Essay#3 Blogging in Our World

Many people wonder what makes a blog so appealing and why they are out around the internet. Some people have a hard understanding of the whole concept of blogging. But is there really a right answer to those questions? People feel different about each type of blog. Some think that the purpose for them is to journal, or to just write down your life, or even to talk about you’re opinions of politics or a certain issue that is going on. Blogs are used for many reasons, but it is how it affects the reader and/or writer and how they relate to it.

When people use blogs for journaling reasons it is to get news out there to others to hear about. Sometimes people only know of an event through blogs. In this type of blog it is beneficial to the writer because he wants to get the issue and his views out, and also for the reader to understand what is going on. The author of the blog is updating someone on an event that happened and not so much on what they think about the issue. The reader is able to learn the issue without being persuaded or distracted by the author’s personal believes. In the blog Kermit’s Community Blog, (http://kermitscommunity.blogspot.com/2006/11/osu-should-support-chimps-at-chimp.html) the author is taking about an issue that he feels should be addressed and noticed. He talks about an issue where chimps at The Ohio State University were going to be separated after the Chimp Center at OSU was closed. He talks about how OSU should help pay for the chimps to stay together at Chimp Haven because that is the best thing for all of them. The author explains the issue and then talks about how he hopes that people will support it. The readers agree with him and how he represents the issue. This blog is very informative and is best for the reader, so that people know what issues are going on and how they are being taken care of. It offers a chance to know what is going on so that the reader can get involved in the issue if they want to.

The book, Never Threaten To Eat Your Co-Workers, has many blog posts from different people. One of the authors, Christopher Allbritton has a blog site Back in Iraq 2, and talks about his experiences in Iraq. In this one entry he writes in a journalistic view about what had happened as he was walking down the street of Baghdad. Because he was a reporter and an American, people just assumed that he knew all the answers to their questions. “Muhammad, the man who asked about the victims of Saddam’s regime, said thousands of people are waiting to hear about their relatives and friends. Where are they? They had disappeared. ‘We want to know where they are,’ he said. ‘You the media. You can tell the world. People, help us.’” (181) Christopher wrote this post, not as his own opinion of anything, but as a way to tell people what he was running into over seas. His point is to tell people what he is going through in Iraq. He is trying to get the word out that people in Iraq still have questions and are not getting any answers. This post is for the reader to understand some of the things are going on and how it is affecting people from both sides of the issue.

Many people use blogs to write about their life and what they feel. They are able to write about how they are feeling that day or what their day was like. Many even use this opportunity to be creative and post their poems or stories. Some also use this as a way to link to things they think are cool. Many people link to videos or other sites that are funny or informative. This kind of blog relates to the author more then the reader. It’s definitely way to relive stress or just have some fun without really caring what the reader may think. In the blog Everyday Life (http://catrinr.typepad.com/everyday_life/ ), the author talks about her day in many ways. One day she’ll talk about what she did that day and another she’ll talk about how she’s happy to finish what she was knitting. This blog is very casual and there for fun to just tell people what she’s thinking. Her readers seem to enjoy what she says too, because they comment on how their glad she found her camera, or that their happy she finished her knitting. This kind of blog really is there for the author and not as much for the reader even though readers can enjoy what she has to say.

Blogs are also a way for people to write down their feelings on important subjects like politics or events around the world. This gives the author a chance to write what he or she feels about what’s happening and not have someone trying to talk at the same time. This also gives readers a chance to tell what they think after reading what the author posted. In the blog, Blog 4 Brains (http://www.blog4brains.com/2007/05/16/fox-news-gop-debate-controversial-ron-paul-wvideo/#more-879), the author talks about his views on the Republican presidential debate that aired May 15. He talks about his views on the events that happened during the debate then asked his readers what they thought. The readers were interested in what he had to say and liked being able to say what they had to say too. This blog is for both the reader and the author. It is a way to be able to get out what you think and have some feedback at the same time.

Blogs can definitely shape someone’s opinions and their idea’s. Blogs do have the power to be able to affect our culture and thoughts. Just like when the Virginia Tech shootings happened, an Asian male recently blogged about his love for guns who attended Virginia Tech. By doing that, he was falsely accused of doing the shootings because of his blog and when people saw it they just assumed it was him. In that aspect blogging can be dangerous and misleading. Blogs have the power to take over our own ideas because we get so involved in others opinions that we almost forget our own.

