I have to say that this week was a real challenge for me. I am not very comfortable with social media (e.g. i have had a Facebook account for a while, but rarely use much to my friends' annoyance). The videos, however, were interesting. After watching them i feel like I better get on board the social media train or I won't be able to catch up. As stated in an earlier post, Twitter is very new to me. I have learned about Foursquare, LinkedIn and other social media venues, but am not interested in participating (at least for now ... maybe time will change that). I can see the value of such networks in learning and sympathizing with others (as mentioned in the first two videos). To think that social media (though that isn't what the patients' site was aiming for) can change healthcare as we know it is fascinating. I suppose in a way I do subscribe to online "opinion" in regard to what people think about certain companies, doctors, treatments, drugs, etc. Social media will just be the way we even better communicate about these things.
Another very interesting thing I learned is that YouTube and other video-like venues are going to be the wave of the future. I can see the value of video -- like having personal experience -- but at the same time, so much of those videos are what I would call a waste of time. It seems anyone can put anything (video or otherwise) on the internet these days. What we need is a a way to sort (other than search--what if you don't know what you're looking for?) for the "best" and most accurate stuff available rather than the most popular information/entertainment.
Finally, I want to comment on my experience with something I did not want any part of ever: Second Life. I have read and heard so much about people who lose themselves entirely in virtual worlds like Second Life. I firmly believe we should always know the difference between reality and "virtuality" ... When I went into Second Life, I felt so lost. Clearly it is a world all of its own. The 3-D aspect was very cool and I can see how people can get wrapped up in it. People were eager to talk to me in there. I was hesitant, but wanted to understand the point. I found myself adding friends and chatting with people I didn't know at all. I tried to change my appearance, but found it didn't work the way I thought it did. I suppose I would have to spend much more than an hour in there to really learn my way around. I did go shopping and visit several different sims (first time I heard the term). Unbelievable to think that there are over 2000 sims in Second Life, and more are being built all the time. Crazy! What else is crazy is to know that some people spend and make real-life money through Second Life. So people are using these "fake" worlds to pursue business in this one. Wow! I must definitely be missing the point. In addition, it bugs me that the whole world is unreal -- even down to the last name, which is chosen for you! Yikes! What if someone really wanted to be themselves (heaven forbid) ... they don't even have the option.
I suppose I just don't get the point of such media. Perhaps if you have no real commitments or business in this world, such a world can be inviting. But for one like me who can hardly keep it together in this world sometimes (going here and there all the time), I find no purpose in "wasting" my precious time in virtual worlds. Perhaps I would feel differently about World of Warcraft, but I didn't have time to do both. Plus, from what I hear, Second Life is more amazing that WoW ... I'd love to hear your opinions on that.
As for application to PA, I think something like Second Life could add real stress to our world because people gain unrealistic relationships in these virtual worlds. Connections made there should correspond to relationships here, but I'm not sure they do. What about law suits inside Second Life (not sure they exist, but let's say they do). If real money can be spent/earned in Second Life, will the winnings of a suit be paid in real dollars? If so, that could cause great concern. Also, what about husbands who "cheat" on their wives in the virtual world? Is that cause for divorce? What is to stop these virtual worlds from overlapping further and further into the "real" world? To me, that's where issues for PAs come through - where do we draw the line? And why? Is it necessary? I personally think it is!
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