May the Power of Anonymity be with You

I am getting a sense that many people are being blinded by the benefits of anonymity due to it's possible manifestation of trolling; however, this shouldn't be the case. Is trolling bad? As a matter of fact, it's worse than bad and quite appalling to see individuals abuse the views of others or just abuse other people in such an obstructive, verbal manner. Nonetheless, rather than eyeing the bad apple of the bunch- trolling- I rather view anonymity as a force of good. Look at this way, anonymity can be used for those users who may feel uncomfortable or shy with a situation they’re dealing with and may really need outside support to lift their confidence. For instance, I remember a time in 9th grade where a social outlet, ask.fm, was really popular. On this site people had the power to ask questions to the one person anonymously or non-anonymously. With this power a boy/girl had the power to talk to their crush, or send a compliment, or ask random, goofy questions. The method behind this madness was genuine and fun; but, I will admit that some users got out of control and did abuse the site by calling the person out of their name, or just be cruel and nasty for no reason. However, as I nuanced earlier you can’t allow the bad apple of the bunch spoil the basket because there will always be individuals who will try to be like thorny vines waiting to knick your foot. They’ll desire to inflict pain upon you precious roses. With that said, see the beauty in things because life is too short to absorb so much negativity, let your roots be nourished by positivity and grow with compassion, empathy, and love in your stem and leaves; and you’ll blossom into a confident, beautiful flower. Keep the peace.

Sticks and Stones

So some believe that people should just avoid the internet altogether if they're bothered by cyber bullies and trolls. It is IMPOSSIBLE to avoid the internet altogether. It's way too prevalent in this day and age. The only thing you can do is make a choice - be better than everyone else and stay above the waves, above the noise of the quietly loud harshness of the cruel men and women behind black mirrors, or dive right into the heart of the sea and all its disastrous consequences. Not everyone has something nice to say and not everyone is going to say something nice. What we have to do is grow some thick skin, and suck it up. After all, it's what we signed up for: full, public access into our "private" lives.

trolls

The right of free speech does come in handy when the people need to be open about their opinions of a certain political situation or a debate about net neutrality. However, has our free speech gone to far? Many have abused this privilege and created so much negativity and pain to others.  Internet trolls cyberbully people just for entertainment or for self pleasure because of their self insecurity. Trolls sit around and waste their life just to ruin others, so to stop them, we should just ignore them unless they push measures to the extreme, then that’s when their true identity should be exposed to the public.

I feel like being an internet troll is so much work. If you think about it, every day they have to find the time to sit down and read through posts and think about mean things they could say to offend someone they don't even know. Imagine being that sad and self conscious? smh. Being a troll takes dedication, hard work, and the ability to not care about other humans. Trolls love attention, they feed off of it. That's why people say not to engage with them, but that doesn't always work (as we read about during our unit.) which is so sad.

Trolls are on everywhere

2nd Blog Assignment

December 15, 2017 

The internet is a world wide assess granted to everyone and that it is extremely difficult to monitor and discover every single person's anonymous identities. The power to go anonymous on social network is helpful, yet annoying by trolls. Trolls are always harassing and forcing the victims to be all anger with mean things to say. The best solution to solve this is to simply ignore and don't let the trolls get to you too personally.  

Net Neutrality is the solution

Recently, the repeal of net neutrality has made big headlines.  So, I guess I am wondering what will happen in the wake of these events. If people have to pay for services, will cyber bullying decrease? I  definitely would not keep paying to get bullied. It would definitely be easier to put down a phone or a computer. Also, as a parent, I would stop paying for social media packages if I knew my child was being bullied. Some parents won’t want to pay for social media services period, so that’ll automatically drop number of cyber bullying incidents. Maybe net neutrality will be the solution to cyber bullying.

After

Could this be my last blog post? -12/15/17

Anonymity is not always a bad thing. A vast amount of people have seeked relief from being anonymous such as sharing out their feelings and coming out which can be a daunting task for some when they are not hiding behind anonymity. But as a general stereotype, being anonymous is always thought as something very negative online. The idea of being almost nonexistent online is what gives trolls the confidence to spread hate and animosity towards other people. All in all, anonymity is does not always have negative motives.

Trollies

I feel like when people speak their mind online, they get harassed. It's sad when people get used to things happening to them. I wouldn't be able to handle anything if I got harassed daily. It's disgusting to see that people really take time out of their day to pretend to be someone else. There's no point. They don't get anything out of it. They probably don't enjoy their life so they have to ruin somebody else's. Today, there are probably more trolls than not. In the video we watched called "price of shame" the women talked about how people are branded and seen by many, but known by few. People don't really know other people. They see something online and automatically believe it. It's like the saying "never judge a book by its cover", don't judge someone because of how they look on the outside. What matters, is how they are on the inside.

my friends tears and my opnion

before this chapter I was aware of trolling and what cyber bulling was and how much it effects peoples lives on the daily. I personally haven't  experience trolls or even cyber bulling before and I haven't really seen it on my social media. the only time I actually seen it was if someone posted a topic that has a two side debate to it for an example abortion and even women's rights. I would click on to the post on the picture or article and in the comments the people saying things wasn't even about the original top anymore. like the fight or the debate has gone so far and both sides got so mad that it lead to rude comments and names being thrown. we as a society cant even have a good debate anymore with out someone saying something rude or it getting out of hand. its as if our opinions are going to be the death of us. I feel people think freedom of speech doesn't apply to the other person only to themselves or they forget that everyone has that right. (when I say they I am referring to those who get mad and out of control one someone says there opinion online) this trolling has gotten worse as my high school career went on. it went from not seeing it so much to an app the whole school had downloaded and only used it to bring other students down anonymously. no one knew who that person who called you a slut or ugly no one knew who was starting it or who was saying what. I remember everyone was so hurt and scared even if there name was brought up along with the app. I went threw it and didn't find anything about me but I did come across some things about one of my closest friends at the time. I'm not to sure how she found out but all I remember was that she was crying at school and she didn't know what to do . the tears wasn't out of saddest but out of anger. she didn't understand why someone would say the things that they did. she kept to herself and she didn't get on anyone bad side. she was a person who was struggling with family and depression for a while so this app and those rude comments was a slap in the face. see you never know the back story of the person you are talking about. you think you know them and you think you have all the answers but you don't you or trolls don't know anything and just say what they want. my friend had ended finding out who said those things and that troll said it was out of jealously and he was sorry. my friends and I never looked at that person the same ever again.

