing the prevalent hold of racism and hate throughout the world.But, despite these issues he voices, Lil B still certainly uses technology as his primary tool. I wonder if he truley sees the value in the technology he uses...

Google: The Search for Self

Google is more than a simple search engine,or a speedy highway to websites we want to get to. It is a tool steeped in self exploration, and, when used in the correct way, a guide to wisdom that can make us more spiritual, and guide us to better understand ourselves. Knowledge as a moral tool as been evident for years throughout religious history. Recall the tale of Solomon from the Old Testament in the bible. God gave Solomon the opportunity to ask for whatever he wanted. He didn't choose power, or the continuation of his family, which God gives to many important figures in the bible. Instead, Solomon asked for wisdom. From then on, Solomon solved many great moral puzzles and lived a devote life. Clearly, wisdom brought Solomon to a higher tier of spirituality. Likewise, Google gives us wisdom to live better lives. The search engine can answer all most any question, from how to prepare a certain recipe to actual, deeply religious queries. But most importantly, Google is able to show us facets about the world and ourselves that we wouldn't otherwise notice. Because of the way the algorithms on Google are set up, the user is able to search for just about anything, but at the same time, the website shows the best answers for you, specifically. In this way, the wisdom is more tailor made and useful, giving us the best answers. As a result, by having access to such broad yet personalized information, it better connects us not only to the world, but what shapes us as a people. Knowledge these days connects us as a people, and knowing more about what we want to know also points to where we are in life. You can clearly see this just by looking at your search history: you can see a lot about yourself. Overall, the Google experience gives was to knowledge that betters our community and individualism at the same time.

The Ever Quirky Google

Of course, our class has look at a number of communities, but the most interesting one seems to be the Google team. It's unorganized and relatively friendly-- characteristics not usually synonymous with companies trying to make it big. However, Google's beginnings were kept alive by one binding factor:innovation. Normally, communities, especially ones formed in the context of business, stay afloat because of strict organization. Google, however, used their drive and imagination flowing to keep the community within the business, and therefore the business itself, strong and in working order. Even through the chaos of the actual workplace, Edwards even sees that innovation keeps the operation going. From marketing the company via philanthropic means to brainstorming the layout of the website, innovation has been the key tool to make google truly thrive.

Newgrounds Slideshow

Newgrounds from Forrest Jackson

The People of Newgrounds

The Newgrounds home page

The internet has always been a place for games and animation, but Newgrounds can be credited as a place where the fun parts of the web come to thrive. Since 1999, Newgrounds has accept all ranges of user-submitted flash animations and games. And it didn't just stop there either, now the site accepts still art, as well as music submissions, broadening the diversity of the site's content and appeal. Users are also heavily encouraged to use the forums provided to connect with people, and discuss content. Mainly, the site garners a huge following from stereotypical nerd group; gamers, geeks and anime fans. As result, much of the site's content caters to that type of audience. However, the site prides itself on being a place for people to connect via its niche of user submitted content, comparable to YouTube or Wikipedia. And it does a great job. This website, although lacking in the level of recognition youtube or Facebook gets, is a true community.

The website gets to have this title, mainly because users can post just about anything. Additonally, feedback and discussion is encouraged about posts, allowing viewers a voice in the popularity and opinion about a post. Both of these features of the site help Newgrounds fully live up to its name. Of course, it is dominated by a certain type of person as mentioned before, but that has not stopped people form taking on other ventures on the site that have nothing to do with "nerdiness". After all, the site slogan is "Everything, by Everyone," and refuses to shun its users.