In Davidson 2012 he breaks the internet into two sides the restricted web and unrestricted web and the relationship to memes. Internet memes are a way to communicate statements, advice, and jokes with the integration of a theme of photos. Davidson uses the example of Advice Dog, which I see floating around heavily on Facebook, often the action of the dog supports the underlying punch line of the few words posted along with the image.
Davidson also spoke about the use of emoticons and how that influences a user’s perception of a message or intended joke. Before emoticons it was noted that users were offended by messages that were intended to be taken lightly. Therefore, when Scott E. Fahlman created the smiley face out of a colon, dash, and parenthesis it gave a “face” to the senders message. People identify with emoticons because they represent feelings and moods that we can easily adapt to, it is almost elementary in a sense. We learn early in life about emotional expression. Overall Davidson’s article implies that language style depends on the side the user is on restricted or unrestricted paired with the exposure to emoticons to clarify messages, and memes that are effective because of the rapid duplication and convenience of reading over and over again for the users entertainment and needs.
In comparison, Baron 2008 focuses more on the away messages in the days of AIM. Baron points out a study conducted around college students and the different ways to convey an “away” message. However, the concept of away was really a way for IM users to let their friends know where they were or what they were doing. In addition, it was a pattern that most of the comments in away messages had sarcasm underlying to project humor. It seems that the concept of away messages still connected the group even if someone was not readily available to respond or they projected they may be available to avoid the obligation to respond immediately.
Another key point Baron makes is that the peg boards and white boards that are often seen in colleges are ways to project a person’s self image or message. With the advancement of the internet the image a person wants their friends to think of them is easier to convey because of the way they present their self on line. This is a downfall of the internet as seen in current shows such as MTV’s Catfish a person can create their “best self” but is that really who they are?
In conclusion both articles agree that humor is a key role in internet communication weather chat rooms or social media are concerned. The differences were the focus of the new concept of memes verses a personal persona. Language online is short and mostly humorous.
Although I feel that text messaging has largely replaced instant messaging, I think similarities can be drawn between Baron’s examination of the away message and current Facebook status updates. The self presentation you spoke about it your blog is still present, and it becomes even easier to create an artificial person, as you mention from the documentary and series, Catfish. Even if one isn’t creating a false persona, the openness of platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, where you can be exposed to your grandmother and college buddies in the same space, can lead you to sanitize your online persona in contrast to your more authentic self as a way to limit the more candid version of yourself in front of your friends, since there are often family members in your digital audience. Humor seems to ease the tensions that exist when this exposure happens.
I agree with you Meagan that text messaging has largely replaced instant messaging. Some aspects of the artificial person can be transmitted to text messaging, as well. Maybe not as well as Facebook, where there are so many options where you can take someone else’s profile and make it yours, by stealing their pictures. However, you can lie just as well and say you are doing things you are really not. Also, like catfish, they can use the phone or text messaging and be someone you are not. It probably works better with people who are not family members, though.
You have a good point when you said that “the concept of away messages still connected the group even if someone was not readily available to respond or they projected they may be available to avoid the obligation to respond immediately.”This way, you would give a hint to your group or an explanation to the questions “Why you are not replying” or “Where have you been”, or…etc. I sometimes change my profile picture to something that would explain these questions to my family members on Facebook. For example, right now I have a post that saying “Back to School.”This way, everybody will know that I’m not on vaccation anymore,and don’t have much time to participate daily,Therefore, they won’t get worried about me or think that I’m not interested to be in the group.
Besides from emoticons, what other cues do you think help message recipients decode intended humor? Based on my personal experinece, I find that people use abbreviations (lol), excessive punctuation (!!!), onomatopoeia (haha), capitialzation (HAHA), etc. As we become familiar with these cues, I think it’s much easier to interpret humor. As in face-to-face communication, the challenge is an understanding how to communicate with people who we are not familiar with.
Like you stated in the last few parts of your blog, I agree with both articles when they simultaneously state that humor acts as a key role when communicating across the internet. The amount or type of humor used in a blog can easily determine that person’s personality and/or outlook on life. For example, some of the pieces of humor expressed in Davidson’s article suggest that whoever posted them has no problem with offending people. While these may entertain his or her target audience, it could be extremely hurtful to certain individuals who catch sight of it. Other viewers’ feelings must be taken into consideration before someone posts an article or message that can have disastrous consequences. I guess it is for more than the old “politics and religion” topics that we should approach with guarded tendencies.
I love how Pinterest has give us a virtual peg board, and I think people really are using it to appear a certain way. Since I capture weddings, I really do pin wedding ideas that fit my clientele, because I know that brides check out all aspects of a company’s social media. And at the same time, I don’t pin things that are not my company’s style.
That’s really interesting; . I’d be interested in seeing your work. I haven’t thought about how brands try to establish an overall image using a specialized Pinterest site. Sometimes I will seek out specific boards, rather than individual posts, because I want to see one person’s board as an entire collection. This is especially the case with businesses, websites, and other non-personal usage. They are trying to create an overall brand image and it is important to keep it relevant and cohesive. I also agree people create accounts to “project a person’s self-image” as Adrienne wrote above. While my personal use of Pinterest reflects a wide variety of my interests, tastes, and hobbies, I do not filter out certain pins simply to create a more polished version of my self. But, I also don’t publish or connect my Pinterest to Facebook; if I did, I might be more conscious.