Process Posts

Guidelines for Comments.

When I think about a comment section on social media, I immediately think toxic. I think about the no-filter responses people give without any thought of repercussions.

Comment sections can be detrimental to some individuals’ mental health and well-being. Comments can be utilized to tear people down and isolate them.

In my opinion, over the years people have become more aware of the issues regarding the comment sections on differnt social media platforms. Although people have become more aware, the problem is still exists.

For example, when I was in middle school and high school there was a social media platform called ASKfm. ASKfm was an online platform where people could anonymously ask other people questions or leave comments on their pages. ASKfm was used to create cruel rating systems of peopel and to anonymously leave hateful comments.

From a greater perspective, the whole idea sounds harmless. However, in application, it was horrible.

Trying to navigate middle school alone is a challenging time, but adding social media bullying to the mix, made it a struggle.

The whole idea that people exude hate on the internet is exhausting. The more ideas of comments, the more I think of differnt social media platforms. For instance, I think of the early days of Instagram, where people would post and rate each others pictures and posts. For example, people would rate a photo out of 10 on how “attractive” someone looked in a photo. 

Social media comments are not built for success. 

When I think about Lyz’s (2022) story, I can understand and support why she would make those comments. Living in the world of social media platforms is difficult. Comments are a free space where people can comment whatever they feel.

The one slightly good perspective of comments is the opportunity to share information. For example, sharing recommendations for places to go, or commenting on where someone purchased a item. Therefore, using the comments as a place to distribute information.

On certain platforms, the idea of negative toxic comments is highly unlikely. To some extent, I believe trolls and scammers are not be looking at unpopular websites or media. Trolls and and scammers are more likely to spend time on platforms that generate more attention. 

For my website, I choose to have the comment section available. Based on my posts and the platform I created, I believe the idea of negative comment curating is low. Of course, if someone were to comment anything hurtful or toxic towards someone else, I would address it and remove it. For right now, I don’t think my website needs the comment section removed.

References 

Lyz. (2022, February 2). That’s how it works when you’re a woman on the internet. That’s How It Works When You’re a Woman on the Internet. Retrieved from https://lyz.substack.com/p/thats-how-it-works-when-youre-a-woman?s=r 

Costco? UnderRated.

In general, shopping is a struggle. 

Whether it’s grocery shopping, clothing shopping, furniture shopping, or anything else, it’s a struggle. Running from store to store for the greatest deal can be exhausting. Some stores are so far from one another, they are not in the same vicinity. It can be so time-consuming!

For me, shopping and running around used to be the worst. 

Until I started going to Costco. 

Costco has seriously been a lifesaver. 

When I moved out, I thought I couldn’t possibly shop at Costco. At Costco, you buy in bulk. I thought it would be WAY too much for myself and my partner. But wow, I was wrong. 

Costco has not only saved me money but time! 

I sometimes laugh at myself thinking about my newly found passion for Costco. I used to say to myself, I will never get excited about grocery shopping or buying furniture. But, here I am. 

I am now that person who will buy clothes at the same store I buy my groceries. 

Food-wise, my partner and I eat a ridiculous amount of food. I used to find it a real challenge to keep the fridge and cupboards stocked. Shopping for food at Costco has made a world of a difference. We buy fruit and vegetables, meats, crackers, cheese, and bread! 

I know, you may think, wow food must spoil. But surprisingly enough, we have yet to let food go bad. Keeping in mind, we do cook a lot of food that involves throwing everything in the fridge into a pot and calling that dinner, but still, we eat it.  

Shopping at Costco has allowed us to save money on food and allow us to buy more luxurious items with our savings. Sometimes we even buy organic! 

Grocery shopping at Costco also equals free samples, so that’s always a win. 

Clothing-wise, Costco has some great deals. I have found great clothes for everything. I have bought a layering jackets for hiking, everyday walking socks, and blouses for work. Who cares about the name brand, if it’s quality, I’d say it’s perfect! 

Furniture and fun items are something else. For instance, I went to Costco this weekend and I found the cutest Christmas snowman to add to my décor. The snowman is so cute, he is holding a little lantern. The funny part about buying my little snowman is I originally went in for groceries… Oh well, it was a deal.

Honestly, Costco is an adventure. I used to think I was too cool for Costco, but now I’m thinking Costco is too cool for me. 

The ONLY struggle with Costco is that you may come out with more than you bargained for. But honestly, that’s part of the fun. If you are struggling with shopping, I recommend trying a store like Costco. Make grocery shopping fun!

Costco? UnderRated.

A person posing with a shopping cart full of food outside of Costco
A person posing with a shopping cart full of items outside of Costco

Understanding Transmedia.

The idea of storytelling across multiple different platforms made me reflect on my website as well as the ones I view in my personal life. 

From my standpoint, creating my website has been a journey. I think it was more difficult than I anticipated. Throughout posting on the blog, I have been unintentionally incorporating different media within the blog. The problematic area within that is I used my platforms rather than creating platforms directly for the blog itself.

For example, in the second mini assignment based on incorporating a video, I strategized making the video using Instagram. I utilized the Instagram platform for editing and creating the video. Still, instead of posting it on that platform and tagging the link to my webpage, I saved them and uploaded it to a private YouTube page for easier viewing. 

Similarly, I followed that same pattern when I created a remix, I used a template I saw from TikTok, created it on Instagram and then uploaded it onto YouTube. From there, the same pattern continues. I made the gif assignment using a gif template app and then downloaded and redirected where I uploaded it.

To incorporate transmedia into my website, I should have been creating a different platform to not only upload the content but also allow other users to use it. 

When I think about the reading of Pókemon as the transmedia storyline, I think about several other platforms that replicate similar processes for storytelling. For example, similar ideas like marvel comics, became movies, shows, action figures, and more. It demonstrates different variations and platforms of the same thing. 

When I was thinking about transmedia on a social media scope, I thought about celebrities. Several celebrities have their websites/blogs, clothing lines or makeup lines, along with their social media platforms. These platforms help promote the celebrity and gain social media attention and awareness.

It’s interesting because prior to completing the reading on transmedia and attending the lecture, I never thought about the scope. Transmedia has a large impact on the delivery and dispersal of information in the media world. Therefore, I believe it is widely important to have multiple platforms to generate awareness.

All Travelled By Claire?

PEER REVIEW THREE: reviewing marketability. featuring: all travelled by claire.
A screenshot of Claire's home screen of the website.
A screenshot of Claire’s home screen on the website.

For the third peer review activity, I got the opportunity to browse and look at Claire’s website: All Travelled By Claire

At first glance, the home page is well-organized and aesthetic to look at. The picture featured on the homepage immediately caught my attention because it is from Greece. From a fellow traveller’s perspective, I was immediately interested. 

The title and home screen of Claire’s website clearly state the website is for travel photography and travel resources. From a SEO standpoint, I think it is good marketing as it highlights keywords for the search engine to curate and find (Hollingsworth, 2021). The page captivates audiences who love to travel. 

I really like the home page; it is very clean and organized. The simplicity and natural colours add calmness to the webpages setting. 

Before I began interacting with Claire’s webpage, I thought about my own digital relationship with travel. I thought about the different photos I would take compared to those of others. Therefore, I was interested in seeing what Claire decided to take photos of and decided to upload (“Digital Breadcrumbs: The data trail we leave behind us”, 2023). 

