Role-Playing

Role-Playing is a topic with a great number of facets that aren’t covered in the book, seeing as it has possible used both in dyadic communication as well as group-oriented personal interaction. It can be used as a strong communication mechanism, playing the role of a character that someone knows in order to convey a specific point to that person. For instance, if it’s a child being stubborn, role-playing can be used by the parent to emulate a character the child idolizes to convince them that an action would be either in their interest or that said character would do it, and thus so should they.

Not only is it a strong communication mechanism, but it is also a way to relax a group to allow for more open communication. Using it for the possible entertainment value behind it can be quite fun as well as getting people to act as if they were in a role that they wouldn’t normally find themselves in.

Interesting Concepts

I found the three aspects of Rhetoric – Ethos, Pathos, and Logos – to be one of the more interesting concepts of the course. What made these stand out to me is that, after learning more about them, I began to realize how much of an impact that they had on my life before even learning about rhetoric and communication. Not only did I see how much I used them, but how much I focused on them in others as well.

The rules behind personal interaction also piqued my interest. From my personal observations of others, I’ve noticed how differently people act when in the same situation with just different company. My family and their friends are a perfect example of this: My brother finds it natural and normal to be insulted by his friends as a greeting, and finds it humorous. On the other hand, my mother is professional in most circumstances, having a job where she is required to be as such – a Support Technician – and thus greets people with directness and respect.

Rhetorical Research Methods

Out of all of the different research methods, the Conversation Analysis is the most interesting to me. I like this approach because it is direct and into the actual interaction between individuals instead of focusing on the different parts that affect an encounter or interaction. Not only does this focus on the spoken parts of the interaction, but also the nonverbal communication that is used. In general, this methodology is focused intently on how persons interact.

If I wanted to do a study on an aspect of deception, I’d use this same method in combination with being unobtrusive in the interaction. With such a focus, my question would be, “What cues does someone give when they are being deceptive?” By focusing on the interaction itself, as well as nonverbal cues and even verbal interaction, I could take note of alterations in their behavior or distinctive differences between them and a similar partner. In addition to differences from their partner, by observing them in a normal interaction without deception, comparison with a deceptive encounter would illuminate behaviors and cues that they give when they are being as such.

Media Agenda

Everyone knows that all media outlets have their own agendas. They decide what they feel is most important to the people that receive their messages, even if what they deem important is believed to be otherwise by their viewers. They cherry-pick what ideas and events they feel are most important and relevant to the interests of the people, but they also have their own bias that aids in filtering the important events.

This bias is very heavily seen in political situations. What one person does may be looked over completely by the media simply because of their political affiliation, whereas something simpler is criticized endlessly for the same reason. Additionally, in elections, they may decide to “peg” someone as the victor even before all the votes are counted. This was most evident in the Bush/Gore election, where different media outlets predicted Gore to win, but Bush won the Electoral College. In short, the media always picks what they want the public to see, whether or not it is truly important, and their bias also causes their perceived importance of events to differ depending on the situation and those involved.

Messages and Mediums

The message in a medium is just as important as the message being broadcast. The listeners will receive a message differently if it comes from an online ad, a television commercial, an email, or radio. Because of this, the messages being sent through a specific medium are tailored around it, making sure to send the message appropriate to the medium. Radio, for example, won’t try to show you something, whereas television won’t focus on telling it to you, rather the other way around. In this way, the medium is the message, as the same message in each medium will be drastically different, both in expression as well as reception.

As for television being a “cool medium,” it does require the viewer to fill in details about what they’re watching. The viewer comes up with reasons behind certain actions that may not seem to be obvious, or they extrapolate a possible ending of the show through the clues and foreshadowing throughout. Additionally, they create theories for future episodes, with those that have an on-going story, based on the information given to them.

Cyber Relationships

I have formed relationships with people online. The main difference in these relationships is that they are not face-to-face with the other person. I cannot get a non-verbal message from the other person through facial expressions or movement. Additionally, I cannot get an idea of the meaning behind messages, seeing as it is difficult to get intent from text alone. Another difference is that the face-to-face interactions with others has a greater output, and is thus more rewarding, than just interacting with someone over the internet.

However, one of the more prevalent relationships I have created online came to fruition offline when I met said person at an Ohio convention in October. They were very similar to the person I knew online, and the face-to-face interaction was much more rewarding than the online interaction we had many times before. On top of that, the two of us strengthened our friendship while at the convention, going a little farther than text alone could really allow us to go.

