When I pulled up this homepage, I liked the fact that the first thing to hit me was the title of the file. She didn't have ten thousand graphics or bright colors flashing in my face. The gray with the subtle line of rainbow was nice. It was nice she put her email address with the title, but I think she should have made it a link.
Her links to her files was easy for me to understand because I am taking the course. I think G3 has learned to describe EVERY link. She had more links on her homepage, but I'm not sure how relative they are--links to pictures and jokes. But, isn't a homepage supposed to be personal?
This is were I think the problems really began. There were too many icons and too many files that weren't described. It takes hours to go through all of these files to find out what exactly they are. Also, the icons, although many people really like them because they do add character to the page, were a little overboard. I think with G3 the structure is improving.
Jae Isa writes, "Traffic psychology is a concept that may prove to be helpful in explaining why people do what they do in traffic. . ." I agree with her statement and feel, as she does, that people have to be aware of what a traffic psychologist is before they can even consider becoming one. However, as she deminstrates later in another assignment, even the knowledge of the existence of traffic psychology doesn't make you a traffic psychologist. She writes our "other" personality that takes over many times when we are behind the wheel. Even in herself she noticed this change and realized many times "patience is intolerable."
I didn't agree with her when she addressed the issue of car phobias. She suggested that this was possibly to due a psychodynamic theory. She didn't write much more, but I wish she would have backed her statement up more because it sounded interesting.
I also didn't agree
with her when
she wrote, "the car is an extension of our home." It is obvious that
many people take better care of their cars than their homes, and also
take more pride in their cars. But, it goes further than that. I
believe, especially in Hawaii where many people live with parents or
relatives, cars are a source of identity for many people. And,
throughout the United States, there are Four-Wheel Drive Clubs, Corvette
Clubs, Classic Car Clubs, and many others which give people a since of
identity. However, with the ideas of cellular phones and more and more
time spent on the road, I think it can't be helped but to think of cars
becoming more like a mini-home. But, still, I don't think the statement
is correct, that the car is an extension of the home. Home is home and
your car is your car!
Short and and to the point! It didn't contain
too many dramatics, which I like. She used the basic gray background
and the only form of color was the links and one single band of rainbow
at the bottom of her file. I'm not sure why she had the @'s going
across the top of her screen. I guess just for some character. Same
complaints as with Jae Isa's,
there are no descriptions to all of her files which means more time to
decifer what is in each one of them.
Looking over Diane's topics index made me realize I have a lot of work
ahead of me. She did a good job setting it up and I think I will
probably use her topics file as a skeleton for mine. The best thing
about it is she DESCRIBED all her files. So far, I like her structure
the best. I think this woman probably
has quite a sense of humor. She has soooo may links to jokes and was
looking through them and some of them are pretty funny. It is a nice
break from looking through all of these miles of files.
I liked her categorization of
drivers:
obsessive-complusive, passive-aggressive, and schizophrenic. I would
like to add my own interpretation of these divers though. First, the
obsessive-compulsive driver stares straight-ahead while
the five car accident that they just caused lays flaming behind them.
Second, the passive-aggressive driver cuts you off in traffic and then
waves. And, third, the schizophrenic driver--who the hell knows what
this driver will do--they are the ones merging across three lanes of
traffic without their blinker on and then they stop to make a left-hand
turn almost causing you to rear end them.
I would like to comment on the portion in Diane's file about Alzheimer's
Disease. She doesn't give her specific comments, but reflects on another
students report who give statistics about Alzhemer's. Although the
statistics stated may be correct, I think they are being used out of
context. Even though I cannot quote specific statistics, I would bet
that the majority of the accidents in the United States (or even a small
percentage) are not due to the disease of Alzheimer's. Even pegging the
elderly as bad drivers, in general, is in accurate. The elderly may be a
pain in the neck when your in a hurry because you think they drive too
slow. But, maybe your just remembering the ones that drive slow because
of the stereotype. There are people of all ages who drive bad. Before
statistics about Alzehimer's Disease are stated in a paper such as this,
I think the real statistics of whose (what ages) are causing the most
accidents. Besides, if she has ever known any one with Alzehimer's she
would know that my the time demetia fully sets in, the person wouldn't
even remember how to drive a car.