When I clicked on the travel photo option button, it took me to a page labelled “an interactive photo diary”. The page featured two pictures of a similar beautiful sunset overlooking the water. From the photos, I could see the captivated beauty. Overall, I really enjoyed the colour scheme from the sunset. Based on the photos, I assumed the location of travel was possibly Greece, or somewhere warm. 

Although the photos were beautiful, I was missing some information. Unfortunately, there was no story or information regarding the photo’s location and or meaning. I loved the idea of the photo diary, but it seems like photos are missing as there are only two pictures available to see. I think there is a lot of potential for this page despite the missing information.  

Next, I explored the about page. When I went to the about page on the webpage, I found a lot more information. 

I really appreciated the about page as it outlined some information on Claire. I was able to understand Claire’s vision for the website. From my perspective, the website was focused on Claire’s passion for travelling and was intended to be demonstrated through the cultivation of travel photos and fun tips (Basu, 2020). I felt that the about page provided a lot of personality into who Claire is. 

A big thing I would personally focus on is adding some public content that includes travel tips and photos with information. 

Overall, I really liked the intended look of the website. I think the intentions of the audience are clear and precise. The website includes good key search words and is headed in the right direction. I think the website has good potential. 

Thank you for sharing Claire! 🙂

References

Basu, T. (2020, September 3). Digital Gardens let you cultivate your own little bit of the internet. MIT Technology Review. https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/09/03/1007716/digital-gardens-let-you-cultivate-your-own-little-bit-of-the-internet/

Digital Breadcrumbs: The data trail we leave behind us. (2016, May 23). Pod Academy. Retrieved November 19, 2022, from http://podacademy.org/podcasts/digital-breadcrumbs-our-data-trail/ 

Hollingsworth, S. (2021, August 6). 15 reasons why your business absolutely needs seo. Search Engine Journal. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/why-seo-is-important-for-business/248101/#close 

Figuring Out SEO.

Before this week, I honestly had no idea what SEO was or how it even worked. I had no idea of its importance or any idea of how it influenced the internet.

The biggest and most important step in understanding SEO was knowing that it was an acronym. SEO is for search engine optimization (Hollingsworth, 2021).  Before I went on to the readings, I wanted to understand each component of that. 

I know it sounds silly to not understand the components of SEO, but honestly, I had to break it down. So, I took each word in the acronym and broke it down. 

My definitions: S.E.O

Search: to look for something or someone. It’s the process of looking. 

Engine: something that is a moving part. Meaning, it facilitates something. 

Optimization: something that provides the best or most effective possible outcome. 

After I was able to create my definitions and break down the word slowly, I was able to read and understand the articles. 

Essentially SEO helps facilitate, promote, and benefit the growth of a company/brand (Hollingsworth, 2021). Hollingsworth (2021) outlines 15 reasons why SEO is important to a company/brand by reasoning it promotes growth and awareness. 

I found the process of understanding SEO interesting because I was able to break down the whole wording into my own definition and apply it to the readings.

I find that if I ever am confused or stuck on the wording of something, I find I just have to break it down. I don’t know why, but I sometimes have a short mental block when I come across wording that is unfamiliar to me. Therefore, I have to take a step back and look at it in small doses to easily break it down. Once I do that, I have no problem understanding it. 

After reading Hollingsworth’s (2021) article and sitting in a lecture, I can understand the importance of SEO. I find I was able to understand how it impacts a user’s experience with the content online. 

References

Hollingsworth, S. (2021, August 6). 15 reasons why your business absolutely needs seo. Search Engine Journal. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/why-seo-is-important-for-business/248101/#close 

Social Media Detox? UnderRated.

Technology is addicting, especially when it comes to social media. It is hard to go a day without logging in or checking in on various websites and platforms.

An interesting feature on my cell phone and laptop is screen time. My cell phone and laptop notify me of how much time I spend on my screen and the time allocated to each application

When I think about my screen time, I find it almost alarming. I find in the summer and on vacation, my screen time is so minimal. However, I find in my day-to-day busy life, I am on my screen for significantly more time. When I feel stressed or overwhelmed, I find I gravitate to surfing the web and scrolling on social media as a distracting tactic, allowing me to procrastinate my time. 

As I was thinking about my screen time in more depth, it brought me back to a time when I had no wireless internet on my phone. Back then, I was not ever able to check social media platforms unless I was at home or a place with wireless internet. I did not get internet on my cell phone till my second year of university when I needed the internet for work.

After considering my current screen time, I decided I was going to do a social media detox. 

I have done a detox unintentionally before or have done one when I was away on vacation. I have done several days without my cell phone and connection to the “real world” as I love backpacking and hiking trips, where for obvious reasons, there is no cell service. However, I have never done a detox with social media and technology while in town.

Before completely going cold turkey on all social media, I had to think of a plan. I knew before I started, I needed to do this within reason. For instance, I knew I needed access to my email and phone calls for work purposes.

However, everything else I decided I was going to cut back.

For my cell phone, I decided to temporarily delete all social media applications, such as Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Snap Chat, Visco, and YouTube. For my computer, I decided to limit my access to only my work email and SFU’s canvas page. 

I decided to pre-emptively let some people know that I was planning on disconnecting my phone and computer usage so that they knew the best way to get a hold of me was through calling. From there, I just went for it.

Originally, I wanted to try a week or 5 days, however, based on my decided timing, I could only really allow for 3 days. So, I decided to try it on the weekend.  

It was quite weird. I found I would look at my phone as if something exciting was going to happen. I slowly realized, without social media platforms I did not need my phone throughout the day, except for school and work.

The first day was okay. I didn’t feel like I was not missing anything. On the second day, I was quite curious to know what was happening with everyone. By the third day, I had gotten semi-used to it but was still wanting to scroll when I was supposed to be doing my email for the day. I felt like I was able to see how much I typically gravitate to looking and scrolling on my phone. 

It was an interesting experience. I found I stayed busy with my day-to-day chores and activities. I found myself checking my phone less and less as I got used to having no social media access on my phone. I found I was able to get my work done a lot faster and concentrate my time more effectively. I enjoyed that aspect as I was able to have more free time.

Moving forward, I decided to limit my social media time on my phone and laptop. I have set up a setting that only allows for half an hour each day of social media time. That way, when I am scrolling or looking at social media it hopefully makes my time on it more intentional rather than just passively scrolling. 

A cell phone screen showing the different options to limit and track the type of screen-time on a cell phone.
A cell phone shows 3 screen options to limit and track the type of screen time on a cell phone.

Overall, it was a nice break from social media, even if it was just a couple of days. I found it was harder to be cut off when I was in town compared to when I have done it in the past on vacation. However, I feel like it was a good time to reconsider how much time I wanted to spend on social media.  

Personally, a social media detox allowed me to reflect on my time spent on social media. I was able to re-evaluate how much time I spend on it and how I want to change it. I think was a great experience. I found it not as intimidating as I thought.

Disconnect, try it out!

Social Media Detox? UnderRated. 

The Digital Footprint.

Leaving a digital footprint almost seems unavoidable. Anywhere you go, someone always asking for something… especially when you go shopping.

I found after reading Norman’s (2016) post on trying to avoid leaving a digital trail, completely relatable. Almost every shopping mall and or store asks you for your email, your phone number, and or some type of contact information. I find it nearly impossible to have a trip to the mall that does not include some type of contracting information question.