Telecommute

Telecommuting is, to some, the best way to work. I know someone who works far enough away that, when he does go to work, he has to drive about an hour to and from his house to work. This costs him a decent amount of gas every week, as well as making it so he has even less free time than normal. Because of this, he prefers to work from home to save him the hassle of getting to and from work every day.

However, on the other hand, his co-workers prefer when he’s there. When he is in the office, he’s able to communicate directly with those around him as well as see what they’re doing, allowing them all to make sure things flow smoothly. Additionally, because of his sense of humor, he also happens to lighten the mood of the workplace, increasing efficiency.

In either case, telecommuting is a viable option with definite positive and negative aspects. Weighing them and figuring out which ones are more important to you, the company, and your co-workers is what you have to do. If you’re losing money while working because of how far you have to commute without being able to relocate yourself closer, then it might be a better idea to telecommute or find a way to carpool. 

Rules of Etiquette

Each one of etiquette rules is very true and still important today. On the subject of screen names, though, are email accounts as well. What you have may seem “funny” or appropriate, but it may not be professional on any level. You wouldn’t want to apply for a job with the email “stoner_gir653” or something related. In addition, and by extension, is your Facebook account: Employers, potential business partners, and perhaps others will look at your Facebook to get an idea of who they’ll be dealing with. Having a lot of images of you getting drunk partying is not the best choice to have all over your account.

Cell phones and beepers have been problems in my past. I’ve seen people who talk loudly on a cell phone when people are trying to work, or even those who prioritize cell calls over all else, causing a different type of disruption. Laptops and tablets have also had a place of annoyance, as they can be in situations where they are unneeded, and are more used for personal instead of professional use, like in school at times.

Call waiting is, though, a touchy subject. Depending on the situation, it can be considered rude or not. If the person being called asks the other, the one being placed on hold, if it’s okay and they say it is without going into a paradox, then it is not exactly rude as they are okay with it. However, if you just switch over to the other person, that’s similar to talking with someone, and then turning your back on them mid-conversation to begin another with someone else. 

Organizations

Organizations are tailored around the environment and community in which they exist. Their goals and values are products of who creates them as well as where and the type of organization that is created. In an example, it would be expected for a medical institution in an urban environment to be focused on being able to take care of a large number of patients as well as being able to take care of spontaneous accidents or incidents that could easily occur. On the other hand, one in a more rural environment would probably not be able to take care of larger-scale accidents or the more serious incidents.

The schools I’ve been to have all been tied to the community in some way. Nevada Union High School, for example, was very sports oriented, as the community tends to value physical activities more than other practices. Because of this, the school had also valued physical activities over others, and devoted more funds and attention to the football team than other facets of the school, like the music or drama departments.

Journey of Intimacy

Knapp’s journey towards intimacy is interesting, as I’ve seen “couples” in High School navigate all stages pretty quickly, both into and out of a relationship. Before reading the theory, I actually did not notice the similarities between the relationships, but Knapp’s model showed me how they progressed, and that they were not dissimilar in many ways.

The High School couples would go through the “initiating” stage quickly, seeing as they may not have as much time to get to know each other. The “experimenting” stage tended to happen in classes that were in common, as they would experiment with different roles in doing classwork and homework. The “intensifying” stage would occur when they’d begin asking things of each other they wouldn’t normally, like going to each other’s house to study or even cheating on assignments. Finally, they’d achieve the “integrating” stage when they’d start doing a lot more together, even if it was to the detriment of their work.

Usually, they’d advance too quickly, and they’d then go through the “retreat from intimacy.” They’d pick on the simple things that begin to annoy them in the “differentiating” stage, and go on to not talk about their personal failures or what they felt their partner had caused them to mistake in the “circumscribing” stage. The “stagnating” stage would be them staying away from one another socially by migrating to other groups for classwork or homework, and only communicating when it was necessary. Then they’d hit the “avoiding” stage where they’d select somewhere else to eat for lunch, sit elsewhere in the class, and avoid going with them to work together as well as avoid them completely. Finally, the “termination” stage would occur, and I’ve seen it end in three ways: It’s mutual and respectful, one party tries to repair it, or it’s a shock.

