Monday, Apr 13, 2009
So I was observing some folks on Easter Sunday talking briefly about how Facebook has replaced Myspace as the hot trend of playing on the Internet, and how MySpace is so several years old. So that got me thinking of other popular media and how some social things may seem geeky but they're actually quite mainstream or new school these days.
For example, on April Fool's Day, a large number of my coworkers had already visited the major websites and done the silly Easter egg experiments of printing stuff for 3-D or laughing at how there's a new upgrade. Of course, I was preoccupied with the sad reality that TV.com's redesign didn't fall in that category. But I felt like I missed out. Was that a New School trend or something only Computer Geeks should care about?
TV.com's escalated much of my viewing habits. I'm watching shows with more intention than a casual viewer, looking at credits lists, and spotting weird allusions and goofs. Now it's great that many, many shows are available over the Internet, but I wonder when we have a person who prefers to watch the show on the computer rather than a live broadcast with friends and family, is that the future of mainstream television or we're still considered rather geeky? And when people are recommending shows that aren't available on television that you have to jump through weird hoops on the Internet to watch, is that desire to see those shows mainstream?
Something that seems to be fairly old school along with MySpace was collecting music on the computer. Who has really listened to more diverse music than ever because of this? These days, I hardly ever dig out the iPod. I don't even know where it is. Are people still collecting music or is that habit gone now and people are headed back to the radio? Or have people been turned deaf because they have that earbud in 24/7 and listen to the same albums over and over?
Is it worth jumping on the Twitter bandwagon? That moved from hot trend to mainstream thanks to segments on major talk shows. Is it really worth finding out what random celebrity people are doing when they don't even call up their friends anymore and ask the same question?
I don't know. Maybe I'm just too old to want to care. I feel like I need to tune out computer stuff when I go home, which is why nothing is really networked well at home. I haven't moved my digital camera pictures, updated a Facebook/MySpace personal page outside of this place, or even caught up with email. I'd rather just veg out with playing a mainstream title like Spore, and then afterwards slip in a boxset DVD to watch really some really old show or retro cartoon. Yet I'm asked to grow up and out of that world too and keep up with the times, and trying to balance between that and geeking out can be quite the challenge.
For example, on April Fool's Day, a large number of my coworkers had already visited the major websites and done the silly Easter egg experiments of printing stuff for 3-D or laughing at how there's a new upgrade. Of course, I was preoccupied with the sad reality that TV.com's redesign didn't fall in that category. But I felt like I missed out. Was that a New School trend or something only Computer Geeks should care about?
TV.com's escalated much of my viewing habits. I'm watching shows with more intention than a casual viewer, looking at credits lists, and spotting weird allusions and goofs. Now it's great that many, many shows are available over the Internet, but I wonder when we have a person who prefers to watch the show on the computer rather than a live broadcast with friends and family, is that the future of mainstream television or we're still considered rather geeky? And when people are recommending shows that aren't available on television that you have to jump through weird hoops on the Internet to watch, is that desire to see those shows mainstream?
Something that seems to be fairly old school along with MySpace was collecting music on the computer. Who has really listened to more diverse music than ever because of this? These days, I hardly ever dig out the iPod. I don't even know where it is. Are people still collecting music or is that habit gone now and people are headed back to the radio? Or have people been turned deaf because they have that earbud in 24/7 and listen to the same albums over and over?
Is it worth jumping on the Twitter bandwagon? That moved from hot trend to mainstream thanks to segments on major talk shows. Is it really worth finding out what random celebrity people are doing when they don't even call up their friends anymore and ask the same question?
I don't know. Maybe I'm just too old to want to care. I feel like I need to tune out computer stuff when I go home, which is why nothing is really networked well at home. I haven't moved my digital camera pictures, updated a Facebook/MySpace personal page outside of this place, or even caught up with email. I'd rather just veg out with playing a mainstream title like Spore, and then afterwards slip in a boxset DVD to watch really some really old show or retro cartoon. Yet I'm asked to grow up and out of that world too and keep up with the times, and trying to balance between that and geeking out can be quite the challenge.
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Posted Apr 13, 2009 8:55 pm PT
There is so much I can say about your comments...the process of modernization had its roots as far back as the 1830s. Some historians suggest that modernization started with the Song Dynasty in China, others suggest that it predates that by several centuries by the protocapitalism that started in Southern Europe just before the fall of Rome. Perhaps back in the Neolithic times, a group of neandertals sat shivering in a cave when one said, "look, honey, those Cromagnon over there have fire" and the other one responded, "shut up and eat your cold, parasite ridden meat". There will - almost - always be something new. When technologies saturate the market and the collective cultural awareness, I suspect that there will always be an impetus to renovate. Somebody once said that 'necessity is the mother of invention', I don't believe this to be true, I think, rather, War and Boredom are the spark of creation. Of course, I am a cynic, so I would think that.
