Likes & Improvements

This class was extremely new to me, however it was interesting and enjoyable. I've never blogged, never had the urge to, never really wanted to. However, throughout this course and having to blog, I've enjoyed it. I thought it was a great idea because we as the class get to tell how we feel as well as in a way interact with other classmates by posting comments on their blogs. However, what I believe needs improvement, is the work load. I know there are standards we need to abide by, but I feel as though, it was a great deal of writing, with the blogs, journals, assignments, grading the journals, and comments it got overwhelming at times. Especially when we had to take quizzes in the midst of all that. I believe cutting down in some area's and implementing more in others would be best. Overall, I really did like the course and I thought it was a great experience.

Further discussion- Becoming more of a Responsible Communicator

Becoming more of a responsible communicator needs further discussion. I believe the book needs to elaborate more on how being a responsible communicator is a positive thing, and what the effects on not being a responsible communicator are. It gives two types of test to be sure one is making a good decision, however not every communication interaction is going to need decision making. I think they it needs more tips on how to be a responsible one, whether it’s in a workplace, relationship, or at school. People don’t realize how effective communication is and how much people really do take things to heart. I think the text needs to put more examples of situations in being a responsible communicator. Not only does it matter what the message is you send, but the tone of your voice, the choice of words you use. People need to realize going into an organizational job, that slang is not acceptable and nor does it show responsibility. So, in my own opinion the book needs to have more of a detailed approach on how to become a more responsible communicator. It will be extremely beneficial in any situation to have great tips and knowledge of this concept.

Organizational Communication- Most Interesting Concept

One concept I found most interesting, was Organizational Communication. I found that it was most interesting because to me it's an extremely useful concept. We're all going to school to better ourselves and most of us to go out into the workforce. Learning about Organizational Communication and it's characteristics of interdependence, environment, Hierarchical structure, can benefit one greatly. Being able to manage it, is even better. However, I feel the most useful thing about it is learning how to development in different organizational cultures. You never know what type of environment you will be placed it, so it's important to understand and know your surroundings. Learning to put aside what you've known from past experiences and start fresh is extremely important when coming into a new organization. The rules might not be the same as before, so knowing that a new organization will probably want different things is important to know. This whole chapter about organizational communication was extremely useful, it gave tips, as well as knowledge. Everyone sometime in their live will need to know communication skills within an organization, that is why it was one of my favorite concepts. You can't go wrong with learning about communicating in an organization, it will only better yourself in my opinion.

Using Media More Responsibly

The concept I thought would be tremendously useful is the concept on “Using Media More Responsibly” (Trenholm, 2008). I believe these tips in becoming a conscientious and more considerate media user will help people out a great deal. The first tip that Trenholm suggests is to know and understand that the media does affect us. We need to recognize how big of an impact that the media has on us and be able to judge what is true and fair. Secondly, most of the time when the media gives us facts, we tend to believe them right away, which often become to lazy to process what they are telling us, and instead just believe them. We need to understand what is going on around us and question what they are telling us. This will help us become more aware and knowledgeable, which will ultimately cause us to demand more truthful facts. Another tip is that most of us have issues with talk shows and other forms of media, however we never do anything about it, which causes more distasteful talk shows. We need to start to raise our standards, being aware and doing something about these unpleasant forms of media, will help us become more responsible media consumers. Lastly, by understand the distasteful form of media and rejecting it from our daily lives will cause us to want to find out other resources to use instead, more tasteful entertainment, perhaps. Being able to use these tips will help us become a more responsible and caring media user. I believe that these tips can help us out in a sense we might top watching and wasting our time with the junk on television.

Medium is the Message

I do agree with Marshall McLuhan that the medium is the message in a sense that it’s just as important as the content of the message. I believe that it determines whether or not someone will receive the message in the correct way or at all. For example, sending content through text messages, sometimes people never get them or get them to late because of the phone companies or sometimes people misinterpret what the message actually says. I know for me I sometimes forget I get a text message and never even respond back. However, if someone were to call me I’d answer back right away most of the time and in person of course I’d answer back. It just depends on the medium in which the message is sent. When it comes to his idea that television is a cool medium I think McLuhan has the right idea. For some people sending a message through television works for them, while others the radio might be a better way. I also, believe with McLuhan that people are getting extremely use to how television sends out information in a short and simple manner, which for most people works for them because there isn’t enough hours in the day. I think that they want abstracts in the newspapers, books, and magazines because of this same reason. That they are used to it on the television as well as it works for them in their everyday life. People also like to have a visual of what is going on, which television provides. When the newscasters show us clips of what may be happening or where something did happen we can put the story and the picture together. It changes the way we think.

Cyberspace Friendship

Surprisingly, I just recently met a friend exclusively through cyberspace. However, I am almost always against it, it’s a little different because this friend, is actually one of my best friends cousins. I’ve never met him because he is currently in Florida going to school. We met over Facebook, he requested me because I had the same last name as one of his friends, and he thought it was cool because if you know my last name it isn’t common. Well, we got to talking a great deal and now were extremely close friends. It’s different from a f2f relationship because of the fact that he can’t judge me. He has never seen me in person and doesn’t necessary know how I act around other people. He can’t judge me by the way I dress or how I am with other people. I’ve opened up to him in such a sort amount of time and I never do that, not even with my very closest friends. I feel like I can tell him anything and he honestly feels the same way. He is extremely honest and gives me great advice and there is no judgment. He is supposed to move back to the bay area and I am a little nervous because I don’t want to lose this great relationship. I would never have considered having a cyberspace friendship because of all the wacky people out there, but it’s nice to know that he is my best friends cousin and that’s why I believe I’ve let this friendship get to the extent in which it is in.

Managing Interpersonal Conflict

I chose the concept managing interpersonal conflict because I found it very interesting. The reason for this is because I, myself do not handle conflict well. I am the type that hates to fight and rather drop the conflict then working on it because I don’t like confrontation. I don’t like arguing and most of the time I feel as though the problem isn’t that important to even bring up. My mother says I get it from my father, which I believe is true. Whenever my father and I have an argument, we usually drop it. We don’t talk about it and we go about our day. My mother hates this, she believes that you need to talk each problem out, whereas my father and I don’t like to deal with it or waste our time. This is why I believe I am more of a person that withdraws. This is basically when conflict arises, I change subjects or just let it be and try not to focus or do anything about it. This is not the best approach sense usually, all my anger builds up and I tend to explode on the wrong moment. The book makes interesting points, where some people will accommodate to a situation, which I have done. It’s basically when the person gives in because they don’t feel like its important and they rather make the other person happy. This can be okay in certain situations, but not important ones. Compromising is something I do need to work on, it will probably help me not to explode less as well as work on communicating to the other person what I feel and listening to what they feel. There is also problem solving, which is discussing a new solution to the problem at stake. I felt as though these concepts can help me a great deal when it different relationships, which is why I choose it.