KELLY comes in

ROSE Kelly!

KELLY ignores ROSE, continues walking to the computer and sits down.

ROSE walks over apprehensively.

ROSE It’s time for dinner…

KELLY ignores, ROSE waits.

KELLY Can’t you even wait a while?

ROSE and KELLY eat dinner in silence

KELLY I’m done.

KELLY pushes chair away, sits at computer table.

ROSE leaves scene.

KELLY stares into space and starts crying (although I can’t cry)

(spotlight on Kelly and Rose later? Or at least make it dark?)

ROSE Kelly, do you want dessert?

Silence ensues.

ROSE Kelly?

KELLY sniffling, ignoring

ROSE Are you okay Kelly? Did something happen in school?

KELLY Nothing.

ROSE Are you sure?

KELLY I said nothing! Even if something happened, it’s none of your business!

KELLY storms out.

ROSE I really need to talk to her. She’s getting so uncommunicative now, and she’s always on Facebook. Maybe I should…

Some time later, on Facebook

COMPUTER SCREEN You have 1 friend request

KELLY accepts.

THORNthink of better name (ROSE) Hi.

KELLY Hi. Do I know you?

THORN No…I just needed someone to talk to and I…felt an affinity with you? Do you mind? If you do, you can just delete me.

KELLY Oh. No, of course not. What’s wrong? Why do you need to talk to someone?

THORN I just have some problems at school, and I don’t know who to tell…

KELLY Actually, you shouldn’t be asking me, since I’m in the same position…

THORN What do you mean?

KELLY Nothing.

THORN Well, I won’t probe if you don’t want to tell me, but remember that if you need any one to listen, I’m here.

Stage darkens, all leave.

At school

Bell rings

KELLY walks very quickly out of class.

JER Are you going for a date, Kelly? Why are you walking so quickly?

KELLY stops.

GIN, JER, BRENDA walk up to her.

GIN Or are you trying to avoid us?

KELLY shakes her head vigourously.

KELLY I…I have tuition later…I need to go home now.

BRENDA Gin, Jer, see. Some people are so rich, they can afford to go for tuition everyday. Unlike us, so poor that we can only afford to stay at home and study by ourselves.

GIN Mmm hmm. Some people are so rich, they can BUY their friends, and become very popular…

KELLY I’m not like that!

BRENDA We didn’t say you were like that…You admitted it yourself!

JER Gin, Brenda, don’t you think that rich kids who are so arrogant should be punished duly?

GIN, JER, BRENDA bully KELLY (Pull hair etc) KELLY is defenceless.

Kelly looks very disheveled.

GIN I hope you’ve learnt your lesson now Kelly.

JER Or else, we might have to teach you again.

BRENDA See you!

GIN, JER, BRENDA turn and walk away.

KELLY walks out slowly.

Home

ROSE walks in

ROSE Where’s Kelly? It’s already 5, and she doesn’t have CCA today…

KELLY walks in, looking down.

ROSE Kelly! Why are you so late? Why are you so disheveled? Why are you so bruised?

ROSE anxiously takes KELLY’s arm and examines it.

KELLY pulls her arm away.

KELLY It’s none of your business!

KELLY walks away to the computer.

ROSE leaves sadly.

Facebook.

THORN Hi Kelly. Why are you so late? I thought your school releases you at 2?

KELLY I…Some girls made me stay back…

THORN Made you stay back?

KELLY Don’t tell anyone! And don’t laugh at me or anything!

THORN I won’t, I promise.

KELLY They’ve been bullying me for some time now.

THORN But why?!

KELLY They say that I stole their friends and bought their friends over…

THORN You what?

KELLY I didn’t I swear! I don’t know why they say so!

THORN I know you wouldn’t do that, I was just thinking why they would do that. Maybe they are jealous of you?

KELLY I don’t know…

THORN What are their names? Why can’t you tell the teacher?

KELLY I can’t tell you their names… And I’m afraid that if I tell the teacher, they will bully me more!

THORN But…you can’t let them go on bullying you!

KELLY It doesn’t matter!

THORN Well…it’s up to you I guess. But remember that no matter what they say about you, I know that you aren’t like that, and I will always be your friend!

KELLY Thanks J

School

GIN, JER, BRENDA are waiting around.

KELLY walks in, sees them, and attempts to walk away.

GIN Why are you walking away so fast again?

JER Gin, what do you know? Rich people don’t like to be associated with poor people like us.

BRENDA Or maybe, she just has a guilty conscience!

KELLY I haven’t done anything! Please, I’ve already stopped talking to your friends, and they don’t talk to me either, just let me off!

JER Obviously they haven’t been talking to you! You know how much effort it took for us to show them your true colours?

KELLY What did you do?!