Everything needs to be digitalized.

Some stores try to promote their digital footprint by indicating they will send deals and discounts to the contact address. Therefore, if you are willing to give stores the contact information then you specifically will benefit from receiving secret information.

With that, I feel like the idea of using or giving digital information has become the preferred method.

I have come to realize, that the idea of using cash at some stores almost seems to be ridiculous. Many times, I have offered cash to the store attendees and have found they almost looked surprised, like “really, you want to pay with cash?”. Honestly, I have gotten to the point where every time I want to pay with cash, I seem to always ask the working attendee if it’s okay if I pay with cash as if cash is a foreign payment.

With the strong push for consumers to pay by credit and with debit cards, cash almost seems like a burden. I find it becomes awkward as some employees make it feel like it is an inconvenience. Several card payment options include simple tap features or slide features, making transactions quick and easy.

To some extent, I think the peak of Covid-19 had a lot to factor into avoiding cash payments. Cash payments require a type of contact exchange. Thus, stores were trying to minimalize physical exchanges. Although I understand that contactless payments avoid physical exchanges it makes it hard to reverse the mindset that cash exchanges are bad.

Now, I have found that several stores and companies now push for contactless payments. Stores have created this by having signs indicating a preference for consumers using a card method of payment or having signs indicating they don’t accept cash payments. Therefore, pushing consumers to leave digital footprints on basic transactions.

Overall, I find digital footprints unavoidable. They are everywhere.

References

Norman, S. (2016, March 7). Trying not to drop breadcrumbs in Amazon’s store. Publishing @ SFU. https://publishing.sfu.ca/2016/03/breadcrumbs-of-data/

Processing Technology.

Last week, I was working on making a remix. Honestly, I had no idea what to do with the word remix. When I thought about remixing, all I could think about was music. Music is where the artists blend two or more songs to create a new sound.

Thompson’s (2022) article explores the acceleration of the internet and the changing of the word lingo. From Thompson’s perspective, I can understand the confusion. I feel like the new slang words in social media are constant. I find I am constantly learning and adapting to the newest and trending sayings.

Yes, the word “remix” is not exactly new, but the idea to remix things other than music, is a foreign idea to me.

To gain insight into remixes, I set out to do some research. 

When I first went beyond a remixing song in the way of collaboration, I thought about remixing lyrics. Meaning, adding new words, rhythms, and rhymes to the popular trending lyrics. Thus, putting a twist on Gen Z slang (Thompson, 2022). What I quickly realized was trying to remix music was out of my realm of expertise. 

Next, I thought about poems and making a collage using only old magazines and newspapers. When I thought about this concept, it brought up a lot of memories of my old childhood bedroom. I use to cover the walls and hang the weirdest collages from my ceiling just so I could be surrounded by my interests.

All through this idea seemed great in theory, (who doesn’t love a good collage?) I realized that I have not owned a glue stick in YEARS. So…

Onto the next idea. 

While I was flipping through my camera roll on my phone, I started laughing at all my old videos and pictures. I was getting a good laugh at watching the memories back. One video that I watched a couple of times was about my parents finding out I got a tattoo.

When I rewatched the video and saw my parent’s facial expressions I knew I wanted to remix it. 

When I was thinking about the different ways of remixing, I could just hear a specific TikTok audio. (Oh No).

Before merging the two, I could tell the original audio mimicked the TikTok song. I knew the video and the audio would match up and create something funny.

Next, all I had to figure out was how to combine the video and the audio.

TikTok seemed to be the place.

Although TikTok is a trending app, I feel completely intimated by it. As Thompson (2022) indicates the internet world is changing for the new generation. 

After playing around with the audio and the video footage, I was able to crop the pieces accordingly to make a concise video. 

The original video contained a whole introduction and then the revealing of the tattoo. Whereas, the remixed version only showcases a snippet of my parent’s (mainly my mom’s) initial reaction to seeing my tattoo.

Overall, I found using different technology outlets challenging as it was new to me. However, after trial and error, the process produced a funny remix. Without the assignment, I would have not gotten the opportunity to remix the video.

References

Thompson, D. (2022, May 16). Is the internet changing how we talk about slang words? In The Know. https://www.intheknow.com/post/slang-words-tiktok-gen-z-linguist/?guccounter=1

 

Making a To-Do List? UnderRated.

Have you ever been overwhelmed and had no idea where to start? 

Let me tell you, that is me in a nutshell. I find I can easily get overwhelmed with schoolwork, paperwork for my job, and just day-to-day life chores.

One incredibly helpful thing is a list. 

A good ole written to-do list on pen and paper. I find if I am stumped on where to start, I quickly jot everything down on my to-do list. Although it can be ambitious as I will write down all my chores and tasks, I find it makes me more productive. Writing it down creates a visual reminder of all the things I need to do. 

Once I write everything I can think of down, I make a mental note of 2 to 3 tasks that are “non-negotiables”. Meaning that the few tasks that I note, are the specific goals for the day, the tasks that I feel like I need to get done. That way, it narrows the focus of everything on the to-do list, making it easier to accomplish my goals. 

I find if I finish more than the 2 or 3 things on my list that I decided were non-negotiables then great! But at the same time, if I stopped after a couple of tasks, then that’s okay too. I remind myself, at least I started, and at least some progress was made. 

Here is an example of my to-do list from Sunday: 

To-Do List:

1. Start the application for PDP -> contact references/brainstorm essays/review resume

2. Put laundry on

3. Make a grocery list -> go to Costco

4. Group zoom meeting

5. Soccer game

6. Homework -> readings pg. 120-180/webpages, finish the brainstorming on assignments

7. Email boss

I find whether it’s brainstorming a sheet or starting my essay if it’s something, it’s progress. 

Sometimes my to-do list will have tasks that I know will get completed no matter what. For instance, on Sunday, I knew I had to go to my group meeting. Like technically I could have skipped it, but that would have been unacceptable to my group and myself. However, I still put it on my to-do list. 

A lot of the to-do list provides a task-oriented system of thinking. As I finish certain tasks or complete what I needed to do, I simply can cross it over my checklist. And let me tell you, the simple pen-to-paper cross out of a word or sentence brings a specific feeling of satisfaction. 

The satisfaction that progress is being made. 

When I am overwhelmed with things, I need to complete, I find making a list eases my stress. As I complete a task, I feel less and less overwhelmed because the visual list, gets shorter and shorter. 

To some extent, the long list days are super intimidating. It can feel super overwhelming when the life/work/school balance all collides. However, when I think of a task or a chore as one single thing at a time, the overwhelming feeling slowly goes away. 

Of course, it’s important to throw some fun or mind-easing things on the to-do list that are there just for you specifically. For example, a self-care practice, or time set aside for a break. I find I need to add some sort of movement to my to-do list every day. For me, that is my break.

Anyway, if you ever feel overwhelmed with your life, school, and or work, try making a to-do list. It may help!

Making a to-do list? UnderRated. 

Having a Tattoo? UnderRated.

The parent’s reaction to finding out her daughter has a tattoo.

A remix of the classic video sound tract of a situation going badly. I took the original video of my parent’s reaction to me getting a tattoo after explicitly begging me not to get one. The video is mainly focused on my mom’s gasping reaction and disappointment. I based my video, on several YouTube video contemplations that used that certain audio.

