Tuesday 30 October 2012
Monday 29 October 2012
Thursday 21 June 2012
Gender Bigotry
It can be argued that years of constant social warning to the negative
consequences created by sexism and misogyny have resulted in reduced chauvinism
in our everyday lives. This is certainly not the case in the online environment
where females are consistently degraded. To be a woman on the Internet implies
severe lack of technical knowledge, coping with obscene male remarks, and
tolerating substantial sexual harassment. A brief search across the Internet
can result in locating numerous inappropriate content that would be unacceptable
in society. So is this truly a modern day phenomenon? Is ‘women-bashing’
becoming a norm because of the free-nature of cyberspace? I would argue that
there is significant evidence to prove that online gender stereotyping occurs
frequently due in part to a lack of online regulations. There is also hope,
however, that when met with adversity from females banding together, this
stereotyping can decrease.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9pQgfs2GRWIU9mQQozRx81KtjLRFuY9PHArDOkvtGYzQEst5TVPwvO5pv_DtwTQUZNw6Rq5v2xNR5p4LaM5sk2IRhyumqExo98_V4CI0tDlQ4KS8F6PnU8emeVH2s2yyRVMsd2LWFCU/s400/too+st+4+amy.jpg)
When viewing the commercial for the first time, I could
not help but think of the impression it must leave on young girls. Do they
watch the commercial and disconnect from online applications altogether? Or do
they try to ignore it, treat it as the new ‘norm’ of society, and move on with
freshly lowered self-impression. This advertising unjustly implies that women
have a lower technical expertise and further adds to this gender misconception.
Although this perception would rarely present itself on traditional media
(radio, television, tradeshows, etc.) the same political correctness does not
take hold on the Internet. This makes it easier for Samsung to move forward
from this incident image intact. Women’s Media Centre, a feminist organization
with the goal of public awareness, launched a campaign
exposing Samsung’s gender biased commercials. The campaign, targeting
corporations who produce such “entertainment”, was successful as Samsung
stopped all advertisements with stereotypical Amy.
A lack of Internet self-monitoring also allows for
misogynistic comments to surface, as self-appointed critics do not feel they
are bound by the same social conventions governing other mediums. A study conducted by the Journal of and Social Psychology proves that when placed
in similar online forums, avatars with female associations are treated
negatively. This negativity occurs on mediums ranging from video uploading
sites to online gaming but connotes another stereotype not furthered by other
mediums; the stereotype that women are only useful when cooking, cleaning, or
performing sexually. One example of this could be found on a Youtube video posted by a
girl showing off her soccer ability. This video clearly shows how talented the
young woman is as she juggles a soccer ball many times and performs tricks
requiring both extreme dexterity and skill. Following the video, a male user
comments “Get back in the kitchen !!!”.
Upon looking at his profile, the user seems to be an average
18-year-old residing in the United Kingdom who’s hobbies seem to include online
gaming and soccer. From uploaded videos he has previously uploaded, we can see
that he does not appear to actively and regularly subjugate women. So why was
this comment posted in this way? It was posted for the same reason Samsungs
reputation remains progressive, because there are no consequences for
stereotyping, only the feeling of self accomplishment. This type of comment has
quickly become the online norm following any female contribution. Spurring
these comments is the apparent validation males experience when expressing
their apparent dominance over females.
When I scrolled down to this comment, a few ideas
immediately caught my attention. The
first was courage displayed by the female uploading this video. To expose
ones-self by placing a personal video online for everyone to view requires
enormous bravery. To continue exposing yourself by leaving the video in place
after these comments shows how strong this woman truly is. Even though online
society allows for this to occur, it is refreshing to see a person successfully
fight against the stereotype. This girl is a role model to other girls for more
than just soccer but for standing her ground when faced with opposition. I also
noticed other females supporting and congratulating her for showing superior
skills. Stopping a negative perception and creating a new positive online norm
requires individuals to rally in support of accomplishments the way women have
done in this circumstance.
The third and perhaps most
inappropriate stereotyping comes in the form of deliberate sexual harassment. One study
from the University of Haifa confirms, “Gender harassment in cyberspace is very
common”, especially in the form of sexual harassment. The study goes on to say
“active verbal SH [sexual harassment] mainly appears in the form of offensive
sexual messages, actively initiated by a harasser toward a victim”. Common
places these messages can be found include chat rooms, social networks, and
video uploading sites. Males use these spaces to display their ‘masculinity’ by
communicating in ways that would be completely inappropriate in other mediums.