BRENDA Nothing…just said some stuff, put up some posters and used Facebook…

GIN Why bother to tell her. She doesn’t need to know. And she’s lying again. If she really stopped talking to our friends, would she have 138 friends on Facebook?

KELLY I…

GIN Nobody asked you to say anything.

JER Yup, you’ll only lie anyway.

BRENDA There’s only one way to deal with this kind of people…

GIN, JER, BRENDA bully more fiercely than before.

BRENDA You better not bother our friends any further, or you know what will happen.

GIN Delete your facebook account!

JER Or else.

GIN, JER, BRENDA leave.

KELLY picks herself up and leaves.

Home

ROSE is walking around anxiously.

KELLY enters.

ROSE Kelly! I’ve been waiting for you! Your teacher says you’ve missed school for a few times…

KELLY So. Why do you need to care? I’m not even your daughter.

KELLY walks away, ROSE follows.

ROSE Kelly! Kelly!


Facebook

THORN Hey Kelly :D

KELLY Hey. I don’t think I can talk to you on Facebook any longer…

THORN Why? Is it those girls?

KELLY Yeah…I’ve stayed away from their friends, but they still won’t let me off…

THORN Maybe you should tell the teacher…

KELLY NO.

THORN But…

KELLY NO.

School

GIN grabs KELLY’s collar

GIN Who are you to flout your money and try to buy our friends?

KELLY I don’t know what you’re talking about!

GIN lets go of KELLY’s collar and pushes her to the ground.

KELLY picks herself up clumsily and runs to the edge of the corridor.

BRENDA Oh, so you want to run away from us?

JER Why are you standing so close to the railing? Do you want to jump?

KELLY I…I’ll really jump!

BRENDA If you’ve got the guts, just jump!

KELLY Leave me alone!

GIN So what if we don’t?

GIN, JER, BRENDA take a few steps forward.

KELLY’s hands tighten around the railing.

KELLY I will make you regret what you have done!

KELLY’s left leg goes up the railing

GIN, JER, Oh my god! Is she really going to jump?
BRENDA

They panic.

ROSE Hang on Kelly!

TEACHER and ROSE rush forward and pull KELLY off the railings

KELLY starts crying

ROSE hugs KELLY

ROSE My dear, are you okay? It’s okay now, calm down okay? I’m here to protect you.

KELLY nods, sniffing.

ROSE What have you done to my Kelly!

GIN, JER, BRENDA hang their heads low, feeling extremely guilty

GIN, JER, It was meant to be a joke…
BRENDA

TEACHER A joke?! What if Kelly jumps down? Can you bear the responsibility of taking away her life? I need to talk to your parents about this. Be prepared to face the consequences of your actions.

To KELLY and ROSE

TEACHER These girls are really too much! Kelly, you better go and see a doctor, then go home and rest. Rest assured Mrs Lee, I’ll deal with these girls and make sure they get what they deserved and apologise to Kelly tomorrow. You girls! Go back to school with me now!

Home

ROSE You should really pay more attention to Kelly. See what has happened now!

FATHER I’m sorry I didn’t pay attention to you before, Kelly.

KELLY It’s okay Dad.

They hug

ROSE What ok! See all the bruises on your arm! *Pull her arm* Aiyo, still talk so much! I almost forgot, you should get some rest now. Off to your bedroom now!

Bedroom.

FATHER Kelly, daddy will try to not let my busy schedule take over all of my time. I know you have been wishing for a holiday to Australia right? Father promises to bring you there in the upcoming school holiday okay? For now, just sleep and rest and forget everything.

ROSE Kelly, you just go and sleep it all away. When you wake up, everything will be okay. If you need anything, just call your auntie or your father J We will be there for you

1 WEEK LATER, Facebook

ROSE Hey Kelly, why haven’t you been online so long?

KELLY It’s a long story... As you know, those girls have been bullying me. Finally, the girls almost caused me to commit suicide…

ROSE Oh no, are you okay now?

KELLY Yeah. They have apologized to me J and promised not to commit the same mistake anymore. Anyway, I have to go now! I promised Auntie Rose that I’ll go out with her today. Bye!

ROSE Bye!

Ok, this is the really long, 8 page script that we have now. I think the links between scenes are quite weak though, and also note that at the end, the last conversation between Thorn and Kelly, is played out with Rose at another computer. Also, will the lines between Kelly and Thorn be spoken out, because we don't have a screen right?

- Melissa

• Playwrights - Melissa, Shu Ning
• Director - Shuyi
• Stage manager - Yue Ling
• Design Team 1 (Set, props, make up) - Jiale, Jia Ying
• Design Team 2 (Lighting, sound, prompt copy) - Ellen

b) Performance roles

• Kelly - Melissa
• Rose - Shuyi
• Gin - Jia Ying
• Jer - Jiale
• Brenda - Ellen
• Father - Yue Ling
• Teacher - Shu Ning

Rehearsals

• 10 hours - Sept hols Wed, lunches
• Booking venues (M404, M401)

Grading Criteria

Performance

• Evidence of rehearsal
• Believability, confidence, interaction in role
• Vocal and physical characterization

Production

• Process blog
• Theatre craft
• Personal reflections

Our script so far

Beginning

KELLY comes in

ROSE Kelly!

