#UsingTheHashtag

Twitter is a widely growing social network.  For whatever reason, to me, it seems to be the most commonly contested of all the social networking sites.  Those not on twitter seem inherently opposed to it, but my experience has also been that these are the very people who become Twitter's biggest advocates once they get into the swing of it. 

I'm a huge fan of Twitter.  I think it's great.  I also think it gets misused.  I realize there is not technically a "right" and "wrong" way to do things when it comes to your own personal social networking site, but I do think there are attributes to Twitter that had particular intended purposes.  

  There are plenty of platforms to teach you how to use Twitter and what its intended purposes are, including a section on the site. However, I think it's rare for people to go out and research this information on their own.  

I think one of the most universally misused features of Twitter is the hashtag.

A hashtag is putting the # sign in front of a word or series of words which then creates a link in your tweet.  The intended purpose of this link is to be able to click on the hashtag and view other tweets about the same topic.  It also helps identify trending topics.  A trending topic is a topic about which many people are tweeting.  

For example the other day a trending topic on Twitter was #ThingsLongerThanKimsMarriage.  I had a tweet that said #ThingsLongerThanKimsMarriage, Kim's engagement.  Then, to all who saw the tweet they could click on the hashtag and it would lead them to every tweet in which someone hashtagged #ThingsLongerThanKimsMarriage.  

So how does the hashtag get misused?

The way I most commonly see a hashtag misused is for the punchline of a tweet.  Many, many people do this.  I don't like being notified of a punchline through hashtag.  You do not need to point out to me the best or funniest part of your tweet via the # sign.  If your tweet is funny or clever enough, I'll be able to figure it out on my own.  After all, it is only 140 characters.  

#Myauntelizabethisgoingcrazy is far too specific of a hashtag.  I think there is a small chance of there being many other tweets about that same topic, if any at all.

The purpose of your tweet does not need to be hashtagged at all if there is not an appropriate hashtag for it.  Signaling the purpose of your tweet with a hashtag is unnecessary and not the point.  I don't like to be told which part of your tweet to pay attention to and that is not the intended purpose of the hashtag.  

If a tweet has a hashtag in it, I hope that there is at least a small following of people who share that hashtag so anyone interested in what your tweeting can see similar tweets.  It is actually a useful thing when used properly, not just a comedic tool.  

Again, people are free to tweet how they want, I'm not trying to be the Twitter police, I just think that not enough people are sure of the intent of the hashtag.  I think it is important for people to at least know that the hashtag does have a function. 

 Choose to use it properly or don't, it's up to you.  However, I recommend keeping in mind the purpose  of a hashtag when using one, because hashtags seem to have a negative connotation and some people have a strong distaste for them.  I think a lot of this can be attributed to the misuse of them. To these people I would like to say, when used properly, I think hashtags can be incredibly useful.  

Also, to those of you who do not have Twitter and have been seeing words or phrases prefixed by  "#," that is a hashtag-- it is intended for Twitter, but is being leaked over into facebook and text messaging where it has no real function.  

Anyway, that's what I had brewing this time! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter where you will see the hashtag used properly! (when not mocking the misuse of them) @mkbeer08

"If it makes you feel any better..."

Advice giving is an art.  It is a huge channel of communication that happens frequently, but not everyone can give it.  There are also those who can't take it, but that's a topic for a different blog.  


I think sometimes the best advice can be no advice at all.  I think communication is a tricky thing and I think advice should only be given when asked for it.  Sometimes a friend can simply be venting and really the only thing they're looking for is a pair of ears.  In these instances, it's best to just keep your trap shut.  


However, if you just simply can't help yourself but to say something make sure what you're saying is worthwhile.  Don't speak just to speak.  For example, a sure tell of bad advice is hearing the words "If it makes you feel any better..." before or after said advice.  


This set of words is usually followed or preceded by a statement about how the "advice" giver has a similar or worse situation than you.  Examples of this:

"If it makes you feel any better, I didn't study for the test either."  And how is that supposed to make me feel any better? Oh, well if YOU didn't study then that must mean I'm gonna be alright.  All that means is that we're both going to struggle through this, and I don't feel any better.

"I'm broke too, if it makes you feel any better." Nope. Doesn't make me feel better.  Just means we're both poor and I need a new friends.  Perhaps some with money.  Who can buy me things.  

