Hi Everyone!
My name is Catherine Walsh, and I am a Junior Communication major. Although I am a junior, this is only my second year at Cornell; I transferred from University at Albany last year. Albany was a fun place, but I am happy to be at a more academic focused University. I am what people would call a “townie”; born and raised in Ithaca. Ithaca is an amazing town and I am really happy to go to school here. My parents still live in Cayuga Heights, so I can occasionally take the five minute drive home to do my laundry or have a good meal!
I love using the internet and think that wireless internet is one of the greatest technological inventions of all time! When it comes to the internet, I guess you could say I am like any average college student. I use the internet for research, to check my email and facebook, and to use IM. If I am typing a paper you can count on my facebook profile and IM buddy list to be open as well. However, I don’t really use the internet for anything other than the programs already mentioned. I don’t talk in chat rooms and have never participated in a blog (this is my first blogging experience). Where I differ from my peers is the fact that I have never used eBay, a major internet phenomenon. I don’t think I have ever met anyone my age who has not used eBay, which in itself proves the phenomenon.
In case any of you are also an inexperienced eBay user, the eBay website states “eBay is The World's Online Marketplace®, enabling trade on a local, national and international basis”. My understanding of eBay is that people post items for sale and other users bid on the items in timed auctions. After the auction has ended, it is up to the seller to send the item to the buyer, and the buyer must complete payment to the seller. You have to be a registered user to use eBay.
The phenomenon of eBay falls into several internet environments. The most significant environment is the World Wide Web. eBay, a website that can be thought of as a catalog for online shopping, connects consumers to millions of products, new or used. Another internet space eBay exists in is the asynchronous discussion forum. Users of eBay are given the opportunity to communicate by posting feedback comments after a business transaction occurs. For example if you buy a glass vase from a fellow eBay user, and they send you a broken vase, you could write this in the feedback comments to warn other shoppers.
Are eBay and other online shopping communities, which contribute to increased internet use, contributing to the reduction of family communication and social involvement?
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4 comments:
Catherine, I'm a victim to the phenom known as "ebaying". I'm very happy someone adressed this matter. I do believe that ebay (as part of the internet) maybe lead to less social involvement. Why leave your house to buy a new TV when you can buy one from "princess9393", the power seller from wisconsin? Having bought several items on ebay myself, I believe that ebay allows people to both save and lose money. Being the addictive auction-style buying that it is, I find myself often spending money that I probably shouldn't. On the contrary, I can get that shirt from Abercrombie for $10, whereas in the store it would cost me $30 (saving myself 20 bucks). So along with possible social dislocation, ebay may also, in the long run, cause a depleted bank account (or worse, complete bankruptcy).
Hey Catherine. I've been a dedicated eBay user for a few years now. From buying and selling textbooks through the affiliated Half.com to buying my new or used gadget for slightly cheaper prices from a vendor in China, I've amassed my share of feedback, all positive might I add :). I do agree that eBay serves as an asynchronous discussion forum as you mentioned, but from my use, the feedback section is rarely looked at. The positive feedback percentages tend to be the extent of my interest in that section since they generally say the same generic messages. Also it isn't really possible to respond to threads or things of that nature.
As for the question you asked at the end, I think the answer is yes. That is because in the old days, when the family needed to buy new clothes for the kids, they'd have to venture out to a mall or a physical establishment of some sort as a family. So yea, online shopping does lead to a reduced social interaction within families.
I have an account on Ebay, and although I rarely use it, I have purchased a few items since I joined. For example, just last week, my Ipod was stolen from me, so my first thought was to hop onto Ebay and buy a cheaper, used Ipod to replace my old one. I think it's great how sites such as Ebay and other sites that support online shopping/auctioning offer a quick, sufficient manner of purchasing a product without leaving your house. Even though people often bid on an item, and then win and say they cannot pay the amount (yes, I admit, I've done this before), some people are surprisingly understanding and do not leave you negative buyer feedback.
Ebay saves me time, money, and potential stress that could be experienced if I were made to leave the house and purchase a brand new item (ex: Ipod new: $200, used: $100). I'm a full supporter of Ebay and hope that one day you will try it!
Catherine, I'm also glad you brought up the ebay internet phenomenon, because I am definitely intrigued by it as well. I have only technically used ebay once, so I'm not that experienced, but the one time experience was a pleasant one. You all brought up and discussed the notion that ebay can lead to isolation and a less social involvement. And while, to a certain extent I think this it true, I find it interesting to consider the idea that perhaps ebay, in its own way, actually brings us all closer together. The reason I bring this up, is because the one time I used ebay, I bought a beautiful antique typewriter from an old farmer living out in the midwest. This was an very new and odd experience for me, interacting with this old man via ebay. The main thing that I could think about throughout this whole interaction was how amazing it was that the internet had the ability to give me exactly what I wanted, from somewhere and someone that I never would have been able to find and access otherwise. While this man and I had fairly little interaction (a few emails sent back and forth, a kind letter sent with the package), I found it reassuring to know that ebay had the ability to allow me to find exactly what I wanted to give to someone I love, and to get it from a complete stranger on the other half of the country. Of course there is the initial reaction that ebay prevents us from 'going out' and socially interacting, it also has an amazing way of shrinking the world up and allowing us to make incredible and convenient interactions with perfect strangers. Ebay has everything you could ever want, but it's fun to think about where these things are coming from, who is selling them, and how incredibly easy it is, thanks to the internet, to have access to these people and their personal treasures.
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