Posted Apr 14, 2009 12:39 am PT
There's alot of points to adreess here. First: the internent tv is like watching episodes you missed with the famiily or a favorite episode you absoultely love. Second: the tv.com redesign I'm not sure about. Could be either one. Third: collecting music on the computer isn't that old is it? I still use it out of lazyness. Fourth: twitter is a waste of time to me. Only what 100 chracters is way to little. Fifth: you're not too old you just don't hav share the intrest. Join the club. I say just follow your route. THat's what I do and so far it's working.
Posted Apr 14, 2009 4:43 am PT
Hi Angus_Mac, I'm not a facebook type of person and I don't even talk on the phone (hate phones) so I don't see me twittering. It took me almost two years here before I blogged and I only do that occasionally. 
Posted Apr 14, 2009 8:24 am PT
I don't twitter, but I do everything else on your list. However, I'm a self-proclaimed geek. I find it interesting when I am at work to compare myself to my colleagues and their level of computer use. Many people are on facebook & have a large stash of music on their computers, but most of them would not spend time on a hidden away website, barely any of them know what "firefox" is, if I asked if they "twitter" they would not have a clue & jumping through hoops to watch online shows would be a no-no.
Admittedly, I do work with a lot of people who are older than the "geek generation" but, that said, here on this site we have a wide range of ages, and many of the older users know more about computers and the internet than I, as a geek, ever will, so I don't think that the age should be a factor.
On the occasions that I do mention my internet activities at work, only one other person (out of a large office) understands me. Everyone else is of the "I'll facebook but otherwise I just want to be away from a computer" mindset.
[/random commentary on geek vs non geek]
Admittedly, I do work with a lot of people who are older than the "geek generation" but, that said, here on this site we have a wide range of ages, and many of the older users know more about computers and the internet than I, as a geek, ever will, so I don't think that the age should be a factor.
On the occasions that I do mention my internet activities at work, only one other person (out of a large office) understands me. Everyone else is of the "I'll facebook but otherwise I just want to be away from a computer" mindset.
[/random commentary on geek vs non geek]
Posted Apr 14, 2009 8:42 am PT
My wife forced me to start a facebook account however, I maybe look at it once a month for about 10 minutes! I usually spend maybe an hour each day on TV.com. And yes, I am one of those geeks who downloads 90% of the TV we watch from the internet, just think, the latest episodes of your favourite programmes, no commercial breaks, minimum storage; just transfer it to your media player and you don't even have to rely on the power of your PC to play it!
Posted Apr 14, 2009 11:34 am PT
I have myspace and facebook, but I was suckered into creating profiles by friends. It wasn't to get with the times or be with the popular crowd. I rarely use myspace anymore, but I'm on facebook quite a bit. The more people send me messages and comment on things on my facebook profile, the more apt I am to respond so I'll spend a bit of time on there... not as much as TV.com though. As far as Twitter, I don't know much about it other than it would take up too much of my time. I'm not interesting enough for someone to want to know what I'm doing 24/7.
Even though I have a Crackberry, I'm rarely on the internet when I'm at home unless I'm doing some research. I like my home time to be HOME time- which usually means outside activities that don't involve the computer or running errands.
Even though I have a Crackberry, I'm rarely on the internet when I'm at home unless I'm doing some research. I like my home time to be HOME time- which usually means outside activities that don't involve the computer or running errands.
Posted Apr 14, 2009 12:20 pm PT
brandonfrench - I doubt my goof-hunting skills have improved that much, like how some folks get really good at FPS and Item Finder games, but hey it's fun to spot those production flaws instead of watching people flub their lines.
STQ - I'm not sure if boredom sparks creativity, but it's rather interesting that the catchphrase of "thinking outside the box" and being a rebel is so mainstream now, that going old school traditional could be seen as cutting edge. Necessity could stifle some of that, but I do like when people take chances and do something original.
could107 - There is the intentional watching of missed episodes, which I think is quite mainstream since all the major TV networks have created resources for that. But hopping around to watch some show before it premieres locally still seems geek to me, but with the end of shortwave radio, I could see the need to do that kind of surfing. Collecting music's been going on now mainstream-wise for at least five years; I just don't know if people are still avid about iPod'ing these days when they have the video streaming and playing options. Thanks for the heads up on twitter, and yeah, I may be old school but I don't want to be really old yet.