"If it makes you feel any better, my boyfriend cheated on me."  When I'm having boy problems, I don't want to be one-uped about why your boy problems are worse.  This isn't a competition, and besides you're not making me feel better, you're making me feel worse.  When you try to one-up someone's problem it just makes the other person feel like they're complaining about something that isn't that bad.  Rather than helping this person, you've just made them feel like they're whiney and have inferior problems.  

"My uncle had that surgery, if it makes you feel any better."  Well, I was already aware that I was not the first person to have this surgery, but it doesn't make me any less nervous knowing that I'm not the only one to have this surgery. I'm glad your uncle made it out alive and everything, but I was already aware that there is some sort of success rate to this surgery, otherwise this doctor wouldn't have suggested it to me.  This would also apply to any kind of illness as well.  It's not going to make me feel better that your sister also had bronchitis.  Because I'm still coughing regardless of who else has had this...

We're a species of communication.  We're doing it all the time.  It's our best friend, but often times it can also be our worst enemy.  Messages can be misinterpreted, have multiple meanings, or change based on tone or emphasis.  There's tons of issues with communication which is why we should be as careful as we can with it.  Make sure when you're giving advice you're actually giving advice and not talking just because you feel you should.  

That's what I had brewing for you this time! As always, make sure you don't forget to follow me on twitter! @mkbeer08

Decisions, decisions on the wall, who's the maker of them all?

While talking to my mom over my fall break I realized a curiosity that I have for large decision making.  When I say large decision making, I don't just mean tough decisions, I mean really big decisions that maybe we don't often stop to think about who has the authority to make these decisions.

 I'm talking about the person for example who thought to changed daylight savings time back in 2007.  When this decision was made it was the first time daylight savings time (DST) was changed in 20 years. 

The new changes were enacted by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which extended the length of DST for the purposes of reducing energy consumption.  The new rules increased the duration of DST by about a month.  This meant that DST would now be in effect for 238 days (about 65% of the year.) With these new rules Congress still had the right to revert to the prior law if this change proved unpopular or if the energy savings weren't significant.  

So the thought process behind being more energy efficient by changing DST (from what I gather) is that we will spend less time in the dark and therefore have to use less energy on lights.  There was also some talk about children not having to wait in the dark for the school bus.

Okay so... the person who decided this just went ahead and decided to change time? Time.  I don't understand what qualifies someone to change time?  If we want kids waiting for the bus in the daylight why don't we just change what time school starts, instead of changing time altogether?  It seems like such a big deal.. and by doing this, are we time traveling? And without the use of a flux capacitor? And also, who would decide if the new law proved "unpopular"? Same guy... or..? How many people have to dislike it for it to be "unpopular"? What constitutes the subjective nature of the word "unpopular"? Does this blog count?

It's not just DST that I think is a big decision that we don't really have the authority to make.  Another example that came to mind was in the world of advertising.  

"Old Spice - the official deodorant and body wash of the NFL"-- fine.  "Pepsi - the official soft drink of MLB" -- sure.  These two things make sense, both parties are perfectly capable of making this partnership legitimate.  

What I'm concerned with is when I saw a commercial for "Goodyear, the official tires of winter."  Really? The official tires of winter? Did you ASK winter? Did Winter tell you that your tires are its official tires? Winter can't consent to that, so how can Goodyear's tires be the official tires of winter? Who got to decide this, and how? 

I may never know the answers to the questions about who makes all these decisions, but it is interesting to think about control and who has it.  Whether it's a mundane commercial you may not have stopped to think twice about, or an over arching decision like daylight savings that seems so large that we wouldn't even know where to point the finger on a decision of that size power and control can be very thought provoking.  

Well, that's all I had brewing for now! Remember to follow me on Twitter @mkbeer08.

Sticks and stones: The View discusses the "N-word"

Say what you want, but I actually do enjoy watching "The View." Once you're done judging, we can talk about how on October 3rd's episode the women of The View discussed the use of the "N-word."  

The topic sparked on "The View's" "Hot Topics" segment after Rick Perry (current governor of Texas and running for the Republican endorsement for the 2012 presidential election) belonged to a Texas hunting club on a property that was named after the N-word.  You will not see the word in this blog, but it was actually used by Whoopi when discussing this issue.  


