After reading the article, "We Have Had to Defend Ourselves Against Online Threats" on Room for Debate I truly understood how big of a problem online threats are. As I read Jones' view and her personal experience on online harassment, threats, and negative comments I realized no one is doing anything to help stop it. In the article she expresses how she can't count on the authorities to help her and blocking users doesn't always solve the problem. At times she even fears for her and her families lives, I believe things shouldn't have to get this serious for someone to finally take action.
While reading this article I also started thinking about how Neil Postman would view this issue and most likely he would have blamed technology and he is right to a certain point. Yes, this new technology gives people the "courage" to say mean things online while (ironically) hiding behind a screen, but ultimately is all comes down to us, the users. We are the ones that decide to write mean comments to hurt others. It is sad to say but it is us that are causing this issue not technology.
So how are WE going to help stop this?
Hi Jennifer. I read this article on Room for Debate as well and I agree with what you have to say, but do you think that these online attacks wouldn't be possible if it weren't for this new technology? All in all though, I truly believe it's up to the users to think about what they're going to post and say about other people online. Right now, what we can do to help stop this problem is to not contribute it. There's enough negativity on the internet already and adding fuel to the fire won't help put it out.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Cheyanne when you say it's up to the users to stop this problem. Some websites do try to help make the comments filtered, but they honestly just don't work sometimes. For example, I remember watching a Pewdiepie video a while back mentioning that the YouTubers can filter out their comments by not allowing viewers to say certain words in their comments. He said he literally had four or more ways to block out the word "gay". To put that into perspective, the variations were "gay", "gaaaayy", "ggggaaaayyy", and so many more that I forget. But he admitted it doesn't help because there is only so much you can do to prevent people posting ridiculous things. This situations is of course less intense then death threats but it's like you said, only the users can prevent this problem by not contributing to the negativity.
DeleteI mean there is not really a way to stop this because everyone takes that risk when they go online. Everyone has freedom of speech and when it comes to the web people get away with saying a lot of things that can potentiomwlky be threatening. That is just how the world is these days. If you don't want the risk of having that problem then just stay off of the web. You can survive without it.
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