I'm sure no one will read this, but that's okay. I found it interesting to go back and read all my old blog stuff from Creative Writing last year. I may keep up with this now just for my own enjoyment, but I'll probably just use my account to follow other blogs because I find them really interesting.

So yeah, that's it.
=]

~Amanda~ ♥

Reflecting on My Blog

If I were to personalize my blog, I would make it more like a journal of my personal thoughts and interests. I would also include raves about musicians that I like and information about my own life. I would not write so much about political and social issues because I am not a very politically-incline person. Also, my audience would change too, because with the assignments given my intended audience has been the teacher, but with my own blog, my intended audience would be my peers. I would probably write in a way that people my age would enjoy and be able to relate to. I think I would enjoy blogging more without the limitations that I have had previously and having to write about topics that I do not know much about.

I liked the voice and style of the entry "Girls Playing 'Boy' Sports" because I felt that I could convey my opinion but also be somewhat humorous in doing so. Also, I felt that I was more passionate about the topic so that I could write about it more in-depth.

My Blogging Experience

Personal Benefits
1) Has blogging contributed to your own personal growth as a writer? How or why has it not?
I do believe that blogging has contributed to my own personal writing because I feel that I have been able to better learn how to express my opinions. I have also learned how to be political and assertive in my writing.

2) Has writing in the blogsphere developed a new voice for you as a writer? Has it shaped a new writing style or form different from the way you write in other spaces?
I do feel that writing in the blogosphere has changed my style of writing. I feel that I have become a lot more opinionated. I do think that I write differently in my blog than I do in other places because the premise is different than if I were writing a short story or other type of prose.

3) Do you see yourself continuing to blog after this unit ends? Why or why not?
It is difficult to say whether I will blog again or not. If I do, it will probably be on different topics because I, myself, am not so much of a political person so I would probably write more about my life and things I feel more passionate towards.

Societal Benefits
1) How can blogging foster new types of relationships between people in society?
Blogging can create a Web-relationship between people with similar or even different opinions. They can share their views and discuss them and possibly get into debates on their blogs.

2) Has blogging seeped into your relationships with others you knew prior to blogging?
Blogging has somewhat seeped into my relationships. I enjoy reading my classmates' blogs and learning their opinions and hearing their stories and experiences.

3) Has blogging helped you develop new relationships with others? How and what types of relationships?
Blogging has not helped me develop new relationships with others because I have not really put my blog out there to speak to other bloggers on the Internet.


Redefining Media
1) What do you think is the role of media in society?
The media plays a key role in our society. It influences the minds of our culture. Children can see something on the news, on TV, at the movies, or on the radio and think just because they heard it that it's okay for them to do too and this is a cause of many problems in our society.

2) How is blogging different from the way other media forms are shaped in our society? Does it fulfill what you believe is the role of media in our society?
Blogging is different from the other media forms because it is people sharingtheir own opinions on issues that the media only has one stance on. It is different because there are many different views on our society instead of just one, the one that the media wants us to cnform to.

3) Has blogging (reading and writing blogs) changed the way you relate to news media?
Blogging has changed the way I relate to news media because I now feel more aware of the political and social issues going on in the world around me. I have also developed opinions and are able to put them into words on my blog.

4) Do you think there are limitations in blogging as a form of media?
I think there are limitations on blogging because there are more people who watch the news or listen to the radio then there are people on the web reading other people's blogs. I think that if blogs keep catching on in the media like they have been that they have the potential to be an influencial media form in our society.

Electoral Politics

With the upcoming election, electoral politics have been at the forefront of American society and media. Personally, I am not really up on "the issues". I mean, I know about the war in Iraq and that the economy is suffering, but other than that, I'm pretty clueless. I actually don't mind though. I know it makes me seem culturally inept, but I'm not old enough to vote yet. When I turn 18, I will pay more attention to what's going on, but for now, I'm fine living in an "ignorance is bliss" sort of world.

But if asked about the race, candidates, and historical significance, I could give an opinion.

Personally, I'm in favor of Hillary. I really don't know her stance, making me more politically inadequate, but I'm all for a woman president. I don't think that Obama would be a bad choice for president either, because he seems to have strong opinions and good ideas for improving American society. I know that Hillary proposed the idea of the losing democrat to run as Vice President with the winner, and I think that that is a very good idea but unfortunately Obama declined. I think that would have been a smart way to go because everybody wins.

I really know absolutely nothing about John McCain, besides that he's old and Republican. But I don't think he really has a chance of winning the race, only because of all the hubbub around Hillary and Obama.

As far as issues of sexism and racism, neither of these issues will end if Hillary or Obama become president. If there's someone out there who thinks voting for Hillary will end sexism or voting for Obama will end racism, then they are even more socially ignorant than I am.

Also, I feel that this election is very historically significant. This is the first time in American history that a man of African descent and a woman competing for the Democratic spot on the ballot. Many think that the number of voters will increase in this election, but whether it's due to the historical importance or not is questionable. Our nation is in trouble currently, so I think that people will vote because they want to see a change and want someone who will fix the problems that our country is facing, whether the fact that it's a woman and an African American man running has any effect on that or not is uncertain.