Relationship Filters

The main things I use to judge someone “unattractive” is if they openly do not accept of as well as if they are unwilling to learn in general. These two filters can easily be considered “cognitive cue” filters. This is because the two of them are psychological values: One must be willing to be tolerant and accepting of new views, and one must be willing to learn, in order for either to actually be possible.

Duck’s theory makes a great amount of sense to me, personally. We judge our compatibility with someone based on their age, appearance, location, how they act, how they treat others, and how well they adapt to different situations. The first three are sociological, or incidental, the next is pre-interaction, the next is interaction, and the final being cognitive. The theory makes complete sense, as we won’t be willing to live with someone who is conflicting too heavily on those wavelengths, although we might be willing to compromise on the location and appearance if the other three are synchronized well enough.

Dysfunctional Patterns

I think “Competitive Symmetry” would be the most difficult to change. This is simply because, when both parties want the power and control, it’s sometimes difficult to alter that desire. With “Rigid Complementary ” it can be changed to be less rigid, thus simply being “ complementary,” whereas, in “Submissive Symmetry,” one party can just make a unanimous decision to finally end whatever arguments or exchanges they may find themselves in.

On the same thing, “competitive symmetry” would be damaging to both individuals’ self-esteem. This is because the two are vying for a controlling position. If, in a more personal relationship, neither party obtains the controlling position, they may feel slighted by their partner, not giving them the control they feel they deserve. “Rigid complementary  may only end up being damaging to the one-down person, while “submissive symmetry” wouldn't be very damaging to either, as only their view of their partner would be altered.

Intercultural Business

The idea of different cultures reacting very differently to things we see as “cool,” “hip” or respectful” is something that has been around for a very long time. For example, an urban legend, which isn’t actually true, states the Chevrolet Nova didn’t sell well in Spanish-speaking areas because “Nova” can be translated to “does not go.” Additionally, a candy bar that was released in the United States had the name of zit. Because of the name, and the connotation with said name, and it did sell very poorly. This sort of issue can be avoided simply by doing research into the area in which you are attempting to do business. Otherwise you might find yourself in the same situation as the company which got booted because they used pigskin leather for their contract, disrespecting their hosts; or you might find yourself selling a candy bar with a name that causes people to cringe when thinking about eating it.

Premises

I believe in all three, to a point. The rationality premise is definitely true on some level because, through study, one can begin to understand a majority of things that they encounter, including those from other cultures. Additionally, they can discover the origin of specific things, like beliefs or even all matter at some point in the future. The rationality premise is the definite baseline for any sort of institution, including schools, universities, and scientific labs.

The perfectibility premise also has merit, seeing as it is easier to simply succumb to desires and temptations than it is to “do the right thing.” If you make a mistake, it’s sometimes easier to lie about it than to come clean, showing what you did wrong. At times, these mistakes are grave and horribly erroneous, which makes it even more difficult to admit how you did err. The perfectibility premise is the underlying belief of religious institutions.

The mutability premise is also true, which is evidenced by how easily our accent will change when exposed to a different one for a period of time. We are definitely influenced by our surroundings, as well as how those around us act at different times. When we immerse ourselves in another culture, or even in a world that does not exist, we tend to pick up different values and beliefs that they hold, and react as they would. Immersive video games as well as language and religious classes hold the mutability premise as a key point.

Societal Pressures

Our habits and beliefs are most definitely shaped by our culture. When one looks at what we do openly, other cultures may see it as offensive, and we may see what other cultures do disgusting. Because of how our culture views different things, our habits are shaped by these views. If there wasn’t a great pressure on an aesthetically pleasing appearance, there wouldn’t be people who are in the habit of exercising for the explicit purpose of “getting into shape” or alter their diet for the same purpose. Additionally, if there was more of a pressure on appropriate communication, there wouldn’t be as many “text shorts” or even “texting” in general because of the need for face-to-face interaction. On the same note, there isn’t as great of a pressure on spelling words appropriately, seeing as Spelling as a subject that is stopped being taught in sixth grade, so people don’t go into habits of ensuring the words they do use fully are spelled correctly.

Eye Behavior

Eye behavior is an interesting topic to think about. When one pictures expressions, they imagine more of the muscles of the face adjusting in such a way to create an expression. However, when you look at the behavior of the eyes, it also reveals just as much as the rest of their face. If their eyes are focused forward, they are paying attention. However, if they’re wandering, it could show boredom or that other things are simply catching their attention.