Blogs can be very powerful but if used correctly can be a positive in our society. If blogs are used in a responsible way, and are there for fun and information as well as not to trap someone, blogs are very beneficial. It gives someone the chance to express themselves in whatever way that may be and gives someone else a chance to see that. Overall, blogs can help society and people if used the right way.

Letter......

Dear friends,

I just want to take this time and thank you for your friendship this year. It is hard coming into a new situation with not knowing anyone, but meeting you guys was the best thing for me. We’ve had some great memories and stories throughout the year. Between our never ending games of Mad-Gab, to our wonderful trips to random places and our lovely nighttime basketball games, the memories grow. Just like the muscles in me because of our 3 hour long volleyball games.

You have shown me who I really am and let me be that person that I never was before. You have shown me how to really appreciate things and not to worry about stupid stuff like I use to. Even though we may be all going to main campus next year, it is still going to be hard to keep in touch seeing as we are all living in separate places. But I just wanted to let you know that if you ever need anything I will be here.

You all have made my freshman year at OSU good one. I was so nervous coming into this year because I wanted to be on main campus with people I knew. But now I wouldn’t trade this year for anything. We all have been through the boredom together and in the end, it wasn’t so bad. Even though I’m ready for summer, it saddens me to have to say goodbye knowing that things won’t be the exact same next year. I know that we will stay friends but I hate good-byes. So here’s my good-bye, thank you for the wonderful memories, the friendships and letting me be me. If by chance we don’t meet up again, remember what we had here and know I’ll always be there for you.

Your friend,
Amanda

Interview

Why did you choose to blog about your life at Ohio State?

I chose to write about Ohio State because it is something that is important to me. I felt that by writing about my college life, I could share what I have experienced. OSU has always been something that I could talk about with anyone. Growing up, my whole family was Buckeye fans so that just brought us together. That was something that we could always have in common and share among each other. My three older siblings all have gone to OSU and it just felt right for me and my sister to follow. I know a lot about Ohio State because of my family, so I figured that blogging about that would come easy for me. Writing about my life at OSU has made me realize that sometimes I’m not the only one stressed about classes, or excited about football games. Knowing that people feel the same way I do about things really helps to keep me calm in some ways.

What do you hope that people will learn from your writing?

I hope that people learn how much fun college is and that by taking chances/opportunities it will pay off in the end. Throughout my blog I talk about being involved in something and I tell stories of how I am. I hope that if someone reads that they will think that maybe they should get involved in some way. I hope that people have fun reading my blog and that they can share their stories of college and how they might have gone through the same things I did.

I Love My Brother

So I have decided to expand on one topic from last week and that is intramural sports. The past couple of weeks I was involved with a team on main campus which all my sisters and my brother is on. I’ve had fun getting to know the rest of the team and playing softball considering I haven’t played for years. We have had six games this season and we have gone 6-0 for the year. That was very exciding because my brother has never done that before or even won the championship, which we did yesterday. But I would have to say that my highlight of the season came on Monday’s tournament game.

This was the second tournament game we had, but the first we were actually going to play because our first game the other team forfeited. So we were all excided to play and try to get to that championship game. As we all warmed up we were wondering what the other team was going to be like. We stopped warming up for a little bit and decided to watch the end of another game that was going on, on our field. Then we saw them, the other team. They were being led by James Laurinaitis, #33 from the OSU football team. I thought I was going to die. I’m a huge fan of his and he’s standing right there. But then it hit me that I had to play against him. I’m not going to lie, I got a little scared. We all started the game kind of intimated but we soon figured out that we could beat them. Going into the last inning we were tied at eight. We had to bat first and we ended up scoring four runs. But then they had the last bat. We ended up getting three outs before anyone could reach third base. We all were so excited because we just beat his team. By now I was thinking, “Crap, we just beat his team so now I really can’t ask for a picture.” I thought it might be rude or something like that. As we were clapping everyone’s hands he went down the line being really sincere about saying good game. I was walking back to the dugout when I heard my brother yell to get my camera. My brother asked James if it would be ok if my sister and I got a picture with him because we were big fans. He didn’t mind at all. So we got a picture. I couldn’t believe it. I really had a picture with him. But now, I am forever in debt to my brother for it. But I can live with that.