I really believe that this topic has made people open their eyes more about the growing topic of trolling and cyberbullying. It's heartbreaking that there are people out there that comment such horrible things and put people down. Some people don't even know that they're words have such an effect on people. In my opinion, I think it's worse when the sites and apps are anonymous. I mean I don't think I've ever heard of an app or site that was anonymous and there was no bullying. There's bullying on every site but it's worse when it's anonymous because we can't see who is saying it and we will never know. I hope this issue gets better in our world and I hope everyone just finds the kindness in their heart or, at least tell themselves that if they don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all.

Everyone has different responses to cyberbullying. It can cause all sorts of stress leading to depression and having no motivation to do anything. Cyberbullying increases health problems and feelings of sadness. Personally I have a small experience being cyber bullied. I know what it's like to be put in the situation. Little words hurt and has caused me to have lower self esteem. I've been using the Internet for as long as I can remember. From joining chat rooms and creating a Twitter and Instagram account at a young age, so many people are out there being able to say anything they want. I can't help what others thought or said about me. It's so easy for online trolls to harass anyone because they think they can easily hide their identity. It's nothing face to face.

How I would deal with trolls

Thankfully, I have never been trolled or cyber bullied. I consider trolling to be a growing epidemic in the online community and that it can be very difficult to separate yourself from it. Since I have never experienced it myself, I can only imagine how diminishing it must feel to be in that sort of situation. I believe that the way I would deal with trolling is by ignoring it and working on my own self-improvement. I'm not trying to sound naive by saying to ignore trolling, I understand that it is something that follows you. This is just a matter of personal opinion and what I would do. Since everyone is wrapped up in social media and we all have at least one form of it, it is difficult to pull yourself away from it. But when it comes to being cyber bullied that might be the best option for ones mental state. I would delete all forms of my social media and focus on the things I can control, which is myself. I am unable to control what others think of me or what they choose to say about me. Controlling the controllable is what my coaches constantly tell me. It makes no sense in worrying about things that are out of your reach. Something you can control is those you surround yourself with. By surrounding yourself with people that make you feel good is key when you are in an upsetting situation. Ignoring what someone else is saying, deleting all forms of social media, controlling what I am able to, and surrounding myself with positive people are all the ways I would deal with trolling if I was ever out into that scenario.

Trolls >:(

I honestly really  love this unit. Why? Because this unit can just be a eye opener for some people, make them think that trolls are a serious thing and that “trolling” isnt a okay thing to do. That hiding behind a screen spreading negativity is a coward and low thing to do . And learning about this in a unit can change peoples thoughts and views about the internet! Like earlier when I read one of our own classmates post about how she took a break from social media , I love how our class is taking this lesson seriously and everyone seems to be thoroughly enjoying it

I am actually glad that we had a unit that involved this subject because not everyone knows not to do things like this. Anyone in our class could be a troll and you wouldn’t even know. I feel like having a unit about trolls would affect on them if they were a troll and maybe help them think about what they did wrong. I feel like this was a powerful unit that everyone enjoyed writing their essay about and this was a very easy until just because their are so many sides to cyber bullying. Im really glad you chose to have a unit like this!!!

Could Repealing Net Neutrality Impact Trolling on the Internet? The Answer Is Yes.

Net Neutrality
(n) : The principle that internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.

For those of you who have not tuned into the media today (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) the repeal of net neutrality by the FCC, has been quite the topic of discussion. Today, in fact, was the day when official measures were taken to determine whether or not net neutrality should be terminated. Unfortunately, the vote to repeal ruled in favor, 3:2. This has been very troubling to hear but it is good to note that most internet platforms, such as Netflix, choose to defend internet users because the ruling of this vote is completely absurd. The internet is such an important tool in our advancing society and the fact that the FCC wishes to rid free internet from users for economic purposes is mind-boggling to me.  However, there is still hope for Net Neutrality be here to stay, it all depends on the future and what happens with this vote. It might not be repealed for a while, who knows? We can still fight for this, it's not over just yet. By repealing net neutrality (if it is to go through to Congress and pass) would this prevent the issue of cyberharassment and trolling to be minimized? Yes, yes it would greatly minimize trolls on the internet (somehow) but they will always remain present and hidden. Trolling continues to be an on-going issue for our democracy, especially with freedom of speech being guaranteed to all American citizens under the first ammendment. I am clearly against the repealing of net neutrality and the negative impacts it will cause. Although, not all the outcomes will be negative. What will we gain if we let the trolls and the FCC triumph? We stand together strong, opposing this issue to repeal in addition to all the trolls trying to tear us down. What do you think about this vote? What are your thoughts or feelings on net neutrality? Should it stay or should it go? Where do we go from here? What will society be without the internet being free?

Behind the Masks

They say when someone picks on other people for something, it is really because they themselves are insecure about who they are, so they feel the need to take it out on other people. It could also be a result of a bad childhood or traumatic experience. This also applies to online bullying. Now, I am in no way defending the horrendous actions that people take on the Internet that can lead to an unfortunate outcome, but instead, I am simply viewing the issue from a different perspective. Those trolls out there are people, human beings, who have, for some reason or another, decided to spend their time on the Internet harassing people. Their minds are so messed up and warped that they find this behavior to be fine and even amusing. They need professional help to sort out the issues that they may have, and sadly, not everyone has an opportunity to. I think what Lindy West did about her own troll was a very effective thing to do. Not only did it get them to stop the harassment, but her words truly affected him and made him realize the error of his ways. This wouldn't be effective for every troll sadly, but I truly believe there is a way to reach out to these troubled individuals to get them to stop the harm they are doing before it is too late.

trolliolies

For the past couple weeks I've been on a social media "cleanse" and it has taught me a lot. We are always told that we need to put down our devices and disconnect from the world once in a while, but people rarely do it. I always wanted to take a break from my social media, but there was something stopping me. When I finally made the decision and deleted all my social media off my phone it was strange. I was so used to pulling out my phone anytime a thought popped into my head or something happened. I was accustomed to filling my time scrolling through vine threads on twitter instead of doing something useful like homework or reading. It didn't take long for me to disengage, though partly because I know I've never actually been attached to my phone like so many people today. One thing I have noticed over the past couple of weeks is that when I stopped cramming my brain with a constant streams of information, I was able to become more aware of my thoughts and think a little clearer. Although I miss my friends weird snapchats and ranting about life on my spam account, I will continue using social media only to send streaks and to have conversations... and maybe watch a couple more vine threads.

