Introduction: Feelings toward blogging and social networking

Hello and welcome to my blog.  I am not new to blogging, however it is NOT my favorite thing to do.  In fact, I do not like blogging at all.  About two years ago, one of my classes (like this one) required a blog account where assignments could be submitted.  This class was a rhetoric class titled: Literacy, Rhetoric, and Technology.  So, I was introduced to blogging.  That isn't to say that this class was not interesting - it was and I learned many things about how literacy and technology were incorporated into each other, and also learned more about my own personal interests.

Additionally, that also isn't to say that I do not enjoy writing, for blogging requires writing.  Quite the contrary.  I love to write.  I'm probably one of the few who enjoys writing essays (once I have my brilliant epiphany, of course).  In fact, I have written an essay about social networking that is in progress for publication in a college textbook.  My experience in writing this essay was enough to put me off social networking for a while. 

Story:  I had an opportunity to intern in the editorial development department at Bedford/St. Martin's publishing company in Boston, MA for a couple of months during Summer 2010.  After my internship ended, I was asked to write an essay about social networking and its benefits.  At first, I was not given strict directions for specific topics, so I chose to write about the three social networks I thought were most commonly used by all ages of the public: Facebook, LinkedIn, and World of Warcraft.  One week of researching and writing (in addition to working and keeping up with my school work, for school had resumed) and eight pages later... I learned the authors of the book were looking for an essay strictly about Facebook.  Needless to say, I had to overhaul my essay.  Another week of research and another eight pages later...
Good for printing. 

My experience in writing these essays gave me a different view of Facebook, such that I though about deactivating my account.  But I did not.  So I have a Facebook account and a LinkedIn account.  Both are used for different purposes.  I used to have a MySpace account, but deactivated it when I switched to Facebook.  I am also signed up with Twitter, but am never on it.   Personally, I think it's pointless.  Like blogging.  While blogging can be fun and informative, I don't like the idea of putting thoughts on a site that I can't control who views it.  One person or two people might follow my blog, but so can billions of other people if they wish to.

All in all, I am not big on social networking.  Although I do agree it is handy at times in making contacts, I still prefer phone and face-to-face interaction. 

But I do what I must to meet requirements.