Now before anyone gets outraged by this statement, understand 3 things
- I know this is a sweeping sterotype and there are obviously many exceptions.
- I did not create the stereotype, and am not the only one to share this view - check out most recent news publications and I'm sure you'll find articles expressing this sentiment.
- This is my blog and my opinion and I am a Gen Y (but not one of those - I don't even have a mobile phone!).
So why now you ask? (you? I mean seriously the thought that YOU could be someone in say Oslo, Norway using your precious time to read my boring day to day thoughts - bizarre and honestly quite troubling. Have they not got better use for there time? Like phoning there mum or a real friend that they established in the real world?? - Completing that Uni assessment - Discovering a cure for Cancer???)
Anyway before I am really get going.....I am discovering all this stuff now for the first time as a workplace hazard. I work in a library. (perhaps I should rewatch Insight before I publish this? is that too revealing??)
That;s another thing PUBLISH? it used to be you had to be a talented writer to be published???
Now you just purge whatever is on your mind and hit a button....
ANYWAY, libraries are awesome and to stay awesome we need to keep up with our clients and there needs / wants. And Web 2.0 is definately the way it's all going. So here I am doing my online tutorials and Learning How to Blog.
And you know what? I have to admit now that I have looked around this virtual world there are definately some things that excite me. Whilst I cannot see myself blogging and facebooking and tweeting on a personal level in so far as my library is concerned I see some big possibilities. I am passionate about promoting libraries and already my brain is spinning a million miles and hour thinking how I can use all this stuff. - And I'm only on my second tutorial!!
But for now that's it. I'm off to call my Mum - in the real world, on a real phone, the old fashioned way.
I liked you first blog post, quite interesting to read for a young "Baby Boomer". The only thing I use my very old mobile phone for is an alarm clock, works great its got a snooze button too.
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Going by the the age parameters I just scrape in as a Generation Y but like LHTB I can't say I fit in the pigeonhole provided either. After all this is my first time doing a lot of this Web 2.0 stuff such as blogging, using Wikis and the like. Hell, I've only ever owned 2 mobiles phone in my life.
ReplyDeleteI agree, web2 is not for me personally but will open a whole new world for our libraries when we embrace it.
ReplyDeleteI'm Gen-Y and often lament the boxes I am put into because of it. I tend to be of the opinion that every generation has winners, losers, the motivated and unmotivated, the tech savvy and those who couldn't care less. It's just easy for everyone to think it was better in the old days and "kids these days...." blah blah blah.
ReplyDeleteThe internet IS full of super exciting, amazing things. And yes, the 'real world' is as well.
Also, I sometimes turn off my lovely, android 3rd gen HTC desire (phone) just because I don't want people contacting me all the time(especially my Mum).
Fantastic post! I am glad to see you are not obsessed with the desire to publish your every thought on line as some people seem to be. I too would much rather chat on the phone and do so several times a week with my mum then blogging, facebooking and tweeting with people I haven't even met!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, you got it down to the T.
ReplyDeleteI bet you feel better now you have that off your chest. LOL Have fun with it, good stuff. Now if we were standing next to each other I would pat you on the back.
ReplyDeleteWhilst I agree that face-to-face conversation beats virtual conversation any day, the internet is a fantastic medium to allow people with similar interests to find each other and communicate. Traditionally circles of friends often revolve around close geographical proximity. But why should one have 50 friends that live near them but have not much in common, when they could instead have 10 like-minded friends in cyberspace who may live as far away as Olso, Norway?
ReplyDeleteHere I was thinking Gen Y could only communicate through their fingers! I enjoyed reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same as you in that I'm not interested in putting my thoughts out to the world. Maybe if I had something I was passionate about that I would like to share but until then I'm happy to read other people's blogs that interest me and I'm glad of the technology that allows this!
ReplyDeleteLoved your blog and keep communicating in person!! (said via blog :)) lol
ReplyDeleteI agree some of the WEB2.0 is not for me either, but I guess that we have to learn sometime and need to make the best of the situation, I am really now learning alot of things I didnt really know.
ReplyDeleteGreat first post. There are alot of great things on the Internet, something for everyone perhaps, just like the real world. A healthy balance of both is the way to go!
ReplyDeleteSo true - balance is the key. But we shouldn't lose sight of the the potential benefits of the technology we might deride or just take for granted. In the west/developed world we might see a lot of Web 2.0 as unnecessary or indulgent. In other parts of the world the technology can make an enormous difference in education, wealth (or just subsistence) creation, communication and even health outcomes.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is great if everything is working correctly, owever considering the number of blackouts we often face, some the "old" ways still need to be in place or be a backup, so we can maintain access to information.
ReplyDeleteSaying all this though I love technology because it has made the world a smaller place. Instead of never getting to speak to extended family due to the cost of phone calls, I now speak to cousins often via facebook and its all for free
I love your post. I am also Gen Y, but dont think I live up to the Gen Y stereotype either!
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog and agree with much of your thinking. Identity theft is a real risk with all this online communication, as is cyber bullying. Just look at the nude photo scandal currently in the news involving a number of AFL players. Apparently the photos were "stolen" from another players computer and then put on the web for all to see. This is just one small example of "the dark side" of Web 2.0 technology.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. While I don't agree with all of it (I tend to agree with Library Ninja, for example)there is one part I feel is really quite wrong: "That;s another thing PUBLISH? it used to be you had to be a talented writer to be published??? " I've read dozens of books over the years that lead me to believe there are plenty of published writers out there who are completely devoid of talent:-) I look forward to more thought-provoking posts from you, if we're lucky.
ReplyDeletegreat first post! I am Gen Y too! but i think that the generation is divided up into 80's and 90's kids, I am all into mobiles (its my life along with FB) but each to their own. i hope you enjoy blogging
ReplyDeleteNow what a lovely rant - your obviously have the knack for ranting - you should checkout my blog "Ranting a Hobby" Once you start it so very hard to stop!
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