Whoopi said "It's so hard to know what to say now, so I just use the word." Barbara, then said it was interesting that Whoopi would use the word because Herman Kane said it as well and then Barbara then used the word as well. 


Sheri's reaction was to say "he said, what?" as if she had no idea what this conversation was about.  She also said there is a difference between the way Whoopi and Barbara said it.


 Sheri then said that it was okay when Whoopi used it, but she did not like the way that Barbara said it.  She tried explaining that when Whoopi said it she used a different dialect than Barbara did.  Sheri also mention that this word is one she uses around family and friends.


Barbra tried to explain that she gave herself chills when using it, and Whoopi gave her chills as well when she said it, Sheri was still upset with her.  


So if it's okay for Whoopi to say it why can't Barbara?  Because Barbara is white? According to Sheri, yes.  "When white people say it, it brings up feelings in me," she said.  She also said "you're Barbara Walters you can do whatever you want."  Kind of an argumentative thing to say to your boss, don't you think?


Whoopi, however says, she doesn't care if Barbara says it as long as she's not calling a black person the N-word.  She is reporting, which happens to be her job.  When Sheri then said "Well you still say it differently than Barbara" Whoopi's reply was "Well I say it differently because I have a good time when I say it because I know I'm not supposed to." --To which the audience and Sheri laughed.  I think there would have been a very different reaction had Joy, who is also a comedian, said that.  


Sheri says regardless of Barbara reporting or not, she can't say it.  It's just different.

The use of language is a tricky one.  Certain words mean bad things, certain words connote bad things, and more and more we are having to be careful of what we say so as to stay politically correct.

I was actually once told that now it is not PC to say "Brainstorming" when coming up with a list of ideas.  It is more PC to say "thought-showering" because people who suffer from epilepsy actually have brain-storms.  -- It really is getting hard to keep up.

Living in America we are given certain rights, and under the first amendment we are protected for the freedom of speech.  This has been brought to the Supreme Court a number of times regarding hate speech and every time the banning of hate speech has been denied.  Not because our country wants people to be hurt by words, but because as the Supreme Court has decided, we can't protect the rights of some and not others based on personal views.

I found it interesting that throughout the show the n-word was edited out but when they said what they referred to as the "Italian equivalent" it was able to be said on television.  So if it is the equivalent why is nobody getting chills and getting as offended?  Joy is Italian and didn't flip out on Sheri the way Sheri flipped out on Barbara.  

Since I am a female, and I allowed to use the "c-word" but get offended if a male uses it in the same way?  In the Vagina Monologues there is a whole monologue called "Reclaiming (C-word)." It talks about how black people have reclaimed the n-word and how now females should reclaim the c-word. Same goes for gays reclaiming the "f-word."  The word "queer" has been deemed to have been successfully changed by the gay community, so an argument that stands for the n-word and the c-word is to change the meaning.  Make it mean nothing.  Is that ever going to be possible? Who knows..


The women of "The View" also talked about the use of the n-word in Tom Sawyer, but I think they really were referring to Huckleberry Finn.  I remember reading Huck Finn in high school and when we were reading it out loud in class we were advised to say the word "slave" every time the "n-word" appeared.  I found that in some ways worse.  Making the word slave a synonym to the n-word just validates every negative connotation the word has ever taken on.  


With every generation that goes by the words we say keep changing.  African American or Black have both been determined at one point or another to be the politically correct.  Erasing the word from our memories and history is just empowering the word.  Furthermore, I think the never-ending conversations surrounding the word are also empowering it.  


The conversations are tiresome and always end up in a battle of racism. "It's because I'm black" or "It's because I'm white." I think we stop giving these words the power over our emotions.  Why use the words at all? Even if you are a women, or if you are black, or if you're gay why reclaim them at all?  I think just as clear points can be made without the words.  I never think to use them in my daily vernacular, so why should anyone else?  We don't have to forget they exist or forget the history they have behind them, but we can take power over them by letting them have no part in our conversations. 


The links to view the conversation of these hot-topics on the view are below:

The View | Video | Hot Topics: Using the "N-Word," Part 1The View | Video | Hot Topics: 

Using the "N-Word," Part 2

7 Crutch Phrases you should burn from your vocabulary.

 Crutch phrases are probably one of the most obnoxious things ever.  You're smarter than that, you don't need a phrase that you say repeatedly to make your point.  When you use the same phrase over and over, you're not just annoying me, but probably a bunch of other people as well.   There's tons of them out there--and if you haven't noticed them.. you will now. 

