Assignment #2: Chatroom

Looking for a chat, I searched for “student chat room” using Google, and came across student.com. After entering the Student Center Chat, I almost immediately received a private chat message from user “testingtesting1234.” They began the conversation by saying “hello,” and I went on to ask this individual where they were located. Their response was, “y does it matter u first.”

This not-so-open response prompted me to begin the information exchange, and after explaining that I was a female college student in the United States, they began to open up. He confirmed that he was a male college student majoring in political science in the US. His initial hesitation to begin any real kind of conversation led me to think that he was nervous, but as time went on, he had no problem speaking about his life at school and his personal, academic and professional goals.

Considering the fact that he initiated the chat with no initial willingness to begin an in-depth conversation, I don’t think he was very open. He was conscientious, in that he did not push any boundaries, and was mindful of what he said. He did state his own opinions, however, even if they were not in line with mine. He wasn't very extroverted, as he made sure to talk about himself as well as as me questions. He also was not very neurotic.

This chat coincides with the hyperpersonal model. Initially, I did not think that this individual wanted to talk about anything, which led me to think that he was cold and had nothing substantial to say, that he did not seem friendly. But he eventually opened up, and made some very interesting arguments about college student life and politics.