Fad Diets and Body Trends? Where’s the Science?

The discovery of information is limited to the personal individual. Social media platforms like Instagram utilize the explore page to captivate users by curating the feed to what is assumed to be an interest (Instagram, n.d.). In doubtfully creating an echo chamber for the user. If a user is drawn to a specific topic or area, the feed and explore page will automatically be adapted to what is desired (Instagram, n.d.). 

Social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook put a high focus on imagery. The type of imagery being portrayed on explore pages and feeds put an overemphasis on appearance (Boepple et al., 2016). For example, if a user is considering or interested in fad dieting, their explore page and feed would be groomed to show images and videos catered to fad diets (Instagram, n.d.). 

Fad dieting is a term coined to describe diets that are popular and trending in social media (Spadine & Patterson, 2022). For example, fad diets include intermittent fasting, ketogenic, and clean eating (Spadine & Patterson, 2022). Fad diets have been utilized to incentivize individuals to follow restrictive diets to obtain the “ideal” aesthetic body (Spadine & Patterson, 2022). Many fads pose on the essence of being a quick fix rather than discussing the short and or long-term consequences (Spadine & Patterson, 2022). The perception that fad diets will promote wellness is high awareness whereas consequences are left unknown (Ambwani et al., 2020; Boepple et al., 2016). Therefore, awareness levels of possible complications like eating disorders and health deterioration are excluded from general discussion (Boepple et al., 2016).

A study conducted by Ambwani et al. (2020) investigated an individual’s knowledge, perception, and familiarity with “clean eating”. Ambwani et al. (2020) found that of 1020 participants, 50% of participants had heard about clean eating through social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Participants expressed high recognition of the positive attributes and benefits to clean eating, however, demonstrated little awareness of potential risks (Ambwani et al., 2020). Therefore, indicating a high level of discrepancy between the potential benefits and risks of dieting.

Social media influencers and celebrities promote the newest novelties to encourage a consumer-based society, thus, permitting a subtle echo of ideals for individuals to follow (Ambwani et al., 2020; Passos & Santos, 2020). Whether intentional or not, the essence of the platform informs users to hone similar ideals and create groups with similar beliefs based on the information presented (Passos & Santos, 2020). 

A scary aspect of social media is the impact and influence it has on individuals. As a female who has grown up under the microscope of the different fads and trends on social media, I know what it feels like. However, the fact that social media is impacting the lives of the younger generation of children and young adolescents is concerning. The over-saturation and emphasis on appearance are disheartening. 

I work with young children and adolescents. I listen to their daily rants, problems, and arguments. But one day, I was listening to them complain about their bodies. It was horrible. 

It was after the social media release of the Met Gala 2022, that Kim Kardashian lost 16 pounds in 3 weeks to fit into Marilyn Monroe’s famous dress (Bell, 2022). The young group of girls were comparing their own bodies to the ones they saw on social media. They were expressing their own dissatisfaction with their bodies. They expressed how they could solve all their problems like Kim Kardashian if they could stick to her strict diet of no sugar and no carbs (Bell, 2022). They assured me there were lots of recipes and methods to support their ideas because their Instagram feeds and Tik Toc reels were full of dieting inspirations and quick tips to motivate their change. 

All their knowledge was based on the information being displayed on their social media platforms. They were highly aware of ideas that could change how they looked but had little awareness of any concerns. Their social media had become their own echo chamber focusing on fads of changing their body in one way. 

Therefore, if users are looking for information and content based on a certain topic, their feeds and explore pages will adapt and echo what is being desired (Instagram, n.d.). Thus, the feeds and explore pages act as a platform to confirm users’ confirmation bias; meaning, their search for information is being curated to their original beliefs and thoughts. 

Although information may be available in the grand scheme of the internet, social media platforms are customizable to the users. Thus, lacking the larger scope of information makes the user uninformed. The information seen on social media is designed to be what the user desires. Overall, users are exposed to an overwhelming amount of curated information that may be created on partial truths, deep fakes, cheap fakes, and misinformation tactics (Anderson & Rainie, 2020). 

The demographic space of social media floods users with biased information rather than presenting a full picture. Thus, users have to be informed and aware of their biases.

References

Ambwani, S., Sellinger, G., Rose, K. L., Richmond, T. K., & Sonneville, K. R. (2020). “It’s healthy because it’s natural.” Perceptions of “clean” eating among U.S. adolescents and emerging adults. Nutrients, 12(6), 1708. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061708

Anderson, J., & Rainie, L. (2020, February 21). Many tech experts say digital disruption will hurt democracy. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/02/21/many-tech-experts-say-digital-disruption-will-hurt-democracy/ 

Bell, B. A. (2022, July 9). Kim Kardashian’s met gala diet sent her to a ​​rheumatologist for psoriatic arthritis: ‘I was freaking out’. People Magazine. https://people.com/health/kim-kardashians-met-gala-diet-sent-her-to-a-rheumatologist-for-psoriatic-arthritis/ 

Boepple, L., Ata, R. N., Rum, R., & Thompson, J. K. (2016). Strong is the new skinny: A content analysis of fitspiration websites. Body Image, 17, 132–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.03.001

Instagram. (n.d). How Instagram feed works. Help Center. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://help.instagram.com/1986234648360433

Spadine, M., & Patterson, M. S. (2022). Social influence on fad diet use: A systematic literature review. Nutrition and Health, 28(3), 369–388. https://doi.org/10.1177/02601060211072370

Passos, J. A., Vasconcellos-Silva, P. R., & Santos, L. A. da S. (2020). Cycles of attention to fad diets and internet search trends by google trends. Ciência & Saude Coletiva, 25(7), 2615–2631. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020257.23892018

 

Social Media.  

Thoughts and Concerns.

This week we were exploring the world of online media. I was thinking about online information and the available content. I started to think about my interactions with online content and my general opinions and feelings about the accessibility of online content. 

Depending on what you are reading, the content can be fake, real, and or a bent view of the truth. The creator and author can decide what they want to explore, discuss, and leave out. Thus, online content can always be skewed. 

The online server is endless with content. It is open and available to anyone and everyone. 

When I was considering the type of content I read and the reliability of the sources, I thought about the importance of research. I thought about the digital research of knowing the background information and realizing the “vehicle” it pertains to, meaning, referencing the source’s relevance, appropriateness, detail, currency, authority, and bias (Caulfield, 2016). 

When I thought about Caulfied’s (2016) article on digital literacy and analyzing the truth, I thought about validity. The validity in finding out and testing whether the information being stated can be backed up. Meaning is the reference reliable. 

To consider digital literacy, I believe previous knowledge and or skepticism about the content must exist. I think questioning the content allows for a greater perspective on the situation. I find it allows for curiosity. 

Older youth, adolescents, and adults may know to question the information online. However, young children may not have the capacity to question the online world. So, to some extent, I believe the accessibility to online content is a problem. 

I know everyone has their own right and ability to explore the internet but to some point, the internet is not curated and filtered to young views. As Bridle (2017) pointed out, the internet can provide content that contains violent and sexual content that can be viewed by anyone. Random searches or ad promotions from videos can expose and desensitize children. I think this can be problematic. 

I think exposure and knowledge of the dark world are important at some point. However, exposure at a young age is scary. I think children deserve to have their own blissful innocence before they are exposed to the internet. 