While exploring the Internet I came across an example of this on Youtube. A video displaying female
shooting different firearms is accompanied by graphic male remarks. One male
comments “she can pull the trigger of my love gun anytime”. The shockingly
brazen manner in which this comment appears demonstrates how mainstream online
sexual harassment has become. It also strengthens the argument that this
material consistently appears in cyberspace because of a lack of regulation.
I found this comment obscene, as
it is a clear violation of both the law and an individual’s dignity. I also
observed that his comments seemed to be undisputed by others despite the
video acquiring over 1.4 million views. After checking the video statistics, it
was clear why. The vast majority of viewers were males. Unlike the previous two
examples where other women came to support females being victimized, this
victim had fewer females to rely on, resulting in a perception that there is no peer support. A closer inspection supports
this theory as a female supporter is found supporting the victim furthur down the comment list. Even on this
video where the overwhelming number of male remarks drowns out visible female
support, there are females who are willing to stand up against online norms and a large male audience to
change online society.
Gender discrimination is an issue
far from solved in cyberspace as women are displayed as technologically
backwards, ability deficient, and sexually inferior. Although there are many
examples to label this discrimination as a norm, there are also many examples
of women standing together and trying to change this trend. If we want to eliminate
this trend going forward, then more action must be taken to alert the public to
the damaging results of gender bigotry.
Tuesday 19 June 2012
Semester Reflection
Two months of constant online activity have alleviated my
prior concerns regarding the strain a spring semester English option could
create. When our class first started, I thought an entire semester riddled with
constant writing assignments would become extremely time consuming and leave me
with little remaining academic drive. This has most certainly not been the case
after taking Writing in a Digital Context. This class has taught me
several major things about the Internet and the importance of online
communication.
The first thing learned through the course was how to create
an online blog. I found this very helpful, as a blog is a great way to express
one’s opinion, free from regulation, regarding any subject. Blogging can be done
by anyone without budgetary constraints and accessed by audiences around the
world. I personally loved the conversations our class had on controversial
issues through the course blog. Commenting on other people’s blogs was
mandatory and this provided an opportunity to hear from individuals who
otherwise would remain silent. The diversity of opinions and expertise on
issues ranging from online gender inequalities to online gaming seemed
shockingly reflective.
I also learned how to use social media for the first time
with Google+. Through the complaints of friends and family members, I had
created a Facebook account years back but had never used it to any extent
because I felt it was a waste of time. After this course, I now see the value
of this medium as it allows for people to build connections at an incredible
pace. By simply posting a few comments every week, one can communicate to 20+
people at on time. My blog entry on which I currently thought was the best
boxer in the world spurred 11 comments on my Google+ post with people I would
have otherwise never come into contact with.
The ability to distinguish between a credible online source
and one that has a high possibility of being false was also very helpful. Class
discussions on the freedom for anyone to post anything opened my eyes as to how
unreliable information can be. For instance, our Wikipedia project showed how
easy it was for someone to purposely post wrong information for others to see.
My changes to Wikipedia, where I changed the names of major cities in China to
my name, remained on the site for nearly a week. If I had changed population
figures, those changes would be less noticeable and could have easily been
taken as true by someone relying on Wikipedia as a credible source.
Although these topics were important, perhaps the most
important class focus for me was the community’s assignment. It was refreshing
to connect and have fun with other people who shared my hobbies without
worrying about whether this interaction was time well spent. The mandatory
component of this activity may have encouraged my initial participation within
Fanpop.com, but the friendships I made will spur future involvement with this
community.
This semester has been very refreshing, surprising to say
about a spring course, while remaining academic in nature. I enjoyed learning a
great deal of new skills that will be crucial to future success, as online
activity increasingly shapes our society.
