What Does Your Template Say About You?

This is NOT a complaint, but does anyone else have the feeling that this class is going to consume a lot of time…or is it just me? I have spent all night playing around with my blog, jumping back and forth between blogger.com and wordpress.com to see which software I like the best. And, if I have to finger point (chuckle), I blame the class debate. I was -- in my blogging infancy -- quite ready to simply use blogger.com until we probed the various programs in our class discussions. Then, I fell victim to loathing self doubt and had to reinvestigate the software again and again. Even though I set up blog accounts last week, until I actually tried to post a blog and navigate the software at length, I didn’t have a clear sense of what I liked best. And since my blog is currently posted on both programs, it’s clear, I still don’t. Oh indecisive me!

And how about those page templates, eh? Something tells me that the little exposure I’ve had to MySpace has turned me into a real monster. I WANT COLOR! I WANT FLASH! But don’t worry; until I learn how to do anything beyond a basic post, your content-weary eyes are safe from my shenanigans. Although some of this blog is tongue-in-cheek, this experience has made me think (seriously) about what an online presence says about a person. Why can’t I just go with the standard template, post my blog entry and be done with it? Why am I obsessed with getting the ‘just the right look’ for this blog? Shouldn’t the content stand alone? Does the page layout really matter THAT much? Unfortunately, I have to say YES it does. Because this blog (or a webpage, etc.) makes a statement to the world about who I am. It’s my brand. It should be a reflection, not only of my thoughts, but also give you a sense of my style and personality. And a standard template screams BORING to me…much like white paint on a wall. And I am just not willing to put myself out there as plain white paint.

After that rant, you will obviously be paying close attention to the lovely standard template I was forced to choose. But don’t be fooled! This template is only one of the many I am planning to ‘try on for size.’ It was the one that felt the most ‘right’ given the limited choices (and my limited skill in using the various software) available to me tonight. But tomorrow is a new day my friends, and there will be a new template waiting for me to check out and activate. There is, in effect, a new me waiting to be born.

You know, when I think of it that way, it’s rather exciting!

Hello New World!

Wow! My first utterance in the blog-o-sphere!

Unlike Hillary Clinton, I have yet to find my voice when it comes to discussing technology issues. I am a novice in this arena and don't feel qualified to provide any sort of opinion -- other than an uninformed one -- about anything related to our class (Comm 534) at this point. Given that, I've decided my best course of action will be to talk about my reaction to our first reflection paper assignment.

I'll start with the only area I have any experience with -- social networking sites (SNS). I did have memberships on MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn prior to taking Comm 534. However (BIG DISCLAIMER) that does not mean I actually used them much. I originally signed up for Facebook at the urging of a USC professor, and until recently, only used it a handful of times. The MySpace account followed when I registered simply as a way to spy on my unsuspecting daughter. In my defense, I'm told that many other loving (and nosy) parents were sneaky like this. I was invited into LinkedInby work colleages, so I joined that as well. Friendster was the only SNS that I knew about and didn't join, even though I did know a few people who were members...but I have now.

When it comes to these social networking sites, I can see how they could be fun, but frankly I don't think I'd really want to have more than 1 or 2 memberships at the most. They seem to be time consuming and I don't like having to log in and check them all the time. If I want to contact someone, I simply email them. However I do realize that these sites are about MORE that simply getting someone a message. Perhaps in my case, it comes down to time. The only time I ever get on MySpace or Facebook is if I am bored and looking to kill time (rare) or if I get an email message that someone wants to be my friend -- and who can pass that up I ask you??

What I have found valuable for my own purposes on these sites, MySpace in particular, is the music info. Since a large number of musicians have MySpace pages, I usually look at their pages for music downloads or tour information. This is really the main thing that keeps me coming back. I also like that I can post photos on my site and personalize them. It makes it easy to share pictures with friends. The voyeur lurking in me also likes looking at my friends' friends and checking out their profiles and pics. I hope I am not the only one willing to admit to this slightly embarrassing tendency.

Part of what excites me about this class is in learning what these things can do for me (social networking sites, blogging sites, wiki's, etc.). I'm sure there are tools I am going to find extremely valuable and I am simply not exposed to any of this information in my daily life. For example, in reading an article on mashable.com, there was an article about GTD's. I didn't know what these were and had never heard the acronym before last week. Yet, they seem to be something that would be extremely helpful in my everyday life. This could be the beginning of a whole new world for me.

Hello New World!