KELLY ignores ROSE, continues walking to the computer and sits down.

ROSE walks over apprehensively.

ROSE It’s time for dinner…

KELLY ignores, ROSE waits.

KELLY Can’t even wait a while is it?

ROSE and KELLY eat dinner in silence

KELLY Finish already.

KELLY pushes chair away, leaves.

ROSE leaves scene.

ROSE Kelly, do you want dessert?

Silence ensues.

ROSE Kelly?

KELLY sniffling, ignoring

ROSE Are you okay Kelly? Did something happen in school?

KELLY Nothing.

ROSE Are you sure?

KELLY I said nothing! Even if something happened, it’s none of your business!

KELLY storms out.

ROSE I really need to talk to her. She’s getting so uncommunicative now, and she’s always on Facebook. Maybe…I should create an account, just to talk to her. It has to be under another name of course, so that she will confide in me…

Climax

GIN grabs KELLY’s collar

GIN Who are you to flout your money and try to buy our friends?

KELLY I don’t know what you’re talking about!

GIN lets go of KELLY’s collar and pushes her to the ground.

KELLY picks herself up clumsily and runs to the edge of the corridor.

BRENDA Oh, so you want to run away from us?

JER Hah! You want to jump is it, stand so close to the railing?

KELLY I…I’ll really jump!

BRENDA If you’ve got the guts, just jump lah!

KELLY Leave me alone!

JER So what if we don’t?

GIN, JER, BRENDA take a few steps forward.

KELLY’s hands tighten around the railing.

Resolution

ROSE hugs KELLY

ROSE Are you okay?

KELLY nods, sniffing.

TEACHER These girls are really too much! Kelly, you better go and see a doctor, then go home and rest. I’ll deal with these girls.

HOME

ROSE You should really pay more attention to Kelly. See what has happened now!

FATHER I’m sorry I didn’t pay attention to you before, Kelly.

KELLY It’s okay Dad.

ROSE What ok! See all the bruises on your arm! Aiyo, still talk so much! I almost forgot, you should get some rest now.

ROSE Kelly, you just go and sleep it all away. When you wake up, everything will be okay

1 WEEK LATER, Facebook

ROSE Hey Kelly, why haven’t you been online so long?

KELLY It’s a long story... As you know, those girls have been bullying me. Finally, the girls almost caused me to commit suicide…

ROSE Oh no, are you okay now?

KELLY Yeah. Anyway, I have to go now! I promised Auntie Rose that I’ll go out with her today. Bye!

That's the script for now, but Shu Ning and I will continue to edit, and jiayou for your respective roles :)

- Melissa

hey (: UPDATE!

ellen sent out the email regarding the "costumes" already, but i think some of you can't view the new microsoft word so i'll put it here.

jiale, ellen, shuyi and i discussed this today (:


Gin, Jer, Brenda – The bimbos
Attire: Band Skirt folded, Black stockings, High Heels (black), White Blouse Long sleeve
Accessories:
All: Bangles, Necklace (big charm), Fakenails – Black Red and Pink (not confirmed), Clutches.
Gin, Leader (jiaying) – Let down hair, hairband (with a ribbon/flower at the side kind). Black Tie
Jer (Jiale) – Bun, dark green ribbon (not the neat kind). Dark Green Tie
Brenda (ellen) – Small pony tail at the side, dark brown rubber band. Dark Brown Tie

Kelly (Melissa)
Attire: Band Skirt unfolded, Black socks above ankles, Black Flats, White Blouse, Maroon tie.
Accessories: Bracelets with charms, Gold Necklace Small Pendant, Geum Jan Di’s bag -_-
Hair: Ponytail gelled, Gold hairband

Teacher (Shuning)
Attire: Dress with short sleeves, short pointed heels, small bracelet, file and mug
Hair: 1. Bun + Chopstick (if viable) 2.