I Fell In Love

The other day I was thinking why I loved coming to Ohio State. So I decided to make a list and this is what I came up with.

1) Football
When deciding on a college, football tickets are really what pushed me over the edge. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. It is such an amazing thing to be at a game and watch the games live. My friends back home are always asking me if they can somehow get to a game. I feel so privileged to be able to go to the games when so many people would love to go too.

2) Opportunities
I love all the activities and opportunities OSU has to offer. Intramural sports have really opened up a lot of doors for me. I have met so many great friends because of it. I am also involved in a softball team on main campus with my brother and sisters. I love doing that because it lets me spend time with my family, while also meeting new people.

3) Friends/Family
I love all my friends that I have met because of OSU. And also one of my friends from high school goes to main campus so I am able to stay closer to her too. Being at OSU lets me be close to my brother and sisters too. All three of them have graduated or are going too from OSU. My sister still goes their and my brother also works now for OSU, so I am able to still be close to them. Having something like OSU in common makes a great bonding thing for my family. It always gives us something to talk about.

4) Education
OSU has one of the best education programs. I know that going here I am getting the education that I need and want. Enough said.

5) Memories
Here at Ohio State I have had some of the best memories that I wouldn’t trade for the world. There have been ups and downs but holding on to those memories get me by. Spending time with my friends and just hanging out laughing is one of my favorite things to do. I love just to sit back and enjoy those moments with my friends.

A Change for Sports (essay #2)

The blog that I looked is by Charles Deemer, called The Writing Life II. His post that I looked at is named College Sports and is at http://cdeemer2007.blogspot.com/2007/01/college-sports.html. He talks in his blog about how college sports, in his mind, are a mess. He says he’s a fan of sports all together, but thinks that college sports need to be cleaned up in many areas. I am also a fan of sports all around and there may be some things are a little messed up, but I think that if you change them now, it will change for the worse.

The first point he makes is to ban all scholarships in all college sports. He doesn’t want to pay anyone anything to come to college to play a game. The next point he makes is to redefine league play locally, the way high schools do it. Deemer doesn’t want teams traveling 3000 miles in order to play a game. He also says they should make an equal plane for all sports, support each team as much as the other. He states that coaches should not be paid no more than you pay other “professors” who teach a subject. The author also talks about how colleges have a free farm system for the NFL and NBA and that professional baseball teams have to develop their talent through a farm system of minor leagues that they pay for. He believes that football and basketball should change to be that way.

When I read this blog post I was a bit confused. I understand what he is trying to say, but I don’t agree with it at all. To ban all scholarships in sports would be the worst thing for a college athlete. He thinks by doing this it will focus on higher education. But if you think about how that will effect athletes, it will be pushing some away from an education. For some people their only chance of getting to college and getting an education is through sports. By getting a scholarship, they are awarded an opportunity that they may not have had if it wasn’t for a sport. Some students can’t afford college and scholarships are their only shot at it. I understand that he thinks that some athletes are only there to go pro and not for an education, which is true in some cases. However, I feel that banning scholarships will turn away students from getting an education. I don’t agree with him at all on this. I think it would be a huge mistake.

The author also talks about redefining league play locally, the way high schools do it. He doesn’t think that you should travel large numbers of miles to play someone and that you should have some cross-town rivalries. Yes, I think that sometimes teams travel a large number of miles to get to a game, but then I think about it and disagree that they travel for a reason Having OSU play someone like Findley in football, I think, would be bad. OSU is a number one school in football for a reason. At some point there would be no competition for the teams. Even if you try to change the leagues, there is going to be schools that are going to be bigger and better than the small ones. The whole point of leagues is to have the same playing field and have that competition.

