I answered each question with my true internet behavior and each answer was correct except for one…

It is very advisable to avoid flame wars with trolls. This is a given, but instead of refusing to respond to trolls, in some places, I have a habit of giving them a chance to redeem themselves. There is a natural tendency in me for conflict resolution, and often, the rudest, most disrespectful trolls turn out to be true human beings if you take a moment to get to know them.

It’s kind of like meeting people in person. Some women and men walk around with such a stubborn, angry attitude that it is almost palatable. All it takes is for someone of the opposite sex to say “Come on now…smile sweetheart!”, and instantly, nine times out of ten, she will bust out with a big, sincere grin.

There’s a lot of people out there who want attention. Many do not care if it is positive or negative. Trolls seek negative attention. Sometimes, if they receive positive attention instead, then they will verbally bust out with a smile like the angry grad student you pass in the hall. It does not happen every time, but I’ve actually seen many trolls apologize for their rudeness…and even say thanks for setting them straight. I know this small skirmish may break out into a flame war, but it is easy for me to contain such flare-ups, though as I said earlier, it is best not to reply at all.

I do not respond to trolls on sites like Facebook or Portfolium, but there are other places where it has been completely feasible to stand up for something. I was taught to defend myself…do not start the fight, but do finish it. Instead of verbally beating a troll to a pulp, which I can do by the way, I prefer to give them a chance to explain themselves…what’s Really bothering them? This unexpected moment in which I flip the entire thing back on them usually causes the troll to exhibit respect, and even want to express remorse for being such an @$$.

Truthfully, the troll is usually not concerned with the disgusting criticism that they impose on you, but rather, they often have some self-esteem issue regarding their own life, and lash out at anyone who will hear them. If we all took a moment to recognize the scared child in a lot of “disagreeable people”, then society may actually take a moment to try and help them to heal. It really isn’t about the troll’s criticism of your point…it is their lack of respect for themselves…

But my recommendation is to Do As Your Professor Says! Do as the textbook says, and do what the Netiquette Quiz recommends. Ignore that ish. 🙂

A Breif Exploration of JustFacts.com Using Parameters in Accordance With  the CRAAP Test

Regarding Currency, the website’s copyright has been updated to the current year, and it has a fresh appearance. Consequently, it is likely relevant to current times.

Regarding Relevance, the site boasts that it is “A Resource for Independent Thinkers”. This seems to be no exaggeration, as the articles and content are very interesting, and their post on race seems quite thorough and informative.

Regarding Authority, the website boasts that is is cited worldwide by prominent organizations, and each is listed, giving credence to the site’s overall authority.

Regarding Accuracy, I have reviewed many posts on the site, and as an undergraduate senior in History and Anthropology, my searches did not find any inaccurate results.

Regarding Purpose, the site seems to exist to promote rational thought and widespread education.

A Brief Exploration of FactCheck.org Using Parameters in Accordance With the CRAAP Test

Regarding Currency, the site is certainly current, as most posts are in reference to the current race for president, and it details the stances and soundbites of various candidates.

Regarding Relevance, the site is clearly relevant, as there is much that has been written about the candidates and the current president.

Regarding Authority, the site claims that it “Monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.”. There is no reason to believe this to be untrue. It has won numerous awards providing this service.

Regarding Accuracy, the site often gives rebuttals to the sound bites of various politicians, and does not seem to discriminate. For example, President Obama is categorized as misleading the public regarding the economy, and Donald Trump is categorized as having said any number of hateful things that are indeed in the press lately.

Regarding Purpose, the site certainly seems to serve a non-partisan purpose, and clearly debunks many dubious statements made by politicians on both sides of the aisle.

Suggestion 1:

Maintain a proper balance of sleep and nutrition. Like a marathon runner, one must maintain a pace that exudes endurance and tenacity. Much like a steady camp fire is fed a sustaining supply of wood, so must the individual feed one’s self with the proper rest and healthy fuel.

Suggestion 2:

Do as much work ahead of time as possible. Projects that are not yet fully defined by the instructor can be skimmed, to get a general idea of the knowledge that may be presented.

Suggestion 3:

Maintain a work-space. The classroom is virtual, but then again, you chose the environment for your own classroom in such a scenario, do you not? It should be the most comfortable, work-facilitating environment possible, without distraction and as free of all interference as possible.

You have to lead an online presentation on the contents of your history paper.

Tools:

Photoshop to create visuals. A collaborative visualization tool like Prezi to display them. Skype would be an option as well, depending on circumstances and requirements.

Reason:

Images of historical events breathe life into any discussion around the topic at hand. When used artistically, these visuals help to place your audience in the era that is being presented, and these images also provide a point of reference when one is leading such a presentation. Regardless of the method of presentation, creative visualizations are guaranteed to engage the audience in very compelling ways.

Prezi can be used for videos, photos and links. Relevant video material can significantly impact the level of audience engagement. Skype is useful when presenting to countless numbers of individuals in real time.

The final exam for your economics course is coming up, and you need to collect all of your (and hopefully your classmates’) online resources for a study guide.

Tools:

Any number folksonomy sites (Flickr for photos of graphs, Delicious.com for bookmarking, etc.) E-mail for file sharing as attachments.

Reason:

Such sites are ideal for collecting collaborative information. Those needing to draw upon an interactive pool of knowledge would be remiss not to be involved with a study group based around this type of network. E-mail is a staple form of communication, particularly for communications beyond the scope of group discussion.

You need to create an interactive tour of Berlin as an assignment for your study abroad program.

Tools:

Prezi

Reason:

Prezi has features that allow for the interactive component of the assignment, as links can be provided. In addition, photos and videos can be woven into an interactive experience that paints a reasonable picture of the city in question.

You and a group of your classmates have been asked to do a collaboration research project on how Facebook has affected the social habits of young adults.

Tools:

Google Docs. Blogs.

Reason:

Blogs provide a forum for discussion that is not confined by real-time requirements. Google Docs allow multiple individuals to edit a single document, a quality that is especially useful for those who prefer real-time interaction.