Who Cares?

I just want to share my thoughts on cyberbullying. I've always been kind of a realist or an "oh well" type of person, so I know many won't see the cyberbullying situations the way I do. In my opinion, people should just ignore others, and this goes for verbal bullying in real life also. So what if someone said something about you? Chances are the person who is doing the bullying has holds no importance in the bully victim's life anyway. If the people are anonymously saying things that's even more of a "so what?". There is nothing you can do about it, so just do not worry about it. If you ever grew up playing online video games, you experience these type of things often. The best and easiest thing to do is just laugh at the fact that random people are really taking the time to type out something stupid to you and move on. My dad always seemed to have a "who cares what people think" attitude, so I learned from that, and it makes these type of encounters for me way easier.

Warning: Trolling Straight Ahead

Personally I believe that we are a society that has become extremely sensitive to words that are directed to us and at the same rate insensitive to the things we say to each other. Truthfully, and I mean this in the frankest way possible, people really need to grow a backbone because we live in a world filled with people who will not like you whether it be your looks, race, religious affiliation, etc. Meaning the world isn’t this great LaLa land filled with sweet, loving people, sorry to bring this to light but there are many people crude individuals who wander this earth, but specifically the net, because they have issues with themselves. Now I do not state this in a way of portraying my sincerity to the trolls; however, I am an understanding person and do not take rude comments to heart. I am able to do so because I am confident in who I am and I know my worth, so there isn’t a single being alive who can stab me to my core and make me feel less than.


Nonetheless, I understand that not everyone is like me and some truly care how others perceive them, or are greatly impacted by words. However, if that is how a person chooses to go about their life then they need to be sure to guard themselves because it wouldn’t make sense for them to open the door to people whose desire is to provide negative opinions about them but rather to people who are sincere and compassionate. Maintain a private account if needed and if they choose to be public block the troll immediately.


You know it’s a shame that trolling has had this great uprise online at a time when our society needs the most unity. It hurts to know that trolls have reached the ultimate level of breaking their victim down to the point the victim pulls their last string where they feel compelled to take their life as a white flag of surrenderance. However, as users of the internet we must stand guard in this battlefield and protect our emotional, mental, and (in some cases) physical well-being at all times opposed to feeding ourselves to the pack of trolls.


Although we all handle things differently, be wise enough to step away from the media when you’re being attacked by the cynical beings behind the screen and find someone who you know you can trust and confide in them the issues you’re going through on the net. It doesn’t make you weak if you step away from the net and doesn’t make you stronger to simply tolerate the verbal abuse. You know what you can handle so be brave, take a deep breath, and remind yourself how awesome you are and that that troll is simply displeased with the issues in their life. Block them with a quickness and carry on with your beautiful life.


All in all, know your worth and show some compassion as Thumper said best “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it all”. Keep the peace.

#dontfeedthetroll

In many situations, people are unable to get rid of trolls or they are unable to ignore some of things they say because there are so many attacking them. They say lots of hurtful things to just get one reaction out of somebody, and this is especially true for many public figures. These days, you see people just saying anything to hurt or make fun of others, but a lot of trolls are left unsatisfied because they do not get the reaction they want. In some cases, people that get trolled ignore them or acknowledge that the things being said are only to get a reaction. It bothers trolls when this actually happens because they are so used to breaking people down instead of getting dry responses. I have personally seen trolls get trolled. Trolls do not like it when you agree with their statements or when you just don't give a reaction at all. I have seen a lot of times where trolls got frustrated or gave up on saying hurtful things once it was acknowledged they were trolling. Lots of people dislike trolls and they usually warn others not to "feed the troll" because the troll will get the reaction they were longing for. If someone is trying to troll you by breaking you down, block them or ignore them. Do not give them what they want because it would only encourage them to cause more harm to others. Remember to just be yourself and ignore the hate from people trying to only bring you down. Don't feed the troll.

"Bullycide"

http://time.com/5044974/ashawnty-davis-10-year-old-suicide-bullying/

The article above entails in how a young girl is bullied to where she is driven toward suicide. In most bullying stories I have heard, victims of bullying are driven toward suicide. The ten-year-old girl in the article committed suicide after a video of her and the person who bullied her was posted on Musical.Ly. The fight was outside of school grounds, and the fight was also not during school hours. This article reminded me of a discussion we had in class regarding whether schools should be responsible for resolving bullying situations among their students. Although, most altercations between students occur outside of school grounds and school hours I think schools still should be held responsible. Doing so, I think schools could prevent suicide attempts from occurring.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42002981

The Prince's take on cyberbullying to me was really interesting. I think that his input on how people should react and handle cyberbullying would be beneficial, for it makes people aware of how serious such a situation is.

y tho?? don’t be a troll yo

I honestly don’t understand why some believe it’s okay for one to bully another to the point where it ruins the victim’s life. It’s sad because cyberbullies waste their lives by stalking someone online, only to be negative towards their victims, while hiding behind their screens, in hopes of making themselves feel better in their sad lives. It’s crazy to hear and see how many have taken their own lives because the cyberbullying was too much to handle. Cyberbullying victims come in all ages, in one case, a 12 year old girl took her own life because she was getting cyber bullied by her classmates. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/amp/new-jersey-family-sue-school-district-after-12-year-old-n788506
Nobody should go through this and nobody should start it. We need to take a step out of our ignorance bubbles so we can understand that our words DO affect others.

welcome to the internet

The internet is the home of many trolls and often they go around and hate on people for no reason or just write funny things online.  You can find a lot of trolls in places like YouTube comments or other sites that allow people to comment about others anonymously.  I believe that people who troll people unanonymously and continuously aren't considered trolls but just bullies.  Some trolls can be funny and give you a laugh too.  My thoughts on this chapter are that trolls with bad intentions to actually hurt people should be stopped but people messing around for some laughs shouldn't be punished.

