I know I did not speak up in class, but I'm a bit to shy to admit some of the things I wanted to express. Reading Chapters 5-7 in The Weblog Handbook by Rebecca Blood I personally realized something. Pardon my language in expressing this, but I do not want a public weblog there is to much bullshit involved. Honestly, attacks, stalkers, and who knows what else, can be brought from this. Not to mention I do not believe that I am the type of person who wants to be out in the eye of the public. It's a little to intense for me. Although Blood's weblog is a pretty interesting read, I don't know if I agree with her book completely.
I understand and I do believe that she restates that everything is personally choice. This is true about the web, I mean it's hard to believe that anyone can get on the net and yet they can become anyone, but it's true. This was a pretty good disscussion in class today, or so I thought. I was really surprised how many people were shaky about placing a picture on the web. This is mentioned in chapter 7; I mean honestly, I don't think it's that horrible, unless I was trying to create a type of alternate persona.
Chapter 5 is what has me a little fired up though. Mentioning promotions, maybe I've been involved in to many flames (mentioned in chapter 6). Still I'm just not much of a promoter, where she makes it sound like that is the point of having a blog. I am here to vent, and discover acedemically, just incase I ever happen to slip I'm not interested in someone finding it and getting angry with me. I mean this chapter does give some great promotion tips for those looking to dive right into the blogging community. I suppose I'm just not one of those people, I'm shy in a crowd, no matter if it's online or out in public, especially when I do not understand the subject. Which I sometimes wonder if that is why I don't understand the need to be publizied all this book restate.
Chapter 6 is about weblog equitte, which I completely agree with. When you look at it this is something that is very, very important. This is something that can make or break or reputation anywhere. When you don't present your self with respect, never expect to receive it. It is not worth anyone elses' time nor is it worth your own if you are going to parade yourself with such immaturity. Also this chapter talks about the infamous linking to help your blog grow. I know this may sound a tad bit mean, but Blood mentions about people sending you emails stating for example, you add me I'll add you. This is a shamless way of promotion, it reminds me of elemetary school. If you carry yourself with dignity and respect, prove your points and have created a decent persona, I'm sure you will get enough links.
Like I said chapter 7 really gets into how personal you want to make you weblog, which is your own choice, as mentioned. I think you need to keep your bondaries at where you are comfortable, like Blood states. Which is a good choice, hey I'm sure if I was angry, upset, heck just emotional enough I could reveal my entire life on my blog...which I'm not comfortable with on here or just about anywhere. Above and beyond that, she does cover in depth remember, never write anything in seriously emotional times because like I just said you may regret or reveal to much due to impulse. So just becareful with your blogging.
Here's some advice I learned from proofreading as well, maybe if you want to publish something, and are trying to keep it professional, or anything specific, distance yourself from your work, then come back and look over it, if satisfied light up the sky with your work, if not trash it! :-P Everyone have a wonderful evening!
P.S. Check out Stefanie's Blog , for some more about Blood's Book
This is Samantha Olinger and this is my blog. I actually like my blog, minus a few minor issue that me and my blog have encounter in our short time together. The first would be I can't spell and my blog doesn't have spell check, watch for a blog about this later. My single page links do not work...trust me I have tried, don't know where I went wrong so here is September of blogging. The main highlights here are:
About Me
Viruses, Spyware, and security
Filing sharing and etchics respondse
What I learned about Vegetables, also the first time I used hyperlinks
Stupid game and my eventful weekend are fun reads
Then comes the October of blogging. This includes many good reads such as:
My Pat O'Brien's Wiki, which also includes a small section on IF
Talking Text Pt. 1-3
PC and me!
A What?
and I wasn't going to add this one but I like it:
I tried out the chat box in utter frustration.
I hope I've learned something from the first semseter of this class. Above all Dr. Jerz I have one little note for you, please don't tell me that I had to print this out, cause I'm computer illiterate and well, it's only printing out one word per line and I don't have 6,000 pieces of printer paper. Better luck on the next one, maybe I'll actually seem more professional and studious, and maybe I'll get a spell checker. :-P
I wanted to be slick, but guess what it didn't work. Thanks Ashley for letting me know about MOOS/MUDS/Chatbots. As much as I searched for a more interesting chat bot, with all my frustration I gave Eliza a try. Trust me she isn't helpful but here's a bit of our chat.
>> Hello.
How do you do. Please state your problem.
>> i want to kick my computer out the window
Do computers worry you ?
>> they don't worry me just frustrate me
I'm not sure I understand you fully.
>> my printer is mean
Your printer is mean ?
