Thoughts on Social Software (based on Wikipedia)

It's interesting, but until reading the Wikipedia Article on Social Software during Chris Cessums' Presentation on Social Software last semester in Dr. Ferdig's class, I'd thought the term "Social Software" was fairly new. I'd only heard of it referring to blogs, wikis, and maybe Facebook and Myspace. After reading the article however I realized that I've been using Social Software since I started using the Internet. Even back when the Internet was just white text on a black background, free for use from my local public library, the first program I downloaded was ICQ to talk to my best friend Sara, as well as my brother's ex girlfriend who'd moved to Australia. After that I'd subscribed to a Buffy the Vampire Slayer newsgroup on Usenet, followed by emailing forwards (and receiving many more) to and from anyone who would let me send them.

Since then of course email has had many more uses, I've uninstalled ICQ only to become addicted to Aol Instant Messenger, and I must check Myspace and Facebook at least ten times a day. I've had three different personal blogs including two with Livejournal and one with Aol.

I love how much Social Software has developed and where it seems to be heading. Myspace has become such a valuable tool for me. Recently it's helped me get in contact with people I haven't heard from in close to ten years (including one friend who's now on Broadway and told me that he can get me free tickets to his show if I can make it up to NY, as well as another friend who is now a famous author on Long Island and is sending me an autographed copy of her book!) Actually this weekend I plan on getting my webcam working so that I can make my Social Software experience even more fun as my best friend from childhood has just created his first Aol Instant Messenger screen name and bought a webcam. We haven't seen each other in over ten years other than in pictures, and I can't wait to see and hear him!