Learning about internet trolling and cyberbullying has opened my eyes on many things that I never even thought about before. It's very important to look at how people and social media sites can stop trolling and cyberbullying because it's hurting many and spreading more every day. Cyberbullying is a problem because kids care what others think about them and when they're being embarrased in front of many on the internet it can lead to a lasting impact on their mental health and even lead to suicides in some cases... Because of this, we need to find solutions to cyberbullying. One possible solution is for social media sites to hire more moderators to look at posts that are being made and check whether they need some sort of guidelines to make sure they are not being used for bullying. Although some may argue that this is against free spech, it's totally legal for the sites to do this because it's stopping people from getting hurt. It would be difficult to do this though because social media sites do not have the logistical resources to carry it out. Another possible solution could be to just educate students and teenagers to watch what they say on the internet and demonstrate the effects it has on victims of bullying. Doing this would show people that what they say on the internet has the same outcome to things they say in real life and it could lead to less bullying and trolling.

my thoughts on this unit(spolier alert)

this unit has been one of my favorite units. not only does it bring light on cyber bulling I feel it also helps those who are going threw it. it also brings awareness on this topic it enlightens us on what should and shouldn't be saying online and to other people. this unit has reminded me a lot of the movie Cyber bulling. the movie is about this typical high school girl being talked down at school and online by the different kids at school and even her bestfriend. the movie has shown the different stages of bulling and has even touched on the effects of it for an example suicide. which I believe these trolls don't realize can be an outcome to their words. sometimes I feel adults and even parents don't understand how this trolling thing can be serious. sometimes I feel as this topic isn't talked about enough and no one is doing anything about it. I don't think adults realize this is what our generation has to deal with and its not just the kids or jocks at school picking on the nerdy smaller underclassmen anymore. it could very much be the underclassmen picking on the jock online with a fake account or just by leaving a nasty comment. it seems as if things has gotten easier with bulling and the online world has helped them a lot with it. they can say what the pleases and no will do anything about it and that troll doesn't have to see that persons face or see how their words are effecting the other person. these trolls are hiding behind the screen. there are no longer scared of anything they have no problem with saying anything to anyone. and its really sad and makes going online so much harder then it has to be. I'm sure there are some people who cant even enjoy posting a picture of themselves on Instagram without getting trolls to comment hateful things. the ted talk we watched in class not that long ago really showed what women go threw and how much backlash women get for one mistake. she got a lot more then I think she should have. it wasn't all her fault however the world had made it seem like it was and it was wrong in many ways. there was people talking about her who doesn't even know her and didn't know her until the news exposed her. and they felt obligated to make their opinions known and her this young women as if she didn't already know the mistake she made. and it goes for normal girls as well and even men. one mistake and the world will ruin you no matter who you are.

I find this unit that we are learning to be very interesting and true, because it relates to us using technology in our lives. We all use social media such as Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and that we are always constantly on our phones 24/7 looking through people's pictures and chatting with people. Social media has been the number one way to communicate one another and that people are using their fingers more than their mouth to talk to someone. Talking to people through the internet have some pro- and con- to it. The pro- is that communicating through gadgets is more quicker and efficiently to send a replied to someone in a matter of seconds. However though, there are some people in the world that abuse the use of technology. There are people who troll and cyperbullying other people on social media. For example, people commented mean things on someone Instagram or harassing people with hatred on chat room. I think everyone has experienced trolls before in their lives or they have been trolls to someone, but I would like everyone to think for a moment, before doing so, imagine how would you feel like if they were doing the same thing that you were doing it to them. Our actions reflect the next action that we are going to take and if we want to stop cyperbullying, we have to stop giving in to the trolls and to simply ignoring them.

Every time I go on Twitter or any other form of social media I am saddened by the sight of another post about how a child, teen, or adult that took their life because of the words of someone else. The constant battery of damaging words caused another so much pain that they couldn't find any other solution to get away from it. As the internet expands it gives trolls and other bullies a larger platform to attack others. It is inevitable to get away from trolls, even if you are not the target. The hurtful comments or post are constantly on our timelines and no one can escape the negativity. The only way it seems possible is to delete every form of social media. Even still, you can hear about bullying or see it in your every day life. People feel the need to put others down because they are different from them. Somehow, making others feel inferior makes them feel superior. As a naive child, when I called my brothers mean names I would constantly be told that, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". That isn't a concept people understand or follow in our generation. People believe that everyone wants to hear what they have to say or that their negative opinions are valued. Trolls hide behind their screens making people (they more than likely don't know) feel worthless, and in some sick way they are okay with that. Trolls know what that they are doing and how they affect others but have no sense of remorse or sympathy towards others. Maybe the reason they do it is because they feel insecure themselves. That is still no excuse to be callous to another. In order to beat the trolls in this world, we need to spread as much positivity in anyway we can.

This unit was actually kind of tough to talk about because people actually loose their lives for cyber bullying and I really think it is unacceptable. People shouldn’t be treated this way we at all and we should be friends with one another instead of enemies. People think it is fun to go on the internet and say bad things, but people take things different ways. Something you think isn’t hurtful can take someone else’s life away. Its just sad how cruel people are turning into. They don’t realize it is bad until they find out something bad happened to that person. BE NICE TO OTHERS EVERYONE!!!

[KC]: Room for Debate Activity

Hi all, 

This activity is meant to help you examine both sides of the issue we've been discussing. Your job is to read each article thoroughly and complete the chart in your notebook. Be sure to click on all seven debaters to see all seven opinion pieces. For the two last columns peruse the comment section (keep in mind that the comments on NYT are monitored and must be approved before posting) and explore some of the cyberlinks embedded within the text. What seems interesting to you?

Here's the link to the New York Times Room for Debate (Trolling)

Work well! Learn something! Start to think about your own opinion on this issue!

Where it Began...