Daddy (Yueling)
Attire: Suit (as long as you look like the boss), striped purple tie, black leather shoes, black socks

Rose (shuyi)
Attire: Feminine Dress around knee length (black/white), High heels (silver/black)
Hair: Bun on stick yummy! :D

Makeup: The bimbos + Rose + teacher (light)

some of it is not confirmed yet, as we have to see if we can get the clothing we want. if your want to change anything just tag or tell ellen jiale jiaying (:


the rehearsal during the hols will be on Wednesday, 9 Sept please do make sure you can make it that day. if you really really really can't, tell us asap!!!

and i think shuyi will be in malaysia then, so she'll have to memorise her part her part of the script and we can like video our rehearsal and send to her, with someone like shuning or me (who has minor roles) to temporarily act as her role, so that she can see her positioning.

i think that's all? (:

yueling <3

Hello, here's what we have discussed so far for today's drama lesson:

Characterisation

Objective + Problem = Tension

Protagonist vs Antagonist

Protagonist (not the traditional character that we used to look up to):
-Hero
-Anti-hero

Conflict
P

-Ps1
-Ps2

A
-As1
-As2

Let's use Cinderella as an example

Conflict
Ugly Sister

-Ugly Sister 2
-Mother
Cinderella

-Fairy God Mother
-Probably the animals (rat?)

We started out with deciding the main narrative to work on.
We chose two stories last week, one on bullying and one on girl found her long lost grandma on facebook
We decided to combine the two stories together:
At the start of the play, the girl already made friends with the grandma on facebook, and she has already confided to her many many times. The girl told her "friend" on facebook about a guy which she has just made friends with. The grandma is very worried for her granddaughter, doesn't know whether to reveal identity or not. Then the grandma went to school to find the girl's teacher and check out the guys with the teacher. They saw the girl get bullied the guy friend on facebook. In fact, they are her classmates. The grandma went up to stop the bullying and the granddaughter is very touched by that and their relationship improved.
We have not decided on the ending, whether the grandma will just close down the account on facebook without telling her granddaughter that that person is her. Or will the grandma reveal her identity.

After that we started on characterisation and worked on the relationship between the characters and their objective.

The Girl
-Kelly
-15 years old
-main character
-Objecive: Wants to make friend (through facebook)
-Only Child, need companion
-Lonely (parents dont care)
--> Girl wanna talk to her parents, they dont care
-Her granny wants to talk to her, but she doesn't care
-She will confide everything to her grandma online
-Classmates bully her because 1)They love the power to bully people? 2) She may be autistic? 3)Rich --> classmates jealous (best reason)
--> she doesnt dare to tell her parents, teachers

For the girl, we have decided on three settings: Home, School, Online
And then we need to investigate on her school life

Granny
-"Ah Ma"
-We listed out a few names for her (Rosaline, Rose, Ling Ling, Christine) and we chose Rose.
-Kelly's supporter
-Relationship with granddaughter = bad ):

The conflict between the granny and granddaughter is that they dont understand each other.

Bullies
-We also listed out a few names(Michael, Jordan Tay, Troy Boton, Elton, GingerBread Man) and we decide to use gingerbreadman.


After that, we started to decide the different people for different roles in the play.
Kelly: Melissa
Granny: Shuyi
3 Bullies: Jiaying, Ellen, Jiale
Teacher: -
Father: Yue Ling
Mother: Shu Ning

And then we were asked to do a picture of the climax/conflict in the story and then we did the conflict flow chart:

Conflict--> Jealousy
Kelly, 15

-Ah Ma, Rose
-Ms Tan, Teacher

Ginger, Classmate

-Bread,Classmate
-Man, Classmate

And then we were asked to the A to J exchange of lines thing

Ahh! Please go away! I'm sorry!!!! (Kelly)
Baby, so easy cry! Rich no use ah? (Ginger)
Call for your parents, no use! (Bread)
Darling ah! Oh my goodness, you are so pretty *bimbo* (man)
Eeeeeee you're so smelly! (Bread)
Face it, no one will help you! (Ginger)
Get away from me! (Kelly)
Hahaha, just look at her pathetic look (man)
I have to save Kelly! (Grandma)
Just look at what they're doing to her! (Teacher)

Okay, that's all :)

PS. Get well soon, ah ma!(shuyi) xD

Shu Ning :D

ways of finding out if you are addicted to facebook+how to stop it:


Facebook Syndrome: 8 Ways to Beat Your Facebook Addiction

Facebook, YouTube, Wikipedia, Twitter, Myspace… the list is endless. Millions of us are addicted. The Government tells us that our time wasting internet addictions are costing the country billions of dollars every year. Our productivity at work is dismal because we spend most of the day reading our Fun Wall or checking out our favorite blogs. Can this additive behavior be beaten?

The answer is yes.

In this article I want to give you some simple and concrete ways to beat your time wasting internet addiction.
Facebook Syndrome: How to tell if you are an internet addict

Before we start you need to find out if you are an addict. Once you have admitted to yourself that you are addicted to your favorite website we can go about giving you some solutions for that problem. Here are some surefire signs that you are addicted:

1. You are late for meetings because you are on Facebook
If you ever late for a meeting or an appointment because you were checking your updates on Facebook or watching a related video on Youtube then you know you are addicted. This is classic addict behavior. It is time to get help.