Deemer thinks that you should pay coaches no more than you pay other “professors” who teach a subject. I think that some coaches are getting paid a lot more then they should be, but then I think that they also work hard for what they make. The author says “Teaching football is not more valuable than teaching history or literature or mathematics or home economics or engineering or water coloring or marketing.” I think that coaches work for what they make. I don’t think that their pay should go down, I think that teachers should go up because having three of them in my family, I know what it takes to teach and they don’t get enough for it. I do agree that teachers and coaches should have closer payments, but I don’t think that you can compare it together because they are two different things when it comes down to it.

I do agree with his next point about making an equal plane for all sports. I think that everyone should support other teams just as much as the big teams like football and basketball. It is hard though to be able to do that for all the sports in a college, especially like OSU because they offer so many different sports. I think that students should try to get out and support all the teams that their school offers and have the same pride that they do for the big teams.

Deemer states that he also thinks that athletes shouldn’t be able to get into the NBA or NFL after a year or so. He thinks that playing a college sport should be for the college and not just to go pro faster. I agree that college sports should be for college but the whole reason for college sports is for one day to be able to go pro. I think that it would be ideal for a student to stay and play all four years, but then if the time is right to leave, then they should go. They should have them stay at least two years so they can get the practice and advice they need.

I believe that if you change any of these things in college sports right now, the viewers and the players would decline. Some of these rules would drive people away. The point of college sports is to have that great competition and get ready to go to the pros if that is what they want to do. I believe that it is in the best interest of everyone to just keep it the same. If it works right now, why change it.

Oh, How I Hate Change

So last night I was fishing with some friends and I was talking to one of them and we started talking about having to start to pack up some of our stuff to take home. Then it hit me, home. I have to go home after the year is over with; I have to leave my friends. Then that feeling started, the feeling of change. Oh, how I hate change. I don’t hate all change, change is good most of the time but I hate leaving people. And I know that I’ll see most of my friends next year but it won’t be the same. I’ll have to make some new friends and I hate that. Growing up I never had to really make friends because I lived in a small town and so we all knew each other. When we met in grade school we stayed friends all throughout high school. I really don’t remember meeting my friends because it was just that long ago. So coming to college was hard for me because I really had no idea where to start. And now I’m going to have to do it again.
Next year I’m going to the Columbus campus and it’s going to be so different. I’m exciting though to be able to experience something new. Because I grew up in a small town so then going main campus is a big deal. Newark is comfortable to me, but I feel like I always do the comfortable thing and I never really challenge myself, but I really think this is going to challenge me. I need to step out of my bubble of small towns and really just enjoy what Columbus will offer.
Thinking about how I’m excited about Columbus but sad about leaving my comfort zone and friends makes me feel like I’m on a rollercoaster about to throw up. I hate the fact that things won’t be the same next year but I’m so excited about it at the same time. I’m so confusing sometimes and I don’t know what to think. I know everything will turn out the way it’s supposed to but I can’t help but worry. Oh, how I hate change.

I Love Volleyball

One of the things I really wanted to get involved with at school was intramural sports. I didn’t really care what sport it was, I just wanted to be able to meet some new people. I was excided to learn though that they were offering volleyball which is my favorite sport. Upon going to the meeting with two of my roommates, we found a team. Being involved with intramurals led me to know lots of new people, and really some of my closest friends now. Intramurals is something that I would recommend to everyone because it lets you have fun and exercise but it leads you to meet people who you might have never met until then. This is something that I am always going to be involved with because it creates so many memories. I wouldn’t give up all the fun times with my team for anything.
I remember this one time last quarter that we were playing this team and we were beating them so I decided that I wanted to jump serve. I haven’t jump served since high school a year ago so I wasn’t really sure how it was going to turn out. Well as I got ready I did my little routine and served it and it went over hard and I got an ace! I was so excided! I literally ran around the court screaming “AH, I just got it over!” I was so excided, the adrenaline was pumping so hard I couldn’t stop running. My team was laughing so hard because they just stood there watching me as I lapped them around the court. Well it turns out I didn’t really loose my touch because I ended up serving like 6 more after that before something happened and the other team got the ball. I was so excided that I had remembered how to do it.
I really encourage everyone to get involved. It’s so much fun and it really creates a bond with those people, even if that is the only time you see a few of them, you have that bond and those memories to hold on too.