References

Bridle, J. (2017, November). Something is wrong on the internet. Medium. https://medium.com/@jamesbridle/something-is-wrong-on-the-internet-c39c471271d2

Caulfield, M. (2016, December 19). Yes, Digital Literacy. but which one? Hapgood. https://hapgood.us/2016/12/19/yes-digital-literacy-but-which-one/

 

Running in the Rain? UnderRated.

 Let me tell you, running shouldn’t end because of the rain. 

For the longest time, I hated running in the rain. It left me feeling soggy and cold. I hated being drenched and feeling worried about my phone or headphones getting ruined because of it. 

So, most of my running in the rain was only left to when I had to. Meaning, when I had to play my soccer game or had to go to practice. I know had to is a choice word as it was always my choice to go, but it was more a scheduled event rather than running just because.

If you live in the lower-main land, you may have noticed that the rain is here, and it’s here to stay. 

With the first couple rain falls, did I change my workouts to avoid going outside?

Yes.

Absolutely yes. 

Why go out in the disgusting rain if you don’t have to? So, I didn’t. I stayed inside for my workouts and only went running if I had soccer.

This past week, I was tired of just doing workouts inside my tiny apartment. I was craving some fresh air and an open space. It was raining out and I knew I wasn’t really in the mood for a cold outdoor shower, but I decided, why not?

Why not embrace the rain? 

So, I put on my running clothes and a hat, I grabbed a plastic bag for my phone, because yes, I am a weirdo and I get paranoid about my phone getting trashed in the rain, and I headed out the front door. 

I knew the start of the run was going to be the most challenging. The start is always when your feet go from being dry and warm to pure wetness. But I decided to embrace it. 

Instead of focusing on all the reasons why running in the rain was a bad idea, I just decided to do it. Why not?

It had been so long since I had chosen to run in the rain.

Once the initial rainfall hit, I was relaxed. The weather was rainy, but I didn’t feel cold. I listened to the rain as it hit the pavement, the trees, and the puddles around me. I felt the rain drenching my clothing and my face. For most of it, I couldn’t tell whether I was sweating or if it was the rain. 

I ran about 9km and called it a day. Usually, I strive for a bit longer, but I wasn’t feeling like pushing my luck. 

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I forgot what running outside felt like and what it felt like in the rain. 

The trail was so quiet on a rainy day that I had all the space in the world to run. I was able to maintain a consistent pace and enjoy the quiet. 

When I got back home, I immediately jumped in the shower. I blasted the water so it was hot against my skin. I was able to quickly warm up. Afterwards, I felt so refreshed and relaxed from being outside. 

I don’t run every day.

I don’t run every time it rains.

But I realized there is no point in hating or avoiding running in the rain. You might as well embrace it because it’s honestly enjoyable. Why not try it?

Running in the rain? UnderRated. 

Moda?

PEER REVIEW TWO: DESIGN. FEATURING BRENDAN MCKAY.
A screenshot of Brendan's homepage of the website.
A screenshot of Brendan’s homepage of the website.

For the second peer review activity, I got the chance to browse and analyze Brendan’s website:  Brendan McKay

From the start, Brendan’s website indicates that it is a design and fashion blog. The site title reads Moda Design and Fashion Blog. 

To be honest, I had never heard of the word moda before. So, before I continued looking over Brendan’s website, I did a quick google. From searching the word moda, I learned that it refers to trending fashion and style. I think utilizing the word Moda, whether intentionally or not, indicates a degree of digital literacy as it demonstrates a knowledge of fashion and design (Caulfield, 2016).  

When I was browsing Brendan’s website, I was thinking about Gertz’s (2015) article discussing visual/UI design and UX design. Thus, considering how the website looks and how the website works. I enjoyed contrasting the two areas and getting to concentrate on each different aspect of Brendan’s design choices. 

I first decided to focus on looking at the visual/UI design aspect of the website. As Gertz (2015) indicated, visual/UI design focuses on looking at typography, colour, form, illustration, and details. 

At first glance, the opening page is simple, bold, and elegant. It is precise and sets the stage for what the website is discussing. The images and the typography selected showed a high level of sophistication indicating the level of high fashion and design being analyzed. I thought they paired nicely together. As I was scrolling down, the second webpage, was consistent with the level of class with the black-and-white imaging and the white typography. 

Throughout scrolling down the website, the website design is collectively congruent all the way through. The colour scheme of black and white keeps the writing clean and clear to read. The added addition of colour on the model’s clothing and in the images attached add a layer of depth to the webpage that grabs your eyes. I think the design is simple, yet effective.

After exploring the website for the visual/UI design, I went back and looked at the UX design of the website. As indicated by Gertz (2015), UX design focuses on how the website works, referring to the layout, interaction, research, and testing. 

The layout of the website looks clean and organized. It shows that there are tabs along the right side of the website indicating different categories. Unfortunately, when I went to select the different tabs, nothing was happening. I found they were there more for looks rather than for practicality. I believe once they are active for sorting, the organization aspect of the website will be effective and easy to interact with. 

I was missing the about page and some public content on the webpage. I found it left the webpage a bit unclear. I think an addition of an about page and some content would enhance the website. As Caulfield (2016) indicated, knowing information about the webpage designer can elevate digital literacy. Therefore, it can indicate a level of understanding of what the website is. 

I enjoyed analyzing and browsing Brendan’s website. I loved how the opening screen page is organized with a bold title and coloured images of models on either side. I think the visual/UI design is strong. I would suggest focusing on the UX design process. 

Overall, I like Brendan’s website design! I think it has a lot of potentials. I am looking forward to learning more about the fashion and design world. 

Thank you for sharing Brendan! 🙂

References

Caulfield, M. (2016, December 19). Yes, Digital Literacy. but which one? Hapgood. https://hapgood.us/2016/12/19/yes-digital-literacy-but-which-one/ 

Gertz, T. (2015, July 10). How to survive the Digital apocalypse. Louder Than Ten. https://louderthanten.com/coax/design-machines 

 

Crockpots? UnderRated.

Anyone who is living in the lower mainland will have noticed that the weather has taken a drastic turn in the last week. The temperature has dropped, and the non-stop rain is upon us. Fall is in full effect. 

The dark mornings and stormy weather make me crave hot comfort food. I love a good casserole, soup and grilled cheese, and curry. The perfect comfort food that makes you want to stay in bed curled up in blankets all day.  

For all the students out there, this time of year is prime time for midterms, papers, and big assignments. Not to mention two holidays which you may want to be present for… It’s a busy time of year, to say the least.

With all the busyness, time is valuable. 

You don’t have time to properly cook a dinner every night of the week and make sure you have something for lunch. Realistically, you don’t have that time luxury. 

I found I was struggling with making dinners and lunches for myself as I was constantly running out of time. Life is busy, I get it. But then I remembered… I own a crockpot! 

I own a janky old-school crockpot. It was gifted to me when I decided to move out. I honestly was not sure I wanted it in the beginning. It is bulky, it’s big, and kind of ugly. But let me tell you, it’s the best! Biggest time saver. I throw whatever I want into it in the morning, let it simmer all day and poof, by the end of the day, the food is enriched in so much flavour. 

Crockpots are great! If you are out and about all day long, they are perfect. You can leave them simmering and cooking all day long for 8 hours straight if you wanted.

