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How We Judge People by Their Facebook Cover Photos

JoJo BayvelLeave a comment

facebook cover page

In just a few weeks, Facebook users who’ve yet to switch over to the new profile design will be forced to do so. Among other changes, it also means adding another, larger photo to your profile. Some may choose to showcase themselves, while others will choose photos of their cats, children, or favorite character, but you’ll still have a regular profile picture as well. You know the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover?” Well according to a new study, it seems that’s exactly what social media users tend to do with Facebook pictures.

“Photos seem to be the primary way we make impressions of people on social networking sites,” said Brandon Van Der Heide, lead author of the study and assistant professor of communication at Ohio State University. “If your profile photo fits what they expect, observers may be unlikely to look very closely at the rest of your profile – they have already decided how they feel about you.”

But most of the time, snap judgements are made without reading any of the words on the profile. Van Der Heide, along with graduate students Jonathan D’Angelo and Erin Schumaker, asked students to look at profiles with a photo and an “about me” section and then rate from one to seven how extroverted they thought the user was. The students judged that those who had pictures of themselves with friends were extroverted even if the “about me” portion suggested otherwise. They found exceptions to the findings when users had pictures that were particularly different.

“People will accept a positive photo of you as showing how you really are, but if the photo is odd or negative in any way, people want to find out more before forming an impression,” said Van Der Heide. “If your photo is not quite normal – either positively or negatively – people are going to pay a lot more attention to what you wrote.”

Van Der Heide said that although his study was based solely on Facebook, the findings can translate to other social media sites where profile pictures are used. He also made it a point to mention that this type of judgement can occur when potential employers are looking at your profiles.

Are you guilty of judging a person by their profile photo? Of course, not everyone uses pictures of themselves, and that wasn’t something specifically covered in the study, but it’s definitely something to think about. Especially with the impending cover photos about to take over the website.

Getting stopped at a road block by a metro that should probably be our president… South Africa is a wonderful and interesting country!

JoJo BayvelLeave a comment

 

It’s always THAT time of the morning when you are tired, irritable, being pushed off the road by a taxi, who seems to think that waving circles with his hand, outside his window is suffice to say “ I’m taking your lane move over”, that you spot those orange beacons……. dum dum dum (cue jaws music)

Needless to say I am blonde and the roadblock is in the same place EVERY morning yet I still quickly put my mobile down, make sure my safety belt is tightly in place and even though I know I have no outstanding fines, my licence disc is up to date and I have a valid driver’s licence (yes my family and friends are still under the impression I paid a fortune or wore a short skirt to the test. It pleases me to no end that it was a tracksuit, no make-up and an old Afrikaans guy who recognized my surname from my dad’s Bok days that I think did the trick… let’s just say I didn’t get into the parallel parking nor the alley docking and when we got on the road my instructor said “are yous gaaning to jol on celebrations tonight? That was K53 out the window and me and my drivers in hand…when I asked my folks if I could do an advanced driving course recently the response was “Why don’t you so a beginners course instead”!)

Well back to the story, went off the beaten track there,. So I still always feel like a nervous schoolgirl being pulled over and today was no exception. Out came the licence and the next thing I knew my car was searched for weapons et al!

Well… the thoroughness of this cop was amazing. When I jokingly said no guns “ but I should have one for Totsi’s” he launched into an educational insert on the different words for “thief” in each African language. Next was a lesson in the basic greeting’s and I  have to admit at this point he had me captivated and I wanted to drive him to the closest school and say this man will make sure your next class passes ANYTHING!

Next we were onto the topic of politics. Now as someone who keeps my nose out of this area I was hesitant to listen or comment and now I am writing about it. One man’s words made such an impact yet a thousand presidents speeches bore me to death!

He started of by telling me he knew God wanted him to teach poor white children African languages… GULP… working in a BEE environment I did choke a bit, here was this black man explaining to me that out government did not want to acknowledge the growing number of poor white families in South Africa and he wants to help. He does so at the police station already.

He then went on and asked me why I thought COSATU had held a strike? Well … i don’t know they don’t want the toll system in place i guess… but not his analogy was amazing it started like this “How can a man and woman who are married and sleep in the same bed, strike against one another?” this struck a chord COSATU and the ANC are definitely very cosy and spooned up in bed! He believed that again it was a play to prey on the uneducated, get the masses involved as they believed they truly were striking against the implementation of tolls, when in fact the little minions at the top were saying to their allies “If you don’t give us a piece of the action i.e. the money we will strike, give us a portion of the tolls and Hey who cares about the masses who will struggle further when everything from petrol to bread, milk and transport costs increase.”

