It's interesting...
Lately I have been struggling super hard to find time to blog.
Life is insanely busy, I am wrapping up my senior year of college-- I just do not have time.
Yet, when I scroll through my twitter feed, look at my instagram, glance at my facebook timeline, I question myself on whether or not I am actually too busy to blog or if I just decide to do other things instead.
Last night I was thinking about this. Why do I have time to go on social media but tell myself I do not have time to blog? As I was pondering this question, a few things came to mind. 1) I am not use to blogging. I have never blogged before and so it is not exactly instinct for me to go online and start blogging about everything. 2) Blogging requires sitting down and typing for a decent amount of time. When I tweet, I am usually walking somewhere or filling in a short period of time with a quick though that I have. It only lasts about 2 minutes max. Blogging just is not as quick and easily accessible for me. 3) I sit down at a computer and type ALL THE TIME. I am just sorta sick of it, ya know? This demotivates me to sit down and type up a blog because then I begin to think about the fact that I have a paper due shortly, a couple projects, and articles to read, and with these thoughts circling through my mind, it is hard to make moves to type and look at a computer for even more time. It is just exhausting for my eyes and hands and neck and body and mind to participate in blogging. I don't know, maybe I am being too dramatic...
Although these thoughts are all very true, when I do eventually sit down and begin to blog, I find myself enjoying it and see that maybe one day I will actually begin to blog on a daily or weekly basis. Maybe one day it will become a habit and I will find myself blogging instead of tweeting. Who knows. All I know is I cannot wait to be homework free and not have to worry about writing papers. Maybe when this time comes, those minutes spent typing up papers will be switched with moments spent blogging instead.
...only time will tell.
But until that point, I will continue to focus and find time to blog. Although my blog posts may not come every day or even every week, I will get them out there and they will get done!
Now my neck is hurting so I end my blog post here,
Until next time.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Say Something.
Carrie Rentschler wrote an article titled "Online abuse: We need Good Samaritans on the web" talking about the issue of "online violence". Personally, I believe using "violence" in this sense is a misuse of the word. I think better words to describe the internet issues discussed in this article would be harassment and bullying. There are other words as well that can be used, but the word violence is just not working for me.
Now, after getting that out of the way, the article does bring up good points within it. Maybe people are well aware of the harassment and bullying that goes on throughout online activities, but maybe people are not aware of it. The important thing is to realize that it is a problem and that people do deal with it. Just like bullying in school. Except not like bullying in school because cyberbullying and harassment online can be shared with hundreds and millions of people within an instant, and it does not disappear. Ever. Victims of this sort of harassment and cyberbullying have to live and deal with these actions their entire lives. That is a long time.
So what? If we are not the ones getting bullied or harassed, why does it matter to us? It's funny to see embarrassing photos, crazy posts, follow arguments and see who has the better insults online, right? Sure. But there comes a point where enough is enough and some people realize before others when that point has been crossed. When that happens, SPEAK UP. Carrie speaks about the important role that a bystander can play in the lives of victims or even the perpetrator. A bystander is very important, and can even save a victim by standing up and speaking out about the issue at hand. Also, bystanders can be there as support and help support people through emotional hurt that has occurred and is still occurring due to online harassment and bullying.
The concern of cyberbullying and online harassment will never disappear. Some people will always feel some sort of sick contentness through hurting, embarrassing, and ruining people's live because that is how the world is. But that does not mean that we will always have to just sit and watch it happen. No, Carrie challenges us to hold these perpetrators accountable for what they do and to stand up against them. She quotes Jacque Wernimont who said, “There is no technological fix to online violence. The problems are social and so are the solutions.” and expands by saying how building a community that makes people accountable and holds them up to these ideals is necessary and everyone needs to participate. Jacque is right, both the problem and the solutions are social, that means it is solely up to us to make a change if we want to see it.
So next time something is taken overboard, if people are harassing someone online, or unnecessary comments are being made, SAY SOMETHING. Call them out. And call out the other bystanders and ask for support. One person may not make a difference in stopping online bullying, but it is one step closer.
