I go by Abbs

Interests - Intrigues - Influences

[igobyabbs]

You're Not You Without Your Phone.

Before doing this experiment, I felt like I had the temptations of my phone under control. Compared to the other people in my life, I’m the last to pick their phone up, the first to forget where they put it, and the one taking photos for others, not getting my photo taken. I even stopped using social media as much for a couple years because of all the toxicity going around, though, I still maintained my profiles online. It wasn't until my abilities were put to the test and when I payed closer attention to my habits, that I realized I may have an addiction. 

Hi. My name is Abbie Perigo, and I am addicted to my cell phone. 

Sure, it’s silly to say you’re addicted to your phone. But if you think about it, when we were kids, we were addicted to the T.V. screens and there isn't much of a difference. The habit started young and just grew into something more intricate, personal, and of course, more portable. 

During this experiment, it was difficult to come up with the timed schedule on when I could not use social media. This was because I’ve recently launched two online profiles for my business, with Instagram bring my main hub. I had to make sure I got my work done, while also following through with the rules of this experiment. I ended up doing four hour intervals with no social media usage, every three hours. This worked best because I could still reply to people on my posts and stories in good time, without being distant with potential customers and my team members.

I remember trying to keep myself occupied during these time intervals, by doing a lot of work and school work, some restorative yoga, and making meals/eating snacks because I was bored. I would put my phone across the room on silent, so the temptations of the notifications wouldn't make me give in and forget the purpose of this assignment. I even found myself staring at my home screen at one point, because I knew I could see all the new things happening with one click, but making the choice not to felt rewarding.

After concluding this experiment, I noticed how much time I spent on my phone, as well as how much I got done throughout the day without any distractions. I began to start using social media as more of a tool for my business and future, which allowed me to save more time from being waisted. 

[igobyabbs]

Who Are You Without Your Online Identity?

Are You Really Alone When You Have Your Phone?

Louis K.C. makes great points, discussing the draining relationship all people have with their cell phones. Something that stuck, was when he said people use their phones at times to get rid of the loneliness they're experiencing, and I would have to agree. The first thing that comes to mind when I’m alone and bored is to go on my phone. There’s so much to do on there, so many people to be in contact with, and so much going on to keep up with outside of ourselves. What we often do forget, is that being alone or bored is good for us; it builds character and allows us to gain some originality. We are so caught up in other people’s lives, on our phones specifically, that we aren't truly seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, tasting, or experiencing anything to the fullest of what it is meant to be. Instead of taking in the once in a life time view, we are taking a photo or video. Sure, the moment may last forever on a screen, but it’s what you remember that really make these moments so special. I would much rather hear about a detailed story of a single moment and go through the experience all over with the story teller, than just be shown a photo and only re-visit the moment in time. 

Cut The Cord / Get Unplugged

Sherry Turkle speaks on many topics regarding cell phone usage and the relationship we have with them. I learned a lot about how I should be using my phone moving forward from listening to this discussion, and I agree with many of Sherry’s strong points. She discovered during her own research many things that have to do with how we act around others with our phones involved and the personal connection we have with the device itself, not to mention the connections with other people that we maintain while using it too. One of her many conclusions to the many questions that were asked, was that regular life is becoming dull and isn’t stimulating enough anymore to a majority of cell phone users, that’s why people use their phones so often to maintain that social high. These phones are a constant interruption to normal daily life, not allowing people to function on their own without their phones in their finger tips. It is inevitable that cell phone users today, will look down (physically) on their surroundings and surrender to the notifications that open the doors to this whole new world. We are seduced by the opportunities to connect with others online, and we are okay with missing out on the connections right in front of us outside of the screen because technology’s pull is too strong for us to go against the thrill of being connected. We make the decision every day to ignore what is happening around us, and instead put energy and attention towards a screen of words and photos.

During the interview, they discussed a specific Facebook ad, which basically gave me the impression that this is becoming the new normal; being technologically connected, but physically disconnected. This ad disrespects the tradition of family dinner time, when the future of the family (the youngest) is paying no attention to her relatives, but in an entire different world mentally on her phone. There’s a time and place for phone time, like there’s a time and place for family time.

The new social priority is becoming more about what we look like online, compared to who we actually are in real life. People care a lot about what others think about them, so they use social media to make some sort of statement about/for themselves. The real question is, why do people post with the intent to satisfy others instead of themselves? And we all do this; we all have posted that sunset or the ten different blurry concert videos, but why? I wish I could tell you, but I’m too busy trying to pick which picture of the sunset to add to this post. Ask yourself, who are you, really, and does your social profiles truly show the real you? Do YOU enjoy seeing those sunsets you post so often?

