Comments for Mana's Musings

Comment on Communicating in an e-world by Mana

Mana — Mon, 24 May 2010 09:32:40 +0000

Thanks for that Sienna. It’s very interesting that Caz agrees with me in that online communication seems to be the most natural, our “default” setting – and your experience is the complete opposite.

I think you’re absolutely right that it has a lot to do with what you get accustomed to while growing up. Thanks for sharing your perspective

Comment on Communicating in an e-world by Sienna

Sienna — Sun, 23 May 2010 22:16:08 +0000

This is so interesting! It made me really think about how different it is for me. Maybe it is because I’m from an older generation, but verbal communication, eye to eye with a person, is my safest way to communicate with people.
Writing per se is not the obstacle for me but to have to do it while battling with a reluctant electronic devise can be a bit much! And especially in English!!!
In my work I’ve been doing lectures for audiences for years, teaching, or whatever it’s called?
And when I have to stand up for my rights, a phone call is my way to do it.
I write a lot, mostly in my own language of course even if it has been more and more in English with the Internet these last years. I write a diary and when I have some sort of problem I write a lot to clear things out and have even made an attempt to write a couple of novels (no I didn’t get published but I still carry the dream, haha!)
On line I struggle all the time, to make accounts for forums and things like that. There is always a little square somewhere I forget to fill in and then I have to back and try again to get it right!
I can really feel that it is a question of what you got most accustomed to while growing up and to feel more comfortable on line or with the electronic way to communicate like you describe it, is an interesting an completely new thought to me. Thank you for bringing it up, it really made me thinking!
But I’m happy I got in to this Internet world even if I’m old. I knew when it started that if I didn’t bought my own computer and just throw myself in there I would miss out on a whole media section!
To have a son who was a computer freak from his early childhood has helped a lot, without him I wouldn’t have been able to do it!
Sienna

Comment on Mana Recommends: BOOKS by Caroline

Caroline — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:20:01 +0000

You know, I might actually buy this. Judging by what she’s said and what you’ve said – about the whole “being somewhere else and feeling a sense of belonging” – I can relate to it. I have no idea what my career plan is and have nothing set at all but maybe I’ll get inspiration from this. Perhaps I’ll be her in a few years time (unlikely, but one can hope? xD)

Thanks for sharing Mana – definitely sounds like an interesting book.

Comment on Communicating in an e-world by Caroline

Caroline — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:16:15 +0000

Sounds like we have *exactly* the same problem. Online communication I can do. Really well. But when it comes to phones I just cannot use them. Sure I can text (even though I’m starting to find THAT difficult because I have a touch screen phone…honestly, what was wrong with buttons?) but when it comes to speaking on the phone I just freeze. I have difficulty understanding what people say on the phone and I also struggle to have a conversation on the phone.
You know me Mana, I’m pretty alright with meeting people, but my mind goes blank when I have someone I can’t see yakking away in my ear hole.

I did a test ages ago…one of those things that tell you how you learn (sight, hearing or just doing) and hearing was my least successful. It’s true – one thing can go in my ear and out the other and my memory is actually shocking sometimes. So perhaps this is why I hate talking on the phone…maybe it’s the same with you?

I also had an Italian nan and despite living in the UK for most of her life, she had such a strong Italian accent and it stayed with her until she passed on. My parents always made me phone up the people who gave me presents for Birthdays/Christmas, but I always hated talking to my nan on the phone because I just never knew what she was saying. Same in real life actually, but there were other people there who could help me translate lol. On the phone it’s just a two-way street…

Tell me to email, write a letter…I’ll do it. Tell me to phone? I’ll get someone else to do it.

Comment on Mana Recommends: MUSIC by Deb

Deb — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:45:26 +0000

“Life Less Ordinary” is one of my favorite songs ever ever ever. I stumbled across Carbon Leaf a few years ago — one of the radio stations were playing them because they were sorta “local.” How funny that you found them and liked them too! Well, guess I shouldn’t be THAT surprised… BTW, I was able to get several of their older tunes free from amazon.com — not sure if you still can

Comment on Prioritizing Life by Caroline

Caroline — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:00:05 +0000

Oh Mana, I do get this. I’m sort of in the same situation. No I don’t have a husband and no I don’t want kids yet but I definitely A) Want a job I’m good at and enjoy and B) be financially secure.

Life is so freakin’ hard sometimes, especially when the clock’s ticking and you can’t make a choice…or the choosing takes too long and you end up wasting time. Not knowing where you’re going in life is one of the most frightening and pressuring positions ever so I can sort of relate to this post. Unfortunately I can’t really help.

My dad didn’t have a job for months and we struggled on mum’s supermarket wage and had difficulty with government funding, but then BAM my dad had three job offers.

1) Contract work with BT. Roughly £4000 a month but minimal 3 month contract.
2) Working in Old Street, London, about £30, 000 a year, but losing £5000 of that on travel expenses. Employee.
3) Another job in which he would earn about £26, 000 a year. Employee.

My dad had to decide in an HOUR. So, did he choose a safe job where he’d be an employee, or was money too much of a priority?

He took the job at BT, because the contract could last longer than 3 months and it’s the best pay out of all of them. It could turn around our financial situation in a month, and at least he can still look for jobs whilst working there…

The good thing about today is that there are so many options, but having so many options is also a problem. Is life hard, or do we make it hard for ourselves? Do you choose a safe option or do you do what you want to do, regardless?

The choice is yours. It’s just unfortunately a hard choice to make.

This post was really unhelpful, sorry lol.

Comment on Oh, the weather outside is frightful… by Jeremy

Jeremy — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:43:10 +0000

That picture of the stairs with the orange glow is a wicked ass photo.

Comment on Mana Recommends: MUSIC by Nono

Nono — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 05:34:27 +0000

I’m not really a fan, but his videos are awesome.

Comment on Oh, the weather outside is frightful… by Matt

Matt — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:27:41 +0000

DO NOT WANT.

I am cancelling my flight back to Edmonton.

My poor soul cannot handle this right now.

Comment on Gigs, queues and chairs by StandardToaster

StandardToaster — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:15:11 +0000

I agree that seated gigs are less interesting – I always have much more fun when standing. especially when the front row is full of people who aren’t too interested in being there.

Also, I really like the new theme!