Tuesday 12 June 2012
The True Pound for Pound Champ
Professional boxing is older than the NFL, NBA, and NHL
with fans across the globe. With an enormous and diverse fan-base, there is
surprisingly one question debated time and again. “Who is the pound for pound
best fighter in the world”? Over the last few years, this question has taken a
more serious tone as several major events have made it impossible to determine
who the true champion should be.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjzvZy4mBl2lSJseeCq6oyF-PmeWPnBTgoVc-1sW5PX_Isjeoi4BXKBVnns_WRua04LIE38sz3w4R_uGksbY8iATuQLrNDdRHDPxCswVu9if6DAwi-OkLgHldworDcTd7pk70iN4BYuM/s320/Mayweather+gatti.jpg)
One fight that rouses constant debate occurred against
Juan Manuel Marquez 2004. The fight was extremely close between the two and ended
in a draw. This fight has been brought back into the spotlight as Mayweather
recently destroyed Marquez in 2009 by winning every single round. With an
impressive showing against Marquez, Mayweather immediately jumped back into the
pound for pound discussion.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIoi8UuZwyuy9YS4zQHd4vUX_1aW0ljtz5_ENlYNQZoRoIv6g4fCWfjTZuua8Gj4nlK4ZVKyPS0zI60et7FgPObgNe_AgLRbZdn8Myx_zinw2PXIXb-22LB0h568WjaDIgEQ45IKLSyc/s320/Bradley+pac.jpg)
After the Bradley fight, boxing fans assumed that
Mayweather would be crowned the new pound for pound champion due to his
43-fight win-streak. This did not occur as Mayweather yet again announced his
retirement from boxing. Mayweather’s decision to retire was just as
shocking as the Pacquiao-Bradley upset as it was announced with no warning
during a routine press conference.
To answer the question of who was truly the best, a match
between Floyd and Manny had been in the works for years. It was rumoured that
after the Bradley fight, the dream match fans have waited a decade for between
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao would finally occur. This now seems
unlikely, as Pacquiao wants a rematch against Bradley and Floyd has all but
disappeared.
The final impediment from discerning the true champion
is Timothy Bradley’s place at the top of the 147-pound weight division.
Although Timothy Bradley beat Pacquiao in a close fight, many ringside experts
felt Pacquiao should have won so the title of pound for pound champion remains
at large. Ring Magazine currently shows the number one position vacant and with both Pacquiao and Mayweather in second place.
Tuesday 5 June 2012
Blog Popularity
The need to be popular has
penetrated the online world as with the rest of society. For instance, content
on blogs now revolves around what can get the most views and create online
popularity. Although generating online popularity may seem straightforward at
first, there are many obstacles to success; a vast array of competitor blogs being just
one impediment. Producing a blog with a high volume of traffic requires
designing an appropriate appearance, building a stable reputation, and
consistently posting new information. To explore what makes for a popular blog,
the most popular blogs according to Technorati.com will be examined.
The most popular blog on Technorati is the online newspaper, the Huffington Post blog. In terms of appearance, the Huffington Post blog seems very professional.
Upon entering, readers instantly see the potential credibility of the blog as
it resembles a newspaper. This appearance is appropriate as the Huffington post
takes pride in providing the latest news to followers. When reading different
posts, it is clear that the blog has a left-wing stance on American political
issues. For instance, the blog features several articles on how Mitt Romney,
the republican nominee, is either bad for the country or is not as accomplished
as Barack Obama. When combined with the left leaning views of followers, this
left leaning stance gives the blog a stable reputation. Followers know that
when they are visiting the Huffington Post blog, they will receive news
that they will agree with.
Finally, this blog also has a large amount of new and relevant information. In the fast world of politics and the economy, it is integral for the Huffington Post to cover information as quickly as possible so it remains interesting to the public. When given either old or a small supply of information, viewers may be prone to finding another source for their news. These factors make the Huffington Post very popular.
Finally, this blog also has a large amount of new and relevant information. In the fast world of politics and the economy, it is integral for the Huffington Post to cover information as quickly as possible so it remains interesting to the public. When given either old or a small supply of information, viewers may be prone to finding another source for their news. These factors make the Huffington Post very popular.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27yG_wbBedTSE8EKU4nlFRYbgvajLNkTEJtkr7clZkDBPEbWEiDlFJzEzCaLfaVU-vkcRsH_tjX9EIeT0_g1_SHwRA8QrSOTsEFuXD0WHFbxvzECODFRwMX2pcjz92bBZMnMJuAPOfm0/s1600/TMZ.jpg)
Further importance is given to the quantity of posts. Viewers who want celebrity news want a fast paced information blitz where as many celebrities get ‘slammed’ as possible. TMZ delivers this to its audience by writing short articles on as many different celebrities as possible. These petite posts allow readers to consume the content within a few minutes and move to the next post keeping the blog fast-paced and interesting.