Just before we ended our conversation, I was quite sad to move on; I asked him if crime had dropped in our country. His response was yes BUT more “violent crimes” were on the rise… why? Because of hatred bred in a society where apartheid is no longer a factor and crimes committed out of racism are carried out by those who were not affected by this cruel and awful era.

Another thing to remember when you get pulled over and you feel anger or irritation that the “STUPID and uneducated” metro has pulled you over AGAIN think about this…. my cop, as he will now be known, after all I will see him every morning as I hurriedly put mascara on in my rear view mirror, before he catches me, went and trained with Scotland Yard and the FBI …. he says they have the same problem as we do illegal immigrants committing crimes and they cannot be caught because they are not registered in the country…. he travelled with a large number of our police and metro force so let’s just say that we shouldn’t be muttering stupid metro’s any longer… their intelligence might just surprise you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter to the people who supported the inspirational, motivational & incredible Elephant Whisperer

JoJo BayvelLeave a comment
Dear Yvette, Marissa and Shannon,
Starting off this email and saying I trust you are all well, as one does when not “close” to those you are writing to, would feel like a the absolute antonym for what you are all feeling at present  – and as someone who had at last met both Lawrence and Marissa I feel I know you all on a personal basis… perhaps animal lovers and environmentalists communicate in a way we have yet to discern just as the Thula Thula and all Ellies do.

Awhile back I offered my services to assist in any way possible with the marketing, digital elements, web stuff, celebrity endorsements etc. after having devoured both the Elephant Whisperer and Babylons’ Ark on one weekend. As a ” bush baby” with 8 dogs (whom I adore) to placate my need for the rest of the wild animals I crave, these books not only touched and inspired me but awoke in me the sense that I needed to do something to help our Earth and its precious inhabitants, here I refer to the four legged kind, as they are bearing the brunt of man’s selfishness and cruelty.

Marissa explained how incredible busy you have all been, yet her and Lawrence were so friendly, had time to chat as though they were not planning one of the largest book launches in South African History and both are (Marissa) and were (Lawrence) genuinely the most down to earth people I have come across in ages. 

To hear Lawrence speak was unforgettable. His passion, integrity, love, fearlessness and hope enough to move one to tears or to break out in celebration. He made one feel as though anything was possible as long as you believed, worked hard at it and of course took a few chances. 

To meet him and afterwards read about the awards he has received, the people he is in contact with on a daily basis and most importantly the changes he has made in the lives of so many precious animals and peoples lives is incredible. This is a man you know would have treated a beggar and a King in the same manner… the beggar with more respect if he understood the importance of saving humanity.

When we heard of your loss on Saturday. I was quite literally blow away, it seems crazy that such a good man was taken in the midst of doing what the world needs most,  trying to save one of the oldest living creatures in History, not only that but trying to show people that these giant and small beasts are not only a “species to be wiped out” but an intelligent form of life  who communicate with each other, form family ties and live in a way we as humans have yet to understand and now risk the possibility of not being able to do so. God obviously needed him up there for a reason, perhaps to watch the poachers and send out signals to the Ellies and Rhinos in his whisper…
I have spent many hours wondering what Nana and the herd would do, if they would sense his departure from this world to the next and reading tonight that all 20 Elephants came to the house is absolutely amazing and beautiful… Lawrence was the ultimate Elephant Whisperer … he understood them and they loved him for this as did the people who he touched in his life.
He also never took full credit for his accomplishments but always gave thanks and gratitude to those who assisted him. In many an email he would speak of all of you as though you were the founders of Earth Org, Marissa you were basically his GPS, laptop and memory in one.
There are no words to ease the pain of losing someone so incredible. So all I can say is I am so so sorry. He is happy and healthy and enjoying a few beers with bijou :). My sincerest condolences to you all….  we have lost a mentor and teacher… you have lost that and a friend…..
“Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul.

Death is the last enemy: once we’ve got past that I think everything will be alright.”