>> yes it is
You seem to be quite positive.
>> no im not
Are you saying no just to be negative?
>> no im saying not cause im not positive
You are being a bit negative.
>> a bit negative
Earlier you said your printer is mean .
>> wow you remembered
We were discussing you -- not me.
I seriously was so psyched that the computer remembered what I told it. Ok maybe I'm just a dork but wow this was spiffy. Then Eliza got a little conceded but it's alright, I continued on.
>> do you have a problem
Oh, I have a problem ?
>> do you?
I got it to tell me it had a problem. Don't we kinda sound like a couple fighting, no you have a problem, no I don't you have the problem.
Why do you mention computers ?
>> they suck, at the moment
Please go on.
>> about why i dislike computers?
What do you think machines have to do with your problem ?
Haha...I couldn't answer this the way I wanted to so I was really polite, I told Eliza I was gonna be Amish because they don't have technology, and she asked me if that was a fact. It was rather amusing. I dunno I guess I just needed a reliver and it helped me think of the perfect cover page. :-)
A wiki, now that I know what it is, except at first I was like, a wha? It sounded like some kind of toy I would buy for my one year old nephew. Hehe, but I have one now! Mike's Presentation on Wikis. This seemed pretty helpful to me, and then Dr. Jerz let us know we were making a wiki. I thought, that sounds like a really tough job, but it wasn't to hard. I made a Pat O'Brien's wiki, which I'm not sure why my pages don't work or I would link to. There are a lot of fun things about a wiki though, and Wikipedia taught me excatly what I was doing. This is a pretty simple step by step way of setting up a wiki if you have never tried before. Even if you just wanna add to it. I mean where else in the world can you access information, but add what you already know? This is the most interesting concept to me!
This link Wiki Wiki Sandbox has about a million links to wikis and about them. It's pretty helpful for basic wiki information. Other than that I'm off to find my own wiki about Pat O's so that I can link it again, since my pages aren't working!
While reading some of my fellow classmates blogs, I was inspired to write about something I was going to write about on the day of the presentation, but I procrastinate, did anyone notice that? I think it's a good trait of a writer because I personally work better under pressure. :-)
History of the PC by LeCrisha Mattox. This made me remember my first computer experince. I have no clue how old I was, but my aunt brought over her old computer and we plugged it in. I remember learning that I had to use codes to access everything! At first it was frustrating but then once I learned the code to the paint program my life was well. That was it I was addicted to the paint program, I made huge banners for no reason and just played and drew all the time. This was the coolest thing in the world to me, crayons on a screen. I mean I was fairly young, so of course it held my interest. Then we started to put games into our computer...oh so nifty! So, when I entered this class I suppose it was like using a computer for the first time all over again, especially because I'm not so crafty with them. My family I believe thinks I'm like a professional computer crasher, but it's alright I will learn.
I will admit as well that I was one of the people that said computers were a little more recent than they are. Good site, about excatly what happened with the PC in the past couple of years. I thought it was pretty interesting, but who knows, I'm a little lost on this type of topic. I was gonna try to add a lot of links, but the thing is, you guys might want to try to check out searching for the History of the PC, there's a few class blogs in the listing, and I don't wanna keep linking to the same people. :-)
Hot Text: Web Writing that Works - Jonathan and Lisa Price
The main chapter I read in here was chapter three but I did skim over the other sections of importance to me. I didn’t find to many new things in this book that I hadn’t already seen in the other books. Although, this book seems like it’s more for a business like; amazon.com
Goodbye Documents, Hello Objects
I wasn’t to sure if I really understood this section at first but I choose it because I found it interesting. The first section covered ways that when you business expands how to organize it.
The Problems of Content:
•Inconsistent structure and format: disorganization a product page, where everything is skipped around and in the wrong place.
•Manual Processes: hand coding HTML tags
•Gigantic chucks of information instead of pinpointed answers: remember what was learned in writing for the web, chucking is no good, even in 50 page form.
•Lack of customization: try to create different content then large overpowering images for your reader.
•The audience of “IT”: remembering that software must read your information as well as humans.
Mark Up That Text!
I’m not going super in depth about this, but just know that markup is ok. It’s been around forever, and plus it helps you develop yourself as a writer.
Building Informative Objects
This is where you start to put things together from many different aspects, but what you are putting together is communication. Your objects are your words, which according to the Price’s have seven characteristics.
•Each object starts life as a category of content: defining each object in a unique class
•The class has a standard structure: this tells us how many components, in what order, and which ones are just optional.
