Our presentation would have gone about eight times smoother if we had downloaded our slides before the presentation. Additionally, there had to have been a way to execute the project so that we could have done it completely within Pinterest. These things could have been done if there had been a little more foresight on our behalf.

Our major challenge was finding peer reviewed sources for anything besides the positive/negative effects of pinterest. Even its history had to be pulled from non-academic sources. Even the sources we found that usually would have been considered reliable were oddly unofficial. The Forbes article was written based on an oral presentation given by the founder, but I could not find the presentation itself anywhere. Though now that I think about it, I never even tried to look for a transcript, so maybe this was within our control.

One of  the things that were cool about presenting pinterest is that all of our sources were linked on our pinboards. We could "make" pins and add the links. Pinterest also allowed us to organize things by category for our presentation which was nice, as well. If only we could put the things in each category in better order!

Of the other presentations, I really thought the Instagram groups was cleverly executed as it was all contained within instagram. I felt their examples were relevant and interesting. The YouTube group had a LOT of information, but I personally didn't like how everything was in videos. Like the concept was neat, but I can watch videos anywhere. The twitter was nicely executed, I just wished that there had been more information, less repetition words, if that makes sense? Like I would be listening, then reading and I would be reading essentially the same thing. I like lots of pictures, not so much words, haha!

Anyway, this class was indeed FAR less horrible than my last honors seminar!! In fact I enjoyed it. I felt like the workload was a bit much, with all three posts in addition to whatever prep work we had, but I don't feel like I was necessarily wasting my time.

Best of luck!! :)

#EndSlacktivism

I'm super guilty of engaging in slacktivism. I had the "I stand with France" FB Profile filter, and I attempted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and so on.

In high school I was much better at following up my actions with words. I was extremely active in the Key Club and if I didn't like something I changed it. I've grown much more complacent as a college student.

Both of my roommates are completely unafraid and very eager to attend protests and rallies for causes they feel strongly about. Perhaps my issue is that I simply don't feel strongly enough to be willing to do something to change it.

All it takes for evil to happen is for good people to stand aside and let it. Slacktivisim can become more than just useless- it can become dangerous. Because good people think they ARE doing things to thwart evil. They think their "actions" have an effect. If you go on social media and spout your beliefs and spread them around, okay, that's fine. But most people with opposing opinions will not be turned to your side by a sing passionate post, or even a series of passionate posts.

Talk is cheap. It's time for action.

If GoFundMe is the new age of begging, then why are people so much more willing to support those than the people on the street? Why are they any less manipulative? Why are they anymore worthy?

Look, I'm not trying to tell you how to use your money. I just want to know how the thought process works.

I'm a selfish individual, and I have been told I am not compassionate enough. Which perhaps there is some merit to. But I find it foolish to give people money for causes that are stupid. I also find it interesting that these platforms censor what you can campaign for.

Like there's one site that prevents you from funding an abortion. What if it is a medically required abortion that your insurance won't pay for? I'm pretty sure that is one of the few cases that abortion is legal across entire country. To me placing such a ban is stupid. If I can make a campaign for my sock fund, let them make one for something that could literally save their life.

I feel compelled to point out that while I am pro-choice, I also do not personally thing abortion is something I can truly condone or choose. But others should still have that choice, because it is their life, too.

Anyway, on to Zuckerburg. He's intelligent, as in a booksmart way, but DANG he's making a fool of himself. Like PLEASE friend, stop talking. I'm just honestly really surprised at how the whole thing is going...

Public Shaming has been around as long as society has existed. People getting placed in the Stocks and being pelted with fruit. The stoning of adulterers. The Scarlet "A", also for adulterers. In Huntington, it is still legal to beat your wife, as long as it is on the steps of the court house.

"Psychologists say that children don't respond to beatings" - Lots of People

They do respond, but not necessarily in the right ways or for the right reason. If your child harasses another child about their hair, then a spanking does nothing. If you explain to them why harassing other kids about their hair is not an acceptable behavior, that would be much more effective. Better yet, ask the child why, WITHOUT guiding or accusing, it is unacceptable behavior.

I don't think I will personally spank my children. I don't think that's the most effective parenting strategy. Every child is unique, and will require a unique brand of parenting. There simply isn't a "one size fits all" parenting solution.

Everyone can find someone like them on the internet. This can often be a good thing- think philanthropy, or connecting the marginalized. Think of Simon Spier, from the movie Love, Simon. If you don't know, it is essentially about a closeted gay high schooler falling in love with a fellow closeted gay classmate online. It's very cute, and only possible because of social media.

The degree of anonymity, or at least the degree perceived makes people braver. It allows them to express themselves more freely, or at least parts of them. Like Simon, a gay boy in a primarily straight pretty small town. While he felt like his family would be fine if he came out, he felt like he'd be changing how everyone saw him if he did. So he played it straight.