2. You think about it when you are offline
I have several friends who struggle to get to sleep because they are thinking about the latest game or wondering how their website statistics are looking. If you do this then it could be a sign that you are heading towards a problem.

3. Your friends and family comment on your excessive internet use
When other people around you start to notice that you have a problem it is generally a pretty accurate indicator that you are losing it. If your mates, coworkers or family members have made comments about how much you use the net then you need to read the rest of this post.

4. You check your accounts from your Blackberry
A Blackberry is designed as a business tool. It is supposed to allow you to check your important emails and work materials without having to be in the office. It is not for checking Facebook or Myspace updates while you are having dinner with me. That is just not on. If you use your Blackberry for monitoring your social media accounts then you need help.

5. You get stressed when a Facebook “friend” doesn’t add you
Have you ever noticed yourself getting stressed over something that has happened on Facebook or Myspace? Do you ever feel like your online life is more real than your offline life? If you have been stressed about what rapper you turned out as or what magic egg someone sent you then it is time to open your eyes.
How to easily beat time wasting internet addictions


Creative Commons License photo credit: Fuschia Foot

Now that you have established that you have a problem you need to get yourself some recovery tools. The strategies and tools that are presented here are some simple ways you can beat the Facebook Syndrome.

1. Admit that you have a problem
I want you to take a deep breath and then repeat after me. Seriously, repeat this out a loud - even if you are in your office or an internet cafe.

“I have an internet addiction problem.”

Good. Now that you have acknowledged your problem we can proceed. There is no point in trying to beat an addiction if you do not seriously believe that you have one. This is important.

2. Write down exactly how much time you spend on each site


Creative Commons License photo credit: ●Tokil●

This task is more difficult than you might think. Usually we have a work window open, a Facebook window open and then maybe some windows with our favorite blogs waiting for them to update. What you need to do is close the windows and only open them once you have written down the time. Then when you close the window you need to write the time down again. At the end of the day add up how much time you have been on your chosen site and record it in a little book.

The reason it is important to know how long you have been on the sites is because it gives you a solid measure of how bad your addiction is. Recovering gamblers do the same thing. They write down how much money they spend in a day. We need to write down our Facebook hours!

After a few days, weeks and months this number should decrease.

3. Give yourself a set time of the day to visit
We need to realize that spending time on these sites is not a bad thing. Done in the right amounts it can be a lot of fun and even quite healthy. However, if you start to notice that your law school assignment is still not done because you have been watching Tom Cruise’s Scientology rant on Youtube all night then it has gone beyond a joke.

Instead of banning the site altogether why not give yourself a set period of time to visit? For example, you might give yourself the first 20 minutes of the work day you check all your updates and then not log on for the rest of the day. Or you might decide that the last 30 minutes of work is Myspace time as a reward for a long day of super productive work.

Banning your addiction outright often leads to a Facebook relapse. We don’t want this. Give yourself some set times to visit and don’t break the limits.

4. Turn off email notifications
Email notifications are like little red devils coming to sit on your shoulder and begging you to come back and visit Facebook. Turn them off. You don’t need to be notified every time someone sends you a message. If it was that important they should email you or, God forbid, use the telephone. You also don’t need to be notified every time someone rates your sexiness, adds a fish to your aquarium or sends you a new bumper sticker!

Turn off email reminders so you can get on with your work.

5. Meditate as soon as the thought arises
One of the most powerful ways to beat Facebook Syndrome is to look directly at the tempting thought as soon as it arises in your mind. You do not need to judge it or try to push it out - just look at it. The thought might arise as a worrying thought that begs you to check your updates so you don’t offend anyone. Or it might appear as a carefree thought saying that one quick look won’t hurt. Whatever it arises as the meditation is to just look at it. When you can do that the power of the thought will be drained well and truly.

6. Get off the computer
Really… do you need to spend that much time on the computer? Honestly ask yourself that. Instead of getting home, pouring a beer and sitting in front of the computer to check your updates you could go for a walk, hit the gym or go and see a movie. There is so much more to do in life than watch your hatching egg grow. Really there is.

7. Write down what you used to do before Facebook
Something that can be really useful to do is write down a list of things that you used to do before you got addicted to Facebook or Myspace. For example, some people might write, “I used to meet girls”. :)

Try and reconnect with what you used to do before these sites became such a big part of your life. Some of you will be quite surprised at how much you now do not do because you are spending so much time on the internet. You may also notice that around the same time your waistline suddenly got bigger…

8. Block the sites the REAL way
Your computer allows you to block certain sites. Sure, you can unblock them straight away if you wanted to but the more barriers you put in your way the better. However, if you want to seriously block these sites from your computer you can do it the REAL way:

Click START and then select RUN. In that box type notepad c:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts. A neat little Notepad will appear with a bunch of computer jargon on it. Scroll down to the last line of that code and type 127.0.0.1 facebook.com. After that Facebook will never show up on your PC again. You can substitute the domain for any other domain that you do not want to view.

kinda funny. who wants to try it out? haha (:

yueling.

hey

here's some info on facebook addiction

Chained to the Facebook wall
By: Martina Ballard
Staff Reporter
Posted: 2/26/08

When most people hear the word addiction, they probably think of drugs or alcohol - maybe even sex.