My crockpot has never burned anything. The food always comes out perfectly marinated, never dry.

Some of my top crockpot meals must be chilli, curry, and chicken noodle soup.

One thing I love about my crockpot is that it’s a one-pot meal, meaning minimal cleanup. 

I love being able to throw all my vegetables, proteins, and carbohydrates into one pot. Crockpots can be very versatile with proteins. Some individuals may be thinking of chicken, pork and or beef for protein, but chickpeas and tofu work amazing as well.

You can drop anything and everything into a crockpot and it works!

Simple and easy. The food is tasty and provides an abundance of leftovers. Leftovers are the holy grail of time-saving. I know it’s best knowing you have a meal in the fridge that you can quickly whip out, microwave and eat as soon as when you get home. 

Crockpots? UnderRated. 

Ingredients for a vegetable curry and an old crockpot.

Visiting Lululemon.

Lululemon’s webpage on best-selling women’s clothing

Lululemon

As a frequent shopper of Lululemon, I visit their online store regularly. At first glance, the website is quite clean and put together. I think it has a great contrast of colours and an efficient organizational system. The site provides different categories and subcategories that make online shopping accessible. 

Lululemon’s brand and website have grown over the years. As Kaptelinin would comment, Lululemon has utilized modern graphic technology to create an intuitive design (n.d.). Meaning, Lululemon has seen advancements in their products to accommodate newer designs. 

The website models inclusivity for the most part. It provides and encourages diversity amongst its models of ethnic backgrounds and body types. Therefore, making the website and brand more accessible to all individuals. 

Lululemon’s webpage has a standardized website look. As Mauve Pagé suggested, websites typically read from left to right with the logo being in the top left-hand corner, the drop downs being in the middle, and personal account information/places to sign in are on the top right-hand corner (2022). 

The webpage demonstrates a good contrast in colours by having the background be white and the models and clothes be a different colour. I think having a neutral background of white and having neutral colours for the model’s backgrounds allows for the clothing on the models to pop. 

The topography of the website is simple, yet effective. I would not say that the topography does not provide a unique level of braiding, however, highlights and bolds its simplicity of it. For example, the important items and categories may be bolded at the user’s discretion.

Overall, the design of the website is aesthetic. 

Although a strong fan of Lululemon I noticed the website was missing some key items. I found the website is missing accessibility to alternative text boxes with photos, different colouring lighting and font enhancement. Therefore, the website may be unusable for some individuals. 

In addition, the website sometimes lags or kicks you out of the session without warning. To some extent, it can be contributed to the number of users accessing the Lululemon website but could also be contributed to errors on the website. 

On a personal level, I know my website is not completely accessible to all users. I have been trying and playing around with different word press plug-ins and identities but have not yet been able to settle on something extremely intuitive. 

Overall, I enjoyed relooking over the different web pages I explore regularly through a different lens. I found looking at the different designs encouraged me to revisit the design and layout of my webpage.  

References:

Kaptelinin, V. (n.d). Affordance. In The Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction, Chapter 44 (2nd ed). Interaction Design Foundation. Retrieved October 19, 2022, from      https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/book/the-encyclopedia-of-human-computer interaction-2nd-ed/affordances

Pagé, M. (2022, October 18). Designing yourself. [Lecture notes]. 

Growth.

Designing and producing my content for a website has been rather challenging. I have found myself contemplating what direction I want to take with each post and considering how the content reflects me. I have been trying to produce semi-meaning posts that reflect my online self. Some of my posts looking back, have been rather all over the place and quite random. I am trying to find a solid direction in the path I want to take when displaying my online self. 

Creating an online self and showing the media little snippets of your personality is harder than I anticipated. As a person who is shy about the online world, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to create and re-create yourself in a different format. The online world only knows what you want it to know and only sees it singularly. Meaning, it matters how the information is presented as it is only one dimensional. 

Yes, I am overthinking a lot of this website design and content. So, that’s where the random assortment of content comes from. It is displaying the thought process of exactly what is going on in my life or what I may be thinking about. In saying that, I do try and make the posts intentional, rather than just spewing out randomness. 

I found the online reading from Basu (2020) highlights my process. To some extent, my website is the digital garden as it displays my learning process and growth while highlighting my interests. Although it is like a blog for a greater audience, it is also a digital garden for myself and online growth. Indicating, it’s a quiet space to explore what the online world is all about. 

As Basu (2020) states “everyone does their own weird thing”. 

I think Basu indicates an important aspect of exploring your own growth. Stating “everyone does their own weird thing” shows the perspective that everyone is different and creative in their own way (Basu, 2020).  Meaning, that not everyone is the same or does the same thing. Everyone is unique and creative in their own way. 

Moving forward with my website, I feel like I must concentrate on the right now aspect of my online self and be okay with their mistakes. Lean into the different learning curves and just try. Thus, allowing my website to grow. 

References

Basu, T. (2020, September 3). Digital Gardens let you cultivate your own little bit of the internet. MIT Technology Review. https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/09/03/1007716/digital-gardens-let-you-cultivate-your-own-little-bit-of-the-internet/

Hiking Alone? UnderRated.

Rocky dirt trail surrounded by trees and plants
View of water through trees and plants

Hiking alone is a completely different experience from hiking with a buddy.

Hiking is pretty second nature to me. I love it and always have.

October’s weather has been surprisingly sunny and warm. I find October is usually full of gloomy rainy days that make you want to stay inside rather than go outside. Since the weather has been so nice, I have been trying to make my way outdoors.

Usually, if I am by myself, I typically go for a run or a quick walk around my neighbourhood. I hardly ever venture too far from home when I am exploring alone.

When it comes to hiking, I typically hike with friends. Mainly for safety reasons like the unknown trail condition and or running into wildlife. Having a buddy during those times, make it a lot safer.

This time of year always seems to be crazy busy. Whether it’s midterms, work deadlines and or basic life responsibilities, everyone is busy. Lately, I have realized my free time has not been aligning with any of my friends. So although I usually hike with others, I knew that if I waited a couple of weeks the weather could drastically change.

This past week, I decided to go by myself. I did not want to miss the opportunity of hiking in the sun. I decided to pick a hike that I knew fairly well and that had little to no altitude change. A hike where I knew ahead of time where on the trail I had no service. After I picked a hike, I packed my bag.

In my backpack, I carried the usual essentials with the exception of a couple of things. My partner usually carries the bear spray and bell, so I just switched it to my pack. I always carry a first aid kit so I kept that in. I packed some water, a snack, an extra granola bar, a sweater and a toque. I knew before I went, I was overpacking. However, I would rather overpack than under-pack.

After that, I headed for the trailhead.

Hiking alone is a different experience from walking around your neighbourhood. In your neighbourhood, typically there are a lot of other people around. When hiking, I find it is a lot quieter. Of course, it is dependent on the type of hike and its popularity as well as the time of year, but generally, the trails are a lot less populated than the joe average street.

Hiking alone was better than I expected. I was able to relax and just have time to think. I walked and was just content by myself. As I was hiking, I thought about all the different things I had to get done and thought about different ways I could accomplish them. Hiking alone allowed me to process my next move and relax about what I was doing. Hiking alone was a quick escape.

Honestly hiking alone is peaceful and relaxing. It is a great reset.

