Exploring Girls' Role Models

Here is the link to our video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoosP0XiEms


Group Members: Nicholas Thee, Taylor Stock, Savannah Ball, Dakota Wappes, Molly Hampton

Transcending Gamers’ Good Qualities

 I myself am not a gamer. However, my best friend John is one of the biggest gamers I know. I originally only associated his gaming habits with a negative connotation. I saw how it affected his social life. The countless nights where I couldn’t fall asleep because he was clicking away playing World of Warcraft. He would play into the wee hours of the night. He would stay up so late that he’d miss his classes the next day. This would cause a lot of fights between us because I wanted him to do well in school.


I also could recall times I’d play Xbox live with him. All the people do is talk trash to each other. People can be very mean and bully each other. I also was so surprised by how much bad language was used. I felt bad that young kids were being exposed to this. It didn’t seem like a positive environment.
On the flip side, this article really got me thinking. When people would engage in these trash talking sessions they always have a team of support. People that will stand up for them. 

I know when I would play my friend John always was protective of me on the battlefield. I was horrible at the game and often just ran around right into enemy territory. John would stay right by me and prevent me from dying.
In real life, I am the exact same. I am a lot like Ted from “How I Met Your Mother” when it comes to relationships. I drive right in and think oh my god! This is the one. John is very protective of me and tries to balance my emotions. He points out the potential dangers of the relationship, just as if we were on the battlefield.

Organic Food Truck

Two summers ago, I worked for an organic food truck. Being part of the company taught me a lot about the whole organic movement. First off, it exposed me to my first famer’s markets. I had never been to one before that. I thought it was so cool how you could get fresh products. Each stand had its own product, but all the stands combined were just like a supermarket.


The next thing that amazed me was the public’s reception to the business. Everyone loved it! I was shocked to see the prices that people were willing to pay. I am used to getting Ramen and only paying $1 for a meal. These people had no qualms about paying extra to receive a quality product. Everyone I encountered was so curious where the food came from. I would constantly have to explain where the food came from. All our meat came from the same farm. I forget the name now but while I was working there I basically had the whole farm’s history down because so many people would ask about it.


I also learned a lot about organic foods from my boss. I was amazed at all the stats she would rattle off about eating organic. I found it fascinating that you could eat less, but feel more full longer if you eat healthy. I feel like this is definitely true. When I eat my mom’s super healthy food, I am never hungry throughout the day. However, when I am at school and have a chef cook for me at the fraternity house, I’m sure I am eating the food featured in Food Inc. The food does not satisfy me and I often find myself with a disrupted digestive system. Eat locally, think globally!

Consumerism and The Green Party

What do third parties, like the Green Party and consumerism have in common?  It is my belief that just how a third party can never be successful neither can a subculture.  In the American politics system a third party can never become a prominent thing.  When a third party begins to have a big following eventually the Republicans or Democrats will adopt the ideas that made them popular.  It is the exact same for subcultures.  As soon as they start becoming a popular trend, a big company exploits them.  For example, the organic movement is like the third party having a popular policy.  Then all the major companies start adapting to these to give the people what they want.

I think as consumers and voters, this is often done without us realizing it.  No company is like yes now this new “branding” is to exploit the fact that you’re a hipster.  No politician is like yes the third party was right.  They just discretely mildly change and adopt their ideas. 

A lot of cool hunters get mad for “selling out.” In politics avid supporters are they exact same.  They get mad at the politician for caving in.  Really in my opinion, they should be excited their ideas have become mainstream schools of thought.  Why do they get so mad to share things they love with other people? Why is it uncool as soon as your friends want to do it to? I just don’t get it.

Facebook Making Us Lonely

I think this was the most interesting media conversation we had.  I think all of us have had moments were we are sitting on Facebook being envious of other people’s life, but we never really admit it.  I think this article really brought to life something that we all do on a regular basis.

I think this article also pointed out how we try to use social media to put our lives on steroids. Hahahahahahahahahha when we didn’t even laugh and every other day can’t be “the best day of your life.” 

The one-week of the year that I find this case to be the most true for college students is spring break.  For people who can’t afford to go or choose to do an alternative spring break such as a mission trip OR debate camp (for all you lovers of rhetoric out there) spring break’s social media can make us feel at an all time loneliness level.  It is very hard when you are not somewhere nice to see all your friends having the time of their lives on the beach.  FOMO (fear of missing out) is real people!  Spring breakers also have a habit of amplifying their experiences.  No one ever tweets “whoa had to pay $500 for spring break” or “that was the longest car ride of my life.”  Just like in our favorite TV shows money and logistics are pushed aside to make room for the positive memories.   This leaves the Facebook creepers in an ocean of jealousy.

Blogaphobia

Believe me people the fear of blogging is real! For us nonblog savvy users the first blog can be an uneasy one.  What do I write about? Do I have much to say? Who will read this? Will they judge me? What are the grammar rules on a blog? There are a lot of aspects that someone who doesn’t read blog doesn’t know.  It sort of feels like being in an out-group.  I think the biggest fear of a nonblogger is how will people respond to my thoughts.  Suppose I tell a joke, I have no clue who is reading and how they are responding.  Are the receptive to the article at all?

I don’t have all the answers, I am learning as I go for the rest of my crew that isn’t used to blogging.  The steps I have followed to cure this phobia are as follows: Step one, it really helps to jot down a note anytime you think of a potential blog topic.  Next is get on your computer and start typing.  It is almost like having a conversation with yourself.  Get all your thoughts out on paper.  If you are anything like me, it is reliving to get everything out of your mind and into your post. 

I think you will be quite surprised how much you can write before you think, “Shit! What else can I talk about to get to 250 words?” I am pleased announce I successfully knocked out my first blog without pulling my hair out and now feel a lot more comfortable making many more to come! It was easy, and I only stopped once before completion to check social media, which is well below my average when paper writing. Now cheers to trying to figure out how to post it!