•Each type of object has a job to do: each object’s job is to respond to a question
•Objects talk to each other: in the world of software, one bit of information will link itself to the next through similarities
•The same object can be reused in many different locations and media: can be used as a component of another object, place in a different position, or used with optional components.
•Searches can turn up individual objects, thanks to attributes: these describe the object
•Objects can be assembled quickly, creating personalized content: personalization breaks up the text into small chunks and can deliver only the importance to a person, without the extras.
Chapter 15 also sparked my interest, but the thing that I was conserned about here was webzine articles.
Webzine Articles
This section taught me a lot, like how the web is the fastest processor of information in the world, because all you need is a keyboard to publish something. Plus, these can be updated every 12-24 hours with less hassle. You don’t really have any lag from the news to delivery, either. Plus, you aren’t sitting there reading four page articles, you are getting the vital information and that is it. Also, webzine can offer things like links, for a better explanation, and audio clips, as well. You get very personal in a webzine as well, I mean in a major paper you can’t answer all your reader’s responded, personally, where through e-mail and such you have that option.
This section also talks about just how personalized you have to be when writing a webzine. You should be in touch with the people you are writing for, since you share a common interest. Which leads to this is some where you can express yourself so freely, you have very little restrictions. You know what limits you have and readers who are faithful. Drag your audience into your story, make them feel all the emotions you feel. Of course, let yourself provoke an argument or discussion, once again this is a very personal thing. Remember to keep it short and sweet though, and have proof to back up your sources. Of course last but not least provide yourself with organization.
After my three part analyze of what I have gotten the most from of these books, I think I got even more, just repeating it to myself. There were still a lot of things that were over my head in these books. I don’t expect myself to come out of here some kind of computer wiz who is starting there own webzine and everyone wants to be a part of it. Heck at this point I’d just be happy with getting my webpage to work.
The Weblog Handbook - Rebecca Blood
Chapter 2: Why A Weblog?
This chapter starts off with giving the basic reasons of why people start a weblog. These three main reasons would be:
•Information Sharing
•Reputation Building
•Personal Expression
Weblogs Build Better Writers
At first I was skeptical about this part, I thought how can blogging really make you a better writer. Once reading this selection I think it might have changed my mind.
•It’s hard to write everyday, so I commend you bloggers that do
•Take your time, write everyday, and put down exactly what you want to say, not just little blurbs.
•Remember writing short is hard, but it compels you to write longer when you get the chance.
•You always search for the right term when writing short.
Weblogs Build Self-Awareness
I never realized a blog could make me realize things about myself that I didn’t know, things like what I really feel or judge but I suppose you can. This section explains how your true interests shine through your actually blog. I mean if you keep complaining about the same thing everyday, it maybe a problem in your life. Same thing with an interest you may have never realized you had, because you keep restating the same facts and interests over and over. It gives you a more personalized feel because you are connecting with your reading and they can see how you develop as a person, with certain situations, and with your realization of interests.
Weblogs Build Critical Thinkers
In this chapter things are established like what you think and why you think it. I understand this from personal experience, I always try to look for the best source. An example listed in the book is that some bloggers will research three or four news articles just for the best one to cite. This is like a pet peeve of mine, I like to have the best most appropriate knowledge. These bloggers choose the site they choose because they know their text, and citation are going to be evaluated and you want to choose a reliable source.
Weblogs Build Reputations
I love this section simple because it talks about how you get to form and online persona, which I am dying to do, yet I’m not sure if I’m cut out for it. Since most weblogs just reflect interest this is where you persona comes from, and often those who host specific weblogs can be known as experts in their field. I would love to be able to do what is mentioned in this section, to start a small business and maintain a weblog in my field so I can be a solid reputation for my establishment. The more I think about it, this might just be a little bit out of my league. The best way to get notice is to share information, and I mean the correct information, don’t post that you have a cure for cancer, then get all your friends to link to it, so you come up first on google.
Weblogs Build Connected Businesses
Here we learn a few critical things, if you want your page to be worth it in the business world, keep you current information at the top. So that the latest is what is listed first and no one has to search for it. Also, when your employees are involved remember to keep them informed, if they don’t know what is going on, or don’t have enough information, you’re not going to get any feedback.
Who Should Weblog?
This section really just talks about what it takes to maintain a blog, at least that is how I see it. I mean someone like me, a ex-internet junkie, I should have been doing this a year ago. Now though that I am in school I really don’t spend much time on my computer, unless I’m typing a paper or researching, I rarely even chat on AIM anymore. Plus a weblog to me, well I’m not the public type, which I will get into next. Just analyze your time and commitment to things, if you think you can handle a blog...go for it! I personally think it’s pretty fun to just get online and blah sometimes, but hey I know it’s not for everyone, trust me I thought that at the beginning.
