Maya Angelou's baby

As I was reading Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" I came across a part which hit close to home for me this week. This would be the chapter where Maya becomes unexpectedly pregnant and haves a child. This has reflected on my life because at the time I have a friend who may have an unexpected pregnancy at a young age as well. This is a huge event in both of our lives right now because as we are close to the same age and have grown up together when suddenly we split for college and I have come to find that she is possibly pregnant. This was a huge surprise to both of us especially at this time in our lives. I have always been supportive of her and will continue to be and I can relate to both Maya, and Vivian and daddy Clidell's reactions. In so I can also relate to Bailey's reaction when Maya writes him and he tells her to keep it a secret. In many ways chapter 36 has recalled many memories for me and I was able to relate it to some events occurring in my life at this time. Maya Angelou is a very good, thoughtful, and relatable author how I have been able to relate to many circumstances in this book, which has made it more interesting to me as well.

Private or Personal?

In Sonia Maasik and Jack Solomon's piece called "semiotics and the New Media" they discuss the blending of old and new media, and the so called privacy we have on the web. As I read this it raised many questions and concerns about the information some put on the internet and what others can find on the internet. As they discuss the use of Facebook it is easily explained by being an insider and an outsider. By this they mean as a Facebook user you are both a guest of the sight and a host and at times this can become confusing. There are certain rules and guidelines by which one must agree to when using Facebook but how far do those rules really reach? Also on social media sights some may allow you to make your page private, but when they say private what do they really mean? So much information can be found on the web now days that it seems as though there are no longer rules or guidelines and that nothing is private anymore. In connection with this is Ian Daly's piece, "Virtual Popularity Isn't Cool-It's Pathetic" in which he discusses the loss of a persons identity when using social media. This is because when online you cannot control what other people post about you and most commonly when on social media sights people aren't usually who they say they are. In my opinion something about being online and connecting with others online changes a person without that person even realizing it. As a Facebook user I don't often post things to my page yet others have posted many things and have tagged me therefore I am not in control of my online appearance. First handedly I have found out that people aren't always the same online as they are in person. These two writings have raised many questions in my mind which have made me rethink the pros and cons of having social media.