Margaret Marolda
September 18, 2008
Koobecaf

In the American culture there is a system run through technology called the World Wide Web. Now this web is a way in which people communicate and keep in touch with each other. One of the more popular cites we have seen is, Koobecaf. This is a network in which people are able to express who they are, their beliefs, thoughts, and feelings towards almost any topic. For Americans this seems to be one of the most important sites, watching different people’s activity shows that it is not just once a day they log on to this cite but it can almost get up to 15-20 times a day. Now why do we think that this certain site has become so addicting for so many different kinds of people? It is a cite that can truly be called a melting pot, there are not only American’s involved but also South Americans, and Europeans. Now how did this website become a huge part of the American society?
We can examine this society by using the barrel model which is considered the “Model of Culture” in order to understand fully how this society is working and why it works as well as it does, considering there is a decreasing number of face to face contact between human beings. It is a way for everyone (teens to adults) to share how they truly feeling without actually having to make confrontation. To start we can take a look on the infrastructure of this certain society. Obviously this is demonstrating a huge part of technology, actually that is exactly what Koobecaf is centered around. With out their computers and Internet there would be no way for this society to communicate with each other.
Another big part of a society would be its social structure. This inhabits the organizations as well as the family systems that are involved. Now for this society it is hard to see who is related to whom, however if one investigates enough you can fine how people met and what they have done together, which it makes it easier to know about every relationship each of these people have with one another. Another major thing that seems to intrigue people is the idea of this ‘relationship status”, there are many different options in which they can choose from, some examples being: engaged, complicated, in a relationship, single, even to married. Now my research shows that this is a good source for someone to create gossip and constantly be in the know of other people’s personal life. Now as far as organizations go, they can also get involved within Koobecaf. There is a way to advertise as well as make an application or group, in order to get the word out. Now each person seems to add these groups and applications to increase their sense of individuality and pride in which what organization they support. So in the end Koobecaf gives individuals a way to support organizations as well as get to know other people very personal lives.
Now to hit on the cultural beliefs, values, and ideas, this is all included in the superstructure of the barrel model. The thing that strikes me as strange is the more popular the technology becomes in America the less face to face interaction there is between the society, everything is done through this idea of Koobecaf messaging and “wall posting”, even saying the littlest thing can be sent through something called a bumper sticker, which then ends up on your page to show everyone you know. Another big part of Koobecaf is the idea of being able to show exactly who you are and what you do through the pictures you put up. This can also show the different morals and values one has for themselves and the people one hangs out with. Certain pictures for people seem to be a little more risqué then others. Another way to express someone’s beliefs is by stating what religion you are and even the application of putting daily bible verses on your “profile”. This “profile” basically sums up almost exactly who you are and what you do, this can including explaining your activates, to what movies and music you like, to just some funny quotes from a friend.
After looking at the Koobecaf society it is easy to see the different parts of the barrel model it is easy to point out how each connects with each other and effect outcomes of each of them. Once thought as a difficult thing, it seems that a society can actually be based upon on a profile rather then face to face communication, and culture that is entirely inhabited inside of technology.