**Remember, annoying crutch phrases include but are not limited to these seven:

"At the end of the day"-- This one really gets me.  Why at the end of the day? Can something be a valid teaching at the beginning of the day? What about the middle of the day? Why can't you make your point at any time of the day and still have it be legitimate?  The end of the day is a good time to reflect, but how about you nix the time frame and just move on with what you were saying. 

"Period end of story"-- How about, you just stop talking?  Rather than saying it's the end, just end.  That's okay too.  An abrupt halt will come across just as strong and you avoid this annoying cliche. 

"It is what it is"-- This little gem is code for "I screwed up, and I don't have a way of fixing it."  So you did your job wrong, and you don't feel like fessing up to it and finding a solution, you just go with "it is what it is."  Guess what? It's also not what it's not.  What's your point?  I find that 90% of the time I hear someone say this it's because they did their job wrong. 

"In all fairness"-- Alright, this one barely even makes sense.  How about we practice always rationalizing in all fairness, this way we don't have to dictate when we are or aren't using fairness in our judgement.  Then, everyone is on the same page and you don't have to say this every time you start a sentence. 

"Needless to say"-- So... if it's needless to say.. then why are you saying it?  It's like that little part in the Declaration of Independence when our forefathers stated "We hold these truths to be self-evident." So self-evident that we had to write them down? 

"I mean"-- This one is especially annoying when a sentence is started out by saying "I mean." So.. I'm just going to go ahead and assume you mean everything you're saying.  And if you don't mean it, how about you don't say it?  "I mean, I really want people to stop using crutch phrases."  Does that add anything to my point that I want people to stop using crutch phrases or would you guys just believe me if I said I really want people to stop using crutch phrases.  If you haven't heard this one used, turn on Keeping Up With the Kardashians for about.. 30 seconds.  Then you'll know what "I mean"

"Honestly?"-- You know when you ask someone a question and before they answer they say "honestly?" Well, I certainly didn't ask you that question so that you could lie to me, so yes, please be honest.  I asked you this question so that I could know what YOUR answer was.  

"You know what I'm sayin'?"-- Why yes, I do think I "know what you're saying."  You can ask every once in a while, but you don't need to end each sentence you say by asking "You know what I'm saying?" I can keep up with what you're saying just fine.  And.. if I can't, why don't I just stop you and let you know? This way you can string more than one sentence together at a time, and I believe I have enough intellect to still know what you're saying.

Keep in mind, these 7 crutch phrases are not the only annoying crutch phrases.  Any phrase you say more than three times in a conversation I'm sure has annoyed the person with whom you're having the conversation.   

Well, that's what I had brewing this time.  Don't forget to follow me on Twitter!  @mkbeer08

Tween Idols-- Destined for Disaster?

Brenda Song

It was recently reported that Disney Channel star Brenda Song is pregnant with the baby of Miley Cyrus's half brother Trace Cyrus.  

After reading about this "scandal" I just got to thinking about how many tween idols wind up in scandal and, in turn, are scrutinized for acting in a manner that does not coincide with the values of the networks they work for.

A few examples that came to mind were:

• When Jamie Lynn Spears became pregnant while working on Nickelodeon, and in turn her show was canceled.
• When Miley Cyrus was exposed on TMZ as a smoker of what she alleged to be salvia.
• Anything that Lindsay Lohan does.

• Demi Lavato punched one of her backup dancers in the face and was sent to an inpatient rehab for cutting, multiple eating disorders, and anger management. 

Now, I am just as guilty as the next guy of feeding in to the gossip of these young ladies and reading article after article of what kind of trouble any one of them has gotten into as of late.  But once I really got to thinking about it I really do wonder what about these unfortunate situations peaks my interest.  Clearly others are both literally and figuratively on the same page as I am--but why?  Does it make us bad people? Why indulge in the irony that is the behavior of these tween idols? Other than those of us who suffer from mild to severe schadenfreude. 

scha·den·freu·de

 [shahd-n-froi-duh]

noun

satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.