Going Public
Like I just mentioned, I just wanted to take a look at this section and see some of the suggestions, Blood, lists. I know this is not for me though, heck I’ve been writing since I was in fourth grade and I still don’t wanna go public with that. I guess everyone just has there moment when they shine, but for me, I’ll stay in the dark for now.
Blood’s Suggestions on Publicity:
•Giving yourself a week to a month to build up some archives and possibly a small fan base.
•Make sure you have something to write about i.e. politics, television shows, the latest hairstyles, just choose a topic.
•Stay away from “referring website”, at least yours, until you are ready for the public.
•If you don’t want someone to know what you are saying, don’t make your site to public.
•If you wanna remain anonymous, you can just make up a name or just leave it blank, just make sure you don’t use anyone else’s real name.
•Allow yourself privacy to work on your project.
•Establish a schedule, an approach, and a strong sense of your intended audience, then unleash your blog unto the world!
Defining Your Purpose
I really needed this section, not just for myself, but for my blogging persona that I am trying to work on. The word purpose just seems so permanent, I know in a blog it’s easy to change you purpose then life, but some of us don’t like commitment.
•Always at least give a slight purpose, or definition to your site or blog.
•There a usually four major reasons to blog
•Keeping in touch: answers the question, how was your day?
•Self expression: to vent, gloat, act silly; very personalized
•Sharing information: becoming a resource about a particular subject
•Reputation Building: keep with and organize information pertaining to their field.
We draw to the conclusion now of part two of Talking Text, the final section will be on Hot Text.
How someone as lost as me can take the internet writing word in the palm of their hands and read right through it. Three texts that took me by storm, because I might have actually learned the proper thing to do on the net, or ever computer (Shh...don’t tell my mom) :-)
Writing For The Web: Writers' Edition - Crawford Killian
Hit and Run!
Chunking text is something I found very important in this lesson. I know that I am not a chunker just more or less a rambler, which means most people would look at my site and run! This is what they mean by hit and run; go to the site, if it looks good they browse it, find the next link, then go on with their life. Killian says information needs to be as dramatic and brief as possible to catch and keep your reader. Also, we learn that two or more chunks linked electronically becomes a stack. When using a stack you have to be careful, because trust me I know you guys know this, sometimes browsers are just slow. Does anyone really want to take the time to just sit there and await a browser? Not I, which is why you have to make a pretty darn good argument why your reader should.
Writing Principles
Killian talks about three major writing principles, sometimes I wonder if these so called “webmaster” read these kind of books, or just think they are hot shots. This is one of the most amazing ways, and easy ways I’ve ever heard to understand if you web page is understandable.
•Orientation: giving background knowledge and basic navigation
•What the site is about: give some information on the company or just on yourself, to get the reader personalized with where they are at.
•How it’s organized: let your reader know where they can find the information that they are looking for, if they are on the right track, and what else you can do to help.
•How to navigate it: make sure your reader knows which links are accessible and where they lead. You don’t want someone looking for writing styles (genres) and getting calligraphy.
•Minimalism: you want your orientation to keep it simple and sweet, so anything your reader will already know leave out. Also, this is telling you don’t fill up your site with to many things.
•Coherence: are you giving your audience a clear transition from one item to the next? Especially when you are talking about more then one thing in a chunk.
•Information: paragraphs or graphics, whichever you choose, links, and everything else you are providing your reader with information.
•Clarity: making things UNDERSTANDABLE, even to those who may not have the same education and background as you. I personally think Killian needs to emphasize this a lot more, just from personal experience I suppose. Even in a specialist topic do not give your readers something to confusing, they will lose interest.
•Correctness: this is the one I really need to learn; this is not just grammar, accurate information and such, my problems. There is verbal and nonverbal communication here. I mean when you go to a professional site and this person has poor grammar, cannot spell, pretty much looks like they have no clue what they’re doing, tell me, what do you think of their nonverbal communication skills? (This does not include people like me)
•Action: what is the entire point of this website, what reactions are you striving for?
•A positive attitude: even if your site provides negative information, get your audience involved and let them know what they can do to change the situation, and help. Links to important information, contact with political groups, and people in power.
•The “You” attitude: being personal with your reader, basically. This makes you seem courtesy and considerate, something all readers want. This helps to convey your nonverbal message, a personalized message to make that reader feel welcomed and special.
Edit It!