With so many technological advancements having been made in the past few decades, it is hard to remember a time when these improvements weren't such a big part of our society. With new advancements in the Internet comes those who want to use its anonymity to their advantage to do some pretty harsh things. Internet trolling has become such a common occurrence that it is now just a normal part of the Internet. It is something that most people encounter in some form in their life. Thinking about it now makes me wonder where it all began and why it is even called "trolling" to begin with. I began to become curious on when trolling was first documented on the Internet and why trolling of all things is what it is called. I did a bit of research, and according to the Oxford English dictionary, the word troll had first been used to describe people on December 14th, 1992 in the Usenet group alt.folklore.urban. This happened when one user had posted "Maybe after I post it, we could go trolling some more and see what happens." From there on out, the word was used to describe a certain type of person on the Internet and has become a part of our everyday vocabulary (sadly).

Reflecting on This Past Unit of Online and Anonymous...

Cyberbullying, Internet Hacking, the Price of Shame, and Internet Trolling

I have to say I really enjoyed this unit a lot because it discussed the issues that face the majority of us today that are online in this technological society that we live in. These problems lie underneath the surface of everything that we are already used to. Social media has played a major role in the communication of peers amongst each other in a positive way. However, it seems that social media can be a doubled-edged sword. It can be used both positively and negatively which is clearly seen in the ongoing issues of cyberbullying and trolling. This violation of privacy by these Cybernet hackers is crazy to think about because these trolls can be amongst this very campus. It is said by Farhad Manjoo in "Web Trolls Winning as Incivility Increases," that the term troll is a vague one because they hide in the shadows, their purpose is unknown, and who they're associated with is a mystery. Even though these trolls seek to exploit, unveiling them and shedding light on the subject is only going to encourage it. This article that we just read in class posted by The New York Times was a very interesting one to read because I have never experienced that before, but it gave me perspective. I value my privacy and wouldn't want anyone meddling with my information, especially if I wouldn't think to do the same. Cyberbullying and public humiliation are root causes of the shame that individuals have experienced because, with everything put out for the public eye to see, those same people feel a sense of vulnerability that is indescribable. This concept of shame was exemplified in the TED talk presented to us by Monica Lewinsky, who is a walking testimony of how the amount of bad press she received back when she was accused of sexual misconduct with Bill Clinton, has affected her immensely. However, it was swept under the rug and Lewinsky took a bad hit. The amount of shame she felt was crippling, immobilizing her to live a life without being referred to as a "slut." She called the modern age of culture, "a culture of humiliation," which is an accurate statement and Lewinsky experienced that first hand. The quote that really stood out to me was when she was wrapping up her speech going on to say that, "we must learn to speak with intention, rather than attention. We all deserve compassion in this world." This unit gives us perspective, I found it very compelling.

College Questions

What is the likelihood of an athlete making the sports team as a walk-on?

In regards to an athlete desiring to apply to a top Division I or II team, the chances of filling an open spot is very slim especially if the coaches haven’t reached out. Despite being enrolled in the college, the aspired athlete must have the skill, attributes, and what they’ll  bring to the team. Communicating with the coaches early-on is key as they’ll be more inclined to ask you to try-out for the team.

How do meal plans work in college? Do I have to qualify for something to receive a reduced or free meal?

At GWU (George Washington University), the student acquires Dining Cash which is dependent on the student’s class year and a couple other things. Dining cash crash decreases with each year the student attends the school: “First-Year Dining Plan: $4,100 Dining Cash ($2,050 per semester)

• Second-Year Dining Plan: $2,700 Dining Cash ($1,350 per semester)
• Third-Year Dining Plan: $2,200 Dining Cash ($1,100 per semester)
• Fourth-Year Dining Plan: $1,200 Dining Cash ($600 per semester)”

So it depends on the school whether there are any special qualifications for meal plans or not. It should definitely be looked into especially if you plan to eat from your college cafeteria.

Questions about college

What if my college or university doesn’t offer a study abroad program?

No worries! Just because your college or university does not offer any study abroad program does not mean you cannot do it. You can always talk to a neighboring college or university to arrange to be a part of their program to still receive credit from your institution as well. In fact, every student should do this in order to shop around for the best study abroad program relevant to their academic needs and desires.

How Long Does it Take to Earn an RN to BSN? 

With the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) coming to be considered the standard in the nursing profession, many nurses want to learn more about RN to BSN programs. These accelerated programs offer already practicing RNs the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s degree while continuing to work. One advantage of these programs is that they typically do not take as long to complete as a traditional BSN degree.

Q: What are some benefits from studying abroad? 

A: It expands your horizons. You will be able to experience new cultures, new types of studies, and possibly find new interest. Studying abroad will benefit the most because it will impress any future employers as they will see you have obtained many knew skills from different areas of the world.

Need Help + Food Options

What resources exist for college students who are struggling with their classes?

College is expensive and there are bound to be classes that are difficult for me, but I want to be able to pass the class and not waste money and time.  As a college student, you need to take the initiative to approach your professors, establish study groups, or find a tutor if you need help.  Some colleges make this easier than others.  Grand Canyon University, where I plan to attend next school year offers what is essentially a free tutoring program that is easily accessible.  The professors at GCU also have extended office hours so as to help their students.

I'm a picky eater; cafeteria food isn't something I'm comfortable with.  Do colleges have other options?

Well it depends on the college, and Grand Canyon does have a minimum required meal plan for freshmen.  But, GCU doesn't have a cafeteria per say.  There are restaurants on campus and our "meal plan" is basically a Visa you can use at the restaurants on campus.  So there are plenty of great options!

As a senior getting ready for college, I have many questions about my future. For example:
1.  What are the RN programs that your school provides? (LBCC)
- Associate degree (RN) program
2. Who should I contact to find out information about your women's track program? (LBCC)
- The head of the LBCC Women's Track program, Karen Vigilant.

What is the difference between a college and a university?

The difference between colleges and universities is that colleges grant bachelor degrees in one specific area of study. On the other hand, universities grant undergraduate studies, and they encompass graduate and professional schooling.

What is the difference between a Major degree and a Minor degree?

A Major degree is where you mainly focus your studies and concentration on one specific area of study, on the other hand, a Minor degree is considered as your second choice for specializing in a particular area of study. In addition, Minor degrees take fewer credits to fulfill.