STQ - I'm not sure if boredom sparks creativity, but it's rather interesting that the catchphrase of "thinking outside the box" and being a rebel is so mainstream now, that going old school traditional could be seen as cutting edge. Necessity could stifle some of that, but I do like when people take chances and do something original.
could107 - There is the intentional watching of missed episodes, which I think is quite mainstream since all the major TV networks have created resources for that. But hopping around to watch some show before it premieres locally still seems geek to me, but with the end of shortwave radio, I could see the need to do that kind of surfing. Collecting music's been going on now mainstream-wise for at least five years; I just don't know if people are still avid about iPod'ing these days when they have the video streaming and playing options. Thanks for the heads up on twitter, and yeah, I may be old school but I don't want to be really old yet.
Posted Apr 14, 2009 1:45 pm PT
I think Twitter is geared for the texting generation so if you're used to doing that many times in an average day, it's for you....if not, mehhh...as for the advance of technology, I keep hearing how it frees up people's spare time.....if this is true, then why are so many people slaves to it in the car, out camping, at home after work?...yeah, I'm an old grump...
Posted Apr 14, 2009 7:32 pm PT
AprilFox - I'd use the phone more if I didn't have to talk to answering machines all the time. I'm with ya on the blogging; didn't start until I had something to say on tv.com.
more_ncis_now - ah ok I feel better not knowing how the heck my coworker was able to watch some show that hasn't even been broadcast. As for older geeks, they're still geeks, but I ponder how much geeking out is actually just regular mainstream use of the Internet. Firefox is still mainstream, unless you're compiling your own variant of it to work with your handheld devices.
Maverick - I've avoided Facebook altogether. I think one fairly high profile blog here is good enough and I still get to hide under my dog's picture. Streaming definitely replaced downloading, which has had a really bad record of trashing my computer hard drives.
sylent - I think it helps if your friends actually social network that way; then there's a reason to do a little bit. Heh, crackberry, good stuff.
maritimer - Yep, texting's so limited. We had dual screen chat lines for years before cellphones made the pagers obsolete. Technology freeing up spare time? That's like the microwave days. Funny how television viewing consumes more time when you get to watch boxsets and broadband on-demand. And of course when you get a tv.com habit, that increases tenfold.
more_ncis_now - ah ok I feel better not knowing how the heck my coworker was able to watch some show that hasn't even been broadcast. As for older geeks, they're still geeks, but I ponder how much geeking out is actually just regular mainstream use of the Internet. Firefox is still mainstream, unless you're compiling your own variant of it to work with your handheld devices.
Maverick - I've avoided Facebook altogether. I think one fairly high profile blog here is good enough and I still get to hide under my dog's picture. Streaming definitely replaced downloading, which has had a really bad record of trashing my computer hard drives.
sylent - I think it helps if your friends actually social network that way; then there's a reason to do a little bit. Heh, crackberry, good stuff.
maritimer - Yep, texting's so limited. We had dual screen chat lines for years before cellphones made the pagers obsolete. Technology freeing up spare time? That's like the microwave days. Funny how television viewing consumes more time when you get to watch boxsets and broadband on-demand. And of course when you get a tv.com habit, that increases tenfold.
Posted Apr 14, 2009 8:43 pm PT
Truth be told I have been spending a lot more time on Facebook and a lot less on TV.com. Facebook managed to make a major redesign without screwing up their whole site. Maybe TV.com should try to hire FB's tech people....
Posted Apr 14, 2009 11:10 pm PT
I don't like those Social Networking sites. I'm cool with e-mail. I love the trivia and allusions here on TV.com, makes me actually go back and pay attention to them. As for me, I'd rather watch shows on TV then a computer. However, so certain shows I have to make exceptions.
Posted Apr 15, 2009 12:39 am PT
I was thinking about jumping on the Twitter bandwagon but I probably won't just yet
Posted Apr 15, 2009 9:16 am PT
I don't do trendy stuff no twitter, my space or facebook. The only reason I'm here is years ago I had a question about a tvshow. This is when this site was tvtome and next thing I know I'm forum posting but to each his own. I guess I'm such a reclusive person a lot of the sharing online trappings don't appeal to me.
Posted Apr 17, 2009 6:56 pm PT
Look up Twitter on youtube it is the funneyest thing ever it is a guy that makes fun of miley cyrus i think you would love it... Have Fun...
Posted Apr 21, 2009 11:55 am PT
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