On another file I reviewed Diane gave the next generations advice about
how to set up files, etc. I didn't find it that helpful. Not that I
don't appreciate her effort, but the hands on experience and working with
my classmates (and the lab assistants from the previous classes) are
easier than reading through her file. Besides, Dr. James gave us most of
the information already.
This homepage was laid out very well. It was easy to follow and
understand. However, like most of the others in the previous
generations, there was no descriptions for each file. This makes the
process of reviewing the files rather time consuming. Hopefully, we have
learned from this, and the future generations' files will be very
well annotated. But, other than this, Danell's homepage looked
great. It was very well organized and pleasant to look at with few
irrelevant destrations..
The topical index was wonderful to follow. Even though every item
did not have a full description, the way it was set up
was easy enough to follow. Then, towards the end, she had all her
critics of other students articles, along with a short description, and
of course, a link to that student's relevant topic.
Again, as I stated earlier in her homepage, there were not a lot of
destractions in these files which made it easier to figure out what is
what. I think this would be an ideal structure to follow.
I have to begin getting on my soap box for a minute. Again, I see
comments regarding the driving ability of the elderly. It makes me want
to scream. Danell writes about her grandfather's drivng abilities,
"whenever I ride with him anywhere I feel totally safe." But, she also
writes about the concerns she has of elderly drivers. Her grandfather
had a new dent in his truck, and she seems to blame his age for this.
Was her grandfather always a "bad" driver, or did this occur with
age?
Danell was reporting on Nicole Yoshimitsu's criticism of elderly
drivers. I feel she had a good argument against Nicole's comments.
However, instead, she agreed! I think it is absolutely ridiculous to
even contemplate the idea of a reflex test for the elderly.
How about a judgment test for everyone under the age of twenty-five!
Come on, instead of attacking the elderly for their possible slow
reflexes, what about attacking drunk drivers for their stupidity or
adrenalin freaks for their needless reckless driving.
I think as a society, we need to stop blaming groups of people and
start addressing the relevant problems.
Okay, I can get off my soap box now. I liked what Danell had to say
about being a more altruistic person, in general, will improve your
driving personality and personality in general. I think it is true that
people need to focus more on how they can be a better person instead of
trying to manipulate others into being better people. Although, I don't
think we should give up altogether on helping others achieve a more
altruistic attitude. Maybe this sounds like a contridition, but I feel
that by acting self-less and being more considerate of others, the
positive message will spread. I hope this is naive. This homepage was certainly personalized. I
think that is a good thing. I think somebody who found this
homepage would feel comfortable; I did. I liked how he separated the
Traffic Psychology, Miscellaneous Stuff and Net Search Engines. When I
clicked on the Traffic Psychology link it took me to a less personalized
homepage with all his relevant links. I think the first homepage is a
good way to entice people into looking further into your files. This is
the trouble I have been having. I think my homepage
is too boring.
The structure of his topical index is great. I
keep finding better and better indexes. I think he
did a good job with this, it soooooo easy to follow. Even on his reports
he described their content. The only critizism I have
is on his homepage he has a blinking link. I don't
know why I find this destracting. I also like the
fact that he doesn't use a lot of icons and graphics
so you get right to the meat of his index and
homepage.
Yeah, finally somebody who talks
about bicycles.
I agree with Aaron that Bicyclists get a bad reputation from the few who
ruin it for the rest. People complain about bicyclist, but I think it is
jealousy in its most disguised form. Who wouldn't get mad when your
sitting in traffic for twenty minutes not moving and a bicyclist flys
right by you. Or, what about when your late to class and your rushing to
get their and again a bicyclist flys by you. In both of these
situtations, it is not only that the bicyclists fly by you, but that they
offer no sympathy or remorse in their flight. It is no reason people say
they want to beat them up. All I can say is good luck catching them.
