Reflecting on our Love/Hate Relationship with Media

Media Reflection

Print is probably my favorite form of media, but I have to agree with several comments made about how print media gets ruined (like books getting damaged) and the amount of waste it produces.  When I made my own post, I didn't think about those things until I looked at what is posted.  I found this true with a lot of what my classmates posted.  My first thoughts were always positive, and how much I loved certain things about that type of media.  In fact, it was like this for all the media forms except for sound media, which was the exact opposite.  I was surprised at how many "hate" posts there were for digital media, though, considering the majority of us in this class are digital media majors.  I wasn't expecting this.

Personal Reflection

As I've said, Print is very possibly my favorite media form.  I often choose books over television, whether I'm reading a physical book, or something on my Nook.  When I was reading the comments, though, most people refer to books in the physical sense, and not the digital.  Reading on a Nook or a Kindle is still print based text, it just brings technology into the equation.  I'll admit that I hated eReaders at first.  I tried having a Nook and hated it so much I returned it.  But now as a teacher, with limited time and bag space, I've come to LOVE my Nook and how easy and convenient it can be.  If I'm sitting at home and I finish a book, all I have to do is go online and download the next book instead of driving an hour to the bookstore to get to next chapter.  Even though I might be reading on a screen, though, this is still print media.

I will admit, though, that I have my hates.  For starters, how easily books can be damaged.  It is my biggest pet peeve.  If I loam a book to someone, I expect them to take care of it, and if it becomes damaged in any way, I have to have a new one.  It irritates me to no end when paperback covers get ripped off or pages get water damage.  I feel the same about students who don't take care of textbooks.  Unfortunately, though, no matter how much we might care for our precious books, they can only ever hold up so long before they eventually start to fall apart.