I Think I'll Go to Boston

Monday April 29, 2013

When most people try to articulate what things are like in America, a lot of focus is put on the things that divide us within our communities.
            Are you Liberal or Conservative?
                   Are you religious? 
                        Are you Gay or Straight? 
                              Are you from the North or the South? 
The list can go on and on. Because we are all so individualistic, we spend so much time and energy focusing on how to differentiate ourselves from others whose labels don't mirror our own. 
 
I think that something we all take for granted is our inherent ability to mobilize our communities together at a moment's notice, despite all of the differences that we focus on so much. There are so many times, even in my lifetime, that I have witnessed this. 
            The first World Trade Center bombing.
                   The Centennial Olympic Park bombing.
                          Columbine.
                                 September 11, 2001.
                                         VA Tech.
                                               Hurricane Katrina.
                                                    Sandy Creek.
                                                           Hurricane Sandy.
           And now, the Patriot's Day Bombing in Boston, MA.
And those are only the ones that come to mind right off the bat. It's incredible to think that through so much, we can all look past the labels and divisions that fixate on the majority of the time.

I recently spoke with a friend who is a fellow UGA student and Boston native about how his family was doing and what the aftermath was like. His response was very profound, and resonated a lot with what we have learned about community this semester in Social Media Marketing:
              
                       "I think if something this horrific had to happen, it's a good thing that it happened on
                        Patriot's Day. Boston transitions into it's happiest state after a long, dark winter on
                        Patriot's Day because they know that the summer is coming when the city lights up.
                        Obviously, this is a tragedy, and it should never have happened in the first place, but
                        the way that Boston can support itself through community makes me think that this
                        will leave them stronger in the end."

The essence of social media is the congregation of communities within communities. I think that what we can all take away from the activity and immediate response from some many different people and channels, those who were fundraising, raising awareness, or simply sending out good thoughts and prayers, is that the communities that social media is creating matter. They are a wave of communication and support for the future, and that is why it is not simply something for entertainment or increasing ROI in business. Social is a new way of fulfilling an inherent need in all of us - the need for community and togetherness - that connects all of us in America, despite the labels that try to divide.

Farewell Television, I Knew You Well

Monday April 15, 2013

I am continuously one of those people who are running late on jumping on the bandwagon, especially when it comes to technology. I got Facebook and Twitter later than almost all of my friends, started Instagram late, and most importantly, just opened up my first Netflix account in January. 

While I know this isn't a huge admission, now that I have it, it makes me wonder how I ever lived without it before. One particular interest of mine is the newly released season of House of Cards, a series created exclusively by and for Netflix. I started watching it because I recently accepted a job offer that is going to relocate me to Washington, D.C., and I have been infatuated with information about the city ever since. However, now that I have spent some time watching it, it has made me think more about the future of television. Is it really going to exist for that much longer?

Consumers are frustrated with television commercials, and DVR/TiVO took care of that. Since then, Hulu and Hulu Plus have taken us even further from the traditional television watching experience. In fact, I have several peers that are in college and decided to forgo a cable subscription at all and simply use Netflix and Hulu Plus for all of their filmed media needs. This is only further emphasized by the fact that Apple now makes televisions- everything is going online! If Netflix is now creating television shows, then is traditional television going to leave us completely?

This is somewhat of a haunting thought.. what will babysitters do when they can't stick the kids in front of a massive television to pass the time? How will first dates in middle and high schools change when you can't actually do anything except watch TV? Will a laptop screen work the same way? Apparently, only time will tell. But if I had to guess, I doubt I'll be saving my pennies for the giant flat screen in the near future. 

America's Pastime

Monday April 8, 2013  

Changing weather means spring is coming. Spring means lots of things, and among them is the beginning of baseball season! As an avid Braves fan, and in honor of opening day, I am dedicating this post to the optimistic view that I am taking on this season-- or at least, hoping that they make it through their first game against the Phillies.

The opening day fever has definitely hit the UGA campus, everyone sporting their jerseys and t-shirts showing their support as well as taking in some of the new found sun rays. It is interesting to think about the connection that I feel with all of these strangers who simply have a similar interest to me-- one that is not uncommon at all, yet when I see them around I instantly have a kindred spirit with them.

This entire idea simply reinforces the connections that we create through social media. This blog post, for instance, would potentially show up when people Google the Braves, America or if they are looking for a pastime- it may not satisfy their need, but they are instantly connected to me. It is really amazing how the internet is now fostering these relationships and helping people create connections that never would have existed before.

In conclusion, any one who is rooting for the Braves tonight (and always) is a welcome connection for me- Go Braves!