Terms and Concepts

Please take notes.

Procrastination

A desire to avoid any and all work by doing other activities. A chronic habit which has caused many to suffer academically.

For some, procrastination has led to Graduate School projects.

1) Oregon Trail

First game experience on a computer.

I remember:

Answering questions from both the students and teacher on how to play.

2) Oregon Trail

Played again in middle school, began playing each day after school.

I learned:

That when helping my mom create a character, not to name her fellow travelers after my sisters and I.

MystFirst computer game

which interrupted my school work.

Windows 95 free games

The bane of my existence as well as the obsession that lasted throughout middle school and the beginnings of high school.

These games worked in combination with other mindless internet activities: see AIM and Chatrooms

Punting

Early understanding of hacking and probably the extent of my current understanding.

Term used for hacking of AOL and kicking users offline. Further research indicates that this was a made up term and really the internet was unreliable.

Punting did serve as a means to get angry and send rude AIM messages.

AIM

First introduced along with the Windows 95 free games. Originally only packaged with AOL. AIM served as a function to communicate with those cooler than me and risk free flirting.

HellaDope69

First attempted screen name for AIM in 6th grade. Was quickly deleted by Mom.

Was replaced by sprklcutie which seemed like a great idea at the time.

a/s/l?

Used in Chatrooms and AIM conversations. a/s/l? Stands for age/sex/location? One of the original ways to identify yourself to others online.

Favorite response in beginning:

Does it matter?/f/CA

No one wants to admit they are 12 on AIM

Livejournal

Online blogging site similar to xanga etc.

Beginning in 2002 Livejournal has served as both a passive and active procrastination tool. Both updating and reading of posts wastes significant time.

Friendster

Original social networking site widely available I created an account as an assignment for a class. This would serve as my portale into procrastination through online social networking sites.

MySpaceA social networking cite which gets

100s of hits from me alone each day.

High School Alumni who are cooler than you

Students who you would avoid talking to in order to spare yourself the agony.

Best for MySpace stalking.

MySpace Stalking

Act of looking up a person on MySpace without their knowledge purely to find out what they are up to, without intent to contact them otherwise.

Root of my curiosity with experimenting with online public information.

Not a creepy act, but instead an act induced by being shy and curious.

Excellent for finding out about ex-partners and the failing lives of jerks from high school.