Sherry makes a great point, about how we lose empathy towards others when we discuss our opinions online with them. This is because we aren't face-to-face with that person, so it’s harder to put ourselves in their shoes to comprehend their point of view. It’s also easier to disregard a person’s feelings when they aren’t physically infant of you, showing you their emotions. Sherry also mentions how some people even use their online profile to experiment with their real life identity. For example, one may be shy and introverted in person, but online they could be a social butterfly, testing out people’s reactions to their opinions or profile. These are two other aspects of the relationship somebody could have with their cell phones and online profiles. People need to be able to express themselves freely, and doing so online currently seems to be the best, most productive way.

[igobyabbs]

The Internet Makes History, Again

Throughout Clay Shirky’s TedTalk, about the internet and social media shaping history into new figures, he mentions multiple things that caught my attention. When he was speaking about the timeline on how the internet was raised to be, and what it’s turning into today, it made me realize a couple things. The first, being that even the internet will evolve into something else. Also, that what the internet is evolving into, is something more like a tool for beneficial use, rather than something for entertainment. 

Shirkly said a couple things about how the internet used to be just “one-to-one” (ex./ phone call), then moved onto becoming “one-to-many” (ex./ radio station/T.V.). Though, now we’ve become a part of a new age where social connections and networks around the world have gotten much larger and more intertwined, that it is considered to be “many-to-many” (ex./ Twitter/Facebook). What he means by this, is that groups of people have access to other groups of people, and that is how information travels so quickly and easily from one group to another. He calls this a “coordinated global response”, when one group of people reacts to the other’s spread of information. In times like today, these responses could change the world.

Bringing up the issue in China that Clay used as an example, where there was an earthquake that caused a political uprising regarding the damages of poorly-built schools, the people noticed that change was starting because of the abundance of coverage and rapid spread of the issues that were going on. The government had to respond before too much chaos was created; the people’s questions and concerns couldn’t remain unanswered forever, especially with the amount of force they were generating across the globe. The government wasn’t able to filter through all of the stories being published online, because there were so many pouring in from their own people, and it was spreading so fast. I think this was mean to happen, to show the people that there is a way to be heard, that the connections are out there, and that people really are paying attention and listening to what’s going on. They broke through China’s Great Firewall, which is tough to do. This goes to show the true power behind the spread of information, and how the internet can be the tool that harnesses that spread. If people take action and use the internet as a tool, they will benefit from generating these new connections and becoming a part of the long chain of others in the spread of information. How Clay put it, was that “the audience becomes the participant”, meaning once people go from watching content to producing content, they are taking part in that spread.

[igobyabbs]

Welcome!

Hello! My name is Abbie Perigo, but you can call be Abbs :)

A Little Bit About My Back Story

I am 21 years old, and I originated in Wolverine Lake, Michigan. Though I only have one sister, I come from a big family with a lot of extended family as well. I gather with the many parts of my family often and enjoy spending time with them, doing things like family dinner/card nights and a lot of traveling. This year, we plan to get the whole family together down in Sarasota, FL for Christmas and New Years. As hectic as family time may get with this bunch, I am very grateful to be able to do these things with them and I really appreciate the moments we get to share. 

What Have I Been Up To?

Currently, I am a senior at Central Michigan University, studying entrepreneurship, hospitality, and thinking about adding interior design to the list. I am a member of Tri-Sigma sorority, which gives me many opportunities to participate in fundraising and volunteering for good causes. There may be a high chance you see me rollerblading around campus, or possibly at the local haunts around Mount Pleasant. I live off campus in a duplex with four other amazing girls, and even with only two bathrooms, it couldn’t be more fun! The two people we share the duplex with above, are also a blast; we all tend to stay up all night listening to music, chatting each other’s ears off, and eating midnight snacks (if we aren't up late studying for classes instead).

Ideas Of My Future

I have always wanted to be my own boss, that’s where the love of entrepreneurship surfaced. It wasn’t until late one night, my freshman year, I realized what I wanted to do. Creating a space for people to escape, where they can really relax and let go of the outside stressors in the real world. Not even just a vacation; a luxury spa getaway. In addition, I have always been a people pleaser, so helping others and being a part of the service industry always drew me in. Working up to that large goal, I want to begin with some vacation rentals up north, a coffee shop/water store, and of course, running the business I currently operate. It definitely wasn’t easy, generating these ideas for my future as an undergraduate, with my quickly running imagination.

The business I recently became a part of last year, called Enagic, is more about selling myself and the story of how I joined the business, then actually about selling the products; essentially, the products sell theirselves. It’s getting people to make the decision to take the next step in bettering their health and changing their lives, by simply just replacing their water source.

A Little More About Me

My big three in astrology are Aries, Cancer and Sagittarius, and I love being outside in the heat of the sunshine, preferably on a beach somewhere. Me and my boyfriend, Jake, have two kittens that love the outside as well, sometimes a little too much. They are brother and sister named Jax (Missy) and Mookie, and sometimes travel with the two of us around the state. Me and Jake have been together for over six years now, yes six, and looking back on those years makes it feel like time may have pressed the fast forward button. But you know what they say, time flies when you’re having fun!