Reflections of My Network

Is there a particular type of ICT (landline, cell phone, email, IM etc) that you use most often in your network? Does it vary across different strengths of relationships?

The particular type of ICT that has been used most often in my network was the cellphone. I think that it does vary because the cell phone has the ability to do anything. It can connect to the internet, including with facebook, twitter etc. Of course, it can be used to text people, including your close friends and family to acquaintances.Through my network, it does vary because of the strength of each relationship. My close family and friends I do use my cell phone more when communicating with them, while with others, I rarely use my cellphone to communicate with them.

How often do you see people in your network face to face? Does it matter if they are very close or an acquaintance?

Based on the role of each member in my network, it does reflect on how much I see people in my network through face to face. I will obviously see family members everyday because we all live in the same household. Friends is based on the relationship that you have with them, whether they are close or not, it distinguishes how much you see them face to face. Based on my network, the close friends that I have I do get to see them a lot. I think it does not matter if your close to them or not, it is just whether or not you are able to communicate with them and interact with them. And it has made it easier for people to connect with the Internet. With more and more people connecting, it is becoming less and less clear as to face to face and the relationship with people even matter anymore.

What role do social media play in your network? How is it used to maintain your relationships (or not)?

Social media is becoming a more important role in society. It makes communication more easier and faster when having a conversation with someone. Social media does play a role in my network because I do have a lot of friends and I have the ability to connect with them. But my parents and members of my family that still live in the generation of communicating through face to face, do not use social media because they just do not have the sense of understanding it. It does maintain relationships with people who have used it, while with other people such as my mom and dad or my grandparents, they would not understand the use of social media, and would continue the traditional way of communicating.

Why are some of your networks very close, somewhat close or acquaintances? What frames those meanings of closeness? How does the placement of your networks on the rings/circles work with measures of closeness?

I think these networks are based on how much you communicate with them and how close you are to that person, whether they understand who you are and how much they mean to you. This can be determined based on interaction through face to face and even through ICT's, because form of communication does have the same impact as face to face, but we still live in a world where face to face is the conventional way of communicating. What frames the meaning of closeness is based on the relationship you have with them and how much they mean to you. The role that the person has it also another way of determining the closeness that you have with a person in a network of people. My network does have my somewhat friends being more close to me just like my very close people because I talk to to a small group of friends. They are important to me despite the role they have as being somewhat. If there were more spaces in very close, I would have them in there, but based on this experiment, I could only have 5. And with my family members always being there for me, I cannot deny them from being out of my network for very close. My network might show my friend being in the second circle, but they are part of my inner circle because of how long I have known them.

How diverse is your network in terms of roles, occupations?  What kinds of skill sets or knowledge can you draw upon in your social network? What kinds of ‘connections’ do you have?

My network is diverse. I have family members, close friends, friends that I generally see once in a while, work friends, acquaintances etc. The skill sets/ knowledge that is drawn upon in my social network shows that relationship that I have with them shows that they have more knowledge and skill set towards me and they are important to me than people who may not have the same relationship or connection with me. these connections can be based on the role that they have. But to me, that all of these connections that I have with the people in my network are important because they have given me the opportunity to meet new people. This network only allowed to have 15, but I have met hundreds, even over a thousand people in my lifetime and I have made connections with those people as well.

How diverse is your network in terms of demographics (age, gender, ethnicity etc)? Do you think you share similar worldviews or opinions or are some very different from you?

Most of the people in my network are mostly in the same age group, if not a year young or older than me. There are some people like my parents, and people at my work are much older than I am. Gender does not play a role because I am friends with both genders. In my network, it does show that I know more males than females, but this just came from the top of my head and generally my good friends are typically male because they are my bro's and we have done many things together. It is weird that all of the people in my network are Caucasian, which may be based on geographic, but I do know people outside of my network that are not Caucasian,  I have no reason why they are not in my network, I guess it is just the way people think I guess. I think where people live in the world would have different worldviews or opinions within there network. People I know might have a similar network in mine, others might be completely different. It is based on how that person feels about what there connection is with that person and if they can maintain that connection.

Who can you call on in times of need? Consider the social support your network offers; does the kind of support offered and given vary depending on the type of relationship (VC/SWC/Acq) or their role?

I think that I could call on anyone in a time of need, it depends on the situation. I think that if they trust me into doing something for me, that they can also return the favor (reciprocity). I know that my family members would do anything for me, especially my mom, who has been there to support me through everything. I think that my close friends would help me as well cause I have done a lot for them. My acquaintances though might not because I might not be a top priority for them if I ever need there help. The role that they have does support the reasoning as to who is most likely to help and who isnt. It is not entirely sure with the type of relationship though. Not all family members will help me if I am in dire need, but if they are close family members they are most likely to help me. Somewhat close friends could bail on me and acquaintances may help me after all, but it depends on the relationship that you have with people that makes it easier to determine if they would help me or not.

What kind of reciprocity exists in your relationships in terms of giving & receiving help or advice? Is it balanced or not? Why?

I think that as far as my social network is concerned, the majority of it is balanced on receiving and giving help. It is hard to know if I give them help and they would return the favor in the same way. But they would most likely return the favor in a different way. I know that a few people would help me if I help them, such as my mom, dad and maybe my sister. It is hard to know because the connections I have with these people are always changing and it is hard to say if these connections are strong. Relationships do have implications, and it is whether I and a member of my network can overcome them. I think that the role that they were given is balanced, but it is unbalanced because of the actual connection with them.