How can you decide which college is the best for you?

Everyone has personal preferences. Some people want to attend college somewhere far away from home to experience a different surrounding. Or they might choose a college known for the good programs of a desired major. Students should consider different major offers, the area, student life, housing, and tuition. 

Why choose community college over a traditional four year university?

Some students go to community college to get an associate's degree to take general education classes for an affordable price. It's also easier to transfer to university from community. Others aren't even sure what they want to major in yet. Some community colleges also offer four year programs for a certain major. Attending community college is good for students to learn at their own pace. 

Are sports and other extracurricular activities important in College?

High School students understand that sports, volunteering, and other extracurricular activities are very important to make it into college.  A lot people tend to sway away from sports to focus on their classes once they are in college.  Many students see all of these activities as a distraction to their learning.  Most students on financial aid have to meet a certain GPA requirement so many of them tend to just worry about school.  However, if you ever do find yourself too stressed out from college, a sport can take some stress away and add some additional memories than just studying to your college experience.

Can I bring my pet with me on campus?

It is definitely rare for people to bring their pets to live with them on campus but now it's possible.  More and more campuses are welcoming pets to live with students and pets can really help you feel less home sick.  Before you bring your pet to the college you are applying to I recommend you take a look at your school's policy on pets.

How do I decide which major to go for?
I love computers and I want to learn more how program and build them. I have been in computer classes for the past 3 years and I still can't decide between the two and which one would be best for me. I want to make a career out of programming and make custom computers for myself and others. Any advice would be nice.

Military after highschool

2) Is it a good idea to go into the military after high school? 
             - It depends on the person. not everyone is made for the military, just like not everyone is destined to go to college. One upside to joining the military after high school is the financial weight it will lift afterwards. If you plan on going to college after the military, you can go virtually debt free. The military also helps prepare you for life challenges you wouldn't learn otherwise, and travel the world while doing something you like

Financial Aid for Overseas

1) If we apply for financial help in the U.S but end up going to school in another country, can we still use that money?
             -Whether you plan to study abroad for a semester or get your entire degree outside the United States, you may be able to use financial aid to pay your expenses. The type of aid you can get—and the process you must follow—will depend on the type of program (study-abroad or full degree) you plan to enter. Your status as an undergraduate or graduate student also affects the type of aid for which you’re eligible, just as it does at schools in the U.S.  

Blog Post Assignment

1. Can anyone receive financial aids for colleges? 

In order to receive financial aids, you must be a United States citizen, have a valid Social Security Number, have a high school diploma, and be enrolled in an eligible program. Also, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress, not owe a refund on a federal student grant, register with the Selective Service, and do not have a conviction for the possession of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid.

2. How long do I have to pay off my student loan? 

For most student loans, you have a six month grace period, meaning that you won't have to start making payments until six months after you graduate. Furthermore, the grace period is meant to give you a chance to find a job and begin earning an income before you’re swamped with bills. There are varieties of tips to help you to prepare for student loan payment. Like such, create a budget built around your student loans, prioritize paying off student loans, communicate with your loan servicer, set up automatic payments to avoid late fees and be able to know the exact date when you expect to pay off the loan give yourself a target ahead of that to shoot for it. 

What is the difference between Christian colleges and Non-Christian colleges?
There are many factors that need to be considered when choosing a Christian college or a Non-Christian college. The social atmosphere is one of the factors. Some colleges require the students to sign a contract restraining them to drink, go to parties, and such things like that. The professors are also more friendly. They keep their emails open and give out their phone numbers for any questions. You aren't just a number to them, you're a person and they care about you. Usually private Christian colleges are a lot more expensive than regular colleges but, many colleges of course offer financial aid, scholarships, and many more ways to get money for the college you want to attend.
What is the life of a student athlete in college?
In high school, the life of a student athlete is easy compared to the life of a student athlete in college. Not everyone you ply with in high school is getting a scholarship to a college to play that specific sport. Only a few select athletes are chosen to continue their journey. Usually your summer break isn't three months, it's 10 days. You have "optional workouts" which means that you usually have to stay on campus in the summer working hard preparing for the upcoming season. Waking up for weight room with your team at five A.M. then going straight back to your dorm to shower and then go off to all your classes for the day. Then ending your day with a two hours practice only to come back to your dorm with all your homework to do. Keep in mind it's like this every day and some weekends your traveling to play games. But, if you really love the sport you're going to play then you will enjoy college and the experience. It may be difficult at times but if it were easy then everyone would do it!

Goals in College/ Life in College

In college, is it worth trying to get the best grade?

Throughout high school, the idea is usually to get A's. However, the purpose behind this is so that it can look good on your transcript so it can help your college application. But once in college, is the goal really to get A's? Is the goal to just pass the courses to get a degree? Does it really matter in college whether you got a degree with a 4.0 or a degree with a 3.0?

Will college really be "the best time of your life"?

People often express how fun college was for them. There is also a lot of work given in college, so is college fun enough for people to still love it despite all the work? Is college only fun because the parties? Because I don't view myself as much of a party person so I'm not sure if I will have all the fun college is praised for.

Blog Post #1

As college comes closer, I am constantly asking myself questions about it, such as:
1. Do my SAT and ACT  scores really matter in the process of getting into college?
    - It really just depends on the school you want to attend. Checking to see how selective the school you are interested in is the first step. Some schools that accept around 10-20 percent of applicants are more likely to look at everything closely. The average college accepts 63.8 percent of their applicants. Open acceptance schools will accept almost everyone. Many open acceptance schools are community colleges but some are "four-year" schools. Colleges and universities look more for well-rounded students. Those who are in extracurricular activities. Many colleges tend to look at your grades and course load more than they look at your test scores. This is because they realize that some students are really smart but are just bad test takers. As long as you aren’t applying to a super selective school, you should be more worried about things that show how much effort you put into your work, such as grades and the difficulty of your classes.

