Chapter 11 - Mcluhan Model

I agree with Marshall McLuhan that the medium is in the message and thus further not only the meaning of the message, but also the content. McLuhan's idea that television is a "cool medium" because the audience is suppose to fill in the detail.  When I watch television, although believe it or not is actually not as common for the cable bill would be out of price range, I do reflect filling in the plot by myself.  Watching television is a constant, I have to enhance my auditory skills and comprehension to engage in what the story or news is telling me.  As for television, I can turn it on for background noise in doing homework.  For radio, I feel listening in that context and medium, I can envision a greater and more detailed picture of a story, rather than one created on the television.  I enjoy listening to the radio especially driving to school or work and listening to "War of the Roses", because not only do I get to enjoy other people's relationship problems, but it calms down my driving and relaxes my focus to get to my destination not so eagerly.

Chapter 11 Cyberspace vs F2F Friendships

I have made friends that exist exclusively in cyberspace.  These friendships are different from face-to-face relationships because they see and read what I am doing more often than my face-to-face friends.  Because of social networking and all those other websites that allows friends to view random aspects of my life, my cyberspace friends are more up-to-date on what I'm actually doing in my life.  As for my face-to-face friends, they are more involved within my life, for example: hanging out, going to the gym, grabbing a bite etc.  My cyberspace friends, are all people I have met in real life and went to school with, for I do not engage in friendships (unless it is an online school course) with others I do not know personally.  I believe you never can really read into a person unless you have met them on multiple levels of communication (like texting, video streaming, face-to-face contact).  The cyber relationships are realistic because I know and have met the person on the other side of the computer.  I would not form relationships with new or random people because not only is it a trust issue, but also a safety precaution.  I value myself and my personal information, along with my time.

Rules of Professional Behavior- Week 11

For the concept of Chapter 8, I dug my thoughts into Table 8.6 on page 222, "Some Rules for Professional Behavior".  In the workforce, I constantly have to deal with new or regular employees that cannot and do not know the difference of behavior while being at work compared to being outside of work.  Especially since my work deals with customers, they need to realize that showing the utmost respect is what is needed.  I believe high school students should have at least a course or a prep class for professionalism.  Coworkers are not your personal friends, although it does feel like it over time since you see them the most and communicate rather frequently.  Also, the most important reason of being at work, is to be productive at work.  We have a couple girls who attend school together and every time they work the same shift, it's like all the work priorities go out the window.  Being in charge, I find it hard to scold another coworker for slacking off because the coworker / friend line has been crossed.  Just because you are close friends with your boss or manager, doesn't mean you have the right to slack off and be unproductive.  I have seen this happen several times, and unfortunately it is a very difficult problem to fix.  I am happy that my coworkers get along, but it does get irritating when their relationship takes over their job duties. Another example of professionalism comes from experience as well.  This young female I worked with didn't like to talk to anyone, and she always focused only on herself and her job.  Not very many coworkers liked her because she came off rude for not participating in small conversations.  I had to disagree on whether "liking" her or not was appropriate, the fact that she did her job well made her an amazing coworker, in whom I liked.

Etiquette - Week 11

Etiquette Rules - 

Cell Phones - I believe that cell phones are distracting and should not be answered, especially in public gatherings (whether a restaurant or movie theater), because it is distracting, irritating, and rude.  I have learned to take my calls outside, call back later, or just send the other person a text.
Answering Machines - I think answering machines should have a prerecorded professional voicemail for the callers to leave a message.  Also, jokes and such fun is okay with personal friends, but for business phones that is not okay.  I always insure my answering machine has a professional call back greeting because you never know when a job offer is calling, or a medical or insurance place.
Conference Calls- It is always nice to always identify and say who you are during a conference call.  Although I lack experience in this department, I agree.
Faxes - I couldn't tell you how many times my work has received faxes with random numbers or information on it from customers.  If they don't call us to immediately check the fax, and notify who and what it is for, we can mess up orders and so forth.  Calling ahead of time is key.
Timing Communication- One time I answered a call back from a job while on the treadmill at the gym - BAD TIMING!
Screen names/Ring Tones - Screen names should only contain part of your real name, and maybe some number if that is possible.  I cant reply to "sexyredlips" or "hotjuicybooty" and take that person seriously.  How awkward.  Also, having a song play as a ring tone with lyrics is embarrassing as well. 

I have been bothered by electronic devices.  One time, this customer was ordering while on her cell phone the entire time, and told me when I should stop talking and "hold on".  It was extremely annoying and rude.  Your taking up my time as well, and have some respect. Call waiting is annoying, but it's reasonable when there is a wait and transferring calls can not be done instantly. I have been put on hold to answer another phone call, I didn't find it offensive since it was a quick wait, not a couple hour hold.

