second post: Brittney Hoogervorst

The Moon’s the Limit
In Johnson and Williams arguments about Web 20 users they discuss what they feel has caused the change in the internet, and how these changes are both positive and negative. Johnson argues in “It’s All About Us” that the new internet has give ‘power-to-the-people authenticity” (Johnson 447.) What Johnson means by this is that now with blogging sites ordinary people are now given the opportunity to discuss what is most important to them. Now topics previously only discussed by reporters are being discussed in blogging sites by those who are experiencing it or are most passionate about it. With this shift in the internet there is now an endless variety of information that is accessible. Williams argues, however; that through blogging sites things that were once discussed in private are now discussed online for everyone to have access to. Although some believe the internet is over-saturated, the internet has begun to offer new opportunity for Web 2.0 users to discuss what they are most passionate about and spread a variety of information.
Some may ask why those writing these blogs may have a more qualified opinion then a news reporter or journalist, it is because these bloggers are hands on directly experiencing these issues. Furthermore, these bloggers are not paid to talk about these issues, they are passionate about these topics because they are effecting them and their local communities. Johnson further discusses this idea when he states, “What’s so interesting about those local conversations is that they involve experiences that the experts in traditional media have largely ignored-for good reason. Those experts realize that they can’t compete with the real experts: the people who live in these communities and know all the issues-small and large-that shape their daily lives” (Johnson 448.) What Johnson is really saying is when a reporter or journalist is writing about a topic they must do their research first because they may have no prior knowledge about their topic, whereas someone being impacted by these issues is actively learning. These local communities are rooted in the issues, live with the issues and are dealing with them on a daily bases, a reporter can only speak on behalf of a community.
Unlike many new bands out in the music industry Barcelona has set themselves apart. While many bands may give a occasional thank you to their fans in an acceptance speech, Barcelona knows what an impact their fans have made for them and desire to personally interact with their fans. Barcelona is an indie band which could be compared to the love-child of Coldyplay and Death Cab For Cutie. While many bands may post an occasional blog about what they are up to and tour dates Barcelona takes it one step further. Their blogs are interactive and take their fans behind the scenes to really get to know all the band members, they also post video messages specifically for their fans thanking them. These blogs the band has provided their fans has encouraged their fans to spread the word via their own personal blogs. It is through their fans blogs that the word of Barcelona has traveled quite quickly all over Web 2.0.
One characteristic blogs have that bloggers everywhere enjoy is the opportunity it allows for bloggers to write about what they are most passionate about. Perlmutter discuss how Web 2.0 has changed the life's of those who previously didn’t have a voice on the web when he says, “Personalized mass political communication was finally possible. here were ordinary folks-dry cleaners, cops, high school juniors- grabbing a bullhorn and insisting, “Listen to me, I have something to say!” about presidential politics, terrorism, the Supreme Court, and so on. If you had Wed access, you could read and interact with them for your own enrichment or amusement” (Perlmutter 1.) Perlmutter wants to stress what an oppurtunity Web 2.0 users have been given, if they want to talk about something they haven’t seen on the web they can start a blog and get the word out. Wether someone wants to blog about their new favorite recipe or vacation spot it doesn’t matter, whatever the blogger desires to share with other Web 2.0 users they can, the possibilities are endless.
When Barcelona showed an interest in their fans this initiated a passion for Barcelona in these fans hearts. In return these passionate fans desired to share Barcelona’s music with whoever they knew and more often then not they would do so online. When fan’s began talking about Barcelona more and more on the web it got the attention of Mowtown records, and with their fans efforts Barcelona was able to sign a record deal with Mowtown. Wether it was through a blog or chatting with a friend over the internet about Barcelona these fans desired the get the word out about this new band they found. Sharing Barcelona was an option for these fans and spreading this information on Web 2.0 has added even more information to already enormous amount of information on the internet.
With this limitless amount of information it is now more then ever that blogging or networking sites are needed to help expose bands, Barcelona received their exposure through their fan base. Without their fan base to blog, post their music on their sites or even just talk to their friends about Barcelona it would have been a long time before Barcelona received any attention for their music. Continuously on Barcelona’s Myspace site they thank their fans and supporters because they know how much of an impact they have made. Through a true interest in a band, book or online blog fans everywhere are continuously contributing to a creator’s popularity by networking online, and adding to the massive pool of information available on the internet.
