Now, I know these blog posts are supposed to be used to analyze and discuss the readings we're assigned, but I'm just not going to do that this week. I've slowly been noticing, thanks to this class, how much digital writing influences the lives of the young people of my generation, especially through Facebook.
It's fascinating. I see people I grew up with getting engaged, getting married, dying, going to jail, getting pregnant. You know, shit like that. I wonder, would I know any of these things without constant exposure to digital writing? Would I even keep up with the lives of these people? Furthermore, how many of these events were caused by digital rhetoric?
I could analyze events that were digitally recorded on Facebook just this past week to show how incredibly influential this phenomena of digital writing has become.
Scenario #1: Relationship Status Change
"Kristian R******* is engaged to Amanda J****."
My buddy Kristian, a kid I met while swimming for Old Dominion Aquatic Club, is from Sweden and is easily one of the funniest people I have ever met. I'm not necessarily saying there's a connection between his hilarity and his home country, but whatever. The point is, Kristian was one of the last people I would have expected to get married at this age. But there it was, spelled out on my News Feed, the little pink heart denoting a change in relationship status staring me right in the face. I was curious as to what the circumstances of this relationship were, so I contacted Kristian, using Facebook Chat.
Hm. Sounds familiar, right? I found out about this change in my old friend's life through the usage of digital writing, and decided to contact him through the usage of a form of digital writing. Here's the catch. When I finally did get in touch with him, he told me how they first started talking. On Facebook Chat. How fitting. It seems they were too nervous to begin speaking directly to each other, so they used a form of digital rhetoric to jump-start their relationship.
Even though Kristian is a good friend of mine, we don't call each other, and there are almost never occasions where we catch up on each others' lives. Unless I physically encountered him, there would be absolutely no contact between us without digital writing. Digital rhetoric informed me of this event, kept me "in-the-know" with regards to my old friend's life, and even played a major role in the formulation of his relationship.
Scenario #2: Status Update
"Brittany F*******: My doctor said, 'when one of the babies get in your ribs, get on all fours...' I was like, 'ahh that's how i got pregnant.' haha she probably thinks I'm crazy."
Brittany is completely different. I don't believe I have ever spoken to this girl. Ever. Not in person. Not on the phone. Not through texts. Not through emails. Not through Facebook chat. But through exposure to her life through accepting her friend request on Facebook, I was able to use her constant digital writing updates to stay dialed in on her life, how I know her, and how I perceive her and her life.
Through this digital writing, I have found out that she was in my graduating class in high school, she's currently pregnant with twins, and her (recent) fiancee is in jail. Now, how would I know these things without digital writing? And why would I care?
Well, I wouldn't.
And I don't.
But through the aforementioned exposure to her constant stream of digital writing popping up on my News Feed, I still stay informed on her life. As for the influence of digital writing on these events occurring (pregnancy and boyfriend in jail), I can only imagine. I'm sure, to some extent, digital rhetoric had a hand in both.
Scenario #3: Status Update
"Casey S***: Grillin out at my house today at 1, all friends of Bill, Chris and the bros are welcome. Call/text for directions (***)***-****"
This particular scenario has a place close to my heart. First let's get the names straight. Casey is the older sister of one of my closest friends, Chris (who is also mentioned in the status). Bill is an acquaintance of mine. Let's just say we've had quite a few beers together. Chris recently went to jail for driving while drunk, crashing his car, injuring one of his passengers, and killing another (which happened to be his good friend Bill).
Without digital writing, I would feel lost. This all happened back in Virginia, and without Facebook and the space it provides for digital writing, I would be out of the loop. But with this digital rhetoric, I have been able to stay up to date with all of the happenings back home, without the hassle of phone calls and texting.
The coolest part about this situation is how Casey was able to reach out to all of those suffering, bringing them together to suffer together. It's almost poetic.
Through the examination of these scenarios, it is clear digital writing brings people together and keeps certain relationships healthy, even starting new ones. It is incredible to watch my generation mature and grow older on Facebook. I know I didn't provide examples of digital writing going wrong, but that's a topic for another day.