What a week..

So this week, along with everyone else, I’ve been thinking a lot about what happened on Monday at Virginia Tech. It’s a horrible thing that happened and I can’t imagine what the students and faculty are going through. But it really got me thinking about how it could happen here, it can happen anywhere.
On Monday after English when some people heard it for the first time about what happened, I was walking to the Hopewell and I was passing all these people talking on their cell phones asking if they had heard what had happened. At work, that was the talk of the night as everyone was trying to piece together what they knew. It seemed as if everyone was concerned and wanted to show their support. As I watched the news that night and Tuesday morning, I saw that so many colleges were paying their respects in different ways. I’m proud of how everyone is supporting VT and helping in anyway they can. It made me think of 9/11 and how the nation came together after that and we really became one to over come the tragedy. I hate though how it takes something so horrific for people to come together. I loved hearing though that there was a moment of silence at the oval on Wednesday for those who lost their lives and also how they played VT’s song over the chimes. It really does make me proud that people are out there supporting VT. There are also people on facebook trying to nominate Liviu Librescu for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was the professor who was an OSU alumnus and was killed while trying to save his students. This is the highest Medal of Honor that a civilian is able to get. It just gives me chills to think of how many people are being so involved in supporting VT. It really just amazes me and I hope that it continues for a long time.

Essay #1 Why So Nervous?

In high school I had two colleges on my list and I was almost positive that I wanted to come to Ohio State. But the thing that sent me over the edge to pick OSU was the football tickets. I had been to a game a couple of years ago with my sister, but I don’t remember it very well. My brother and sisters all had tickets and defiantly encouraged me to get tickets. I am so thankful I did because I feel that going to the games truly made me a Buckeye.
I was so nervous for my first football game as a student. I really had no idea what to expect because it was just me and my sister alone. We weren’t going to know anyone around us and we were supposed to actually fit in with the student section. I had no idea how that was going to happen. Walking up the steps to the different levels it seemed like the stairs never stopped. It was like going up an escalator backwards, you never really get anywhere. As I huffed and puffed up the last couple of steps, I thought my heart was going to pop out because I was so nervous. I really wasn’t sure what was going to happen. As I walked through the doorway out into the stadium it really did take my breath away. It was a sea of scarlet and grey and everyone was jumping around screaming as the team warmed up. I just stood there and watched until reality set in and the people behind me were getting mad because I was holding up the line. I started to walk up, yet again, more steps and the nerves just left me with a feeling of such excitement. After I found my seat, I sat my stuff down and turned around too look at the football field. I could hear helmets crashing together as the team practiced and people yelling “O-H-I-O”, as they got the teamed pumped up. It was then that felt like I really belonged there.
During the game I had to just watch the crowd at one point as they screamed “OHIO” and “Go Bucks!” In high school, school spirit was never really a huge thing so coming here and having people really cheer hard for the team was wonderful. But the thing that really had tears in my eyes was the band. Again, in high school the band was something people really didn’t take pride in. By half time, OSU was beating the opponent by a hefty score, so a lot of people started to leave. But then I heard the people behind me say, “Wait, we can’t leave until the band performs. Then we can go.” I was so stunned. Students were actually saying that they wanted to see the band then they could leave and miss the rest of the football game. The tears started to well up in my eyes. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My heart filled with pride knowing that my sister was a part of that and people respected it that much. I will never forget that feeling.
Even attending the whole season, nothing prepared me for the last game of the season: Michigan. It seemed like the week had no end and that I was never going to be able to get to go. It was like one of those things that you can’t believe is going to happen to you, and then all of a sudden you can’t do it. I was so hoping it wasn’t one of those times. When it finally became game day I thought that I was going to have a heart attack. My nerves were jumping all over the place. Climbing those steps that day felt like it did the first day. My heart was fluttering the whole time, I couldn’t stop it even if I wanted to. Going through the doorway I knew that this was going to be a big game for more then one reason, even though I didn’t know those reasons at the time. As I walked through the door, I had to squint because of all the light illuminating the field. As I heard the crowds roar, because the team was exiting the field the last time before kick-off, all I could do was smile. I had goose bumps on my arms and it felt like a butterfly in my heart. I was finally at the game of the year.

