Week 13 Discussion Post #3

Do you agree with Marshall McLuhan that the medium is the message, i.e. that the format or logic of a medium is as important as its content and, in fact, determines what content will be broadcast through that channel? Evaluate his idea that television is a cool medium.

I mostly agree with what McLuhan is saying. I do think that the way a message is transmitted is very important. The environment as well as the mode of the message affect us differently and make us experience the world differently.

McLuhan’s opinion regarding television as a cool medium is quite true, at least from my perspective. I think that we have to use our minds to interpret information and make assumptions for whatever holes there are in the transmission. When I think about looking at imagery on television, I am usually taken back to a memory or something from my lifetime that gives me an opinion. We all interpret things differently, and because television is diverse and selective, we must base our opinions off of whatever it offers us.

Although this doesn’t relate to specifically television, I am reminded of political cartoons. A single image the ability to influence our opinion greatly.

Have a great Sunday! ☺

Week 13 Discussion Post #2

Pick one concept from the assigned reading that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.



I found Functions of the Media to be interesting concepts in Chapter 11. All functions (surveillance, correlation, cultural transmission, and entertainment) all serve a purpose in informing its audiences and producing communication.

Surveillance is “the gathering and disseminating of information” (Trenholm 301). The media informs us throughout the day of information, breaking news, and anything we would need to know. Our local television stations provide weather reports and traffic updates.

Correlation is taking the information at hand and interpreting it for the audience. This can be making a news story or writing an article in a newspaper. Media professionals must understand events and social programs and help translate them for audiences.

Cultural transmission is defined as “the education and socialization of receivers” (Trenholm 301). I really like this concept because I think books, magazines, and movies heavily influence most people. Books and movies provide insight into our own cultural and the behaviors within it. We can also learn about history and fact-based information from these forms of media.

Entertainment is the last form of function that many people in America enjoy. This function serves as a pleasurable and enjoyable form of communication that is usually a leisurely activity for most. For myself, I usually read fashion or home decoration magazines when I want to unwind and relax.

All functions of media have negative effects, but can also be a great tool in helping the media communicate to us in our everyday lives.

Enjoy the weekend! ☺

Week 13 Discussion Post #1

Have you made friendships that exist exclusively in cyberspace? If so, how are they different from face to face relationships? If you have not formed cyber relationships, why not?


Lately I have been connecting with others through food review and food blogs. I have commented on blogs and shared recipes with others over the internet. While I have made “friends” with these people, I do not I truly know them. (I don’t know everything about them, and I do not witness their nonverbal behavior). All I know is that we share common interests.

I wholeheartedly prefer face-to-face relationships. For my friends and I, having face-to-face interactions is necessary in order to trust and get to know one another. Online, people can be deceiving, and I feel like I would not be able to pick up any cues or signals if a person was dangerous. When people are lying, we might be able to pick up cues from their body language or eye contact. When people talk online, they may read or interpret/assume information, and be totally wrong if they met the person face-to-face.

I think technology is amazing in that we are able to connect globally with others. And for various blogs or websites, meeting others is great to share information or gain a new perspective. For me personally, I would just want to be cautious!

Have a good week! ☺

Week 12 Post #3

Pick one concept from the assigned reading that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

As a senior approaching graduation at SJSU, I found the textbook section of Increasing Organizational Skills to be very interesting.

Upon graduation, I will be interviewing with prospective employers, and it is really important to prepare for an interview. Trenholm writes, “before the interview, prospective employees need to review skills gained through coursework, personal experience, or previous employment” (Trenholm 234). I think this is really important because during an interview, future employers will ask many surprising questions, but the one way in which a prospective employee can be prepared is by knowing their own skills and background information.

The resume and cover letter are two important elements that factor into an employer’s decision to hire someone. For myself, my resume is written out but I have been trying to improve my cover letter, which should “highlight one’s ability to do the job and motivates the employer to examine the resume” (Trenholm 235).

I definitely think being prepared for an interview is the most important step to a successful communicative interaction!

Week 12 Post #2

Review the etiquette rules suggested in the text. Respond to each one. Have you ever been bothered by cell phone, answering machines, or beepers? What do you feel about call waiting? Is it rude to put people on hold to take another call?

I marvel at our country’s increasing advances in technology, but sometimes wonder if things would be simpler without certain modes of communication.

When I study for this class, I go to the local library. If I am not in the quiet room, cell phones are still allowed. I still think it is rude, however, when people are talking in the library at full voice on their cell phone. The library is a place where people should be quiet!

