King, Melissa. “Better Online Living Through Content Moderation,” Model View Culture 28 (October 14, 2015). Web: https://modelviewculture.com/pieces/better-online-living-through-content-moderation.

In the article, ”Better Online Living Through Content Moderation,” written by Melissa King, she discusses the uses of content/ trigger warnings, block and ignore functions, block lists and privacy options that help to improve one’s computer experience by dismissing content they don’t want to see. She goes on to explain in further detail as to what kind of people benefit from these content managers, such as those with limited patience, anyone who wants to improve their online experience, and those who suffer from PTSD, who avoid triggers or topics that could cause anxiety.

King speaks about how those who prefer to use content moderates are highly criticized as being too “sensitive” or “weak,” which creates this stigma for people to expose themselves to various aspects they cannot handle or view as too much. Some of these things that can be considered too much are cyber-attacks, violence, and graphic content. In most cases these things arise from a disagreement or intentional provoking of violence or attacks.

Next in this article, she discusses the arguments posed against content control from the opposing forces. One major argument being that people tend to blow abuse and harassment out of proportion and therefore should remain less sensitive regarding coping. The opposing forces believe that for a society to be stronger, there must be an environment of free exposure without content moderation. To have gradual exposure to this particular content is likened to that of Exposure Theory, a term that King describes as being able to overcome these triggers and treat fears. In other words, the more you are exposed to an environment, the less you will be affected. This notion isn’t true when it comes to PTSD victims because overexposure will magnify their trauma rather than reduce it when faced with triggering content. Also, she mentions about how open the younger generations are too complex and emotional content and how they suffer from a bigger pushback against political and sensitivity correctness in the Western culture.

King then goes on to discuss how ignorance is depicted through media and myth about the truths of PTSD and how this disorder isn’t something that only veterans suffer from, but can also derive from cyber-attacks. She references a statement from a psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders by the name of Caleb Lack, who spoke out about the truth of disorders and the effects cyber-bullying has on mental health. She then discusses the uses of block lists towards users and hate groups, how to opt into one that’s suitable for your need, and the most compelling arguments against them that come from those who haven’t done any threatening or harassing.

Finally, King concludes her article with the discussion of how ferocious online attacks can be and the dangers they prose can even go as far as harassing and calling family, and threatening to post personal information. Women are considered fair game when it comes to these type of attacks as stated by King and it is best that they utilize content and blocking tools to avoid digital abuse. Which is why having tools such as block lists and content modifiers are useful for those who desire and want to use them for the purpose of security to protect themselves and their mental health from the displeasing and anxiety-triggering trolling and cyber-bulling.

In the article “Recognizing Campus Landscapes as Learning Spaces”, authors Kathleen G. Scholl and Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi explain how the modern college has moved away isolation feel that had dominated for many generations, to one that is now inclusive and open to more people such as the public. Colleges now are expected to make students feel more accepted and provide them with an atmosphere so they can truly be a part of the campus community and identity. In this article, both authors discuss how the growing demographic changes are going to have a major impact on many colleges as more students of different cultural, ethnic, and ideological views are now going to be attending at the same place. A statistic that is mentioned in the article that is astonishing is “In 2009, 20.4 million students were enrolled in 2- or 4-year colleges and universities. By 2019, enrollments are expected to rise 9% for students under age 25, and rise 23% for students over the age of 25 (Snyder & Dillow, 2011)”. It is now a cultural norm that is being accepted by the American society, that every child should receive the opportunity to receive a college education and be able to elevate themselves into society. Throughout the rest of the article, the authors continue addressing their point by using various quotations from other writers, who explain the importance of college inclusiveness and how the it benefits the average student in their career later in life. A great example from the article is “Well-designed and connected networks of indoor and open spaces on campuses can be key, yet typically overlooked catalysts, in student learning and a strong influence on students’ initial and longstanding experiences that promote a sense of belonging to the learning community” (Boyer, 1987; Greene, 2013).

