Week 4/16-4/22: Organizational Comm.: Part 2

Becoming a more responsible communicator comes with understanding the etiquette rules for our new technologies. For many of the textbook’s references, in a real-life situation it varies from person to person, and workplace to workplace. Cell phone can be annoying and rude if used in an inappropriate setting such as a client lunch, during a movie, and in a library. There have been a few incidents where I have asked politely to have the person relocate or lower their voice. For answering machines, I have definitely been the teenager who had the silly pager love songs, but once I became a professional adult I had to record the professional message. There is nothing worse than calling someone after an interview, and I hear a song or weird message. Conference calls are always serious especially because you never know who is on the other line (if it is a webinar). Normally, I am the presenter, so I am the main speaker. It is helpful when someone states their name because they may call after the call to discuss a question further. Faxes are only sent when our recipient knows we are sending it, and when someone sends us a fax it would be helpful if they could follow up with an email or phone call. Timing is everything when contacting a friend, family member or client, so I never call at 7:30am when I start my work day. I would probably get screamed at or lectured in some way. Screen names and ring tones should always be appropriate. Could you imagine being at a client meeting and all of a sudden your phone rings, “I Like Big Butts?” That would be the ultimate death or me and a total embarrassing moment.

Week 4/16-4/22: Organizational Comm.: Part 1

Organizations are tied to the environment in many ways. When a corporation forms management systems are put into place to lower the impact they have on the environment, especially larger businesses. There are recycle programs for common used items, computer materials, and recycled products are also considered before purchase. Many businesses must implement forms of transportation for their imports, exports, and their items form of arrival. Transportation and manufacturing CO2 output is considered when creating a product.

San Jose State University and our community are tied together by the students, faculty, and staff that attend this school. The location of the school also affects how the safety of the city is managed. If crime is high, the number of applications for students may not be up to par, so the school could potentially fail. Standards of the city are raised, so the school is obligated to keep its campus clean, and up to city standards.

Week 4/9-4/15: Interpersonal Comm.: Part 3

Relational maintenance was one of the concepts I found interesting in the textbook chapter we read this week. While reading this section I analyzed my past relationships and the current relationship I am in now. The difference seemed to be all of these strategies in maintaining a successful and loving relationship. Positivity, openness, assurance, networks, task sharing, conflict management, and advice are all the behaviors in keeping the relationships at a preferred level. Staying positive is important because once one’s self esteem lowers resentment begins, and this is a ticking time bomb. Openness is one of my top behaviors because once you stop communicating to one another, then it is not much of a relationship. Talking and understanding the other person is important. Networks are VERY important because if you plan on spending a huge chunk of your time with someone your friends and family usually comes with that package. It is a two way street, so all of these thing may be something you do, but if your significant other does not it could be a red flag to stay away or improve those behaviors.

Week 4/9-4/15: Interpersonal Comm.: Part 2

The characteristics and behaviors the lead me to judge others as unattractive are usually the cognitive cues such as how their attitude is towards traveling, if they are a driven person in school, work and life. In my life the sociological and incidental cues are important. I never would engage or agree to a date if I knew the person lived too far away. I was not willing to have a living situation damper a relationship in the very beginning stages of getting to know another person. I had tried in the past to see if this would work, but after a few dates I knew this could not be a possible romantic partner. Initially the preinteraction cues are imperative. Many people say that beauty is not the main thing when they look for a partner, but if you are not physically attracted to a person then the relationship WILL fail. Duck’s theory makes complete sense, and I agree 100%. We go through a process of elimination in any dating scenario, and we do this to find our life partner and our friends. If someone does not interact with you smoothly and easily, one can predict this relationship will not go far.

Week 4/9-4/15: Interpersonal Comm.: Part 1

The rigid complementary pattern would be the most difficult to change. In the example in the text, a mother teaches a child most things in life, and the child is influenced by her. The child is powerless and has no say in how he or she is raised. As a child you rely on your elders to provide for you and hopefully raise you in a safe and loving environment. This would be the hardest dynamic to change due to the simple age factor.

The rigid complementary pattern is absolutely more damaging to a relationship. When you have one partner or friend that is more powerful or dominant and controlling it can escalate into an abusive one. I know many people who have been in unhealthy relationships, and this pattern was always the initial trait. One shows dominance and the other is too submissive, so the controlling culprit takes advantage of the power and it becomes an out-of-control situation. This pattern is also potentially most damaging to one’s self esteem. If you are the submissive person, you have let go of all self worth and look to the dominate one to uphold your esteem. This rarely and often never occurs, so the self esteem is not rebuilt until the relationship has been terminated.

Week 3/19-3/25: Intercultural Comm.: Part 3

For this week’s one concept idea I chose language and culture. People in differing cultures speak different languages. It is a difficulty mankind has struggled with since we created language. It has separated us as one species. Aside from that fact, language both verbal and nonverbal language is different throughout each culture. Certain words in one language may not translate correctly or at all.

I watch a lot of foreign films. I notice with the films when they are speaking Spanish some of the words they are saying are not translated 100% true or at all. I do not speak fluent Spanish but I know enough to understand quit a bit. Or when films have a song or chant, the subtitles may not even be produced for those scenes. Translations from one language to another, to another, to another can be a challenge and dangerous in some situations. It is like the telephone game effect, but add a completely different language and the entire message could be altered completely. You cannot translate language without error or missing information. This is one of the reasons I find learning new words, and language so intriguing.

Week 3/19-3/25: Intercultural Comm.: Part 2

Larry Samovar, Richard Porter, and Nemi Jain hold the belief that the three basic premises of human nature. The rationality premise, perfectibility premise, and mutability premise are very difficult to believe. The rationality premise describes humans as being able to find the truth since we are logical beings. This mindset is what got us in trouble with the supplements industry. The government and the major supplements corporations brought their legalization case to the courts. The supplements companies did not want the FDA to regulate their products, and their main point was the public should be smart enough to find out if it is safe for them. Since the supplement companies gave a ton of money to the government the courts passed the law that they would regulate their own products. We as the public are suppose to have the knowledge to figure out what is in our vitamins, protein products, and weight-loss pills. Ridiculous…I think so.

The second premise is the ability to achieve goodness through effort and control. Supposedly, we are born as sinners and we need to achieve goodness. Now, let’s think of a man that has been put into jail when he was 17 years old. He had no parents growing up, did not have the opportunity to attend school, and was abused as his legal guardian. Do you think this man has the same capability to achieve goodness as someone born into a rich and well-educated family? Not believable.

Last, the mutability premise states we are shaped by our environments and to improve ourselves is to improve our physical and psychological state. We are born with our bodies, and minds. Someone who has ADD, autism, or any other brain disorder cannot alter the chemical reactions in their brain. Also, someone born with a skin disease (vitiligo) or some other physical disorder/mutation would most likely love to change that about themselves, but again- impossible.