Hiking alone? UnderRated.

Did I Mess This Up?

Peer Review One: Developing an Online Self. Featuring a year of mess.
A screenshot of Mika's homepage of her website
A screenshot of Mika’s homepage of her website.

For the first peer review activity, I got the chance to browse and analyze Mika’s website: Year of Mess

At first glance, I feel like I got an honest read of Mika. The front page provides a young photo (which I perceive to be a young Mika) of a child looking content with food all over the place. The tagline underneath states, “when did messy stop being okay?”. The sidebar mentions the inspiration of the webpage with a photo of Mika underneath. 

The front page is organized and clean. The title at the top is short and sweet with a simple tagline. The organization of the page is intuitive and simple. It demonstrates presentability and perfectionism with the contrast of messiness in the cute photo. I love the balance!

The front page presents a quick overview. I loved the short paragraph on the sidebar. As a fellow Shonda Rhimes fan, I appreciated the mention! 

The first page I looked at was the about page. The about page was great! I loved the naming/branding of it being “It’s *About* to get messy”. I appreciated the accessibility of having a voice-over of the paragraphs. The voice-over provided so much personality! I thought I got to know Mika’s humour and personality just from listening to the sarcasm in her voice and relatable narrative. I enjoyed Mika’s candidness about therapy and their journey with being a perfectionist. I thought the dialogue was humous and real. I felt like I wanted to know more about Mika in general and hear more about the experience.  

I wonder if the dialogue was indented or sectioned separately, would it read differently? I felt when I read it over the first time, I did not get the same effect as when I heard Mika’s voiceover. Meaning, I read it differently in my head than how it was read aloud. I found Mika’s voiceover provided more of an in-depth introduction to her online version as it showcased her sarcastic self. 

Since I was able to read and listen to the about page first, I feel like I was able to get a good sense of Mika’s intentions with the website. 

As I was reading the process posts, Mika’s intentions for the colour scheme, theme, and font selection became apparent. Although Mika states she stumbled upon the fonts by mistake on google fonts, I think the font is consistent with her style and overall aesthetics. I think it looks great!

I appreciated reading about the inspiration for the website, it showcased Mika’s journey. I also loved reading about Mika’s thought process regarding the decision-making of building and designing the website.

I appreciate the openness and honesty of Mika when discussing her audience. I think she touches on important aspects of the “why” in creating a website. With her reasoning and exploration, I can see the connection to Watters’s perspective of providing students with a platform and an outlet to document their journey.

For navigational purposes of Mika’s website, I was a bit lost on some of the postings and tab bars. For example, the about page is connected to the navigational bar of about, public content, and Mess under the lesson category.  I loved the about page, I just felt like it got lost as it was linked to everything.

I think the overall branding and site objective are well demonstrated throughout the webpage. Mika’s narrative is relatable and likeable throughout. I feel that Mika’s personality shines through! It showcases her warmth and sarcastic humour in her online self. 

I enjoyed looking at Mika’s website. I am truly excited to read more about her “mess” and see what is written in the lessons and practices! I wish there was more to read 🙂

Thanks for sharing Mika!  

Socks and Sandals? UnderRated.

Let me tell you… This is an underrated lifestyle trick!

When you’re travelling, you NEED socks and sandals. First, you may think, fashion! But let me tell you, it’s a statement to wear socks and sandals.

I love my socks and sandals for running errands, soccer games, and walks. But travelling is a whole new ball game. 

This past weekend, my family took a trip to Disneyland to celebrate my mom’s birthday. This was the first time my family has travelled all together with everyone’s partners. It went from 5 to 8 people very quickly. Anyway, I rocked my socks and sandals all weekend long! I wore them not only on the airplane but in the world of Disneyland. 

You may think that’s uncomfortable. I beg to differ. Socks and sandals are so comfy. They are IDEAL for the airport and Disneyland. My family was jealous, not only of my style but of my level of comfort.

For the airport and airplane, there are 2 BIG benefits…

 First, when you are going through security, they are an easy slip on and off. No laces, no velcro, no problem. Then when you are walking through security, you already have socks on, so your bare feet don’t have to touch the yucky ground. Just an easy flick off the foot and you are good to go. 

Second, airplane. Wearing shoes on an airplane sucks! So, with socks and sandals, same as security, just an easy flick off and you’re good. It saves your feet from stretching out in your shoes from all the pressure. With socks and sandals, they are an easy on and off.

For Disneyland the benefit is… 

Wet rides. For all my Disney fans out there, you know the splash mountain and the grizzly run. The super soaker rides! They soak you from head to toe. In runners... dang those get WET. But socks and sandals, your feet can easily stay dry! Before the ride, you just quickly slip those socks off and you’re good to go! You just have sandals which dry incredibly fast and easy. Even if you forget to remove the socks, they drive 100000x faster since they have breathable room to dry. Beats wet runners and socks. Those take FOREVER too dry.  

Overall benefit… 

FASHION. How often do you ever get to show over your fun socks in public? Nobody ever gets to see the cool patterns, colours, or animals on your socks. But with your socks and sandal, you get to feature them! 

At the end of the day, socks and sandals are ideal for travelling. They are functional for all aspects of a trip. They are stylish AND convenient. Which is what we all want. Super ideal! Socks and sandals are the ideal combo.

Socks and sandals? UnderRated.

Picture featuring different shoe styles: runners, sandals, socks and sandals.
Picture highlighting on socks and sandals.

From Disneyland line-ups to airplane line-ups. Featuring the UnderRated: socks and sandals combo.

Adventurous Audience.

When I originally started this webpage, I imagined I would have a type of audience that appreciated the idea of trying out new things. I imagined a younger demographic, ranging in age from 20 – 30 years of age. I pictured the audience being those who wanted to try out new lifestyle trends that help to effectively make their day-to-day life easier. In addition, look and focus on ways of saving money and becoming savvy with it. That way, they can pick and choose alternative options for spending. 

When I wrote my first post, I thought riding a school bus would not only save money compared to a limo or multiple Ubers but provide an experience with nostalgia and fun. Being able to be transported as a full group provides the opportunity to create fun and memorable memories.

Thus, the demographic would most likely be individuals who would have finished high school, are of age, trying to save and still like to go out. Therefore, featuring an adventurous audience looking to try new ideas. When I wrote my second post, I wanted to feature a different aspect of an underrated lifestyle trend. The second post featured a different style. A style that is not only amazingly comfortable but stylish and practical. The website provides information for different consumers looking for savvy underrated trends. 

As I have been adding and editing the webpage, I have been working on narrowing my focus. Mainly focusing on lifestyle. That way, providing lifestyle hacks that make day-to-day life run smoothly and save money. Moving forward, I am planning on just providing updates on underrated lifestyle choices that may enhance some individual’s life and benefit the day-to-day. In doing so, it will provide real-life experiences and opinions on the matter. Whether it be lifestyle changes that benefit activities, health and wellness, and or timesavers.

Therefore, I predict the demographic of my audience to be in their 20s or students. Having a focused audience facilitates the wants and needs of individuals looking to enhance their current life with tips and tricks related to their day-to-day lifestyle. 

Mapping Out the Website.

Website’s home page overview.

This week I was focusing on the website layout. I was working on figuring out the different categories and tags to keep the home page simple. I was trying to come up with a unique way to showcase my content.

