Questions by bjenkins - Page 41
Christina is visiting her family for holidays. One evening after dinner, her mother comes into her room, where Christina is typing at her computer. Her mother sits down, and the following conversation takes place.MOM: Am I disturbing you?CHRIS: No, Im just signing off on email.MOM: Emailing someone?CHRIS: Just a guy.MOM: Someone youve been seeing at school?CHRIS: Not exactly.MOM: (Laughs) Well, either you are seeing him or youre not, honey. Are you two dating?CHRIS: Yeah, you could say were dating.MOM: (Laughs) Whats he like?CHRIS: Hes funny and smart and easy to talk to. Were interested in the same things, and we share so many values. Brandons just super. Ive never met anyone like him.MOM: When do I get to meet him?CHRIS: Well, not until I do. (Laughs) We met online, and were just starting to talk about getting together in person.MOM: Online? You act as if you know him!CHRIS: I do know him, Mom. Weve talked a lotweve told each other lots of stuff.MOM: How do you know what hes told you is true? For all you know, hes a 50-year-old mass murderer!CHRIS: Youve been watching too many movies on Lifetime, Mom. Brandons 23, hes in college, and he comes from a family like ours.MOM: How do you know that? He could be lying.CHRIS: So? A guy I meet at school could lie, too.MOM: Havent you read about all the weirdos that go to these online matching websites?CHRIS: Mom, Brandons not a weirdo, and we didnt meet in a matching website. We met in a chat room where people talk about politics.MOM: Chris, you cant be serious about someone you havent met.CHRIS: I have met him, Mom, just not face to face. I know him better than lots of guys Ive dated for months.MOM: This makes me really nervous, honey. Please dont meet him by yourself.CHRIS: Mom, youre making me feel sorry I told you how we met. This is why I didnt tell you about him before. Nothing I say is going to change your mind about dating online.MOM: (Pauses) Youre right. Im not giving himor youa chance. Lets start over. Tell me what you like about him.CHRIS: Well, hes thoughtful.MOM: Thoughtful? How so?CHRIS: If I say something one day, hell come back to it a day or so later, and I can tell hes thought about it, like hes really interested in what I say.MOM: So he really pays attention to what you say?CHRIS: Exactly. So many guys Ive dated dont. They never return to things Ive said. And when I come back to things hes said with ideas Ive thought about, he really listens.MOM: Like he values what you think and say?CHRIS: Exactly! Thats whats so special about him.1. How do the mass media platforms Chris uses differ from the types of mass media her mother consumes?2. What do you perceive as the key obstacle to listening for Chris's mom during the early part of the conversation?3. According to Cultivation Theory viewers assume that what they see on television, in films, or in the news, is real even if those stories do not accurately represent reality. Using Cultivation Theory describe how television has influenced Chriss mothers thinking.4. If Chris met Brandon in a political chat room and she interacts with him using email. What evidence does she have that Brandon is really who he says he is? Are her mothers concerns valid, or is she overreacting?