Yes, this is all true. I spoke to a researcher recently who said that many of the 'issues' experienced with new apps, such as those grouped under the rubric 'Web 2.0', are intergenerational. But I'm 46 and I'm onto it. Like Christine, I run a blog. It's been up since January 2006 and I post almost daily. I use Facebook with great enthusiasm. I'm also on LinkedIn. Facebook is an interesting app because it's a 'cloud' app. In future we'll see more apps migrate onto the server, and many will not even require thin clients. Google's Wave email app - which has received press recently - is probably going to be the next. So use of Facebook may seem adolescent now but in future it'll seem like a useful experience, as new apps that are accessed exclusively through browsers, enter the picture. Cheers, Matthew da Silva BA (Hons) MMediaPrac m 0434 536 772 | e <mailto:mddasilva@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> mddasilva@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx w <http://www.matthewdasilva.com/> matthewdasilva.com From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Christine Kent Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 4:45 PM To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: atw: Re: Blogging and employers Not all blogs are rants. As with all the Web2.0 tools, they started off in the hands of the kids, and so their use reflected this. However, once the grown-ups get hold of them a whole new world opens up. One example is using blogs to create websites. Blogger and WordPress are easy ways for novices to put up relatively effective websites. When you do this you are then free to update your site/s as and when you see fit - a huge advantage over getting a geek to put up a website for you, or finding the whole process so tedious yourself that you are reluctant to change your site in case you break something. This is one rather boring use I have put Blogger to - as a blog rather than as a website. This one is useful as a marketing tool. http://christinekent.blogspot.com/ This is another example of a web 2.0 tool, used for self-publishing and also used in my case as a marketing tool. http://issuu.com/christinekent I must admit that, at this stage, I am not sure about Twitter or Facebook. I am on both, but have become pretty bored with them. I get a little value with new ideas coming to me, but I get much more from Linked-In which is also a Web 2.0 networking tool. I have joined lots of groups and have been inspired a few time with things I have read, so definite value. http://www.linkedin.com/in/christinemkent Christine From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John Catania Sent: Wednesday, 3 June 2009 4:23 PM To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: atw: Re: Blogging and employers Absolutely crazy! I'm one of the few supposedly 'Gen Y' people (born in 1981) who are expected to worship at the alter of Facebook, Blogger, Twitter et.al; but I don't particularly feel any affinity to those types of digital confessional diaries (let's face it, that's all they are). Maybe I'm too 'old school' for my age'; I'm really a member of what I call Generation Sigh - stuck in no-man's land between Gen X and Y; young enough to be indoctrinated in the digital revolution, but old enough to know better. Seriously, how discriminatory is it for employers to judge perfectly intelligent, competent people, on their passion to write grammatically correct, though hideously self-indulgent, rants about their lives? It's ludicrous! So, is this rant considered a suitable blog? If so, where do I sign up for the job? John Catania ----- Original Message ----- From: James <mailto:jameshunt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Hunt To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:53 AM Subject: atw: Blogging and employers There is an interesting current job ad on a Web site, for a technical editor. There is no need for a link - the latest version of the ad leads off with: "UPDATE: THIS IS NOT A TECHNICAL WRITER POSITION. please read the entire advertisment clearly and in full before applying." - and that takes care of most of us, even those who can read clearly. This paragraph in the ad is the interesting one: "A tip for potential candidates, only those who have blogs and relevant memberships will be taken seriously as this is a key indicator to passion for the web. Of course those blogs will be well written and predominantly free from errors." Did I miss the revolution here? When did blogging change from an unpaid hobby to a mandatory job qualification? How common is it for potential employers of editors or writers to make demands like this? And how long before we are judged on our Twittering? JH No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.51/2151 - Release Date: 06/02/09 17:53:00