In addition to this, if their eyes are looking down, it has several connotations within. It could be they are tired, or they may not be feeling well. It could also be that they are afraid of looking someone in the eyes, or that they don’t think they should carry themselves as such. The behavior of the eyes is a fascinating topic because of how in-depth it can be, as well as how revealing one’s eyes can truly be.

Nonverbal Signals

In America, the “Thumbs Up” expression is used to convey “success” or “approval.” However, in Iran and Iraq, that same gesture is considered the same as “flipping the bird” in America. On the same level, the “A-Okay” gesture, touching the fore finger to the thumb while extending the other three fingers, is a sign of things going according to plan. In Latin communities, though, it shares a meaning with the bird.

Another gesture in America is extending the palm with all five fingers extended. It’s seen as rude because of it being a forced dismissive to the recipient. In Africa, it has a similar feeling behind it, although the actual effect is basically saying the recipient has five fathers and is, therefore, an illegitimate child. Although I have “been around” in the United States, I have not experienced differences in culture that are large enough to involve a change in connotation of nonverbal signals.

Nonverbal Interpretation

I have been wrong about someone’s nonverbal message. For the most part, it was simply a point in my direction, despite it being towards someone behind me. I reacted accordingly, although with confusion as I didn’t know why said person was pointing at me. A moment later, someone came from behind me, and I then knew that the person didn’t mean me, but a person that was standing behind me.
The best way to improve the accuracy of the interpretation of nonverbal messages is to accompany them with verbal messages. If you specify verbally at least some sort of context to the nonverbal message, it narrows the possibilities of the implied meaning dramatically. For instance, if someone simply points at a crowd, it could mean they are showing the crowd to someone, trying to pick someone out in the crowd, or even showing someone that the direction they need to go is through the crowd.

Automatic Interpretation

Automatic Processing is something that I have done a lot without really noticing. For example, I sometimes give incorrect answers to questions because I don’t put enough thought into the question itself, and just spout what I automatically thought the answer was. This can be simple questions such as, “What are you doing?” or even mathematical questions, like, “If this was made in 1998, how old is it?” This sort of thing can be seen in shows and movies, like the fourth episode of the first season of “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.” Twilight tells Applejack that she is going to help her, no matter what. She wasn’t directly ready for Applejack to say “Yes,” and almost said something as if she said “No.” Despite these automatic responses I make, I have also taken steps to prevent myself from doing so before learning what it was.

These steps include listening to the question and actively pondering it for a moment before forming a thoughtful, honest answer. Although the schemata I may have formed for each question still get in the way when I do think, I’ve gotten better at actually stating direct answers to questions and inquiries.

Men and Women

Men and women use language very differently. Women are more imagery oriented, going by describing what they want to convey by relating it to different images or ideas. Men, on the other hand, are more specific-oriented, and focus on the details and specifics of what they want to convey. They use numbers and measurements, and perhaps seemingly quantifiable desires, to communicate.

This sort of difference in interaction is made very clear when asking two different people directions from the same place to another location, where both know the way there. The woman would tell you how to get there by using street names and landmarks to describe where you would want to turn or stop. The man, on the other hand, would use the number of blocks you’re traveling or the number of minutes you will be driving to get there: Both of which are just as effective, although the two are very different in delivery. 

Perception Judgments

It is technically impossible to perceive others without judging or categorizing them on some level. Because of how each individual was raised, they place different values on different aspects of a person. When you see someone, you look at their appearance: their hair, attire, skin color, and even how they carry themselves. Through these, you come up with an initial idea of how they will be, whether or not said idea is accurate.

The only way to make said judgments to become “fair” is simply realizing the different possibilities with each aspect. For instance, a disheveled hairstyle could imply a lack of personal grooming habits or it could mean they’re struggling somehow and can’t put focus on their appearance. We also use their attire to come up with their mindset or their likes. For instance, you could assume someone wearing a Raider shirt is a fan of the NFL team, the Raiders, where someone wearing a shirt depicting Twilight Sparkle would be assumed to enjoy the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Many things can have many meanings, and seeing the different possibilities is what makes these “judgments” fairer in the long run as well as immediately.

Historical Context

Historical context behind a speech is something I personally never thought about actively. Things that happen completely alter the attitudes and beliefs the audience holds when they witness a speech. For instance, arguing for reduced security on a school campus would be perceived more positively before a security breach at said campus, like an assault with a deadly weapon on it. On the other hand, an argument for increased security after the event would be received more positively by the audience for the same reasons.