However, some people are finding themselves struggling to kick a different habit - Facebook.

The social networking Web site Facebook has sparked concern as many students find themselves becoming so engulfed in the site that each poke, picture and party invitation brings them one step closer to exhibiting unhealthy behavior.

In April 2007, there were only 20 million active users on Facebook. According to statistics found on the Facebook website, the number of active memberships has increased by 44 million members in less than one year.

It is now the sixth-most trafficked site in the United States. Nearly 16,000 of those members are in The University of Memphis network.

For some people, the thought of having a Facebook addiction might seem laughable. According to statistics on the Facebook Web site, the average person spends at least 20 minutes on Facebook each day, but there are some members who spend more time on the site than what some people would consider normal.

Mary Kate Allen, senior organizational leadership major, said she is addicted to Facebook.

"I check Facebook faithfully, probably 20 times a day," Allen said. "It is ridiculous. The amount of time I am on each time varies. Sometimes, I am on it for hours at a time."

According to Allen, she is not alone when it comes to spending a lot of time on the site.

"I think that way too many people spend time on Facebook," she said.

There are several experts who have said some Facebook users might be going too far, including Sajjan G. Shiva, professor and chairman of the computer science department.

"Our young generation is getting carried away with it," Shiva said. "Using Facebook should not get in the way of our normal activities - it should only enhance them."

Lloyd Brooks, professor of management information systems, said many students do not realize Facebook addiction is as serious as it really is.

"I think most people don't realize it until they get into it," Brooks said. "A lot of times, students can stay up late, and it will affect them at school or at work the next day. Just like gambling, when you first start, you are not addicted. I think it would depend on the personality of the person to determine whether or not they can handle it without becoming addicted."

One reason some students might not take Facebook addiction seriously could be that addiction is usually associated with alcohol or drugs - not interacting with peers online.

Max Garzon, professor of computer science, said Facebook addiction is somewhat like other addictions. He also said there are some differences as well.

"It's like the strong addictions in that they take over and pull the individual onto a divergent track from their goals and responsibilities. It's unlike them in that it is much easier to quit - it has no harmful direct physical consequences and it is normally phased out in most cases," he said.

Allen said that, sometimes, it is a way for her to relax.

"I relate it to a person smoking a cigarette - if they want to mellow out their mood, they smoke," she said. "When I don't want to think about anything important and want to chill, I get on Facebook. Facebook for me is an addiction, but I would rather be addicted to be Facebook than something that could be harmful to my health directly."

Although she said she is addicted, she spends a lot of her time on Facebook communicating with people she actually knows.

" I stay in contact with people that I would otherwise probably not get to talk to that much," Mary Kate Allen said. "For instance, my cousin has a Facebook, and I can't talk to him really because he is attending school in England."

The line between normal usage and addictive behavior seems to be a thin one. Still, there are many people questioning if Facebook fixation is a legitimate physical addiction.

Kris M. Markman, assistant professor of broadcast and electronic media, does not agree with the whole Facebook addiction concept.

"I really don't think it's a good idea to use the word 'addiction' when talking about Facebook use," Markman said. "The whole idea of Internet addiction is still a very new and not well-understood concept. It's more likely that people who seem to be using the Internet excessively may really have some underlying problem."

Other experts said there are several reasons why some students are prone to develop unhealthy Facebook behaviors. One reason could be that some students have issues with "the man in the mirror."

Lee E. Allen, assistant professor for instructional design and technology/ information science, agrees. He described the type of person prone to addiction as, "those persons who lack a distinct identity as a social presence or entity. In other words, those who might feel somewhat inadequate when having to interact in real social, face-to-face situations. Not necessarily work or school - but as strictly social interactions."

People who are not into face-to-face interaction might see Facebook as a tool to become cool among their peers. When it comes to getting involved on campus, students have 169 registered student organizations to choose from. These groups cater to students interested in anything from socializing to psychology.

These opportunities are available, yet many students are taking a different approach when it comes to being active on campus - they are getting their campus experience via cyber space.

There are more than 500 groups currently listed in Facebook's U of M network. Out of those groups, there are 1,249 people in the "Go Tigers Go" group.

If all of the members of the group who are currently enrolled became active in registered student organizations, campus life could change significantly.

