Reflections, Take #5:
I’ve been on Facebook a while now. Cindi mentioned in one of her blog posts that poking each other into oblivion can get a little boring and that apps are an extra spice to Facebook and I agree. It is kinda cool to be able to find out extra bits of info about the interests of your friends that may never come up in random conversation. It gives you a way to enhance shared experience that you would almost never get. Almost all of my friends on Facebook are friends or at least acquaintances in RL.
I’ve tried MySpace, and it left me pretty cold. Too many ads, too much junk, the search engine stinks, and it just seems like a big mish-mash of profiles. Maybe I didn’t give it enough of a chance, but if a web app doesn’t grab me immediately, I usually move on pretty quickly. To be honest, I am a little weirded out by Facebook and MySpace, especially MySpace, when it comes to librarians and students and providing library services. I am just unable to shake this feeling of being the too-desperate to help, creepy “old person” trying too hard to jump in the middle of the students and “be cool”. Maybe that's my failing, but it is the truth. I’m all about having a presence, or portal, if you will, but going beyond that is too much, imo. That said, I like “playing” with Facebook, and think it is a tool that has a lot of potential for professional uses, and like any tool we just have to be careful in how we use it.
I'll step off my soapbox now... I welcome any comments, and am willing to debate the issue. :-)
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Lesson #4, Social Networking
Ok, here are some *really* random reflections on social networking...
Social Networks – the hidden nature and depth of it – Just having all your information laid out to your friends and friends of friends and so on… is a powerful function of social networking, yet scary, too. When I changed my “status” in Facebook to reflect the ending of a relationship, it was transmitted to all my “friends” when usually only a few people would know. I received condolences from a couple of folks whose intentions were 100% pure and would’ve found out anyway, but it was a little weird. I didn’t think of how quickly and how efficiently the info would get out there, even though I should’ve. A simple demonstration of the power of the social network…
That said, the potential for professional and special interest networking is awesome to say the least. Chances are, no matter your interest, you can find someone who shares it on one of the social networks. And through them, a whole community. Awesome... Dude. :-)
And this is the end of my regularly scheduled random reflection...
Social Networks – the hidden nature and depth of it – Just having all your information laid out to your friends and friends of friends and so on… is a powerful function of social networking, yet scary, too. When I changed my “status” in Facebook to reflect the ending of a relationship, it was transmitted to all my “friends” when usually only a few people would know. I received condolences from a couple of folks whose intentions were 100% pure and would’ve found out anyway, but it was a little weird. I didn’t think of how quickly and how efficiently the info would get out there, even though I should’ve. A simple demonstration of the power of the social network…
That said, the potential for professional and special interest networking is awesome to say the least. Chances are, no matter your interest, you can find someone who shares it on one of the social networks. And through them, a whole community. Awesome... Dude. :-)
And this is the end of my regularly scheduled random reflection...
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
The End of an Era -aka- "The death of the 'stache"
Today I shaved the goatee and the mustache. The 'stache and I have been constant companions since the age of 15. He will be missed.
It will be interesting to observe the reactions of those who know me. I think I may start a poll to see if he should return or stay gone. :-)
It will be interesting to observe the reactions of those who know me. I think I may start a poll to see if he should return or stay gone. :-)
The Machine is Us/ing Us
Learning 2.0, Lesson Two...
"Web 2.0: the machine is us/ing us"
One of the themes I think the clip gets across so effectively is that of the increasing flexibility and rapid change we are experiencing in accessing/storing/evaluating information.The "organizing" of information is leaving the purview of librarians and is being passed to the user. I think that is part and parcel of what "Library 2.0" will be. We will still be helping people find the information they need, but we won't be setting the rules like we have in the past.
"Web 2.0: the machine is us/ing us"
One of the themes I think the clip gets across so effectively is that of the increasing flexibility and rapid change we are experiencing in accessing/storing/evaluating information.The "organizing" of information is leaving the purview of librarians and is being passed to the user. I think that is part and parcel of what "Library 2.0" will be. We will still be helping people find the information they need, but we won't be setting the rules like we have in the past.
A Beginning...
I like to think of myself as a fairly well kept up and savvy internet netizen, but I have never bothered to create a blog. Go figure. I guess the reasons are equal parts laziness, concern for privacy and the lack of anything really compelling to say. Well, as you can see, I’ve laid aside the first two, while number three remains to be seen. So begins my first blog. I don’t promise any great insights or even to post regularly, but here goes!
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