Not only do events have an important part behind the historical context of a speech. There is also personal histories and even repeated events that could alter the perception of an argument or form of public communication. One example would be a speech on the importance of a specific holiday in society. If the holiday was either recent or upcoming, it would be received more positively, while a speech about it six months before or after it would probably be ignored because of this.

Memorable Speakers

The worst speaker I have ever heard wasn’t directly a public speaker. Instead, he was a tour guide, but that still holds a level of “public speaking” nonetheless. What made him such a bad speaker was that he was very monotonous and unentertaining. In addition, he was very static and unmoving, making paying attention to him even more difficult. I barely remember what his message was about the tour we were on because of how boring his speaking happened to be.

On the opposite end, the best speaker I have ever heard was Chris Davenport, an instructor at a United Spirit Association Drum Major Camp. What made him such a good speaker was because he was very into what he said: He’d move and have emotion in everything he said. He was dynamic and also used humor to maintain attention. Why it was so memorable was because he played on being “goofy” while also getting any points he needed to get across.

Well-Known Speaker

One well-known speaker is the current vice-presidential nominee, Paul Ryan. What makes him a good speaker is the fact that he maintains eye contact with the audience, both present as well as through the television cameras. Eye contact is a definite necessity to be a good speaker, as it creates a feeling of being spoken to when the speaker is actually looking at you instead of at a piece of paper or teleprompter.

The strongest characteristic as a speaker that he has is a combination of credibility and power. The fact that he has been present as a representative for as long as he has been shows that his constituents believe that he is doing his job well, as well as that Mitt Romney has chosen him as his running mate. In order to build ethos in his credibility would be to ensure that what he speaks of he has been in support of since the beginning, and doesn’t change his stance to make himself look better.

Patterns of Communication

Communication is most definitely a patterned interaction. Specifically, even in a speech, it goes from a statement of some sort to a reaction, and then a reaction by the speaker. In a conversation, it revolves back and forth from person to person who participates in said conversation. However, in a speech, it just goes from speaker statements, to audience reaction, to speaker reaction to the reaction of the audience, and then continues normally.

Because of the pattern, communication is similar to a game. This is true because, in order to actually pass along an idea, the actions need to be dictated by the target audience. Changing the strategy on how to persuade the demographic or simply communicate a specific point to the audience. Despite this, though, communication is still not exactly a game. A “game” is something one does to derive joy or entertainment, while communication is an action one takes in order to pass along a point or persuade a target audience to take a specific stance.

Communicating Worlds

“Worlds” are built through communication because of the different traditions, legends, and mythos that are passed down through the different societies. In our own, we pass along several different beliefs and ideas from generation to generation, as well as throughout the generation. One example is the emphasis on physical appearance and fitness. Additionally, there are also political views and ideals that are passed down from generation to generation.

Both of the beliefs contribute to the successes and failures of individuals in their professional or social lives. Political views definitely play a part in how well someone can do socially, as those views are an important part of how many people see others. Additionally, one’s appearance also plays a part in acceptance, as people use how one looks to get a general perception of how one is prior to meeting them in a social encounter. Although neither of these should play a part in success, it does so because people place an emphasis on appearance and similar political views, among sports teams, as important factors.

Definition of Communication

Communication is difficult to truly define because of all the mediums it encompasses. Some of these mediums include the written word in essays and articles, and even creative instances like books and poems. Additionally, there is also the spoken word through speeches, simple day-to-day communication, and debates. Even then, there are the senders and receivers in every instance of communication, so there is no real “definition” that encompasses all possible situations.

I agree with the fact that there is no real “definition” for communication because of this. However, I think there are several correct “definitions” that can be used for each instance, creating one large, broad definition for communication. Similar to the word “decimate,” which literally means “to reduce by one tenth,” it has several other meanings, making it synonymous to “destroy” or “annihilate,” “communication” has many definitions, each fitting different situations and mediums.

Canons of Rhetoric

The canons of rhetoric are extremely valuable in speech, even today. The first of the five, invention, is basically ensuring research is made on the subject. One cannot hope to make an argument in front of a knowledgeable audience if they themselves do not know of the matter they are speaking on. Additionally, the style one speaks with to an audience is just as important: Using simple terms or words when speaking to a smart crowd might make them bored, while using larger words and terms for a more layman crowd might confuse them if they don’t know the meanings of the different words you use.