I think that this is one of the most important sections in this entire book, simply because most people are used to being some informal on the internet and need some structure.
•Get rid of the speller and style checker!
•They just compare your words and their words, which doesn’t always help when in our language we have words like your and you’re.
•There is a usefulness to it, just don’t rely on it.
•Style checkers are a little better just watch out they spot bad habits.
•Cut Verbiage: give yourself a word limit, make you sure you stick to it. If you don’t think you can give yourself a large word limit, then cut out the crap, you’ll be surprised how much you can add.
•Critique Your Own Text: Inner Writer vs. Inner Editor
• keep a journal or diary of how your writing is going, so you can be creative and your editor can keep structure.
•Organization remember where you place things and how you put your site together can affect your audience.
•Proofread!
•Never rely on rereading your computer screen to proofread, always print out!
•When you print it out, try to change the style, and leave it there for sometime
•Danger sections: where nothing was changed
•Read it out loud
•Going International
•Stay away from regional slang.
•Remember you might speak this language but many people on the web will be unfamiliar with it.
All and all I would say Writing for the Web by Crawford Killian gave me some interesting facts. It actually brought up a lot of subject I never think about. Especially things like the language barrier. Hope everyone else learned something informative from this.
Part 2 will be The Weblog Handbook...look for details soon!
For my wikipedia entry I was pretty stuck, since I love New Orleans this was the best I could come up with. My wiki HAHA if ya can't tell I had a good time in New Orleans...but no discriminating pictures or they would be here. Hopefully, the link works and if anyone else has visited hopefully they can help out my Pat O'Brien's wiki cause I'm not sure how many other people are gonna take a look at it. :-)
Ok so I'm actually responding to myself, I dunno if I can use that for class. I know I was super frustrated with the confusion of the interactive fiction game, but when we talked about it in class. I feel kinda stupid for not catching on to the story line, but I can't say what it is, cause I got my mom addicted to the game. :-) I wonder if she can figure it out, she's getting it alot quicker than I did, I think that's cause I paid more attention to each story then the actually plot, if that's what you would call it. So, I still am a little bit iffy about weather I'm a fan of interactive fiction. I mean it's not bad, especially for one of those rainy/snowy days with nothing better to do except lay in bed under my covers and daydream. I just might try out a few more games, I mean hey if i really can't get involved then I don't have to play, but it just might me :-)
Part 2
Alright, this is more pertaining to real life. Can anyone tell me how many times they have been hurt in thier life, by someone they thought they could trust? I mean I have a problem with trusting people to begin with, and I lay that right out there when I meet people, but I don't think anyone listens. I mean they all listen to the stupid jokes i crack and the dumb things I say, but when I talk about something important I think everyone blocks me out. I mean i thought friends were suppose to be there for you and so on, but how can they be when they don't even listen to the simple things?
I mean yes, I have been out of high school for a year longer, but I thought college meant some type of maturity. When I came here I guess I thought I was coming to this really wonderful atmosphere, instead of a major university where on occasion you could find someone mature but most people choose that college based on the parties. I mean I'm not saying anything bad about the school, cause honestly I really enjoy my classes and unlike high school, I think I'm retaining the information I'm learning! I don't know maybe I'm just to mature for my age. It's just like you set expectations for things to be different, for me to enter a better life, and acemdically I believe that I am, I believe I'm going to improve my writing and sell that novel I dream of, once i get the plot straight, but socially I'm at the end.
I mean I don't think I've actually hated people, I mean I've thought so much about commuting and stuff like that lately, just so I can be alone! I mean I'm not saying that everyone is self centered and just worried about themselves...but seriously, why would you lie to someone if you wanted thier friendship? I mean I don't think I've ever fit in anywhere and I really wasn't expecting too. I know I'm a little different, but hey they people that have stayed my friends seem pretty amused by me.
They always say that in college you will make friends that will last a lifetime, that these are the best years of your life, I mean if this is true, should I just settle for life in a solitary confinment cell with my computer, some paper, and a pen right now? I know alot of people think that this is probably just me being home sick-HA...I wish I could be home sick! That will never happen, well at least not until I can have my room back and have a home to go too! Yes, I do go home alot and sometimes it's to escape here and get some quiet, which is near impossible in a dorm at times, but other times, I get in my car and think, I really wish I had some where else to go.
I mean yes I like my mom, and I wouldn't mind being at home if it was just her, but some of the other people that live at my house have absolute no respect for the things they are getting right now. For me there is no in between, it's like one hell or another, it's like I'm lost, i have no place, I fit no where.