Week 2 Topic 2 Questions A-G

Topic 2 week 2 questions A-G (Web Forums and Blogs)

A) Navigation - How do you get around web forum; is it an online conversation?

It is true to say a web forum is like an online conversation site however this depends on whether or not the members are both online to speak to eachother at the same time so it is almost instant. However if you are not online the messages will be automatically saved to your account until you check again. Web forums are simialr to that of Facebook, Myspace and Bebo etc etc in which you create an account verified by an existing email account this then allows you to have a profile which consists of information about yourself and a "posting wall" of which anybody who is in your contact list may write or comment on. Similarly the blogger.com profiles work the same yet the blogs are usually about a certain topic and the conversations on both given examples can continue on "threads2 of conversation.

B) Expression- do you express yourself in the same way? How do we "take turns"?

I personally feel i express myself the same way as i would do in everyday life, i dont see the point in trying to be somebody that you are not. However the problem with such online sights is that people can make up profiles to portray themselves in a given light and be whoever they want to be. It is more than easy to become somebody else in a virtual world where nobody sees you face to face it can be a positive or negative effect. For al fair amount of people it gives them the chance to be anybody but themselves. Such webistes take away the element of being human you can be happy, sad, grumpy, rude, carefree without the initial worry of the consequences or who may be watching or seeing what you do.

C) Interaction- How does it compare to face to face seminars?

Seminars would lose to key things there would be less formality and less interaction it would be harder to gain feedback and opinion from group members as face to face seminars allow for all of the above but in depth.

D)Time- Activities being over a week?

A week seems to go by quicker than 7 days and as was said before it depends on people's commitments as to what is completed or not and whether you gain any help, feedback or answers to what you need to. Time management with this unit and all th others is key as to fall behind by one week will only double the work load.

E) Authority and identity- who is in charge?

When it comes to these web forums and our university blogs there are rules of "engagement"and conduct (terms and conditions) you agree with by becoming part of the website. Administartors have the right to take away or baqn you from sights if they believe your contents are in any way incriminating, disturbing or rude.
To create an account there is a registration page you have to follow which includes full name, date of birth, email address and password - with verification. Once you have given consent you will then be sent an email which by opening will most probably activate your new account.

F) Speech/Writing- does the forum have features we would associate with either? A combination

Web forums and blogs both have features which would be recognisable either through each different company or ones that are similar and simple to use so not to confuse its users.

G) Do you have the knowledge, the media 'literacy' to be a user, an advanced user?if not how does it feel

I would say that i personally have an average amount of knowledge when it comes to web forums and blogging. At first it takes me a while to get to grips with things so i usually give myself a day or so to really try. It then gets abit addicitive and after a while i just use such things when necessary.