Chapter 4

1. Describe your earliest memories of listening to the radio. Do you remember a favorite song? How old were you? Do you remember the stations call letters? Why did you listen?

I can vaguely remember the first time I ever listened to the radio. I'm sure that I was very young, maybe around the age of 5 or 6 on the way to Pre-School. My mom would always turn it to the contemporary christian station, 91.9 on the way to school in the mornings. I can remember listening to this station even through high school when I would ride to school then as well. I liked all the songs on this station because I heard them at church when I was at youth events. I also thought listening to music like that early in the morning, would give me a good start to my day. I was usually more stressed when I listened to loud music, and this music is more mellow and relaxing.

5. How might radio be used to improve social and political discussions in the United States?

I think one problem the United States faces is the fact that news is usually on the television mostly. If the news of the current events were spoken of on the radio more people may hear it. Most people drive with the radio on and that may give more opportunities to reach listeners. I also believe that politicians in the United States do not cater to everyone's intellectual standpoints. There are plenty of citizens that have not had much education and struggle to understand what exactly politicians have to offer. Radio may help to explain things in a simpler form that some citizens may understand better. Radio has a lot of options and gateways to getting information across. The United States should take advantage of these opportunities. 

Chapter 3

1. Who was your first favorite group or singer? How old were you at the time? What was important to you about the music?

My first favorite group to listen to was the boy band, Back Street Boys. They appealed to young girls because they were attractive and they sang sweet love songs about girls they liked or were dating. Most young boys were not interested in this band. I was probably around the age of eight or nine when I began liking this band. My parents gave me the cassette tape for Christmas and I can remember winding it up to re-listen to it. The important thing about the music was that as a young girl, I could relate to the songs the guys were singing. The songs were sappy love songs and upbeat pop songs that every young girl could enjoy.

2. If you ran a non-commercial campus radio station, what kind of music would you play and why?

If I ran a non-commercial radio station, I would play music that college students requested be played. I would give students the opportunity to send in their ideas and opinions on what is being played on the station. If people had issues with the music that was chosen, I would make the appropriate changes. I would also have music that students created be played on the station to give students the opportunity to express themselves through music. I think this would be a neat way to get their voice heard.  A non-commercial station would also keep students from wanting to change the station to something else.

3. Think about the role of the 1960s drug culture in rock history. How are drugs and alcohol treated in contemporary and alternative forms of rock and hip-hop today?

In the 1960s, drugs and alcohol use were the norm. It was popular and "cool" to surround yourself with these things. However, in this day and age people associate drugs and alcohol with a negative tag. Artists, especially within hip-hop and rap music often portray drugs and alcohol in a way that makes it seem like the cool thing to do. Artists such as Lil' Wayne speaks of smoking marijuana in just about all of his songs. He is not the only one though, many artists also have lyrics referring to the alcoholic products "Grey Goose" and "Patron". Many teenagers who are not even of the legal drinking age are hearing this and thinking it is the thing to do. I think parents should be sure the music their children listen to is age-appropriate. 

Chapter 2, Questioning the Media

1. What was your first encounter with the Internet like? How did it compare with your first encounters with other mass media?

I honestly cannot remember the first time I used the Internet. I am assuming it was sometime in early elementary school. I do know that my family had a huge Gateway computer and we had a dial up Internet provider through America Online, also known as, AOL. The noise that was made when the computer began to look for the signal is still fresh in my head. The house telephone was always busy when someone tried to call so my parents always made my sister and I log off as soon as we were done with whatever we were online for. The first encounter online was a lot more in depth than my first encounter with a cell phone or video game. Cell phones and video games are rather self explanatory; however, the Internet could be pretty difficult to navigate if it’s your first time searching for something.

2. What possibilities of the Internet's future are you most excited about? Why? What possibilities are most troubling? Why?

The Internet’s future has been drastically changing ever since it was first created. The most exciting new invention within the Internet is the usage of webcams and video chatting. I have a Skype account and use it often. I am able to physically see my friends that attend different universities in the state, country, and even over in other countries. I find that to be so neat! It’s just like sitting next to the person having a chat. I think these possibilities continue to expand and progress. Some people can even see more than one person on their screen at one time. Something I find to be troubling about the new possibilities on the Internet include all the loopholes predators could use to find online victims. There are a lot of sick and troubled people out in the world and people, especially young adults and teens should not be naïve when dealing with people online. If you do not know someone personally, your best bet is to not try and get to know them online. It could be anyone and you never know what their motive is when they are talking to you. It’s kind of creepy.

4. Do you think virtual communities are genuine communities? Why or why not?

When I think of the word community, I think of a group of people that you are close to because of where you live or the activities you are involved in. An online community may be good for those needing support for something, however I think virtual communities are not exactly as genuine as face-to-face communities could be. There is nothing like sitting in front of someone talking to them. A virtual community would be good for giving and sharing support or sharing information, but I would keep my guard up before giving out personal information to complete strangers you met online in your “virtual community”.

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