Week 3 Assignment

I thought this was a really interesting experiment. It really showed how anonymous you can get on the internet and that you can pretty much be who you want to be. I pretended I was a bit younger and from Los Angeles, but I pretended that I was a recent admit to USC. At first we were talking about school, and then he started talking about how scared he was to leave home and be independent. I thought it was getting too serious of a conversation so I changed the tone to just talk about music and fun stuff. I didn’t get too wild with what I was saying, but it was interesting to see that I could take the conversation to crazy levels if I wanted to.

I thought it was interesting how much confidence I had just striking up a conversation. It’s mostly because I know that the person I’m talking to can’t see me, so I can say whatever I want and not feel self conscious about anything. This is related to the reading that says people portray themselves online in better ways than they can in person. This is true because I found that I could talk about pretty much anything, and the most that could happen is the person would disconnect on me. This isn’t just limited to online chatting, as people have good control over how they are perceived with their Facebook profiles too. For example, graduating seniors such as myself tend to have a lot of information on their profiles related to jobs they have done. This is because potential employers might look up this sort of information. We know that people will judge us online, but we have a lot of say in how they see us. I think this is really interesting, especially as almost everything is done online nowadays.

You’re now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!

Stranger: 😀

You: =)

You: why so happy?

Stranger: Why not? Haha.

You: hahah true

You: what are you up to

Stranger: Just listening to some music. How about yourself?

You: oh i’m just trying to create some songs on my new computer

Stranger: Hmm, sounds purty cool. 😛

You: yeah…it’s this cool software

You: hopefully something cool comes out of it

You: so where are you from?

Stranger: USA, PA to be exact.

Stranger: And you?

You: ooh interesting

You: i’m from los angeles

You: downtown to be exact

You: near USC

Stranger: Hmmm.

Stranger: That’d help, if I knew where that was. Hah.

You: USC?

Stranger: LA yeah, USC not so much.

You: oh…do you know what it stands for?

Stranger: Negative. 😦

You: university of southern california

Stranger: Ahhh.

Stranger: Makes a lot more sense now. 😛

You: hahah

You: do you know of UCLA at least?

Stranger: Yup, yup.

You: hahah cool…USC and UCLA go hand in hand

You: do you go to school?

Stranger: Yeah. Junior.

You: in college?

Stranger: Negative. High Scool.

Stranger: School.

Stranger: So, I’m guessing you’re ‘older’?

You: well…i just got accepted into USC

Stranger: Ah. So, 19, 20?

You: 18

Stranger: Gah, oh so close.

Stranger: I’m 17.

Stranger: So, eh.

You: hahha

You: 17 isn’t a bad age

Stranger: Eh, just getting closer to being on my own.

You: how so?

Stranger: Well, it’s not like my dad is going to kick me out, but I’m just getting closer.

Stranger: 18, I mean, that’s the age where you’re technically an adult.

Stranger: I have to take means of my own actions.

Stranger: And so on.

Stranger: I’ll probably end up going to college, so it won’t be as hard. Just a little.. ‘scared’ I guess. Hah.

You: hahah that’s true

You: it’s weird to get older

Stranger: Idk, seems like everything has just glew by.

Stranger: Flew*.

You: yeah

You: so you have any fun plans in the next few weeks?

Stranger: Just chilling with some friends. My sisters are having their birthday party Saturday, so it’s something to do.

Stranger: And yourself? Anything fun planned?

You: i was thinking of taking a road trip somewhere

You: i’ve always wanted to

You: but i don’t know where

Stranger: Haha, ssame here.

Stranger: My friends and I wanna go to Vegas. And my other friend wants to go to Florida.

Stranger: Flordia*.

You: i’ve been to both

You: hahah

You: both fun

Stranger: I’d like Flordia more. Nice weather, beaches, the ocean. It’d just be nice

Stranger: I don’t wanna be broke 24/7. Hah.

You: hahaha so true

Stranger: Def. 🙂

Stranger: So, whatcha up to?

You: mmm….probably thinking about getting dinner soon

Stranger: Sounds good.

You: hahah yeah

You: how about you? still listening to music?

Stranger: Of course. Music is life.

You: hahah

You: what music do you listen to?

Stranger: Eh, mostly depends on the mood. Right now, All Time Low. Most of the time though, it’s Rock and heavy Rock.

You: ahh

You: what about when the mood is high?

Stranger: Nah, that’s not me.

You: aww but you were so happy in the beginning

Stranger: Lmfao. Idk, I just don’t smoke. 😛

You: oh i meant when you’re in a good mood

You: hahah

Stranger: Lmfao, ohh. Haha.

Stranger: Uhh, idk. Pumped up songs. Or I’ll just like, run around my room listening to something with a sic beat.

Stranger: Sick*.

You: hahha nice

Stranger: Totally.

Stranger: I got like, addicted to this new song one of my friend’s showed me.

Stranger: Care to take a listen?

You: sure why not?

Stranger: Your Man – Down With Webster.

Stranger: I use http://www.playlist.com

Stranger: To listen to shit. 🙂

You: haha i just looked it up on youtube

You: ooh…this great

Stranger: That works. hah.

Stranger: Hmm?

Stranger: you don’t like it? Hah.

You: no it’s a good song hahah

You: i like the sound of it

Stranger: Haha. Yeah.

You: i’ll def remember it for the next time i need some good music

Stranger: Lmao, welp I’m glad I could help you out with that. 😀

You: are you a guy or a girl?

You: haha forgot to ask

Stranger: Guy. 😀

You: hahah cool me too

Stranger: Cool.

Your conversational partner has disconnected.