Journal #10

In everyday writing, technology allows for social opportunities while also providing communication among individuals. Through technology, we are given various opportunities to become a member of a group. Based on that group, we can offer feedback to other members. This feedback loop, in the case of everyday writing, improves the competence and autonomy of writers who actively participate in the group. If the group is noticeably strong in working and learning together, it can attract more members that can contribute even more to the group. Thus, technology is a key supporting factor for our social participation with others. It affords us the opportunities to work with others (maybe on everyday writing) and to better our skills from our interactions. Shirky makes the argument in “Opportunity” that “the internet is an opportunity machine, a way for small groups to create new opportunities” efficiently and with an audience that extends “to the largest set of potential participants in history.” The internet affords anyone the opportunity to create a piece of everyday writing, become a member of a group with similar interests in everyday writing, find others who can offer advice and suggestions for that piece of everyday writing, and finally circulate that piece to a wide expanse of internet users.

After reading Jami’s journal, I realized that I had forgotten that everyday writing has grown to include and incorporate elements of technology due to technology's current prominence in today’s society. Composers of everyday writing unconsciously use technology to create their pieces of everyday writing, like using pictures taken by cameras in scrapbooks as Jami pointed out. As of today, technology has become such an important aspect of everyday writing that I believe everyday writing could not thrive without it.