According to Lee Allen, students who spend an enormous amount of time on Facebook could be cheating themselves out of something more beneficial - human interaction.

"While it is perfectly alright to maintain an online presence and have virtual friends, it is always healthier to balance this out with friends based in the real, every day world - no matter how mundane it may seem," Lee Allen said. "Many people seem to want to exist as some form of alter ego in a parallel virtual world of fantasy rather than face the perhaps uglier reality that exists in the real world."

He also said these behaviors can be used as a form of escapism, which can be unhealthy when it is carried to the extreme. Sometimes, the people who get online to develop these alter egos can not only end up harming themselves, but others as well.

"The Virginia Tech shooter, for example, had an online alter ego to make up for his self-perceived inadequacies. Unfortunately, the lines blurred and his need to empower himself in the real world led to the tragedies that ensued," Lee Allen said.

While some see Facebook as a potentially unhealthy form of interaction, others disagree.

"Whether it's using Facebook or MySpace, instant messaging or text messages, the Internet is woven into our daily lives and provides just another means of communicating with people in our social circles," Markman said. "Joining groups in Facebook is probably more about identity markers than actual activities, i.e., the groups you join say something about how you want people looking at your profile to perceive you."

Face-to-face interaction, or lack there of, is a heavily debated issue. However, students spending too much time on the social networking site have several other issues to worry about - one being "Big Brother" is always watching.

Many students spend their time on Facebook not thinking about how their obsession could affect their school life, work or all-around safety. Although there are privacy control options, students need to be aware that anything they do online is not exactly private.

Some universities have expelled students, revoked scholarships and busted students for underage drinking - all based on what faculty members found on students Facebook profiles.

In 2005, Cameron Walker, a student at Fisher College in Boston, voiced his opinion about a campus police guard. According to an article in Newsweek, he wrote in a post that the guard "loved to antagonize students ... and needs to be eliminated." Newsweek said another student read the post and then reported Walker to Fisher College authorities who later expelled Walker from the college.

John Brown University expelled a student whose Facebook profile indicated he was engaging in homosexual behavior incompatible with the school's code of conduct.

At Louisiana State, two swimmers were kicked off the team for criticizing their coaches on Facebook.

Some students have said U of M faculty members have been patrolling student accounts as well, looking for dirt.

When it comes to work, employers are getting in on the Facebook trend. Some employers are opening their own accounts so that they can spy on employees and get a closer look at applicants. Students never know when a drunken picture or profanity-filled wall post could come back to haunt them. Potentially risky behavior could cost students their careers.

Facebook owners said the site is "trusted," meaning information is safe and protected. However, the whole Big Brother issue still has students possibly jeopardizing their own safety.

Mary Kate Allen agreed.

"Facebook is simply used for a way to get in people's business without asking them," she said. "I know it is used for other purposes, but seriously, people use that to pry."

Brooks said there is a lot of potential for predators to be on Facebook as well.

For many, being able to check Facebook several times throughout the day is a must. Several students check their Facebook page from cell phones, computer labs and even on their laptops during class.

The obsession with constantly checking the site has sometimes caused friction between professors and students. Some professors have banned the usage of laptops during class, and others have applied a "No Facebook allowed" rule for students.

Shiva is one of those professors.

"Unfortunately, it is very easy to get distracted," Shiva said. "I have made students turn off their laptops and cell phones in my classes."

In 2005, students at the University of New Mexico experienced a rude awakening when the university blocked access to Facebook from the UNM campus computers and networks.

School officials said the site was a violation of UNM's acceptable computer use policy. After Facebook worked out the issues with the university, UNM unblocked access the following semester.

More employers are jumping on the banning bandwagon because Facebook addiction is distracting many people from devoting their attention to their jobs.

Loren Morgan, sophomore early education major, said she is guilty of checking while on the job.

"Well, I have Facebook mobile because I sometimes get really bored at work, and I message people," Morgan said. "So, I do it at work. I think it's ok, as long as you don't piss off your manager while doing it."

Lee Allen said he agrees with employers taking action against distracted workers.

"If online surfing or other distractions prevent an employee from completing assigned work or productivity is otherwise compromised, employers have every right to terminate such employees," Lee Allen said. "It would be the same if the employee ran off every hour to spend time getting coffee, visiting with colleagues, etc."

Students might want to take the issue seriously. It might seem like harmless fun, but what starts off as fun could end with a funeral, according to Garzon.

"It may cost your life eventually," Garzon said. "There are documented cases in China, for example, where students have been so immersed online that they have died of dehydration

Brooks said students should be concerned if they spend a lot of time on the site and if they are constantly checking the site throughout the day.

"Clearly someone who gets out of bed at night to check Facebook could have a problem. People having a problem getting their work done or people who depend on the site for their circle of friends could be in trouble," he said.