The article then continues with both authors explaining the history of the college and how it has affected the academic and intellect of society. According to the article, the original intent of college was to educate many of the sons of the upper class of the country, which caused a lot of Americans to be illiterate and affected the productivity of the country. A change was enacted when the Morrill Act of 1862 was passed which led to the creation of many new state colleges around the country. The passing of this act gave a large number of middle-class boy the opportunity to finally attend college and receive the resources they needed to elevate amongst their standing in society. For decades to come, there was a lot of social change in the U.S. such as women and minorities being accepted into colleges and the social liberalism movements on college campuses such as the anti-war activism. Today college campuses remain open spaces which are important center’s for teaching and learning for students in the following programs: natural resources management, sustainability/ecology, agriculture, forestry, etc. and more recently, a focus on environmental education and sustainable practices (Painter, et. al., 2013).

The authors conclude this article by continuing to discuss the importance of creating environments that are going to be socially accepted by many new students. The traditional indoor spaces of campuses provide abundant opportunities for the structured learning experiences that attract

Scholl, Kathleen, & Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi. “Recognizing Campus Landscapes as Learning Spaces.” Journal of Learning Spaces [Online], 4.1 (2015): n. pag. Web. 13 Feb. 2016

Bazelon, Emily. “Making Bathrooms More ‘Accommodating.’” The New York Times. The New York Times, 21 Nov. 2015. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.

 

In the article Making Bathrooms More ‘Accommodating,’ the author Emily Bazelon discussed the social restraints that derive from the evolving society in America – subject of gender. To be precise, the author addresses the most obvious form of gender segregation in the interior design of everyday facilities: public bathrooms. The separation of sexes whether it’s through bathrooms or locker rooms has been accepted as a social norm since women entered the workforce, but with the increasing awareness and rise in the population of transgender citizens, and major issue if revealed: individuals find it difficult to enter a bathroom comfortably. A transgender woman who identifies herself as a woman, and, therefore, would prefer to enter the women’s bathroom, “but some other woman can only see them as men, and solely don’t want to make room” (Bazelon). In today’s society, the definition of male and female does not pertain to the physical appearances of the body of when a girl or boy is born, because social standards and science have progressed to a point where a person can choose what they prefer to be called. In this article, you see that gender no longer has two simple options and become a blurry subject. Furthermore, instead of maintaining gender-specific bathrooms, the author draws attention to the need for accommodation.

In the section about accommodation, the author provides the reader with a clear explanation of what it means to accommodate: “to adapt, to bring into agreement or harmony, to furnish with something desired or needed, to favor or oblige” (Bazelon). The author then goes on to inform the readers that accomodatio0ns have already been made to accept individuals with disabilities, regarding the practice religion, and racial diversity. For the society to fully accept transgender citizens, as other demographics are commonly accepted, changes have to be made so that the population as a whole can feel inclusive in everyday spaces.

A great way to accommodate transgender society would be to remove any gender segregation from bathrooms, and simply utilize unisex, or as Bazelon states to be the new preferred term “all-gender” restrooms settings, however, this idea is not easily accepted into society. In fact, some people oppose the idea. In the text, Bazelon mentions a case in Texas that led people to wearing the phrase “No Men in Women’s Bathrooms” on their bodies. It would seem that a lump sum of citizens are resistance to change, but by doing so, they are also indirectly excluding a demographic of individuals who are granted the same rights under the Bill of Rights. Preceding this issue, white women had difficulties accepting shared restrooms with black women, but for generation’s to come, it simply became a social norm. Also, the removal of gender-specific bathrooms has the prospective of dissolving into a normal social phenomenon in years to come.

Bathrooms that are separated by specific gender roles effects those who are not about of the transgender community also. Women and feminists have noticed a difficulty that seems unfair in bathroom settings. While, men’s restrooms rarely are seen with long lines extending out the door, women’s restrooms are known to have such lines. According to Bazelon, “The urinals that are in men’s bathroom accommodate the male body for more efficiency, although most people overlook the privilege man are provided”. For women, women it seems that they simply use the toilet, for there is no special contraption to accommodate the female body for efficient use. However, women also use public restrooms for sanity purposes while on their menstrual period. The only way women are accommodated in public bathroom settings is through adding trash cans in each stall, whereas men are given a completely separate invention apart from the toilet. Which is why this separated by gender and accommodation stigmas will forever be a main topic in the America society.