PLN and communications—what do people see?
1. Community communications go beyond blogs and social media shares, how does a PLN help and hinder the developments of thoughts and ideas in public discourse—especially when addressing our differences?
According to Harrison Mooney, his PLN can help him, an isolated black man, to connect to zeitgeist. He can also learn from others in his PLN. He also mentioned that being able to observe others’ remarks online can provide him with inspirations.
According to the book of social media, the prominent advantage of social media, when it comes to address our differences, is that it can present various perspectives, which can deepen our understanding and make us more objective. However, a PLN sometimes may have negative effect on developing new thoughts and ideas. For example, when we add hashtags in Twitter we may find that there are many people who hold the same opinion with us, which actually is a process of self-reinforcing. In this context, we may tend to be extreme, ignoring other opinions. Besides, being absorbed in a PLN composed of the like-minds may create an information silo for us, which means we can only receive confirmation of our own values and beliefs.
2. How can a PLN be curated to minimize bias and expand knowledge of the lives of others?
Bias is sometimes bred by ignorance. When we don’t understand others’ circumstances we are easy to hold prejudice. A PLN can help with providing opportunities for all people to make their voices and tell their own stories. Harrison Mooney comes a good example. His online presence and his share of his own story can expand others’ knowledge about black men.
3. How does the identity of who you are, fit into your PLN?
Harrison Mooney narrated his own experience of being the sole black man among the environment dominated by white people. What I have learned from him is that he would present his professional abilities regardless of the outside environment. He didn’t show anger over other’s impoliteness and disrespect. What he chose to do is to seize every opportunity to make his own voice, expanding others’ understanding. When it comes to myself, I don’t think my own identity has to fit into my PLN. If the PLN holds some kind of tacit understanding of whom I should be, then I might just turn to another PLN. That’s why I separated my professional and personal PLN.
4. Do you include professional and personal boundaries?
Yes, I set professional and personal boundaries. It’s mainly because the two areas hold different expectations for me. My professional persona is supposed to be diligent and sensible. However, my personal PLN expects me to be sincere and open. I don’t want to expose my true self in the professional context because that may undermine my credibility.
References
Miller J. (2020). EDCI 338 A01 – Smith, Julie. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/Z_T9RghwJlI
Cathie L. (2017). Introduction to Media Studies. Chapter 4. Retrieved from: https://mediastudies.pressbooks.com/chapter/the-importance-of-media-literacy/
Hello Xi,
I think your post is quite clear, organized, and informative. I really liked how you used Harrison Mooney’s experience and ideas to reflect on your own opinions. It helps me better understand your reflections clearly. I definitely agree that “a PLN may have negative effect on developing new thoughts and ideas” and the example that you used in your post is quite persuasive and clear as well. Also, I agree that separating professional and personal PLNs is an useful and effective way for us to show our personal and professional identity respectively.