Chapter 11 question 3

When it comes to the function of media, in the book it describes that it had four functions which are surveillance, correlation, cultural transmission, and entertainment. The first on to show info, the second is the analysis of info, the third is education, and the fourth is to entertain people. I feel that all of these are important for media, but I feel that the most important are correlation and entertainment. The reason why we engage in media is to be entertained. It doesn’t matter what program you watch or listen to ranging from Howard Stern to Oprah, we watch them because we find their programs interesting and entertaining. Correlation is analyzing the info that we are given and we must decide if the info we are given is accurate. I feel that this is a good function of the media to expose lies because the fact of the matter is that we aren’t taught to question media that much, we tend to go on face values, instead of trying to find the truth. That’s what news is all about, trying to find the truth, and I think that media does a good job with these functions.

Chapter 11 question 2

When it comes to Marshall Mcluhan’s theory that the medium is the message I totally agree with that theory 100%. The reason why I believe this is because he does explain his theory clearly. In the example in the book he says that print media tries to be rational and television tries to makes it more sensational. Most newspaper just tries to give the facts and if someone wants to express their opinion it is in the editorials. Television news doesn’t try to separate opinion with news. CNN always tries to just deliver facts, but other cable news station such as MSNBC and Fox news put their opinion in when telling the stories of the day. The problem with this is television host such as Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity try to appear as legitimate news anchor, but they are more like personalities. They are paid to give their opinion about a certain matter, not tell the facts. So people like Glenn Beck will only talk about matters that he knows he could spin it in his favor. So yes where something is broadcasted can change the message.

Chapter 11 Question 1

When it comes to the world of networking on the internet I really haven’t made friends with anyone online. It’s not like I feel that I am better than anyone, but it feels that you could fool anyone on line. Anyone could pretend to be anyone on line. I am a 5’10 male from California, but online I could be 5’4 supermodel women. Because of this aspect I really don’t try to find friends online.
When I talk to people online it tends to be with people I know. But thanks to social networking sites you are able to communicate with people that you aren’t able to communicate with on a regular basis. An example of this could be a someone that you met long ago and you forgot their number, but thanks to sites such as myspace and facebook you are able to get into contact with that person.
When it does come to making friends online, I chose not to make friends based on that aspect.

Chapter 6 question 1

When it comes to the controlling of a relationship it could be damaging to a relationship. There are three patterns of this called, rigid complementary, competitive symmetry, and submissive symmetry. For complementary it is when one partner is in control. The competitive part is when two individual compete for top position, and submissive is when both people don’t want control. Even though I find problems with some of these positions I feel that rigid complementary is the most difficult to change. I feel that submissive is also damaging, but the thing about that is neither one of the partners tries to take control. No one is trying to one up each other.
I feel that the rigid complementarity is to most difficult to change. It takes a big person to relinquish power. To give up power and become an equal takes a big person to do. I feel this is damaging to an individual due to the fact the other person might not feel equal.

Chapter 6 question 3

When I get into an argument with someone, doesn’t matter if it is a close one or a complete stranger, I tend to try, key word try, to control myself. Out of anger we as people just got out of emotion, not really thinking about the consequences till later. It might be able to save the relationship, but sometimes that just isn’t enough. To be able to be great communicators we need to be able to control ourselves during arguments.
Some of the ways to control yourself during a argument is withdraw. That is where you leave when things start to heat up, but the problem with this is due to you let the anger builds and the argument might get more intense. Other positions could be forcing in which you go for the win, you don’t care about the others positions.
But I feel the most positive way to get done with arguing is to compromise. We need to put our ego away and realize that we need to learn how to communicate with each other.

Chapter 6 question 2

Finding someone to mess around with or just have a one night stand you really don’t have to be picky about them. The only test they need to pass is if they are attractive enough to be with you. But to build a relationship with someone that is a different scenario. For me personally I need a girl to have a sense of humor. That’s a must for me due to I don’t want to be with someone that takes themselves serious all the time. They must be attractive, at least in my eye. But one of the most important parts is that the girl needs to be an individual, some one that does things their own way. What I find unattractive is constantly being serious, being uptight, or just someone that goes with the crowd. They could look like Paris Hilton for all I care, but if they are any of those things it just kills it for me.
For Duck’s theories on how relationships dissolve it does make sense to me. The intrapsychic is about how a person might feel that the other isn’t meeting their psychological needs as not being there emotionally. The dyadic phase is where the partners talk about their problems and decide if they want to continue with the relationship. The social phase is just announcing to loved ones that you two broke up, and the grave-dressing phase is just trying to determine what went wrong.
As far as social or pre-interaction cues I never used these to determine if I want to get to know a person. I’m not shallow, I really don’t care where someone comes from I just want to know who they are as people.