Newbie to StumbleUpon and Tumblr

Pinterest is a very interesting site, it shares sites that one would not normally explore when surfing the web.  Like in my previous blog I use this as a source to just waste my time away when I have nothing else to do.  I can find things to just look at, activities for my campers, friends, and activities to do around the house.  One thing that I noticed is that the profile of a person on Pinterest doesn’t share information about them.  A profile on Pinterest shows a picture of their choice, their name, and the boards that they created.  This does not limit what someone can find out of this person.  I believe that the things that are pinned on someone’s board can really explain that persons interests and who they are. 

These past few days I have joined two new sites that I never had experience with, StumbleUpon and Tumblr.  I don’t really enjoy Tumblr because I don’t like blogging but it is very interesting to just observe and read what everyone else is blogging about. 

StumbleUpon is a site whose mission is to help others easily discover sites on the web, these are sites that they wouldn’t normally find.  Upon stumbling the user creates a profile that can be accessed by other online stumblers.  The profile has info about the user like name, a picture/avatar, gender, state, and country that you are from.  The user then is able to select what categories he or she is interested in.  Once that is done the user then stumbles, which brings them to different web pages.  The user then has the option to like or dislike a page this helps Stumble narrow down your searches to better the user’s experience. 

When reading the Terms of Conduct and the Privacy Policy nothing is public information without the users consent and they do not sell any private information to other parties.  If there are any problems with StumbleUpon the user can contact them by clicking on their link and it will email their problem.  StumbleUpon will then try to fix the problem and email the user bask as soon as possible. 

While I was browsing StumbleUpon I noticed that it was hard for me to add people as followers or friends to see their profile.  I t may have been that I didn’t have many friends on Facebook with a StumbleUpon account.  StumbleUpon has a mobile app so that it can be accessed on a smartphone and many can access their Facebook page, Twitter account, and their blog to learn more. 

Another site that I joined this week was Tumblr.  Tumblr is a blogging site in which the user can follow other blogs, and by doing this when accessing their home page a newsfeed of recent posts by the blogs that are followed.  These blogs can consist of things like a text, photos, quotes, links, chats, audio files, and videos.  The posts can also be tagged so that they can be categorized.  A Tumblr profile has a picture, an about me, and likes and dislikes.  Similar to StumbleUpon their Privacy Policy is that no information is public information without consent.  Tumblr does however is have a Code of Conduct this shows what is not allowed on Tumblr; Malicious Bigotry, Harm to Minors, Promotion and Glorification of Self Harm, Gore and Mutilation Content, Unflagged NSFW Blogs, Uploading Sexually Explicit Videos, Non Genuine Social Gesture Schemes, Username and URL Abuse, Spam, Mass Registration and Auto, Unauthorized Contests, Sweepstakes, or Giveaways, Copyright and Trademark Infringement, Impersonation, Stalking, or Harassment, Privacy Violations, Disruptions Exploits, and Resources Abuse, and Unlawful Uses of Content.

Pinterest is very much like StumbleUpon because both are way for users to access and view sites that they wouldn’t normally view.  Both give users the option to choose a topic in which they browse.  If the users choose not to pick a topic they can browse sites that are random in category.  I do not believe there are many similar characteristics between Tumblr and Pinterest.  I do not think that I would be interested in Tumblr if it weren’t for this class.  I am not really interested in blogging myself but I am curious to read what others have to blog.  I will however continue to use StumbleUpon because I prefer to browse and not write about my thoughts.  Although, I am writing for this class I prefer to talk about what is on my mind instead of writing them down.  :] 

Just A Little Pinning

I am not very active on many other online communities but one that I am active on is Pinterest.  I love browsing through Pinterest to pass the time and to find new ideas.  I like to look through the “Everything” category because it really is a little bit of everything.  I can find things like food recipes, drink recipes, clothing ideas, do it yourself activities, and even find activities that I can do with my campers at my summer camp.  

There is so many things and ideas on Pinterest that it can really be for women of any age.  Pinterest can attract many different women because there are categories for everyone and the awesome part is that anyone can comment, like, or repin.

Many of my friends have recently become active on Pinterest so we can share ideas together.  Everyone uses Pinterest for many different reasons.  Some choose to pin images of the same category while others take advantage of all that Pinterest has to offer.  More and more Pinterest is becoming popular.  Sometimes my roommates and I would be on our own computers all looking at Pinterest and showing each other what we find (sounds pretty cheesy…).  We even attempt many of the do it yourself activities, crafts, and recipes! I know that I spend way too much time browsing through all of the pins but there is always something new and interesting.  

Well now that I’m done with this blog I can probably be found on Pinterest! :]

(sorry it's so late for some reason it wouldn't let me post)

Wiki Week!

            This week was all about wiki’s.  I have had the luxury to use wiki’s in one class before.  I believe that wiki’s are a great way to work online in a group but on the “flipside” wiki’s can be a little confusing and to some not be worthwhile.  I have realized that when working in groups it can be very hard to share a wiki.  One person will put information on a wiki, the next person will then add information and submit.  I feel as though it is very rare in which someone edits the others information on the wiki.  Many people are too worried about editing something wrong.  I have noticed this and sometimes second-guess myself when editing other’s work without even knowing them or how they may react to my corrections. 

            This wiki site is new to me.  I was very pleased in the tutorial on this page and the fact that I can have a tutorial anytime I need is very helpful.  When navigating this wiki page I struggled to get the hang of it but after a while it was very easy. 

