Response to the real Reading #2

After reading the article When Google is not your friend, I found I wasnt as worried as I maybe should be. I have seen a news segment about the issue about a year ago and take a more relaxed stance on the issue.

It does worry me if the information you search on a search engine like Google can be used against you in a court of law. The example given about the man convicted of murder who also had searched Google for hits on words like neck, snap and break but the information was on his computer as well was very troublesome. However I don't believe a court would put as much weight on this evidence as this article wants you to believe.

I am not worried so much about the power a search engine holds as I am all for it. Because search engines keep this data we are given tons and tons of information about what the people who are using them are interested in. Unfortunately some of that information might be a product of individuals trying to murder someone, kill themselves, make bombs or drugs, but I believe there is power in this information.

If we know America's secret is suicide then we can bring it out in the open and let it air out. We can create talk of the issue and make help and options available.

Even more simply, these search engines are often used to see what consumers want and need, an excellent source for knowing your consumer is Google.

Maybe more privacy laws are needed, but individuals need to know that their information is not confidential at this time, and not to search online for what they wouldn't openly research if worried.

After reading The Coming Tug of War Over the Internet, I was shocked to hear that telephone companies would have such a intricate idea. Of coarse the idea sounds beneficial financially for telephone companies, however it sounds too complex to me to be an issue for another few years.

Companies will have to start charging for for things like downloads, which sparked discontent, however if a internet user is being more tailored to, it might be worth extra cost.

Some telephone companies don't want the change, I believe because they don't want the hassle. The Information Act in revisions will be beneficial to many, and you cant blame telephone companies for wanting a more free market rather than a he who has the gold makes the rule, always, kind of system where people's personal information is given away for a price.


I really enjoyed reading Journalism Students Need to Develop Their Personal Brand because I have a sense of the importance of needing to be well known online, but it really stressed an aspect that I'm not sure is a focus in my studies.

I know with many media outlets downsizing you must have an edge as a journalist. Before we even leave to become a part of the profession we will need to be on top of online communication in order to land a job. I had no real idea of the importance of owning a domain. This article emphasized the importance of many must haves I have been overlooking.

I especially enjoyed the fact that in making your online identity you must be genuine and authentic. You must be yourself, yet original, its a juggling act, but everyone has something to offer the online world. You must be yourself because as the article mentions, there is no hiding on the internet.

Response to Online JCOM Reading 2- Online Etiquette

It's hard to believe that in a world filled with communication done over the Internet, that some companies have still yet to perfect online etiquette.

There is nothing more irritating than knowing a company even has a department to handle customer questions and needs via the Internet and you never get a response to your email. Or my favorite, they send a mass email with answers to frequently asked questions, when you had to look threw all the FAQs before you could email them your very original question. Still no reply.

I thought the first reading was very helpful in helping you understand why email etiquette is important a company's efficiency and their reputation.

Out of the 32 tips given I believe the most important were

-Be concise and to the point.
No one wants to read an email hoping their questions will get answered eventually. When responding to an email, get to the point asap. People don't have time to struggle with technology that's supposed to be time efficient.

-Answer all questions and pre-empt further questions.
It is really annoying when you send an email, or any communication for that matter and have a question or questions that are not all answered. Then you wonder if you should try again or just let it go, both wasting even more time. It is really enjoyable when a company is smart enough to answer all your questions and even make clear what might come up after your current question has been fully answered.

-Answer swiftly.
If the goal is to save time, to use this communication rather than others because of its efficiency, then companies need to understand that time is of the essence. Those searching for answers don't want to compile an email, send it, wait too long, just to have to go find the answer somewhere else, to get the email and answers far too late. Efficient emails make progression possible.

As for our second reading on Netiquette the highlights for me were...

Remembering the human- Because the Internet can be so impersonal its hard to remember people's feelings and real objectives. Use the golden rule, and remember once its online, it could come back to haunt you.

It’s hard to convey messages when you cant use facial expressions, remember that your punctuation and capitalization obsession might convey the wrong or unintended message.

The Internet is a great thing, it allows people who otherwise wouldn't or couldn't communicate to do so. Don't allow the absence of the human to enable you to say what you usually wouldn't in a way that you might regret.

It’s hard to remember to use ethics online when its rarely done on blogs and some email groups, but remember you can get in real trouble if damaging things are said to the wrong person.

Be sure that the time of others isn’t wasted when you publish things online, or valuable space. Make posts valuable in some way, not just meaningless words wasting people’s time.

Be well educated about what your posting about. Don’t publish information that might not be true because inaccuracies spread and are believed to be true very rapidly.

Spelling and grammar are important online too. No one wants to read information that’s hard to sift threw when spelling and grammar are poor. When correcting another individual's errors be polite and as private as possible. Don’t start a needless spelling flame war.