He recommended checking Facebook no more than twice a day and spending no more than 30 minutes a day on the site.

Another professor offered advice for those who might be at risk.

"If you feel like the amount of time you spend using Facebook or any other Internet application is disrupting your life in major and regularly recurring ways, then you should seek some help from the appropriate counseling office on campus," Markman said. "If you think Facebook is becoming a distraction, but is not really disrupting your life, then just try deactivating your profile for a week and then see how you feel."

Lee Allen recommended students get out regularly and experience life outside of cyberspace. He said students need to search for other hobbies or ways to relax and enjoy life.

"Take a walk or bike in a beautiful, peaceful park without earbuds, cell phones or other distractions," he said. "Breathe fresh air, and let your mind stop talking and do the listening. There is a huge planet out there, don't create your own tunnel to live in. The Internet is only one way of connecting with the planet - check out the other million or so."

yueling (:

Hello, here are the notes for today's discussion, which is Thursday, 23 July.

1st activity

Find words or ideas related to the words, "online", "offline", "connect" and "friend". We got words like interaction, communication and relationship which we thought were pretty useful.

Storylines

In the process, we thought of many different storylines and ideas came up from every single one.

1. Guy meets people through facebook, met them up, and killed them as he was a serial killer.
2. Con money.
3. Hacker hacks into a person's account.
4. Lastly, we decided to present both good and bad sides of using facebook.

Advantage

The old woman acts as a teenager over facebook, and made friends with another girl. The girl lastly realises that the "teenager" was actually her long lost grandmother.

Disadvantage

We referred to the Megan Meier's story.

Megan Meier thought she had made a new friend in cyberspace when a cute teenage boy named Josh contacted her on MySpace and began exchanging messages with her. Megan, a 13-year-old who suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder, corresponded with Josh for more than a month before he abruptly ended their friendship, telling her he had heard she was cruel.
The next day Megan committed suicide. Her family learned later that Josh never actually existed; he was created by members of a neighborhood family that included a former friend of Megan's.
Megan Meier hanged herself in her bedroom on Oct. 16, 2006, and died the next day. She was described as a "bubbly, goofy" girl who loved hanging out with her friends, watching movies and fishing with her dad.
Megan had been on medication, but had been upbeat before her death, her mother said, after striking up a relationship on MySpace with Josh Evans about six weeks before her death.
Josh told her he was born in Florida and had recently moved to the nearby community of O'Fallon. He said he was homeschooled, and didn't yet have a phone number in the area to give her.
Megan's parents said she received a message from him on Oct. 15 of last year, essentially saying he didn't want to be her friend anymore, that he had heard she wasn't nice to her friends.
The next day, as Megan's mother headed out the door to take another daughter to the orthodontist, she knew Megan was upset about Internet messages. She asked Megan to log off. Users on MySpace must be at least 14, though Megan was not when she opened her account. A MySpace spokeswoman did not return calls seeking comment.
Someone using Josh's account was sending cruel messages. Then, Megan called her mother, saying electronic bulletins were being posted about her, saying things like, "Megan Meier is a slut. Megan Meier is fat."
Megan's mother, who monitored her daughter's online communications, returned home and said she was shocked at the vulgar language her own daughter was sending. She told her daughter how upset she was about it.
Megan ran upstairs, and her father, Ron, tried to tell her everything would be fine. About 20 minutes later, she was found in her bedroom. She died the next day.
Her father said he found a message the next day from Josh, which he said law enforcement authorities have not been able to retrieve. It told the girl she was a bad person and the world would be better without her, he has said.
Another parent, who learned of the MySpace account from her own daughter who had access to the Josh profile, told Megan's parents about the hoax in a counselor's office about six weeks after Megan died. That's when they learned Josh was imaginary, they said.
The woman who created the fake profile has not been charged with a crime. She allegedly told the St. Charles County Sheriff's Department she created Josh's profile because she wanted to gain Megan's confidence to know what Megan was saying about her own child online.
The mother from down the street told police that she, her daughter and another person all typed and monitored the communication between the fictitious boy and Megan.
A person who answered the door at the family's house told an Associated Press reporter on Friday afternoon that they had been advised not to comment.
Megan's parents had been storing a foosball table for the family that created the MySpace character. Six weeks after Megan's death, they learned the other family had created the profile and responded by destroying the foosball table, dumping it on the neighbors' driveway and encouraging them to move away.

Feedback from Mdm Oehlers and the rest of the class

1. The audience might be more interested to explore the disvantage of facebook and the outcome of the victim.
2. We could actually change the story regarding the advantage of facebook. It can become, the grandmother and the grand-daughter are living together in the house, but they didn't have a good relationship, thus they did not communicate at all. The grandmother acts as a teenager and added her granddaughter on facebook as a way to communicate with her.

Jiaying. :)

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