Memo26+--+Describing+Events

Thomas Solley STSH 4980-01 Senior Thesis Costelloe-Kuehn 10/13/2014 10/15/2014

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__ Memo 26 -- Describing Events __ " This memo should include a 200-400-word description of an event that you have or will (it can be fabricated) observe during your research, leveraging the description for analytic insight. Again, make the description speak to a social theoretical question or point. For an example, see my 2008 AAA conference paper, “'From “Better Living Through Chemistry to “Essential2Life,” which leverages a description of an exposure science conference that I attended as a participant-observer. Also see the description of the student protests in Paul Manning’s “Rose Colored Glasses? Student Protest and Cartoon Chaos in Postsocialist Georgia”, linked to at []."

Event; sitting in the dining hall at lunchtime, every person sitting by themselves is plugged-into their phones and/or headphones. As I sit here in the dining hall, looking around me, I see not a single person reading a book. All those sitting by themselves -- like me -- are staring into their phone-screens. Only those together in a group appear to be conversing, or in any way interacting with the real world. Each person is giving-off the feeling of being an introvert -- shoulders hunched, eyes downcast, barely turning their gaze up from their phones. Avoiding eye-contact with passersby -- unless someone walks right by them, in which case the eyes flick upwards to catch a glimpse of their faces -- or of their bodies, it is difficult to say for sure which. Amongst the larger groups of gathered friends, at least one person is texting or using their phone at a given time -- whether avoiding conversation, or merely seeking to retreive relevant data, the reasons seem to vary. There are a few people whom, like myself, have their computers open and are either staring intently at their screens or slowly clicking their way through material. The contents seem to vary on a daily basis -- people can be seen playing (or building?) games, typing into websites, checking LMS, reading class notes; no particular trend seems to present-itself. Nobody is reading the newspaper, very few (except around tests) bring their textbooks into the dining halls it seems. Those in a hurry -- or perhaps those avoiding contact with other people -- seem the most immersed in theri electronic environment. Perhaps the excuse of "appearing to be busy with their electronics" is a means of avoiding awkward contact? --> Some analysis here of the persons and hegemonies, but not as deep as it could be. May also be off in my scope of anlysis. - Edits from in-class today;

Notes. __... and the bullshit continues.__ S/TQ thus far; "how has networking technology changed social behavior in the past seven years?"