Organizational Ties - Week 11

Organizations are tied into the environment because they surround the people involved in the community and influence the rest of the people.  Organizations are "everywhere" as the text concludes, thus they relatively have an influence when it comes down to communication structures.  The relationship to the school I attend is that myself and all other student are attending the college in order to achieve a "common educational goal".  Since the location of the school is in Rocklin, California, the college is related to such area by exposing it's curriculum to those jobs in that city.  You wouldn't find a course for mining or farming because it would not necessarily be relevant to that area.  Because Rocklin has a suburb feel with several businesses surrounded, many opportunities are connected to the life of the city through the college.  The ethical obligations that Sierra College has to the local community is being able to provide a substantial education for all of it's students in order to allow the city itself to grow.  The school is entitled to communicate to it's fellow students to strive and become certified ( or obtain a degree etc), while posing local job and career opportunities.  Also, the administrative and faculty staff, and professors and coaches must provide the correct teachings to guide to the students in the right path.  Could you imagine if a professor taught misleading to a group of students, where this aspect of factual information became apparent in their everyday lives?

Week 10- Knapp's Relationship Model

The most intriguing concept that I couldn't stop reading into was Knapp's model on relationship development. The stages in coming together and the stages in separating and what determines that in a relationship really opened my eyes.  After I read what brought a relationship together, I saw my previous/current relationships built upon this model. First we initiate the other party for a common communication ground.  Then, we experiment by talking about iffy subjects. For example, "how many girls have you slept with" is a personal subject to ask another party right off the bat.  Then, came intensifying stage, where the constant thinking of each other and calling nicknames became relevant.  Finally, integrating immersed when I felt like I was dating myself in a different gender! He started copying my sayings and I said his jokes. (kinda creepy on the outside).  Now comes the utterly dreadful stages of a breakup being determined within a relationship. The differentiating stage of arguing with your partner based on not understanding their feelings or attitudes.  "How can you like her outfit, it's so ugly!" is a prime example of not understanding the relational culture.  I disliked finding out things about my partner in which I thought to be disgusting. Next is the circumscribing stage, where our communication fell off. "I dont want to talk about it" really grinds my gears, because I want to talk about it. I would feel an absentee of trust, and completely shut off from the "real" person.  The stagnating stage is when our relationship became silent and just awkward and hostile.  Everything being said wasn't happy or pleasant, and our communication was barely there.  You could live with a person, yet never say more than 3 words the entire day. The avoiding stage is almost breaking up, I couldn't stand to be around or close to them; especially sexually. And finally, the terminating stage, where we did break up, either mutually or not.

Selecting Romantic Partners - Week 10

In the process of eliminating others from my personal romantic selection, some characteristics and behaviors tie into place on what is considered unattractive.  In friends and potential lovers, I look into personality first.  A person must have a sense of humor and know how to have a good time in order to be socially personal.  Also, I tend to find attractiveness to others who are respectful and polite, and have goals in their life. Then, comes personal beliefs and attitudes.  I may not have to agree with everything another person believes in, but if they perceive life the same way I do, we are definetly going to have a strong relationship. And lastly, in becoming a partner or lover, I do seek outer beauty and body type.  Although it may sound shallow, in all honesty, I feel as if I need to bare a sexual attraction with another person in order to chose them as a romantic partner. These are my personal filters, although they can differ depending on the person as well.  I tend to meet people with no goals in life and have an opposite agenda, yet seem to still find a mutual attraction in building a friendship.  Since every person is different, and their "first impression" may expose the wrong or right sides, building relationships based on these filters vary.
Duck's theory does in fact make sense to me. I have "eliminated" people based on sociological cues because the "long-distance" relationship or friendship would be to hard to bare.  I would want to see a person often and frequently if we were dating.  Also, I have "eliminated" others by preinteraction cues as well.  It may seem harsh, but I am being honest.  I always see myself befriending another person no matter their looks, but entitling them as a potential boyfriend/girlfriend is hard when you really don't know them personally.  Nonverbal behaviors like watching a guy pick his nose in class can really signal an elimination.  I think my exboyfriend is a perfect example of later on building a relationship after interaction and cognitive cues.  When I first met him, he disgusted me and I hated the way he dressed and said things, then after getting to know him, I accepted his "flaws"(although I shouldn't say flaws), and ended up building a wonderful relationship.  His personality clicked with mine, and you realize the kind of person YOU are, because of another person.