The three keys to popularity taken from these two posts
revolve around how one identifies and caters to their target audience. Every
detail from appearance to the quality and quantity of the content can determine
whether your blog will receive adequate web-traffic. Crafting a blog that satisfies audience cravings
helps build popularity.
Sunday 27 May 2012
Blog Audience
Constructing an effective blog demands tailoring the blog
to the intended audience. Although this may seem simple, customizing an entire
web page requires the modification of various minute details. Everything from
design and advertising to the post content and participation can shape the
audience’s perception upon viewing. To effectively analyze how these elements
interact, we will take a closer look at the MMA Mania blog.
To customize a blog one
must first identify the target audience. MMA Mania’s target audience are males
between 15 to 25 who avidly follow mixed martial arts (MMA). To appeal to this
audience, MMA Mania creates an ‘alpha male’ theme whereby viewing the blog resurrects
a feeling of masculinity.
When first entering the blog, we
immediately see an octagon cage bleeding out. The site uses an octagon, which is
the official shape of mixed martial art’s rings. The use of the octagon gives
the appearance to MMA fans that this blog knows the intricacies of MMA and will
yield important information. This
expertise is furthered by the blog’s title, MMA Mania, reflecting the extreme
priority that is given to the sport.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8XpLksKd-CTxLRzu8uCvpX625vYq2OnvqBZmVDZvdfpvOKuF0LJ-42dmBxc6_tP2b6d748WJgbuhYrb_xz9YqO7CEEwXcPpEiY4ZbFn9zW8F-Tf5sD83KKX47iN0n6t1UXAP5bKEhW8/s400/MMA+Fight.jpg)
Advertising on the side of the
page also appeals to the target audience as commercials range from Bruce Lee kung-fu
breakdowns to attractive blonde women wearing videogame t-shirts. These advertisements
were placed on the blog as they convey masculinity and reassure the target
audience that they are in the right place.
This clever use of colour and
advertising create a theme that delays the target audience from exiting and
thus allowing time the target audience to browse the various blog posts. The entries
are comprised of pre-fight hype post-fight analysis. One such entry named “UFC146 results recap” is riddled with facts and an in-depth look at how each
fighter in UFC 146 was victorious. The descriptions that the blog incorporates (“Rosario’s
lethal kicks versus Miocic’s crisp punching combinations”) stirs the
imagination and gives a feeling of excitement. After reading the post, the
audience is left with strong opinions regarding the fight's outcome and a greater
loyalty to the blog itself for the thought-provoking commentary.
To express these opinions, the
blog allows readers to debate what they feel after reading the post. The post
is a continuation of the alpha male theme as reader’s square-off against one
another to prove their MMA expertise. In this way, audience participation facilitates
engagement in discussions and ensures the blog's success as readers often return to see if their comments face opposition.
Monday 21 May 2012
Blog Credibility
With the Internet becoming
evermore influential in our decision making, the concern whether information
obtained comes from a credible source has come to the forefront. Ensuring the
validity of data has become increasingly challenging as the Internet provides
everyone the ability to voice their own opinions as factual. This is especially
true of politically motivated blogs. The Journal of Computer MediatedCommunication concluded in a 2007 study that American’s who are
“politically interested” view blogs as more credible than the mainstream media.
Although I am surprised by these findings, I can understand why so many people
are persuaded to perceive political blogs as trustworthy. To elaborate on the tactics blogs
use to appear reliable, I will use the Glenn Beck blog as an example.
Upon entering Glenn’s blog, I
immediately noticed his attempts at appearing bipartisan and reliable. For
instance, his homepage is overflowing with pictures of Glenn wearing a suite
and reading glasses, attire that lends audiences to deem that he is
knowledgeable and responsible.
The design of the blog also
reaffirms professionalism as posts are neat and orderly and appear as they
would on a news blog. The top of his blog even reads “Glenn Beck The Fusion of
Entertainment and Enlightenment” while the sides reveal other news stories he
has commented on in the past. These factors combined with his connection to Fox
news make it seem as though Glenn would be a bipartisan journalist. Upon a
detailed analysis; however, his political biases become apparent.
The very first post Glenn Beck
has on his blog is the “Obama’s Life History Multiple Choice Challenge”. At
first one assumes that the answers to questions are based on facts and not
political propaganda but that quickly changes as the game is played. The
questions are asked in ways that assume Barrack Obama (President of the United
States) is anti American. When the answers are revealed, they show that the
president and his parents are anti-American; an assumption routed in fiction
but presented as factual. To appear credible, the post also includes links of
another right wing blog that verifies Obama’s ‘resentment of America’ restating
the Glenn Beck post (with links back to Glenn’s blog for their vindication).