I'm sure the pressure of the lime light is nothing any layperson could understand.  Therefore it's hard to say how we would act if given the opportunity.  I can't speak for the other People Magazine subscribers, but for me it is hard to sympathize with someone who makes the argument that their life is too hard when they make more money in a week than I'll probably see in a lifetime.   On Demi Lavato's Disney show "Sonny with a Chance" she made $12,000 an episode.  Her net worth is about $3 million.  

Meanwhile, there were 5,364 foreclosures in Minnesota in Quarter One of 2011. That's not to say that the people in those situations always make the right decision or something. I just think I'd rather be in the first situation, than the second.  So in that sense, It's easy to look at these tween idols and say "oh poor you." 

That being said, usually these tween stars are just kids themselves and before I sat down to write this blog entry I never actually sat and thought about that part.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen there is some sensitivity somewhere inside me.  The more mature you are the easier it is to gain perspective, which is, I think, a contributing factor to the "downfall" of these stars.  

 Alright, so where's this leave us?  I'd say tabloid stories, yellow journalism and gossip columns will always sell, and people (myself included) will keep reading it, but in the back of my mind and somewhere deep down my little heart (that has been rumored to be two sizes too small) just might grow for them.. perhaps not three sizes though.. 

 

So there you have it! That's what I've been brewing up.  Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! @mkbeer08.

Baby Bumps, Crazy Wardrobes, and Poor Advertising: 2011 VMAs

The MTV Video Music Awards were on Sunday and there was a lot of buzz about what happened.  From the Worldwide trending topic about #WhatWillGagaWear to Cloris Leachman hanging out with the cast of 'The Jersey Shore.' But the biggest buzz of all was Beyonce announcing that her and hubby Jay-Z are expecting a baby! 

The news first hit Twitter during the preshow when Beyonce confirmed rumors on the black carpet that she is in fact pregnant.  It soon became a Trending Topic on Twitter and by the time Beyonce performed that night everyone was high energy.  At the end of her performance she opened up her jacket and flaunted her baby bump!

In other VMA news, I (along with many other people) was very confused by the way Lady Gaga acted throughout the night.  Gaga was the opening act of the VMAs and she was very highly anticipated.  Worldwide Trending Topics on Twitter about #WhatWillGagaWear were starting rumors about what crazy outfit she would sport next, and how many outfit changes she would have.  When she came on stage she was dressed in drag as a man. 

She did some weird act all night as this character that was supposedly Lady Gaga's boyfriend.  She even accepted her VMA on behalf of herself.  It wasn't funny..or even that outrageous..it was just weird.  Not to mention, I also thought it was very anti-climactic after all the anticipation.  

Lady Gaga is her own biggest enemy as far as I'm concerned.  Her music is good, but I'm over her antics.  Maybe I just don't "get" her.  And clearly her "monsters" see something that I don't.  But the more she keeps up this kind of thing the less I care about her music.  We get it Gaga.  You're weird.

Taking over Gaga's M-O of wardrobe changes and crazy choices of dress were Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj.  

Nicki Minaj went for the Robot-Cotton Candy- Light Bright look.  Remember when people just wore normal clothes to awards shows? Whatever happened to just looking nice?  I guess people want attention but they're going about it in the wrong way.  Can we get these ladies an image consultant maybe? Someone to help better represent them?

Then we had two looks from Katy Perry.  The first not too weird, but an unnecessary accessory. Apparently having a parasol open indoors isn't bad luck like having an umbrella opened up inside because Perry won her first--and second Moon Man that night.

The person who wasn't winning that night was the poor guy that had to sit behind Perry once the show started and she had her second outfit on.  I'd be pretty upset if I got all the way to the VMAs to stare at big yellow block that sat atop Perry's head.  Not cool Katy.

If you're like me, you're in college, broke, and can't afford a DVR.  This means you are tortued by live TV and forced to watch commercials.  Let's talk about the ad that played over, and over..and OVER again during the VMAs.  The ad I'm referring to is by PacSun.  PacSun-- You need to regroup.  I don't understand their new slogan or advertising pitch, at all.  "Dress Irresponsibly."  I'm not sure what I'm supposed to take from that? This is such a horrible advertisement.  I wonder how much they're paying for these ads just to confuse people.  The more I think about the ad the less sense it makes.  Sorry guys, advertising fail.   

There were plenty of great things that happened at the VMAs.  Amazing performances and speeches.  I could go on for a while.  But this is what I thought caused the biggest buzz! That's all that's brewing for now. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! @mkbeer08