Lack of Media Coverage: Harmful Words

Harmful Words

The media fails to cover the way America's youth uses their words. Teens use words very lightly, usually unaware of the effect they can have on others. Being a teen myself, I often hear my peers refer to something as being "gay", "retarded", or "queer", or playfully calling a classmate a "fag". Earlier in my adolescence, I had fallen under the influence of my peers and even used some of these words myself. I then realized the flaw in my ways and am now opposed to the use of such remarks. These words are offensive and I think the problem is that the teens who use them don't realize that these words can hurt someone's feelings. I also think that part of the issue is that these kids don't care if they're hurting someone's feelings. If they are not close friends with someone who is homosexual or has special needs, then they think "I'm not hurting anyone by saying this," but in actuality, they may have a friend who is gay but is afraid to come out because they hear their friends using these words in a negative fashion. Also, when one person uses the words, then the rest of their friends begin to say them too, and then all kinds of people are aying them and ultimately these words will offend someone even if the speaker believes they're not hurting anyone.

I feel that the media is somewhat oblivious to this issue. You never see a newscast about teens using harmful words. Personally, I think this issue should be covered in the news. I think it could be just the reality check that some teens need to get their speech in order. However, a simple newscast would not be enough to change the view of all teens guilty of using these harmful words. I believe that teens who oppose such language would need to ban together and start a campaign to stop the use of hurtful utterances and possibly that would get the media's attention enough for something to actually be done about this problem in our society.


Blogs that discuss this issue:
http://atticfantasist.blogspot.com/2008/03/gays-not-word-or-maybe-it-is.html
In this blog, Zoe Williams discusses the use of the word "gay" in today's society and how the meaning has changed from "homosexual" to "strange".

http://beetqueen.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/the-insult-of-the-day/
This blog is written by a high school teacher who often hears students use the word "gay" to describe assignments. She says that since she is not aware of how to "combat this problem" that she is just planning on waiting until the word goes out of fashion.


http://www.landofsavages.com/2008/03/gay-most-common-insult-amongst-children.html
This blog discusses the fact that "gay" could be the most common word used among teens. It also says how teachers are having trouble controlling the use of the word.


http://ahudenglish102.blogspot.com/2008/03/transformation-of-word-retard_12.html
The author of this blog talks about how the word "retard" has evolved over the years. She talks about the history of the word and how it has been used over the years.

This video has two people talking about words used frequently in our society and their appropriateness, particularly the use of the word "retarded":

Girls Playing "Boy" Sports

I have played Ice Hockey since I was four years old. Being a female in a male dominated sport has never been easy. When I started when I was four, I played in an initiation program with mostly boys. Then I played on "co-ed" teams until I was ten, but "co-ed" is not the right term. Usually, it was all boys and me. Sometimes there was one other girl on the team, but usually I had to try to fit in as "one of the guys".

When you're younger it doens't really matter. You're just kids, you don't think about it as much. But as you start to get older, there begins to be the stereotype of hockey being a "boy" sport. It's true that it is a very male-dominated sport but that doesn't mean that only boys are allowed to play it. Many times I have met boys who play hockey and when I tell them that I play hockey too, the say "But you're a girl." You don't know how much that bugs me. So what if I'm a girl? That doesn't make me any less able to play hockey.

When I turned ten, I decided that it was time for me to start playing on an all-girls team. Luckily, there was a program nearby with an all-girls team. Now if you think being an individual girl playing hockey gets you negative attention with boys, imagine having a whole TEAM full of hockey playing girls. Whenever we share ice with a boys' team during practices or something, they constantly emitt an attitude that they are better than we are. Sometimes we will scrimmage against a boys' team and they always come across as cocky and that they'll beat a team of "sissies" with ease. Then if a girl on my team knocks them down or beats them to the puck or scores on them then all the other boys will be like "HAHA you got beat by a girl!!!!" or something along those lines. As a girl, it makes you feel inadequate sometimes. Other times it makes you feel stronger, like you want to go out and show these boys exactly what you're made of, that you're strong and powerful.

But soon they'll see. Girls' hockey is growing at a rapid rate, and maybe in the future hockey will be as much of a "girl" sport as it is a "boy" sport. And boys, if you think girls can't play hockey, I have news for you: Yes, I'm a girl, and yes, I CAN and WILL kick your butt.

Girls who play sports in society are often looked down upon and are considered to not be as physically capable as boys. In past times, girls were not even allowed to play sports but now that they are allowed to play, girls sports are growing rapidly. So if you're a girl who plays sports and you feel like you're not being respected, stand up for yourself. You ARE strong.

Webster Youth Hockey Girl's Program (where I play):
http://webstergirlshockey.tripod.com/

A Poem I Wrote in Creative Writing Class

Remembering August

The pants travel
from city to city,
continent to continent,
connecting those who have
seen better days, and
who have lived sixteen summers
together
until this one.
I pause and look up
from the page,
connecting the Traveling Pants
to my own life,
reminiscing of past
scalding August afternoons, and
long distance phone calls
to missed companions vacationing
on warm beaches on the
opposite side of the country,
and scorching days sitting
alone,
staring into the sun, waiting
for August to end.

Writing For Publication

I am a student and in a Creative Writing program at my school. For my class entitled Writing for Publication, we have been assigned to start our own blog on this website. I am interested to see where this endeavor will take me in my writing and in my discovery of myself as a person. I hope to learn more about the technology of blogging and to enjoy the process of writing on the Internet. :]