The game was so intense and everyone was into it 110%. People were yelling so loud and I too yelling as loud as possible. By the end of the night, my voice was so raspy. It felt like I had swallowed a bug and I couldn’t get it out. The crowd was chanting O-H-I-O the whole time and it kept getting louder and louder as if you were turning up the radio every round. The band tried playing songs but the crowd was so loud you couldn’t hear them at all. As the time ran down on the clock, again, the crowd kept getting louder and more excited. People were everywhere and by when the clock hit zero, people poured onto the field like a bomb that had blown up. The pride that everyone had felt by beating Michigan was like you were watching a part of you do something great. It was so indescribable. Everyone had a smile on their face and the bond that formed because everyone had the same passion for the team as you did. This was one of the best games ever played and to be a part of that is great. As I was standing there watching people flood the field my sister turned to me and said, “Holy crap do you know what this means?” I was like “No”; I was to excided to think about anything else. She said, “We are going to the national championship game!” I had totally forgotten about that, and then I knew that I would be feeling those nerves again. But I was willing to accept that.

Fun in the Dorms

Being in the dorms here on campus defiantly has its up’s and down’s, but I would say that this week is an up. My friends and I decided that this week we were going to do something other then just sitting around watching TV like always. So on Sunday night we decided that we were going to play a game called Apples to Apples. I didn’t figure that some of the guys would get into it, but as it turned out they loved it. We had such a fun time playing that, we decided that Monday night that were going to play Mad Gab. That went over really well too. Everyone had a ton of fun playing around and just being stupid. Sometimes I think that that creates some of the best memories, just goofing around.
Lately we have been doing a lot of new things. We have played sand volleyball a couple of times and we try to go to the gym once a day to have some fun. When I first came into the dorms I was worried that I wouldn’t have a lot of fun, but really you just make it as fun as you want. This week has been a lot of fun for me because my friends and I have gotten closer and we have had a lot of fun doing it. I love how even though we are in college, we can still act like kids. I think that it is a good thing to have that kind of fun. You really can’t take life that seriously and it wouldn’t be any fun if you did.

Proud of my Buckeyes

One of the things I was really excided for this year was the football games. I knew that we were going to have a good team and I couldn’t wait to be apart of it. The games were so much fun and it was really neat to see everyone having a good time. I loved how I didn’t even have to know the people around me but we were able to talk like old friends knowing we had at least one thing in common. The weird thing was that I noticed a few games into season, two rows down from me there were three people that looked oddly familiar. The more I thought about it I figured out that it was people from my home town that went to another school. I just couldn’t believe that out of thousands of people in the stadium I recognize people from my town. It really is a small world when you think about it.
I was excited for the season, again, because I knew that our team was going to be good. But I didn’t relies they were going to be that good. It was really cool for me to say that I was a part of history that year. I loved every minute of it except when it came time for the national championship. Well, we all know how that turned out. It just broke my heart to see them loose like that. But I really can’t make a lot of excuses for them. They just weren’t prepared to play. It was interesting for me to see how people reacted the next day. It was defiantly a day of mourning for buckeye nation. People acted like it never happened. Everyone went about their day like usual, but without really talking to anyone. It was just kind of understood that everyone was feeling the same way so why really talk about it.

Even though it was a sad time for many people, I feel like it just made our pride stronger knowing we still support our team. That is one of the things I have noticed about Ohio State, people are so proud of everything. It doesn't even have to be in sports, it can be anything. People at OSU are just proud of what they do and I love that.

Afriad of Classes?

Coming to college I was really afraid of what the classes would bring and that I wouldn’t be able to handle it all, but I haven’t really got that yet. In high school teachers were always preparing us for college. It seemed that everything the ever did was to prepare us. Maybe that‘s why I feel that I haven’t been hit yet because they really did prepare me. Coming to a university like Ohio State I nervous but I really like the classes I’ve had. Teachers are so understandable and even though they don’t feed you everything it’s there, you just have to pay attention. I also think that coming to OSUN gives me a good transition to main campus where things are going to be a little more difficult. But starting college here will really help me not become so overwhelmed there.