I would still love to assist you in any way I can. I am not busy at present so can and will do anything…. obviously at no cost. If you hold the book launch as a tribute please let me assist I have done eventing and have great contacts with Celebrities and Businessmen alike. The former for the attraction the latter for the donations. I would also love to assist and become fully involved in Earth Org to educate people and let them know this is where to go to help whether they are environmentalists, conservationists or just animals lovers.
With all these charities popping up it seems we are diluting what we could all achieve together….. so Ladies Lets make Lawrence proud and get Earth Org, for now, to be the charity of choice in South Africa. I am visiting the USA in May, VISA permitting, for my cousins wedding, and will talk to their best family friends. They are the 16th wealthiest families in the USA and have strong ties with The Clinton’s, Obama’s etc…. lets see what we can do. I am determined. One handbag to them could fence off a reserve! Please just call me on +27824619996 and I will be there to lug water and clean drains if I have to… I will get Oscar, Ryk, Jeannie and all SA celebs to support – and would like to do an Olympics initiative for the rhino’s and  Lawrence.
Here is a song that is believe might make you cry but the words are just so true to some passing on to a better place. We mourn yet they are happy
Fly, fly little wing
Fly beyond imagining
The softest cloud, the whitest dove
Upon the wind of heaven’s love
Past the planets and the stars
Leave this lonely world of ours
Escape the sorrow and the pain
And fly again

Fly, fly precious one
Your endless journey has begun
Take your gentle happiness
Far too beautiful for this
Cross over to the other shore
There is peace forevermore
But hold this mem’ry bittersweet
Until we meet

Fly, fly do not fear
Don’t waste a breath, don’t shed a tear
Your heart is pure, your soul is free
Be on your way, don’t wait for me
Above the universe you’ll climb
On beyond the hands of time
The moon will rise, the sun will set
But I won’t forget

Fly, fly little wing
Fly where only angels sing
Fly away, the time is right
Go now, find the light

Jo-Anne Bayvel
Marketing Consultant  – Above, Below and on The Line

All of you looking to assist please go to http://www.earthorganization.org/

NEVER JUDGE ANYONE because you never know how their life is and as to what is happening or what they’re going through.

JoJo Bayvel1 Comment

 A doctor entered a hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery on a boy involved in a car accident. He answered the call ASAP, changed his clothes and went directly to the surgery block.
He found the boy’s father going and coming in the hall waiting for the doctor. Once seeing him, the dad yelled:
“Why did you take all this time to come? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have the sense of responsibility?”

The doctor smiled and said:
“I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital and I came as fast as I could after receiving the call…… And now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work”

“Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do??” said the father angrily

The doctor smiled again and replied: “I will say what Job said in the Holy Bible “From dust we came and to dust we return, blessed be the name of God”. Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go and intercede for your son, we will do our best by God’s grace”

“Giving advice when we’re not concerned is so easy” Murmured the father.

The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy, “Thank God! Your son is saved!”

And without waiting for the father’s reply he carried on his way running. “If you have any question, ask the nurse!!”

“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my son’s state” Commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left.

The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: “His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left running to finish his son’s burial.”

NEVER JUDGE ANYONE because you never know how their life is and as to what is happening or what they’re going through.

QuoTEs For ThIS WeEk

JoJo BayvelLeave a comment

In the end, it’s not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away- shing xiong

When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.- Unknown

Never tell your problems to anyone…20% don’t care and the other 80% are glad you have them.

 

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn’t supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You’ll have your heart broken and you’ll break others’ hearts. You’ll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you’ll cry because time is flying by. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you’ve never been hurt. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. you just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone’s hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts. Don’t be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back.

 

 

“Eleven Hints for Life”

1. It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return.
But what is more painful is to love someone and never
find the courage to let that person know how you feel.

2. A sad thing in life is when you meet someone who
means a lot to you, only to find out in the end that it was
never meant to be and you just have to let go.


3. The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a
porch swing with, never say a word, and then walk away
feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.

4. It’s true that we don’t know what we’ve got until we lose
it, but it’s also true that we don’t know what we’ve been
missing until it arrives.

5. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an
hour to like someone, and a day to love someone-but it
takes a lifetime to forget someone.

6. Don’t go for looks, they can deceive. Don’t go for wealth,
even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you
smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day
seem bright.

7. Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go,
be what you want to be. Because you have only one life and
one chance to do all the things you want to do.

8. Always put yourself in the other’s shoes. If you feel that it
hurts you, it probably hurts the person too.
 

9. A careless word may kindle strife. A cruel word may wreck
a life. A timely word may level stress. But a loving word may
heal and bless.


10. The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best
of everything they just make the most of everything that comes
along their way.

11. Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, ends with
a tear. When you were born, you were crying and everyone
around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die,
you’re the one smiling and everyone around you is crying.

– Unknown

 

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

– Dr. Seuss

 

“I always knew looking back on the tears would make me laugh, but I never knew looking back on the laughs would make me cry.”

– Unknown

 

Work like you don’t need the money, love like you’ve never been hurt and dance like no one is watching.

– Randall G Leighton

 

“Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.”

– Erica Jong

 

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.”

– Alexander Graham Bell

 

 

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