Bicycling is the best way to get around campus and also the most
economical and energy efficient. If people want to complain about a
traffic problem on campus, why doesn't somebody attack the MOPEDS!
I liked how Aaron justified his tailgating experiences by wanting to keep
up with the flow of traffic. I find myself doing this sometimes too.
This is a very lame excuse. In reviewing another student's report
regarding tailgating circumstances, Aaron agreed that it was best to pull
over and let the person pass. I don't know if I agree with this.
Because pulling over on the side of the road in a heavy traffic area can
be a hazard all of its own. And, what about merging back into traffic.
I think the best possible thing to do would be to move to the furthest
righthand lane or simply grin and bear it until the driver can pass.
It seems people have all sorts of justifications why they tailgate and
why other people tailgate, they are in a rush, or somebody is going under
the speed limit. None of these ideas are relevant. Nobody should
tailgate for any reason. The speed limit set is the MAXIMUM speed limit
set by law. If somebody is going to slow for you go around. Too may images and the
blinking title is not to my liking. The blue is nice with the pink
icons; Sharla's personality seems to come through on her homepage also.
The cartoon characters and the pink and blue colors; it would be a good
start for homepage for the Disney Channel or something like that. Not
too relevant to Traffic Psychology though.
Her homepage was easy to follow and all of her
reports had a short description of what they contained. Her topical
index was also organized and easy to follow like Aaron's above.
Although, I think she should have seperated her different links by the
files which they pretain to. It is a long list and if they were
seperated it would make it easy to read.
I read her report on her Initial Self-Assessment as a
Driver. She discussed the topic of speed and how it effects the way we
drive. She referred to her reflection on whether she should speed or
not, "By speeding I will only be endangering myself and others and it
will not get me to my destination faster, it might lead me to the nearest
hospital." I agree with Sharla on most of her statement; however, I believe
speeding, for the most part, will get you to your destination faster, as
long as you make it there safely. I guess the question we need to ask
ourselves before we go off speeding to our next destination is--Is this
worth it?
It's seems so ironic that the biggest fear people have about speeding is
the fear of getting a ticket. Sharla said it herself, "I'm afraid of
beging caught by a polic officer." I think her statement is true in
general. We won't really think about how we could kill or injury
ourselves or somebody else, but when it comes to effecting our
pocketbooks then we are concerned. What a society we live in.
I also read Sharla's report on pedestrian traffic. I remember from the
first day of class when Dr. James voiced his irratation when people walked
up the "wrong" side of the stairs at Kuykendall. I always do this and
had no idea I was breaking some sort of unwritten protocal. I would
always just walk up which ever side had less traffic. This is a good
point that applies to Traffic Psychology in general. If people don't
know that they are breaking "moral" rules or offending others, they will
not attempt to change their behavior. However, if this is brought to
their attention, possibly, they will make a conscious effort to modify
their behavior. This homepage is also very personalized. It
even has a title "The Tao of Driving." The images
corresponde with the title. His homepage capatures the attention of the
visitor and I think leads them to proceed further. He has a lot of
graphics and a wild background, but it all works together to make an
effective homepage.
His hompage listed his files in big letters, then
when I decided to look for his topical index, I found it at the very
bottom of the homepage in small little letters. I clicked on it. In his
topical index he doesn't have any anchors listed. But, I noticed, he has
some at the top of his report one file. I think he should have also
placed them in his topical index. He also doesn't have a description for
any of the files.
Leave me EMAILDIANE
BEAUCHEMIN'S HOMEPAGE
DANELL SAITO'S
HOMEPAGE
GENERATION
TWO
AARON
TAKAHASHI'S HOMEPAGE
MY HOMEPAGE - which contains a list of my files.
DR. LEON
JAMES HOMEPAGE - learn more about Traffic Psychology.