I am wanting to create a simplistic and organized webpage that showcases the uniqueness of my content. The idea behind the webpage is to highlight activities and lifestyle changes that are seen to be unpopular and underrated, however, helpful and enjoyable for some individuals.

Although the content might be adventurous, I want the website to be easy to use. I want it to display a user-friendly aesthetic that can be straight forward. I feel that the simplicity will reflect my own persona of needing a simplistic design to navigate technology.

I am currently working on trying to make my website accessible to all users. I have been working on downloading and playing around with different plugins to add to my website. For example, I have been trying to find different text fonts, colours and different images that can help the overall look of the website.

Some aspects of the design process of the website have been trial-and-error. I think I have been trying a trial-and-error strategy to figure out what I believe works and what does not. This includes the perception of the website and actual use.

Frozone? UnderRated.

A clip from the Incredibles, featuring Frozone

Honeyyy, where’s my super suit? WHERE’S MY SUPER SUIT?

Frozen in Action

Just in case y’all didn’t know who I was, I thought I would introduce myself. The name’s Frozone.

I’m the chill collective guy that swoops in when needed. Being the main guy who everyone is trying to get is just so OVERRATED. I like to be the guy that just rolls in and keeps my cool. It is way better to be the guy who has fun with everything and saves the day in the end, than fight from the very beginning. Why would you want to have super strength or be extra stretchy?? I can generate and control ice while keeping my cool.

Let Me Tell You Some UnderRated Secretes You Might Not Know:

WEAR PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR.
STRETCH.
DO YOUR LAUNDRY.

First of all, protective eyewear is essential. Trust me, I have tried going out into battle without my eyewear and it sucked. Do you know how ice crystals, flakes and chunks of powder feel against the eye? Let me tell you, not good. I know eyewear might not be on your radar of clothing accessories you need, but trust me, eyewear will save your vision.

Secondly, stretching is important. Let me tell you, before rushing into battle, you need to stretch. It is easily a forgotten task when the need to save the world is pressing on your mind, but… You have to stretch. Try it. It makes a world of a difference, you may be able to walk the next day.

Thirdly, do your laundry. Being smelly after fighting a villain is not a vibe. I tried it, do not recommend it. The times I did not wash my super suit are the times when I was gauging on the stench of my suit while I was fighting. It put me at a big disadvantage. I know doing your laundry might not be on your to-do list or a priority but it really should.

Thanks for listening my friends.

Sorry, I have to go, Mr.Incredible is yet again in trouble. He would be lost without me.

School Buses? UnderRated.

Over the weekend, I attended an event with a large group of friends. Several days before the event, we were deliberating on the best idea for transportation to the venue. We wanted to all get there safely in the most efficient way possible. The venue was far enough away that public transit was not an option. We considered several options such as an Evo, taxi, Uber and limo. Evo’s (car-sharing service) was not a great option as it would have required a couple of people in the group to volunteer to drive. Taxis, Uber and limos (car delivering services) were not a great option either, as they were both ridiculously pricey. We felt like we were out of options and almost had to bite the bullet on the amount of money until someone said “school bus”.

Yes, we rented a big yellow school bus.

The school bus conveniently fits everyone. It was spacious but not overly empty either. It was very nostalgic for everyone on the bus. For most, it had been a long while since we had sat on a big yellow school bus. The type of bus had brown leather seats without seat belts. The bus that we all cheered on as we left for a school field trip. It was fun. We were allowed to play our own music, chat with each other, and get excited about what was in store for the evening. It was great, knowing everyone was going to arrive at the same time, together and safe. Honestly, knowing you have a reliable form of transportation to an event and home provides a great level of comfort when you are going out.

I know school buses may not sound as cool and or as fancy as an expensive limo but they are an experience. A school bus allows your group to stay together and have fun. They look dorky in just the perfect way that allows you to still ride in style. I personally, highly recommend looking into renting a school bus for the next big event with your friends. It is affordable and an experience.

A big yellow school bus? UnderRated.

Installing a Website is No JOKE.

Trying to create a website and adding installations is not a cup of tea. As a person who struggles with technology, I found setting up my blog very difficult. I struggled with formatting, colour schemes, themes and organization. I have a newly founded respect for website designers and bloggers. Website designers and bloggers are UnderRated!

In starting the process of transitioning and applying my vision of my blog to the online web I struggled. I found I had all these ideas that were drastically spread out into different ends of my personality. I felt split in what I wanted to focus on or blog about every week. I was trying to come up with a concept that made the most sense personally, while also trying to decide on something worthy of reading.

Oh man, my roommate was killing themselves laughing at me trying to figure out technology. In my defence, they also had no idea what I was trying to accomplish or know what I was trying to do. Anyways, I spent WAY too long focusing and concentrating on trying to understand the different aspects of WordPress and Elementor before ever trying to play with it. I spent the time watching youtube videos like Elementor complete tutorial and how to make a website with WordPress, but I found the videos still left me lost.

I realized I needed to just post my learning process rather than just not post at all. My website is still all over the place and the design is a mess, but I am trying.

According to Watters (2015) owning a domain provides insight into understanding the world of web technology. Watters (2015) indicates that owning a domain permits the opportunity to directly experience the web while having a narrative.

I am hopeful that I can obtain a greater understanding of how web technology works while feeling a sense of control over what is projected. I am hoping that if I keep posting and working on my blog, it will eventually become and reflect my vision board. If not, I am optimistic it will be an honest reflection of myself.

References

Watters, A. (2015, July 15). The web we need to give students. Medium. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from https://brightthemag.com/the-web-we-need-to-give-students-311d97713713#.4d7j8rs6x 

A Conversation with a Stranger

My experience talking with a stranger went smoothly. I left the conversation feeling content.

Initially, I felt awkward. I was unsure how I wanted to approach the person or what I wanted to say. For some reason, I felt nervous. I think trying to talk with a stranger felt different from exchanging pleasantries.

After processing what to say, I just said “Hi”. From there, I just mentioned the weather. I find talking about the weather is simple as it is something a stranger and I are both experiencing at the same time. By choosing the topic of the weather, it was easy to let the conversation flow at its own pace. I found once I started talking, I was more relaxed and at ease.

Although surface level, it was pleasant discussing the weather. I was happy to have a conversation with a stranger.

Stranger?

The usage of the word stranger could be taken in different contexts depending on the situation. I consider a stranger to be someone who I have never met before or have spoken to.

Conversations with a stranger can be strange. Depending on the situation and how I try and present myself, conversations can be weird. In a setting where the “stranger” is anticipating a conversation, I find myself to be proper, calm, polite and friendly. The conversation is usually surface-level but friendly. In a setting in which, the “stranger” is surprised by a conversation and is uneasy, I find myself feeling awkward and uncomfortable. The conversation is usually quick.

I enjoy a conversation with a stranger when they are face to face. When talking in person, I can use all five senses to engage with my fellow person. In doing so, I can interact with their body language and react to the discussion being had. Hence, being able to engage in pleasantries within their boundaries. Conversations with an online stranger can sometimes be challenging. I find them difficult as I struggle to guess how they are reacting to the discussion. Meaning, is the stranger enjoying the discussion, offended, or answering sarcastically? Online, it is harder to guess the response as the projection is being received singularly.

A person will continue to be a stranger without a conversation.

css.php
Skip to content