Videos, Second Life, and Meet Up

Meetup.com     

I really enjoyed searching for activities on meetup.com.  To me, this is an extension of Facebook in that the site is strictly for activities only, and seeks to make connections based on common interests.

            Among various activities analyzed, I joined the Valley Movie Group, a local group that plans to go to movies, and then meet up afterwards to discuss the movies and other opinions.  I love to watch and go to the movies, though it is difficult to find people who share common movie interests.  Additionally, one of the members purchases tickets in advance in bulk, thus saving money for those involved because he gets a discount.  This group is found at http://www.meetup.com/valleymoviegroup/.

            I think the idea of meetup.com is amazing because people get together sharing a common interest, though can end up discussing other topics and activities.  The group is very participative as well, as each group member can suggest certain movies or activities.  

Second Life

I was surprised as to the assignment to join either Second Life or World of Warcraft.  I can see how these programs are social networking mediums, though the idea of fantasy is foreign to me.  As such, I created a profile and account on Second Life.  This was more interesting to me because Dwight, a character from The Office, spent hours a day playing second life, a fact Jim used to his advantage.  Here are my thoughts based on the questions specified for the module:

• How do you learn to participate in these worlds

Second Life is very difficult to learn and navigate at first.  The corresponding toolbars are very user-friendly, though the other participants help in trying to figure out what to do and where to go.  No matter where you go in the program, you can chat with other players nearby.  In creating the account, the program prompts you to design your avatar and guides you through to different places.  Accordingly, a great deal of the game for me was self-taught.

• What choices were made for interacting with others, navigating the world

Choices were available at inception of the program.  Before you can choose a place to fly, walk, or teleport to, there are other players right near you to help answer questions.  The toolbars also prompt you to changes your gestures, how you walk, and to modify your profile as needed. 

• How does the information that is available to you influence your experience, this includes both the tutorials and what is present in the interface

The available information helps you to navigate easily and discover new places in the Second Life World.  Each place has a small icon with a glimpse into the world and the corresponding people found there.  The main question I have while walking to different places is how and why is this important?  I can see how this can be used as an opportunity to meet other people, but why have a fictitious place to do so?  What am I supposed to do while in Second Life?  I think the site itself is easy to navigate with helpful guides.  I guess the focus is on going to new places to meet people with whom you would never associate with through other social media functions.

• What is on the websites that support these worlds

The secondlife.com website is a virtual store where you can discover different places, learn more about Second Life, and discover new communities and events.  The most interesting feature is the “buy land” option where you can purchase real estate in Second Life.  While navigating through these different places, you can earn money to be used for these various purchases.  There are also interactive blogs to which users can contribute.

            Based on my brief experience in navigating Second Life, I can see how such a program can be very addicting.  I have only heard about World of Warcraft and the dangers people can encounter by spending too much time in these virtual reality programs.  Although Second Life is more realistic, it is still time-consuming.  It was interesting, however, to experience it.

Videos

            I really enjoyed the required videos for the assignment this week.  The main theme I encountered from the videos is that social media is being utilized to connect individuals across racial, economic, and social boundaries.  

            The TED video with Chris Anderson was interesting because it showed the power of using video in online streaming.  He mentioned how video data required a great deal of streaming capability to load, but is now the most common form of expression in social networks.  I liked how he shared the experience of amateur filmmakers in Kenya, and how they use social media to show the world their environment.  Such actions may encourage others to assist in alleviating poverty in third world nations.  Chris also mentions how viral media is connecting people throughout the world.  The TED video series is seen in many nations, encouraging participations from thousands who would never have experienced such connections and sharing of ideas.

            The Jamie Heywood piece was particularly impactful for me as I recently lost a family member to cancer.  His patientslikeme.com project is a great way for people with similar illnesses to connect and share their successes and failures with treatments, life, etc.  It is like a medical Facebook, and creates a medical forum to discuss prescriptions, periods, and other experiences.  I like how Jamie was inspired to do this site, given his brother had passed away from a debilitating illness.  It is clear he cares not about his notoriety, but in giving patients the chance and opportunity to express how they feel.

            I honestly have never seen a video quite like “The Empathetic Civilization.”  The use of drawings and words to express the idea of existentialism is unique.  The video touches on very significant issues: among the most significant to me is that empathy is grounded in the knowledge of death and the celebration of life.  The idea of the empathetic civilization is that we demonstrate solidarity knowing we have one and only life on this planet.  This conflicts with other religious views, but shows the reasons why we need to be kind to one another.  My favorite quote was “we extend our identities to think of the human race as our fellow sojourners.”  This is a very complicated topic, but I thought the presentation in the video was very fun to watch.

Implications in Public Administration

            The assignments this week focused on how social media is creating more unique ways to connect with others.  The impact of viral media is evident in that ideas are expressed regardless of social or economic standing.  People from all backgrounds have the opportunity to enact real change through social media.  

            Public administrators need to embrace every social medium to connect with their constituents.  The infinite amount of data that exists is more accessible now more than ever, and public agencies need to adapt to changing technology.  Cities can benefit from more interactive sites, such as www.patientslikeme.com.  In doing so, citizens can be involved directly with policy and services, while learning about new communication techniques.