            Our organization is Dove Personal Care.  They sell items like soaps, hair products, deodorants, etc.  Dove’s mission for their social media is to encourage women and young girls.  While exploring their Twitter feed, they mostly tweet inspirational quotes and advertisements for their products.  Some examples are: “Dove ‏@Dove “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau” and “Dove ‏@Dove “Most conditioners work at the surface of your hair. For deeper damage repair, try Dove Intensive Repair Daily Treatment Conditioner!”  On their Facebook page it’s all about advertisements.  If someone shares their post Dove will give them a coupon for their products.  I noticed that they do have a line of items for men but their target audience is all about women.   This is very obvious when looking at their Facebook page because their cover photo on their timeline is a group of women.  

Virtual Space Cadet

             I would think of myself as a well-rounded person in the virtual world.  While being very active on Facebook and Twitter and I enjoy browsing on YouTube.  I think that if someone were to look at my profiles on all of the virtual spaces that I am active on, they would know very much about me, yet think that I still leave information for privacy.  I am a very open person but I make sure that I am careful about what is posted for my safety.  I do not believe that the information posted could be used against me if it were scanned for an interview.  I think that many people are much too active online and post information or pictures of things that should not be posted for the entire world to see.  For example, someone that I was friends on Facebook who happened to attend my high school, posted pictures of their self half naked because they thought that those would be the pictures to get her crush’s attention.  She then was unsure as to why she didn’t receive a job after they scanned through her Facebook.  I think that behavior like, posting sexual pictures should not be put on your Facebook and in todays generation Facebook is like posting that picture in the local newspaper.  Although, her profile may be private, people that are friends with her have access to it and they can be the ones to share with the rest of the world. 

I make sure that I am frequently checking in online while still keeping a regular social life.  In today’s society people live and breathe through their online networks.   I think that having a life in a virtual world is very important in today’s world but I also believe that having a social life out of the virtual world is equally important. 

On my virtual spaces I favor Facebook and Twitter.  I think that sites like these are “fool proof” and are very easily accessible.  Facebook allows me to chat with many of my family and friends that are far and near.  Even better Facebook recently joined up with Skype so that if you have a webcam you and easily Skype a Facebook friend without actually being friends on Skype.  The other site that I favor is Twitter, this is a great network because I can post my thoughts in a matter of seconds while using my smart phone.  I decided to make my Twitter private because I wanted to limit who follows me to people that I am familiar with.  I can also see what my friends are thinking while still having a mixture of news, horoscopes, jokes, etc.  I follow many people and organizations like UberFacts, The90sLife, VSPINK, Cosmopolitan, BestOfPisces, FunnyOrTruth, and many more.  I love following VSPINK because Victoria’s Secret post things like what’s on sale or insiders on their latest styles.

I must say that I use YouTube, but before this course I did not add videos that I liked or manage a channel.  I would use it to upload my videos and to search for other videos and music.  Trying to manage a YouTube channel was a little tricky in the beginning but I am starting to get the hang of it unlike, the photo post site, Flickr.  Flickr for me is the most confusing thing.  I can’t seem to get the hang of it.  I guess I just think that there are many other sites that have a photography base that are easy to navigate. 

Just a little video that I think is very comical.  It's a video of a girl who just got her wisdom teeth out and because of the anesthetic she is on she acts unusual.  The story she is describing is so bisarre she even attempts to rap.  I would love to hear other's feedback and what they think about the video.  The comments on the video are mostly just people repeating what she said and not actual feedback.  

                  Hope this made you smile! Have a great week!! 

First Blog...Check

Hey guys,

My name is Sabrina and I am from Leominster, Massachusetts.  I love Massachusetts and everything about it.  I especially love our sports teams.  Although, some of them may be in a little rut right now, I’ll always be there to cheer them on.  I decided I wanted to change things up a bit and head on up to Maine for college.   I like it, but I definitely am missing home and realized just how much I like city life.   I must say though that the beach is a great place to be no matter what the season.  Back home, I have a great and close family and friend base.  I have a sister named Ashley who is developmentally delayed.  So I have been involved with people of varying ages that have special needs of all kinds.  I love everything about working with them because it is so rewarding even after all the hard work.   Nothing is as rewarding as a smile or a gentle hug from one of my “special” friends.

I currently work at the YMCA in Biddeford as a camp counselor and I love it.  I am head of a group that consists of about 23 children that are 6 and 7 years old.  I must say that it is very challenging work, but in the end I love working with and around all kinds of people.

With that being said, I love to work with people no matter how different they may be.   That is why I am a communication major.    I love learning about different people and helping them, whether it may be physical or emotional disability. 

I am excited to take this course because I am familiar with Facebook and Twitter but there are many means of social media that I would love to learn.  I’m expecting to broaden my knowledge of other means of social media.  With this knowledge many of my opinions of certain sites may just change. 

Blogs are use daily by many people around the world and for billions of different reasons.   I am eager to use this to connect with people around the world by interacting with them on their thoughts and just communicating in general.  I am familiar with blogs in that I used them for two of my classes this past semester.  I can’t say that I know them inside and out because every time I explore on blogging pages I learn something new (sounds a little cliché but it’s totally true).

For my privacy settings I made my profile open to anyone because I feel that this will give me a chance to interact with many different people.  I chose this layout because I believe it to be “fool proof” in that it is very easy to navigate.  Every option is visible making it easily accessible. 

Thanks for reading! Hopefully this wasn't too monotonous for you guys and I hope your summer is treating you well.   “Jusqu'à la prochaine fois.”  

-S