First Draft (Nancy ALvarado)

Blogging by Nancy Alvarado

Me or Unity

The articles “It’s All about Us” and “Enough About You” are about two different viewpoints in which they dispute whether or not Web 2.0 is beneficial. Instead of the internet just having Web 1.0 which is based on sites with structured information, the internet has now introduced the use of Web 2.0 which is made for the people, by the people. It has developed over the years and has become a popular tool. With the use of Web 2.0 people are allowed to post blogs including famous sites such MySpace and or Facebook, can post videos that they are interested onto YouTube, and so forth. In the article “It’s All about Us”, Johnson states that “Web 2.0 is made up of ordinary people: hobbyists, diarists, armchair pundits, people adding their voice to the web’s great evolving conversation for the sheer love of it.”, meaning that through the use of Web 2.0 ordinary people become the “experts” and are unrestricted to share and receive information that concerns and interests them. Johnson discusses that “Web 2.0 is organized around people. And not just those special people who appear on TV screens and in Op-Ed columns” meaning that the Web 2.0 focuses on people and their reality rather than having the outside source media portray issues that they feel is important. In oppose to Johnson’s argument about Web 2.0 being beneficial, in the article “Enough about You” William argues that Web 2.0 is not beneficial. William states that “The larger dynamic at work is the celebration of self”(Pg 449), meaning that Web 2.0 is based on self interests and thus ignoring and limiting themselves to important issues that may not concern them. Although Web 2.0 is based on self interest, when used properly due to the usage of Web 2.0, many bloggers can organize a community where they can participate in sharing similar ideas and information about issues around world.

Johnson claim is valid, he discusses that with the use of Web 2.0 people are able to share their experiences which others may seem to be interested in and or can share some similarities that otherwise where previously ignored. Johnson states that “What’s so interesting about local conversations is that they involve experiences that experts in traditional media have largely ignored”(pg 448) , meaning that ordinary people become their own experts in their community by utilizing Web 2.0 to be a tool to communicate and converse about issues that did not concern the media but rather become concerns for the people. Web 2.0 has become beneficial because it has developed into a tool in where people can engage for concerns of local, nationwide, and global issues. Many issues that people feel is important are not presented by the media, therefore, with the use of Web 2.0 these people are able to state the importance of the issue. The media does not emphasize the importance about helping animals. The media is not concerned for the benefits of animals, therefore, the issues are often ignored which is unfair because it is terrible the way many animals are being treated. In the website “Animal Rights Blogs”, Web 2.0 is beneficial, the reasons that , one being because it gives the opportunity for undiscovered journalists to become recognized for informing others about animal cruelty. Many journalists become discovered through the site because these bloggers are posting their articles for people to read them. Another is that ordinary people are being heard by inputting their passions and concerns for the animals and also because these bloggers have formed a community in which they dedicate themselves in helping innocent animals nationwide.

Johnson’s claim about Web 2.0 is strong, in the website “Animal Rights Blogs” it is based on blogs from ordinary people and undiscovered journalists that feel strongly about ending animal cruelty. Animals do not have a voice; therefore, these bloggers have become the voices of these innocent tortured animals. Many of the bloggers on this “Animal Rights Blogs” are committed to inform people about the unfair acts of brutality that are done towards animals. Some bloggers give stories about a memorable individual animal and or about an entire group of animals. In the posted article “Country View Family Farms-Mercy for Animals investigates” the journalist blogger intension is to inform and describe to people about the nasty images of how animals are being treated in the farms. This blogger is intended to describe the gruesome acts in order for people to be become aware of something that should not continue. In the site, some bloggers commit into helping animals through different ways. A blogger posted an article named “Animal Place Holiday Shopping” in which was organized to sell gifts for people to purchase in order to “make helps feed the animals, provide much-needed medical care, and allows us to continue our life-saving work.” This blogger is intended to seek help from people by suggesting them to contribute some money in order to help animals These postings give awareness to what is going on around the nation and show different ways in which people can contribute to make a change.

Johnson discusses that “There’s some irony in the lack of media coverage because the zone of experiences that people care the most passionately about- beyond the intimate zone of family life- is the zone of their local community.”, meaning that it is ironic that the media is assumed to take coverage of what is happening around the world, however, the information that the media shares is limited and therefore through Web 2.0 people can truly engage in forming a community. Web 2.0 allows people to create a community in which at times “including the potential for developing productive peer communication and exchange of ideas”( Walling, pg 1) meaning where people like students can converse with their peers in order to share ideas and learn about local issues that is affecting them such as budget cuts in schools and so on. Through Web 2.0 communities many may find “inspiration often comes from the work of others.”(Walling, pg 1), through the sense of community people are able to exchange ideas and thus sharing new information to one another.

Like Johnson’s claim, in the website “Animal Rights Blogs”, web 2.0 is beneficial because it create a sense of community to the bloggers. The sense of community is important because people’s voice becomes louder through unity. People seek communities “that emphasize online collaboration and sharing among users”(Davis) thus, allows them to engage and explore with others that may have same interests. For this specific use of blogging, it is important to work as a group and try to see what they can benefit from one another. Through web 2.0 these stories inspire many others to want to help the fight against animal cruelty. In this case Johnson’s claim about Web 2.0 being a beneficial source is valid because through Web 2.0 people can participate and practice in forming communities where they can interact for a good cause.