2. How do I find scholarships?

    - If you’ve already selected the college you’ll be attending, their financial aid office is an excellent place to start researching scholarship awards that may be available. Most colleges have specific funds that are bench marked for students in various programs, of certain ethnicity, or other criteria. If you’re not sure where you’ll be going yet and are still in high school, check in with your guidance counselor. One good place to start is USA Today’s list of the top sites to search for scholarship awards, accessible online. Your community may have scholarship funds earmarked for exceptional students from local schools. Look into any possibilities offered by community groups, the PTA, and religious organizations. In addition, parents should find out whether their employer offers scholarship opportunities and whether their child qualifies. If you’ve already chosen a major, look into opportunities offered by professional organizations in that field. If you’ve already chosen a major, look into opportunities offered by professional organizations in that field.

What Am I Called To Do?

How do I know what I want to major in?

To really know what you want to do in college, you have to ask yourself many questions.  The main question you should be asking yourself is, "What am I truly passionate about?"  Making a decision about college is scary in it of itself but its main purpose is for growth. How will you make a life you're proud of post-graduation?  It's difficult coming to terms with something that will affect the course of your journey but that is what life is all about.  We often have to take risks to find out what we really enjoy.  Broadening your horizons is the foundation of a college education.  Creating better work habits, learning more, and experience is all a college education should be about and more. So when deciding what you want to major in, what do you enjoy? Have you set goals for yourself? Will you follow in someone's direction or will you make your own path? Bottom line, everybody is different. Major in a subject that you will enjoy doing; if we do everything in our life without passion or drive, then why do it at all.  All in all, consider your options, lay them out in front of you, and decide on something that will make you a better learner and innovative thinker. The sky is the limit. The amount of majors that are offered at particular colleges is often limited.  Finding your major is one thing, searching for colleges that specialize in that concentration, is often times difficult.

Can I change my major down the road if I lose interest? Will I be able to account for the loss of time?

What's great about college is that it provides students with opportunities to branch out and learn new things! If we stay in the same lane riding out life, will we ever see the sights we didn't know we needed to see? Things change and plans alter but life continues to go on. Making the decision to change your major down the road should never be looked down upon but encouraged. When you take specific courses in the efforts to receive a degree in the end run and don't enjoy what you're doing, change it. However, if the time comes where you feel that there needs to be a change in your direction, do it early. You don't want too much of your time wasted! "Time is money," spend it wisely. Also, when entering college, you don't have to have it all figured it out right when you walk through the campus gate. The purpose of your enrollment is to learn more about yourself as a person. What do you like and dislike? How do you want to impact the world once you graduate? It's important to ask yourself a series of questions. All in all, yes, you will be able to make up for the lost time, but the experience will make or break you. Keep it positive, make your experience a notable one.

       What are the advantages of going to a private college?

The advantages of going to a private college is getting personal attention, more opportunities, and life long benefits. It can be possible that some students can pay less than they would play elsewhere because private universities tend to pass on their savings to their students.

       Why do students like to choose a University instead of a Community college?

A lot of people think that community colleges are a waste of time, but they really aren't. The classes that you will take your first 2 years at a community college are the same classes you will take at a university. Depending on your GPA and the amount of money you would like to pay the cheaper way is a community college.

College Curiosity

Do you have to major in religion if you go to a Christian college?

Christian universities in no way require students to major in religion. Attendees can choose to major in a secular subject or a religious major such as Biblical Studies. Regardless of the degree or program, class content and curriculum will be reinforced through positive values and core Christian beliefs.


What are some advantages for going to an out of state university?

Plenty of universities and colleges offer scholarships and lower tuition for out of state students. Attending an out of state also means being farther away from home, so this allows for a lot ore growth and independence.

Studying Abroad

How much should you save up if you plan to study abroad?

Depending on the country, you will generally want to have $200 a week for personal needs like food and school materials. It would also be a good idea to have some emergency money saved up in the currency of the country you are studying in. The cost of housing and schooling depends on the program you are enrolling in.
  

What should you take with you if you study abroad? 

 It is a smart idea to pack at last 10 days worth of clothes with about two pairs of shoes. It is also necessary to bring all important documents such as a passport or visa. While you do want to make sure you have everything, it is important that you do not over pack. There is only so much you can bring on a plane.

 

 

[KC]: Peter Elbow Reflection Instructions

Remember, you have ONE week after your video presentation to get me this one page reflection. 

[KC]: "This is Water" Say, Mean, Matter Activity

If you were absent on Friday for the homecoming festivities, here's the activity you missed. Be sure to view the slides below and follow all instructions given.

Copy this slide into your notebook! This is a great strategy to have in your toolbox.

We did this bit together as a class. Make sure this slide is in your notebook as well.

The rest of the activity is on you! Make sure paragraphs 10 and 11 plus one more is completed on your "This is Water" text. 

I'm expecting to see this completed :]

[KC]: Peter Elbow and This is Water Vocab

We're powering through with our acquisition of new words. We will conquer these! This is SPARTAAAAAA!


Here are the words from Peter Elbow:

Here are the words from "This is Water":

Notice how it says to ALSO find 8 additional words from "This is Water."

A reminder of HOW to set up your vocab squares in your notebook (work from the back): 

[KC]: So you're ready to upload your paperslide video?

--> Go to YouTube, and click on the round icon in the top right corner that identifies you.  

--> Log yourself off.  Sign off.

(If you were not logged in to begin with, please start here.)

--> Log in to YouTube as erwc.mayfairhighschool@gmail.com

Password: Monsoons
(Be sure that the picture in the upper round icon is a stack of books/notebooks and the username says ERWC at Mayfair High School. If either of those are wrong, you're on the wrong profile.)

*** NOTE: It is very important to follow all the steps EXACTLY as stated. Everything should be uniformed when I look at it.

