It's 12:12 AM as I write this, and I'm supposed to be sleeping by now, but what am I doing? Stumbling. That's right, Stumbling. I discovered StumbleUpon by accident on Google one time and decided to check it out. It took me a few minutes to sign up, but after I did, it just blew my mind. Basically how it works is there are different categories you can check off; they are topics and you chose those that interest you. For example, I checked off music, Christianity, culture/ethnicity, travel, photography, writing, crafts, and many others. After I checked off the topics that interest me, I just clicked on the top left of the screen where it says 'Stumble'. And that's how it begins. The fascination. The wonder. The adventure. Suddenly a whole new world has been opened up to me, and showed me things possible with the internet I never knew before. The site searches through millions of web pages to find those relevant to your topics of interest. You can browse by category, and even by videos within those categories. Then, I discovered the "Like" button. Whenever you 'StumbleUpon" a page that you really like, you click 'Like', which helps to narrow down future 'Stumbles' to sites more relevant to your particular interests, and even tastes within those interests. It also allows you to be able to return to the websites you favored. Also, if you don't like a site that you 'StumbleUpon', you can click on the thumbs down sign at the top of the screen. This helps 'StumbleUpon' to better see what your interests and tastes are, so it would only lead you to sites that you would love.
Needless to say, this site has definitely been a source of distraction for me. Whenever I'm bored, or whenever I'm supposed to be doing work but I don't feel like it (which is most of the time…I'm trying to change that mindset), I go on StumbleUpon. It's now definitely up there with YouTube and Facebook for me. In fact, I feel a bit guilty for sharing this site with anyone, because I wouldn't want others to have another new source of distraction that will keep them from doing important work, since I know that many people (especially youth) have a problem with distraction and/or procrastination. However, simply can't not share, because although it can be an immense source of distraction, and time flies by really fast when you're 'Stumbling', it can also be an amazing source of inspiration and motivation.
I found sites with StumbleUpon that I never would have otherwise found on my own. Many amazing photos that just blew my mind, motivational ideas, inspirational quotes, and videos. The possibilities are endless. One of the things I've been able to do as a result of using StumbleUpon is become more inspired to make crafts. I once 'StumbledUpon' a site that was a directory to instructional craft blogs. As a result, I made several handmade crafts myself, one of which was a bouquet made using coffee filters, acrylic paint, straws, and masking tape. It turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself. And I wouldn't have even thought to make something like that if it weren't for StumbleUpon. It also lead me to many useful resources. For example, I recently 'StumbledUpon' a site called KnowWord.org. It is an interactive game which I have found is very useful in the aid and motivation of expanding one's vocabulary.The game works by giving the player a definition of a word, and the first letter of that word. The time limit is one minute, and the player must identify as many words based on definitions in that minute as possible, by which you earn points. You can also create an account and compete against other players. And because it's so fun, you don't even realize how much you're learning. Those are not even a fraction of what one is able to find through StumbleUpon. I think one of the major issues with distraction is self control and will power. If one is able to exercise those qualities, StumbleUpon is an amazing resource. So for those of you with a strong sense of self control and will power, happy Stumbling! But for those of you lacking in those areas, I'd recommend to work on them before trying StumbleUpon, because once you try it, you can never go back.
This reminds me of the concept of "webrings" that were so popular back in the dark ages of the internet. The idea of a ring or net of related sites seemed, at the time, to represent the great power of the internet to connect people with similar interests. Now, though, you don't need to find a "portal" for your own interests because everything is connected. Do you think that the sheer breadth of connections Stumbleupon offers can be limiting in a way? Do you think the loss of the small communities that webrings represented is progressive or perhaps harmful?
ReplyDeleteI think StumbleUpon is actually liberating, in a way, because it allows you to find websites on topics that interest you and you're not limited to one portal and thus one subject. There are still ways to be part of a community like with webrings, but SumbleUpon allows netizens who are interested on a wide variety of topics to find those communities and become a part of them.
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