However there is also a dark side to this, naturally. The Nasties can connect. The rapists, pedophiles, and criminals can get in touch, too. And if there are others like you- whole communities of them- well, perhaps you are not so Nasty after all. Perhaps such behaviors are normal.

Like I said, this can be a good thing. But polarization, which is what happens when the same ideas are reinforced repeatedly, is rarely a good thing. It is how people end up enemies over differences in opinion that to others seem rather insignificant.

This polarization is what leads to that mob mentality that was discussed in Here Comes Everybody. This can lead to some insane productivity, like the maintenance of Wikipedia. But far more often they gather and "shame" people, like that woman on the flight to Africa. Like WHOA that escalated SO quickly!!! And so violently! I bet there are still people who send her regular threats. I am not condoning or even defending her tweet- it was a joke made in poor taste that she will regret the rest of her life.

As someone who has made similarly stupid mistakes and statements, I can sympathize to a certain degree. Owning up to your mistake and apologizing is all you can do. But she was on a plane, and unable to even realize what a fool hardy joke she had made. By the time she had landed, the situation had progressed past the point of her apology meaning anything. Yes she made her bed, so she needs to lie in it. But GEEZ, let her get up and apologize. I'm assuming the best and that she was indeed making fun of white privilege as she claimed, and not actually being racist.

One statement shouldn't ruin your life. Perhaps make it unpleasant for a bit. But I have to believe that humanity is better than that overall. Otherwise, I'm not sure I'd be able to continue on my current path. I chose chemistry because I want to help people. If people are not worth helping, I couldn't stand it.

Back in my door-slamming phase, I would get in BIG trouble for slamming said doors. One time my dad straight up removed the door from its hinges. He told me that privacy was a privilege, and I had just lost it for a week. Most people treat privacy as a right. But I'm more inclined to agree with my father. If you post everything on social media, you forfeit any nonexistent right you have to privacy in terms of that information,

That's not to say it's morally acceptable to go through all your roommates things. Or break the lock on your brother's diary and read it. But privacy is an extension of trust. And trust has to be earned, I'm told. There's a basic level of trust and privacy that comes for granted until given reason to revoke it. 

But privacy is a privilege you can grant yourself, to a certain extent. Lock that diary up. Keep no physical records of your marital affairs. Keep your thoughts off your facebook page. Not to mention the less people know of you and your schedule, the less easy a target you will be for ill will. Thieves know when you're on vacation- because you posted it on Facebook. People you've wronged know that they can trigger an allergic reaction by wearing a certain perfume- because you posted it on Facebook. And that job you didn't get? It's probably that photo you posted of your new bong or something equally frowned upon.

Essentially, if you want to complain about people knowing too much about you- chances are it's your own damn fault.

If the internet is a social gathering, it is a Masquerade Ball. Everyone is presenting their best selves, and some choose to don a mask. At the Internet's Masquerade Ball, everyone only displays what they want others to see (or what they think others want to see). Some people do this to the extent of hiding their identity.

These are the catfishes. Some have evil/manipulative intentions, others without malice. A social minority may wish to express their views but feel that they cannot without risking their health, relationships or livelihood. Specifically those such as members of the LGTB+ community. While I am the sort of person to cut off those who disapprove of me, even I have those Great Aunts who think I should wear long skirts and marry young. But I still want that birthday check, so I keep my very feminist views in check on my social media.

I suppose my point is that while I personally think that honesty is the best policy, and if people don't like you for who you are, cut them off; catfishing is not inherently a bad thing. If I meet someone online, friend or otherwise, I am fully aware that my expectations of them are not going to be entirely fulfilled. If I go to meet 22 year old Jane and find out she's a 60 year old Jacob trying to manipulate younger women, yes I will be very mad! But if 22 year old Jane is living as a 22 year old Jacob who is a closeted trans girl, I will be significantly less so. I'll be very mad initially, but I'll get over it. Or not, in which case I'm not worth the time and effort they were putting into the friendship.

For me, escaping into the world of fiction (books, games, etc) is enough. But I also am generally happy with who I am and what is going on in my life. I have people who love me unconditionally, both in my family and my friends. I am not a homosexual in a homophobic town with no way to relocate, or a young Christian trapped in an area where religion is looked down upon. It must be liberating to finally express your views, protected by a fake identity.

If the only place you can be your true self is online, go for it. Chances are, you never hurt anyone by being you. We are all already fabricating our online presence by picking and choosing what we post. We even do it to an extent in real life. Catfishing is just one step further.

But I genuinely wish that if you catfish for the reason that you are not accepted in the real world, that you do find someone who accepts and loves you for who you truly are. Someone who sees you without your mask and still loves you all the same.