Answering machines and voice mails can be funny but not always professional. I have not been too bothered by anyone’s funny answering machine, but often wonder “what if a future employer calls”, wouldn’t that be slightly embarrassing?

I have had little experience with conference calls, but my roommate works from home and often has them each morning. She never acts silly or funny because she knows that many people are on the end of the phone call. I definitely agree with the etiquette listed in the textbook for this one. ☺

I have faxed my resume to certain employers but always warn them before I am sending. I know at my mom’s office she gets random faxes and it can be confusing if she doesn’t know when they are coming.

Screen names and Ring Tones. When I was thirteen I had a goofy screen name, but now I just list my first name. It’s definitely more professional and beneficial to peers and coworkers than cutiepie13. ☺

I have very mixed feelings for call waiting. I do believe that if I am on the phone with someone I will devote my listening ears to the person. I hate putting people on hold, but also hate knowing that if I get a call waiting, she person on the end of the lines knows I am on the phone and am not picking up their call. I feel guilty no matter what I do! ☺

Overall, technology is great and is helping us reach out to others on a global level. I do believe, however, that we should use the Etiquette for an Information Age as much as possible!

Have a splendid weekend!

Week 12 Post #1

How are organizations tied to the environment? What is the relationship between the school you attend and the city or town in which it is situated? What, if any, ethical obligations does an organization like a college or university have to the local community?

Organizations are tied to their environment because they depend on each other in order to be healthy and make progress. I participate in community musicals, and if the economy is slowing and people cannot afford to buy theatre tickets, we have to accommodate that by using fewer resources and having a smaller budget. The environment directly affects organizations.

The city of San Jose is extremely large and busy. I immediately think of the lack of parking at SJSU, and that is directly influenced by the environment and the lack of space to build more parking lots. The environment in San Jose can be noisy (with many fraternity and sorority houses nearby), and this can directly affect people who live nearby campus.

I think that San Jose State has many ethical obligations to make the city aware of. If there are changes or additions to the campus, it is the University’s responsibility to clear it with the city. I also think it would be important for students or graduates to participate in local internships or volunteer opportunities within the community.

Week 11 Post #2

*Think about the filters you use to eliminate people from consideration as potential romantic partners. What characteristics or behaviors lead you to judge others as unattractive? Does Duck's theory make sense to you? Have you ever eliminated someone by using a sociological or pre-interaction cue only to reconsider them based on interaction and cognitive cues?

After reading this section of the chapter, I realized I have used all the filters to eliminate potential romantic partners. Physical proximity is a huge one for me, I have not had success in long distance relationships and it seems more realistic to be with someone who lives in the same area. I have also used the incidental cues (environment, work/life style), preinteraction cues (nonverbal impressions), interactions (lack of eye contact, facial expressions), and cognitive cues (shared values and attitudes).

For me, the cognitive cues are the most important filter. If I meet someone whose values are in opposition of mine, or negative in some way, I am simply not attracted to the person. I think differences are good, but for instance, if I met someone who had a positive attitude toward smoking, I wouldn’t be with the person! ☺ Other characteristics that lead me to judge others as unattractive are no sense of humor, awkward conversations or nonverbal behavior, and little confidence.

I think as we date more, or experience people more, we kind of figure out what we are attracted to and what “works” for us. Duck’s theory makes a lot of sense to me- the reasons he lists are very true aspects in which we filter when looking for potential partners. I think there must have been a time when I reconsidered a person based on their interaction or cognitive cues. Sometimes I’ll gain a first impression, and be completely blown away by a person’s ideas, values, or attitude.

Have a great weekend! ☺

Week 11 Post #1

*Pick one concept from the assigned reading that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

It was refreshing and useful to go over dyads in this chapter. I liked learning about the various rules we subconsciously use when with certain people. For instance, my girlfriends and I exhibit psychological-level rules. We seem to have our own language when we are together, and “make” our rules based on what we know about each other.

When I am at a job interview, however, I use cultural-level rules. One would almost always formally greet a future employer with a hand shake rather than a hug or kiss.

I participate in local musical theatre productions, and here the sociological-level rules are exhibited. People in this group know to be quiet when a director talks, or to use quiet voices when backstage during a performance. Interpersonal communication depends on a particular group's rules.

I liked when Trenholm writes "As we become more familiar, however, we can understand our partners better because we know about their backgrounds and about their attitudes and values" (Trenholm 143). This relates to many other sections we've read this chapter, but I like the idea that we tend to use our intuition depending on who we talk to in order to make communication successful. I liked reading this section of the chapter because these rules are so subconscious, yet we use them every day. Talking to a best friend or family member is so casual, but really, we are subconsciously following rules of communication.

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!