Now, after getting that out of the way, the article does bring up good points within it. Maybe people are well aware of the harassment and bullying that goes on throughout online activities, but maybe people are not aware of it. The important thing is to realize that it is a problem and that people do deal with it. Just like bullying in school. Except not like bullying in school because cyberbullying and harassment online can be shared with hundreds and millions of people within an instant, and it does not disappear. Ever. Victims of this sort of harassment and cyberbullying have to live and deal with these actions their entire lives. That is a long time.
So what? If we are not the ones getting bullied or harassed, why does it matter to us? It's funny to see embarrassing photos, crazy posts, follow arguments and see who has the better insults online, right? Sure. But there comes a point where enough is enough and some people realize before others when that point has been crossed. When that happens, SPEAK UP. Carrie speaks about the important role that a bystander can play in the lives of victims or even the perpetrator. A bystander is very important, and can even save a victim by standing up and speaking out about the issue at hand. Also, bystanders can be there as support and help support people through emotional hurt that has occurred and is still occurring due to online harassment and bullying.
The concern of cyberbullying and online harassment will never disappear. Some people will always feel some sort of sick contentness through hurting, embarrassing, and ruining people's live because that is how the world is. But that does not mean that we will always have to just sit and watch it happen. No, Carrie challenges us to hold these perpetrators accountable for what they do and to stand up against them. She quotes Jacque Wernimont who said, “There is no technological fix to online violence. The problems are social and so are the solutions.” and expands by saying how building a community that makes people accountable and holds them up to these ideals is necessary and everyone needs to participate. Jacque is right, both the problem and the solutions are social, that means it is solely up to us to make a change if we want to see it.
So next time something is taken overboard, if people are harassing someone online, or unnecessary comments are being made, SAY SOMETHING. Call them out. And call out the other bystanders and ask for support. One person may not make a difference in stopping online bullying, but it is one step closer.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
It's Social Media... What do you expect?
I do not understand.
There are several things I do not understand in this world. A massive list that is unending, really. But today I am going to specifically speak about one subject that I do not understand, and it is this:
WHY DO PEOPLE POST THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND GET MAD ABOUT PRIVACY RIGHTS?!
Lori Andrews argues in her book I Know Who You Are and I Saw What You Did: Social Networks and the Death of Privacy (wow what a long title..) that there needs to be a Social Network Constitution that protects our rights online and basically eliminate the ability for employers or schools etc. to look at people's information on their social network.
......a Social Network Constitution? Really?
Here, let me suggest a way that will 100% of the time help people not get in trouble because of their social media sites:
DON'T POST STUPID STUFF THAT WILL GET YOU IN TROUBLE.
It's a free and easy solution to a possible detrimental problem. If you have any questions on how to go about doing that, please, let me know. I can show you how to click the delete button and give you a lesson on wise decisions.
Come on people... it's the internet. Anybody can access anything from anywhere at anytime. Do not be shocked if employers are able to look you up and stalk your life. Everyone can do that. Be aware of the things that are posted online and think how it may affect life in the future. A Social Network Constitution I believe is going way over board. If you post it on the internet, you clearly must be fine with the entire world being able to access your life. That's the point in posting it right? Just be smart.
There are several things I do not understand in this world. A massive list that is unending, really. But today I am going to specifically speak about one subject that I do not understand, and it is this:
WHY DO PEOPLE POST THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND GET MAD ABOUT PRIVACY RIGHTS?!
Lori Andrews argues in her book I Know Who You Are and I Saw What You Did: Social Networks and the Death of Privacy (wow what a long title..) that there needs to be a Social Network Constitution that protects our rights online and basically eliminate the ability for employers or schools etc. to look at people's information on their social network.
......a Social Network Constitution? Really?
Here, let me suggest a way that will 100% of the time help people not get in trouble because of their social media sites:
DON'T POST STUPID STUFF THAT WILL GET YOU IN TROUBLE.
It's a free and easy solution to a possible detrimental problem. If you have any questions on how to go about doing that, please, let me know. I can show you how to click the delete button and give you a lesson on wise decisions.
Come on people... it's the internet. Anybody can access anything from anywhere at anytime. Do not be shocked if employers are able to look you up and stalk your life. Everyone can do that. Be aware of the things that are posted online and think how it may affect life in the future. A Social Network Constitution I believe is going way over board. If you post it on the internet, you clearly must be fine with the entire world being able to access your life. That's the point in posting it right? Just be smart.
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