• Upload your video.
• Set the privacy setting to “Unlisted,” which means anyone with a link can view the video, but it is not searchable.
• Be sure to include the title of your video as follows: (2018 Teacher Period) - WWP - Chapter Title

• Video Title Example:
• (2018 Colln 2) - WWP - Sharing
• (2018 Colln 2) - Writing With Power - Quick Revising
• In the description box, write the names of everyone on your team and your teacher and class period. 
• For security reasons, please use only the first name and the first initial of the last name.
• For example, in the description box, I would write, “Katie C., Alex F., Brooke B., Debbie V. (Colln - period 2)”
• Be sure to add tags:  Peter Elbow, Writing, English Language Arts, Paper Slide Video, ERWC ℅ 2018

[KC]: Elbow Groups and Paperslide Example

Peter Elbow and the Writing Process

(Chapter Assignments)

1. Sharing (Ch. 3) - Paige F. and Gaby B.
2. The Direct Writing Process (Ch. 4) - Emily M., Alyssa F., and Jasmine A.
3. Quick Revising (Ch. 5) - Kameron D. and Franqui H.
4. Open Ended Writing Process (Ch. 7) - Briauna T. and Sydairee D.
5. Loop Writing (Ch. 8) - Haley D. and Kali S.
6. Working on Writing Without Thinking About Writing (Ch. 10) - Arturo S. and Cameron M.
7. Thorough Revising (Ch. 12) - Kylie S. and Joana R.
8. Revising with Feedback (Ch. 13) - Stephen L. and Bryan T.
9. Audience as Focusing Force (Ch. 18) - Noa M. and Chris E.
10. Three Tricky Relationships to an Audience (Ch. 19) - Summer A. and Joyce A.
11. A Catalog of Reader-Based Questions (Ch. 23) - Jazlyn P. and Joselin R.
12. Options for Getting Feedback (Ch. 24) - Jasy J. and Corea H.
13. Writing and Voice (Ch. 25) - Eli F. and Caitlin R.
14. Power Through Voice (Ch. 26) - Heather L. and Valerie G.
15. Breathing Experience into Words (Ch. 27) - Andrew V. and Michael G.
16. Breathing Experience into Expository Writing (Ch. 28) - Caitlyn C. and Skyler S.

Paper Slide Video: A "How to"

Take a look at this video for a good example of a paper-slide video. Remember, you are NOT simply reading off your slides. Be sure to plan out ahead of time what you will be saying as you are flipping through the slides. Videos should be no more than 5 minutes long.

Peter Elbow Due Dates:

Thursday, September 28th - a working script for your paper slide video

Thursday, October 5th - a paper slide video is due for ALL groups

[KC]: Ms. Colln's Writing Territories

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." - Maya Angelou

Hi all! A lot of times we get stuck early on in the writing process because we think that we have nothing to write about, which is just straight-up poppycock! We have tons about which we can write! We've been on this earth a good while and we have had many different experiences in many different realms of our lives. 

This activity is meant to get you to see just how much you have up in your brain into which you can tap and from which you can write. A writing territories list shows a bit of who you are and it is also a bank of ideas to use at your disposal -- turn to it when you want to write, when you need to write, when you'll just die if you don't write! (Take a look HERE to find some ideas on what types of territories to create.) 

Notice how I've taken more broad domains and then narrowed them down to specific experiences that I've had in my life. You can do it this way or you can set it up in a different way. The creativity is left up to you!

MY WRITING TERRITORIES!

(all the areas in which I can write and write well)

FAMILY:
I am a daughter.

• wanting to make my parents proud; building things with my dad; sharing music with my mom; summer solstice parades; sand-sport super shows, car shows with dad; the divorce;

I am a sister.

• my brother, Chris; video gaming together; the first time I saw him cry as an adult; being there for his first heartbreak (and second heartbreak); 

I am a friend.

• late nights talks at Mimi's with Tati and Katelyn; getting to know people while traveling; "the band"; 

BELIEFS:
I am a Christian.

• being invited to church by my cousin; Area Bible Studies in high school; working with the K-2nd graders; going on a missions trip to Africa; speaking in FUEL

ACADEMICS:
I am a teacher.

• realizing I wanted to be a teacher in 11th grade; meeting Kenzie in the credential program; student teaching under Phinizy and Fletch; subbing for Mrs. Brown and growing our friendship; having fun at professional development days and/or workshops;

I am a reader.

• my favorite books: Pride and Prejudice, The Night Circus, The Harry Potter Series, etc.; dreaming about a book while I'm in the middle of reading it; sharing my love of a book with someone else; buying books; missing my opportunity with BJ Novak

I am a writer.

• reading through old essays; choosing to write poetry;

I am a scholar.

• wanting to remain a student forever; being in class (sharing your thoughts, trying to stay focused, meeting my classmates, forming study groups, etc); English classes at UCLA; film classes at UCLA;

I am a Bruin.

• being an athlete on campus; joining the FPS (Film and Photography Society) club (the first meeting, the short film festival); creating a friendship with my counselor and some professors (Janel, Batten, Mott, Monica); attending sporting events; Bruin Bash; Monday dinners with Claudia & Kristen; catch and dinners and classes with Troy; graduations; considering going into the PhD program; alumni events; always feeling like I'm home at UCLA;

ART:
I am a film-analyzer.

• taking film and television production at Mayfair; creating my own short films in high school; creating our softball video; having my film viewed in a festival at a theater on a big screen; 

I am a movie-goer/TV-watcher.

• My favorite movies: A League of Their Own, Pride and Prejudice, Big Fish, Hugo; sitting in a theater, talking to my friends after a movie;
• My favorite shows: Chuck, Pushing Daisies, Parenthood, American Dreams;

SPORTS:
I am an athlete.

• playing softball (Heartwell, travel ball, high school, college); one year of golf; first time traveling for softball alone (Georgia); two years at Cerritos and one state championship; walking on to the UCLA softball team; meeting some of my closest friends; learning key characteristics through the sport; learning who I am outside of that sport;

I am a coach.

• quarter-final game in Temecula Valley; our first time beating La Mirada; surprising everyone at the Division 1 tournament; the players I've coached; starting with the volleyball team;

EXPLORATION:
I am a traveler.

• Africa; Ireland; Canada; San Francisco; Hogwarts (Florida); New York twice by myself; journaling while traveling; what it means to "just be" (completely unplugged); hiking in Southern California;

Another way is to create a map of your territories. (Note: this is just a brief sketch. There would obviously be much more to mapping out a particular territory. To see how a territory can be mapped out further CLICK HERE)

Devote a FULL PAGE of your notebook to thinking about your writing territories. If you fill a page and have more to say, just keep going! Be sure to put the page into your Index to make it easy to find and work with.