We share a common language and culture, well sorta, so how can we not get caught up in American television? I’m sure many people in this class alone have satellites pointed up into space receiving the latest gossip on Britney Spears or Paris Hilton.  I know I’m one of those people that watches shows such as Entertainment Tonight or Access Hollywood.  It’s not like I really care about the people on the shows, they just make for good entertainment.  So what about Entertainment Tonight Canada? Well I dunno about anyone else but I just don’t find it as exciting to watch.  I mean nothing every exciting happens to some celebrity in Canada. 

There are good shows that are Canadian born as well.  I grew up loving to watch Road to Avonlea, Mr. Dressup, Ballooner Landing or even buying Anne of Green Gables on video.  But as I got older I didn’t give Canadian shows a second try.  Why? I dunno really.  It’s not because I was so consumed watching American programs but I think there were less shows out there that I could relate to as a teenager.  Now I guess we have Degrassi, which I love!

So has American television taken over our tv? In a way I think it has, only because I feel that Canadian television doesn’t market its television shows or stations in the same way.  This could be a good thing but also bad because Canadians are choosing to watch American programming.  I think more money is invested in the American television or movie markets.  The more money that is invested the more advertising a station such as ABC or CBS has to reel in viewers.  

In Canada we don’t have some big city like Hollywood that has the glitz and glam of the rich and famous.  So of course we are going to be curious about something we are not used to. 

Although Canada would like to stream the shows that are coming across the border I think it is going to be harder to do this.   I know my dad and probably many others have American satellite that is illegal.  Yes, the Canadian government is trying to crack down on illegal satellite but do you really think they will be able to catch everyone?  I think it just goes to show that one way or another people will find ways to get American programming even if Canada tries to limit the number of American programs on tv.   

So why in school are we always told to grow up Canadian and not American.  Well really I don’t see that big of a difference between the two.  There are certain things that Canada has which of course is better such as hockey, our Canadian pride, bilingualism, and there are soo many different distinct cultures in Canada.  I lived in the States for a few years, and maybe because I lived in a small town that I find little difference between the two very small.  I mean you do have the rude, obnoxious people but don’t you have those people everywhere?  And usually we have one in every class. 

Stupidest question an American has ever asked me: “Do you have Christmas inCanada?” and my answer was “Haven’t you ever heard the story of Santa delivering presents around the whole world all in one night!”

Well I just finished reading the article on the significance of virtual communities and I’m not too sure what to think about it.  So under the subheading are virtual communities liberating for their users I do have to agree with the internet providing unlimited means of communication at high speeds.  If your friend moves you can still communicate with them through these virtual communities.  I can relate to this through face-book.

I don’t even know where to begin with facebook.  I just got it this week and I can’t believe how many people you can find on there and how easy it is to use.  Plus it can be very addicting! I found friends that I moved away from  years ago through this virtual community.  It allows open communication and allows you to keep in contact with people all over the world!  But is there something that these communities are missing?

There are many online dating sites out there or online dating communities.  I’m not sure how much I can trust these sites.  Well it is not the site itself I do not trust but many of the users.  How do we know the person is who they really say there are? I think by talking to someone online there are certain things missing.  Since you have never met this person I think it make its hard to understand emotions, sarcasm and what about non-verbal communication?  Non-verbal communication is something that can be comforting to people.  It’s easy for someone to put up a picture and say there are that person but in reality in their mind they are just playing some game to lure people in. 

I do have a very good friend who moved to California and found that using these online chats as a good way of meeting new people.  So in a way I guess it can be good to have these internet communities out there. 

Virtual communities have allowed us to communicate as often and as quickly as we want.  We can chose who we talk to, which communities we join and are pretty easy to understand. 

So after last weeks class I decided to do a little more research on Nancy Grace.  I was most interested in her invovlment in the interview of Melinda Duckett.  In 2006, Grace had interviewed Melinda Duckett after her 2-year-old son had disapeered.  It just so happened the day after this interview Duckett commits suicide. 

Many people have critized Nancy Grace because during the interview she questioned Duckett’s lack of openess and awareness of her sons disaperance. 

I found this quote from wikiquote.org.  “Where were you? Why aren’t you telling us where you were that day? Ms Duckett, you are not telling us for a reason. What is the reason? You refuse to give even the simplest facts of where you were with your son before he went missing. It is day 12.”

Most people would have felt sorry for Melinda Duckett and not have questioned her unwillingness to share with the world her devastation of a missing son.  I think this interview and the role Duckett was put in under the mircoscope of the media goes to show how big of an influence is has on us. 

According to our text book the code of the RTNDA prescribes that reporters will show respect for the dignity, privacy, and well-being of people “at all times.” It also says that reporters be “accurate, comprehensive, and fair.” Where were these codes when this interview took place?

Another subject I want to touch on a litte is the television violence.  I do believe that short-term exposure will increase the likeihood of physically and verbally aggressive behavior. 

We all know that kids do spend a lot of time watching tv and many wishing they could be the characters from their favorite tv shows.  I feel that because of this they will take on the characteristics of their favorite character and may try to act it out at school to other kids or at home towards their parents or siblings. 

There are soo many video games out there that are very life like how can a child not take something away from that.  Although there is a difference from reality and fantasy I can’t help but think what are we teaching our kids.  Think about school shootings.  Where do these kids learn to shoot guns? Video games.  Kids think if it is cool in the video game then why not try it in real life.  But I do have to give props to parents who teach there kids right from wrong.  Not all kids turn out this way but I think all of us are greatly affected by what we see on the tv.