When someone is searching for something on Web 2.0 it is helpful to have such a variety of information and sources on the same topic, because it can paint a clearer picture. If when searching online only one source came up for each topic that would limit the amount of information one could receive. Scott McNulty further explains this idea when he says, “When you’re considering a blogging platform, you want to pick the one that has the most users. Why? Because along with all those users comes some pretty neat stuff, such as an active developer community, a wide rande of reference materials, and a large base of people you can turn to for help” (McNulty 1.) McNulty is saying that because Web 2.0 has such a vast pool of resources, author’s, and opinions you can find almost any information you could need. This is what largely benefits Web 2.0 users.
This large pool of information has become beneficial to those just hearing of Barcelona, there is more information out then ever about Barcelona. Previous fans have posted blogs and created websites that are dedicated to Barcelona, with everything from the bands history to concert tickets fans everywhere have provided endless amounts of information. If someone were to accidently come across a Barcelona fan’s website they could google ‘Barcelona’ and all this information would be accesible. Fans want to put Barcelona’s name out on the web and help them get noticed and by the countless websites dedicated to their music they are slowly doing so.
Some may say; however, that things that should be kept private are now posted on blogs for everyone to see. Things that should be unaccessible online are easily and things that should never be posted are. What the bigger issue here is responsibility, everyone knows right from wrong like they know their left from their right, if you know you shouldn’t be looking at it or reading it online then don’t. Users cannot blame anyone but themselves if they are gaining access to things they know they should not be viewing. For children and teenagers it should be the parents responsibility to put security programs on their computers or monitor their children’s computer usage. Like most things in life there is a negative to most things, but in comparison to what Web 2.0 has to offer, the negative can seem almost nonexistent. Web 2.0 has so much to offer and like most thing in life we must constantly be discerning right from wrong.
While Williams provides many good reasons why the internet shift has been destructive it is important to understand why Johnson's argument is generally stronger. William’s main concern’s are that people may be selective in what the look at on the internet, but with more and more blogs and social networking sites being established the internet is more exciting then ever, someone would be a fool to not get curious every once and a while. The internet’s shift to a generation of Web 2.0 users has just started to offer users so much more then before. Ordinary people are now discussing what they are most passionate about and people everywhere are contributing daily to a large pool of information that is accessible to everyone.
While I cannot tell, the future i hope to see Web 2.0 continue to have a positive effect in all user’s life’s, I believe it will continue to educate us all. While some may say the internet is becoming cluttered with useless information, what may be useless information to one person may be treasured information to another. With everyone contributing to the information pool daily i think the sky’s the limit and in years from now their will be even more information on things we thought we could never gain access to. Maybe even the next mission to the moon will be able to be televised from a podcast online, who knows, maybe the moon’s the limit.















Annotated Bibliography
Johnson, Steven. “It’s All About Us”. Signs of Life: In the USA. Boston, New York: Bedford/ St.Martin’s, 2009.
This article was very helpful in establishing my position in Johnson and William’s argument. Johnson argues that Web 2.0 has given an opportunity for everyone to discuss what they want to. This supports my claim that Web 2.0 offers new opportunity for Web 2.0 users to spread a variety of information and discuss what they are most passionate about.

McNulty, Scott. Building a WordPress blog people want to read. Berkley, California: Peachpit, 2008.
McNulty is telling the reader that one of the biggest benefits of Web 2.0 is the variety of information you can find. Communication of ideas, thoughts and bands can all be transmitted and travel easier with Web 2.0, it provides a arena for everyone to voice what they desire. This supports my claim that Web 2.0 allows local communities to discuss what is most important to them thus providing better communication.

Perlmutter, David D. Blogwars. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.
Perlmutter tells his audience how Web 2.0 has changed the life's of those who desire to have a voice. Previously there was no place for ordinary people to be heard, but Wed 2.0 is a platform for these people to discuss what is happening in their communities or what is effecting them. This supports my claim that the internet provides opportunity for everyone to share their knowledge and information.