Although these links may initially seem legitimate, quoting only sources that
agree with your position is neither a fair nor impartial way to present a
political issue.
A further indication of the
blog’s right-wing bias would be the suggestion that gay marriage is not important
in the election. On a post titled “Which States Does Obama’s Gay MarriageAnnouncement Affect In The Election”, Glenn points to how the ‘liberal media’
is trying to make gay marriage into an election issue so Obama can increase
fundraising even though Americans could care less. He assumes that the media is
trying to aid Obama in the election and that this blog is the only source for
fair and bipartisan reporting. He backs his judgements with one-sided
statistics of how Americans don’t care about gay marriage in an attempt to
bestow enthusiasm upon his right-wing base.
To right-wing Americans,
information on the Glenn Beck blog seems impartial as it looks professional,
has links to other sources, and uses statistics instead of opinions. What is
not clearly evident is the right-wing assumptions that are made prior to
posting information and the agenda behind the message. Although most Americans
may believe blogs to be credible, there is often a hidden message that can
render the information unreliable.
Sunday 13 May 2012
Print Newspapers vs. Online News Papers
I often indulge in political conversations with colleagues
after reading online news reports. Although the Internet regularly provides me
with information, I’ve given little thought as to why I prefer to read news
stories online rather than in print.
This week’s entry will gauge my perception of the news between print and
Internet sources. To effectively compare the two mediums, I read an article in
the Metro newspaper and then read the same article on the metro’s website.
While reading the newspaper, I gained the impression that
the information was some how out of my control. Perhaps the years of
crosschecking online content with third party websites has given me an
appreciation of a well-cited article. Without references indicating how
statistics were generated, evaluating the accuracy of information requires
supplementary investigation.
Another difference between the two mediums was the
additional credibility given to the print source. While reading an online news
article, I find myself questioning whether the information is being provided by
someone who is trustworthy and has conducted an appropriate investigation. The
freedom of information on the Internet leads me to associate an apparently
reliable source like the Metro to the inaccuracies on other web-based
organizations. Print sources differ as the reader makes an assumption that
information must have been checked and verified more critically by an editor.
When data was presented in the Metro newspaper, I perceived that a high
standard of journalism was used to gain that information.
I also noticed a significant literary difference between the
two sources. Although the two articles were identical, the newspaper seemed to
command a higher English mastery than the online source. It appears that due to
the types of online activities I am accustom, videos and music, there was an
assumption that all Internet activities are for pleasure. The newspaper;
however, reminded me of reports and literature I review through academia. This
gave the impression that the newspaper’s purpose was not one of enjoyment but
of learning instead.
These factors lead to a difference in the way I consumed the
information. When I read through the online article, I immediately began to
question every line that was written and found myself constantly fact checking
through other online sources. I was sceptical of everything I read because I
felt that there was a possibility of errors in the author’s judgement. After
reading the online article, I surprisingly felt convinced that the information
I had just read was accurate. This was because of the constant scrutiny applied
during the reading process.
After reading the newspaper; however, I did not get this
same sense of gratification that the information was correct. While reading, I
continually got the feeling that the newspaper was rushed to print and the
story could have changed from the time the paper was printed. Online articles
can be updated to account for up-to-the-minute changes but a newspaper is only
as accurate as the information found the night before printing. The lack of
extremely recent information combined with an inability to confirm facts
resulted in my diminished confidence in print news.
Tuesday 8 May 2012
Introductory Post
The first week of spring semester is one of uneasy nervousness combined with
the expectation of academic overexertion. Although I have taken spring courses
in the past, this semester seems surreal; effort will no longer be devoted to
long nights before examinations but steadily throughout the semester in the
form of personal blogs.
My excellence in academia stems from a strong sense of urgency I acquire the
night preceding a test. This semester, with constant deadlines and a regular
schedule of deliverables, I fear that urgency could dissipate resulting in lower
performance.
A flexible academic schedule does allow for a better
work-life balance. Currently working for an oil company, I am expected to work
40 hours per week. Although my job provides me with economic freedom, the time
I devote to studying is often limited. I look forward to a semester where this impediment
is eliminated.
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