The arrangement of the speech is also important, and is rigorously emphasized in all forms of communication nowadays: Speeches and essays being two prime examples. A speaker shouldn’t speak on history in an order other than chronological, as disordering the context of history is just a bad decision in general. Additionally, if attempting to disprove a statement, one doesn’t simply start with what is believed to be the truth, but instead takes individual steps to show the fallacy, and then finish with the truth being the conclusion.

Memory is a definite necessity when speaking to a crowd. Simply reading from a speech in some manner can detract from the final canon, delivery, and is thus important. Even if it isn’t as important as it was back when the written word was much less prevalent than the spoken word, it is still important when making a speech. Memory is important mostly because of how it can affect the delivery of a speech in general. If one is static and unmoving throughout the speech, the audience can become bored, while moving too much can distract the audience as well. Additionally, attempting to emphasize unimportant parts of a speech is just as distracting as moving too much.

Speaker

Chris Christie, the keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention and governor of New Jersey, is a public speaker I definitely admire. For the most part, his ability to persuade stems from pathos. This is because it is easy to tell he feels very strongly about what he says, and how passionate he is when he says it. Additionally, he also has a bit of ethos because of the fact that what he says is heavily backed by his record, and he speaks mostly of what he has done anyway. From there, he finally has parts of logos because he doesn’t just use his record; he also uses the effects of his actions to back what he says. Although a bit of his persuasive abilities stem from pathos, he also utilizes logos and ethos to persuade the listeners.

My main quality that makes me persuasive is a combination of logos and ethos. I use logic and facts behind most of what I say, making those my arguments concise and definite. Additionally, I am able to stand by what I say, knowing that I either have done or will do what I try to persuade others to do themselves. The one thing that Christie has that I don’t is the ability to remain passionate about what I say, maintaining a level of emotion, of pathos, in my arguments and statements.

Oration

In all honesty, an orator is just someone who has great skill in public speaking. Nowadays, one could consider politicians to be a sort of orator due to the fact that they constantly speak in public and are able to rally those to their cause. Even though a majority of this is simple lobbying, it doesn’t change that they are orating in this way. Although I wish the Greeks were correct, I truly do not believe that an orator needs to be morally good, because politicians have earned the infamy of being liars and not holding true to the promises they make in oration. Despite this, politicians can be argued as "bad orators" anyway.

Even then, there is also the “good” that one can have behind their speeches. Most of the time nowadays, the main intention behind the speech is to get people to follow them and nothing more. In modern times, orators are mainly there to get the word out and hopefully rally a group of people to a common cause. Therefore, I conclude that an "Orator" does not need to be morally good or honest to be considered an orator, but merely be able to get the desired word out into the public in an efficient and powerful manner.

Introduction

Hello everyone. I'm Chris Trefero, and I'm taking the Communication Studies class. Outside of academics, I have numerous interests, including programming, music, and gaming. The three of them tend to go well together as well, but I've yet to do anything professional with anything I enjoy doing. Anyway, I also enjoy watching a good show here and there, like Leverage, Burn Notice, and a slew of cartoons. Then again, who doesn't like cartoons?

On a side note, I enjoy writing. I take pride in keeping decent grammar in all mediums, as well as checking my spelling if I'm even partially unsure of how to do so appropriately through the use of search engines and online dictionaries. I have informally been granted the title of "Grammar Nazi," something I wear like a badge of honor. I've started on a couple actual writing projects, although I doubt I'll get anything published in the near future. However, I think I'll be able to get some attention on one work I've begun, so that'll be a plus. I'm still in the preliminaries on the writing work I'll get the "attention" on, but I hope to have all that sorted out within the week.

On programming, I even do customized skins for the gaming platform known as "Steam." Once I get the screenshots taken, they'll be uploaded to my DA account for the appropriate audiences to be able to view, although I can assure everyone that the content is child-friendly (although some people wouldn't like it anyway). I honestly find it fun going through the seven thousand lines of code in the few layout and style files I modify for the custom skin, but that's just me.

I guess that really wraps up my short introduction here. I hope to enjoy this class, as I hope with all classes I take at Sierra. I also hope to get some sort of job in the near future, and I keep doing what I can do get said job. Anyway, I look forward to getting to know some of you as well as taking this class!