For me this facebook Thing started at just about the time facebook really exploded in the national consciousness. I've discovered a zillion people I know using it, many of whom I've been happy to not know where they were for 20 or more years now, so it's disconcerting to have them requesting my attention. Otherwise the hurdle I have is figuring out which apps to use and tailoring the whole mess to represent my needs, without getting sucked into a black hole of pointless conversation.
I like the way you can turn elements of your own life and that of your family and friends into a newspaper of sorts. That's power!
I've also had several incidents arise with my newfound village. One was discovering a friend that I'd been out of touch with for awhile was inspired to post an "incident" from our past that I'd rather not be known by the general public (I could still run for President someday). Another was a fellow who presumed that my complaint about a minor facebook thing meant that I was too ignorant to figure out how to fix it rather than that I simply trying to be amusing. He corrected me in a supercilious manner that I found irksome being the technowhiz that I am (although I know he was just trying to be "helpful"). Another when I posted a link to one of the 23 Things articles that questioned the motives of facebook's masters and how they are out to exploit the general public. That person simply couldn't believe that if the general public was too stupid to understand the implications of what they were doing they didn't deserve better treatment. Of course, she's smart (and libertarian to boot so I guess it's a case of Atlas shrugging). I've always studiously avoided chat rooms, forums, blog discussions, etc. so I'll have to get used to the rough and tumble world of internet discussion.
MySpace is similar and different but who in the hell has time for all of this (outside of the PCC crowd)? Maybe there will be a solution when I get to aggregators. I think there are also apps that address the problem of having so many different Web 2.0 things going (let's see, MySpace, facebook, Twitter, a blog, email at 6 different accounts, LibraryThing, Meebo, wikis--take me home, country roads!
And of course libraries can use these things but it must be done with forethought, not just to jump on board the latest rage (which is what facebook is IMHO.)
Next!
PS
I'm convinced now more than ever that it's important for us to keep up with social networks and other web tools.
PPS
I know I skipped Thing 15, I'll get back to it.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Thing 14--YouTube and Online Video
I'm not sure whether I should be ashamed or proud but I'm a regular user of both YouTube and Hulu (and a half a dozen more video sites). It all started when my TV blew up and I decided that I wasted too much time with TV anyway so instead of getting another one I started looking at YouTube and now I waste time watching things online.
The difference is the control I have to watch the things that interest me, whether it's skateboarders getting their nuts cracked or the origin of the universe. While there is an awful lot of time wasting stuff there, it's easy to avoid. I don't have to watch something awful because it's the only thing on and I don't have the willpower to turn the tube off. Instead, I can watch something edifying even though I still don't have the willpower to turn the d*mn thing off. My only concern is that if the "content providers" ever get their act together some of this stuff could disappear, which makes me want to waste a lot more time watching it than I should.
Hulu is especially great if you don't have a TV because there are lots of television programming there as well as movies and other odds and ends. The best thing about it is that it ends the tyranny of broadcast TV. You can watch what you want when you want it. You don't have to wait for a commercial to run off to the bathroom or kitchen, just put the player on pause. It's the civilized way to watch TV.
The difference is the control I have to watch the things that interest me, whether it's skateboarders getting their nuts cracked or the origin of the universe. While there is an awful lot of time wasting stuff there, it's easy to avoid. I don't have to watch something awful because it's the only thing on and I don't have the willpower to turn the tube off. Instead, I can watch something edifying even though I still don't have the willpower to turn the d*mn thing off. My only concern is that if the "content providers" ever get their act together some of this stuff could disappear, which makes me want to waste a lot more time watching it than I should.
Hulu is especially great if you don't have a TV because there are lots of television programming there as well as movies and other odds and ends. The best thing about it is that it ends the tyranny of broadcast TV. You can watch what you want when you want it. You don't have to wait for a commercial to run off to the bathroom or kitchen, just put the player on pause. It's the civilized way to watch TV.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Thing 13--LibraryThing
My question now (even before we reach the Facebook and MySpace Thing) is what possible use (or time) do I have to participate in a dozen different social web sites that demand learning how they work, participating in their conversation, adding a profile and information (as in the books I've read for LibraryThing) and on and on and on? I think we need an OpenID equivalent for these sites where you can share your information with all of them at once.
On the Gripping Hand, I have to say that LibraryThing is interesting and useful and I see no reason why we can't use it with our catalog. To answer my own question the solution is to pick and choose the social media sites that best reflect your interests. My goal is to visit Library Thing regularly enough to make it useful for me.
On the Gripping Hand, I have to say that LibraryThing is interesting and useful and I see no reason why we can't use it with our catalog. To answer my own question the solution is to pick and choose the social media sites that best reflect your interests. My goal is to visit Library Thing regularly enough to make it useful for me.
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