Blog 2

1.How does the tool relate to the topic of the week?
The tool Meetup and Omegle relate to the topic of interpersonal communications because they are both forms of meeting and communicating with people. The tools both involving communication through online conversations and using both verbal and nonverbal signals because you can use emoticons or keyboard signals in Omegle and in Meetup you can share information through discussion boards with other members of the groups you are a part of.

2.What function does the tool serve?
Omegle allows you to engage in a nonverbal conversation with people by chatting with them online about various topics or whatever you want. Meetup.com lets you meet new people with similar interests and share basic information about yourself in your bio page when you join a group. You can then talk with members of that group or possible meet with them in person on the assigned dates and locations that the group actually meets at. You can talk about different topics in discussion boards posted.

3.What did you find most interesting about the tool?
I found Omegle surprising because so many people did not take the questions seriously no matter what was posted and instead just use it to post swear words or talk about inappropriate things. Meetup was enjoyable because it was easy to find groups base on your interests since they had such a wide selection and the discussion boards were cool because they would talk about the topics although mainly they were used for asking about different meeting places. It was still cool to be able to see the different people in the area that have similar interests though like I found a couple of people who are looking for a D&D group in Davenport which is something I have been wanting to get back to playing for awhile.

4.What did you find most challenging?
I found Omegle challenging because no matter what question I posted the people did not take it seriously and would just swear or talk about inappropriate things. The questions that were premade tended to be uninteresting and rather stupid usually too. Meetup was challenging because joining groups required you to post certain information, including a picture which is something I am not comfortable placing online so I just used a random picture I had on my computer rather than an actual one of me. 

5.How does the tool improve or complicate communication?
Omegle could be a good way to improve communication if people used it properly because it could help them improve their communicating skills by talking to various people about different topics and questions. It complicates communication though because you do not know who you are talking to and people do not take it seriously and post whatever they wish to because of the anonymity. Meetup can improve communication because you can discuss topics you are interested in with others who share that interest and find out where to meet up with these people to enjoy whatever activity you share.

6.What is your critique of your experience?
I enjoyed Meetup overall and thought it was useful for finding people with similar interests in your area. I think it would be especially helpful if you had just moved to a new area to meet new people and make friends. Omegle was not enjoyable though cause people did not take it seriously and just used the anonymity to make inappropriate topics and statements.