Summary of  “Better Online Living Through Content Moderation” by Melissa King

Melissa King’s article called “Better Online Living Through Content Moderation” discussed the various anti-content controls and rhetoric strategies that harass. She talks about the content control features, such as being able to block and ignore certain posts. A major problem concerning the content control features is the stigma associates with wanting those functions. Many of those users are labeled as overly sensitive or weak for wanting to take control of their social media. In some cases, the anxiety and threats online have invoked episodes of PTSD for people. King’s article is broken into three categories that go into further depth of the problem.

The first category is titled “ Computer-Chair Psychology” and it began by highlighting one of the major arguments. That argument is “that’s people blow the abuse and harassment they receive out of proportion” and they should be less sensitive (King). A comparison between Exposure Therapy, which slowly exposes people to what triggers their anxiety, to the content being shown to them on the internet. The problem with that comparison is that with exposure therapy, their exposure is limited and controlled, while what pops up on the Internet is not. King discusses the real safety threat associated with uncontrolled online harassment. In fact, “long -term exposure to threatening situations, such as online harassment, is one of the major causes of PTSD”(King).

The second category of King’s article is titled “Threating Legal Recourse”. In that section King discusses the increase in blocklists in response to hate groups such as Gamergate, TERFs, MRA/PUAs, and white supremacists. Legal action is identified as one of the major way in which people are fighting blocklists. In order to use a block list, King says that one must find one that suits their needs, subscribe to it, and install an app. Some people have claimed that the act of blocking people is equal to the act of harassment. King believes that this makes blocklists bad “because it means subjecting one’s Internet experience to the whims of another” (King). What King acknowledges that the arguments fail to recognize is how “vicious and pervasive” the harassments can be. Some, such as Gamergate, threatens people’s families, calls them, and posts pictures of their homes and addresses in order to keep them quiet.

The third and final category is titles “Towards More Personal Agency Over Online Experiences” discusses the ways in which hate mobs threaten and stalk people, which is blatantly illegal. King believes that people should be able to block people who attempt to assault them. The people who have spoken out the most against the block features are those who have not been targeted or abused. King discusses how people should not be called cowards or defamed for wanting to protect themselves. She concludes by talking about how a “one-size-fits-all” approach ignores the fact that all people are not the same and each person has their own psyche and experiences that shape how the Internet affects them. Thus, people should be allowed to control their Internet content without being shamed further abused.

Similarly to King, I believe that part of freedom is being able to control the aspects of your life. If at any people the pop-ups or people on the Internet are making you feel unsafe, you reserve the right to make changes for yourself without being condemned. I also believe that there is something seriously wrong with the fact that people are getting away with being able to stalk and harass people without being prosecuted; it is illegal and should be treated as such.

This is the lounge at Topgolf. It is located on the first floor and have three large tvs with Xbox 360s connected to each one for wireless gaming. There are also two pool tables and several tables for people to order food at and wait on their bays to be ready.

Throughout this semester, I have felt varying emotions about this class. Initially, I felt overwhelmed by the level of independence required and the numerous websites that we had to learn to use. As the semester progressed, I grew more comfortable with it all. At this point, I feel like I understand more about how the websites work, how I will be graded, and how to do well on the assignments. Although establishing that comfort was not easy though and it required patience and an interest in learning, I do feel like I have developed.

My understanding of the composition progress has evolved in a different way then it has in the past. With this course being a hybrid class, I learned to write and do research a little bit differently. It was largely independent. In my previous English classes, we could conduct research in the library together or have articles given to us that we would need to pull information useful of our topic out of. In this class, we had to go search for it on our own, which I had done before too, but with such a large school library, it was a tab bit intimidating. After having done the first reading summaries, annotated bibliography entries, and built environment description, I have learned more about how to use a rubric to guide my work. I have also learned how to gather my own primary research and how to use my research and secondary research to establish a point. One thing that I enjoy about the blogs is how free they are; I can post pictures, reflections, summaries, and customize it. This course really integrates multimodality and has heightened my interest in writing.

As with any thing, there are strengths and weaknesses to my work thus far. One of my strengths has been turning things in on time, which I was a little bit concerned about initially because we do all of that online instead of in class. Another strength includes participating in extra credit work. I have done a study session with Samantha, visited office hours, had a group session with you, done the d2l quizzes, and used my papers as examples in class for workshop. That is probably my best strength. Of those things, I feel as though the office hour visit were the most helpful to me because they provided me with an opportunity to ask one on one questions relating to my work. My major weaknesses, however, is time management. With two jobs, four other classes, a boyfriend, and family obligations, sometimes I can’t start the assignments as early as I would like to. That makes me feel stressed and probably affects the quality of my work. Despite my weakness, I am still confident in the effort that I have put in thus far, however, I would still like to improve.

I plan to apply the information, approvals, and constructive criticisms that I have received up until now to my future projects and work. For example, I struggled with maintaining present tense in the reading summaries and now I understand how to do it properly. I also plan to finish my writings before class time so that they can be reviewed in workshop more often. Although I do the d2l quizzes and 2.0 exercises, I have trouble applying that information to the work we do, so I would like to get better at applying that information. All in all, I feel as though the semester is off to a great start. I still have plenty to learn, but I believe that if I am patient and focused then I am capable of taking it all in!

This is a sign to a gender-neutral restroom. It is for everyone, regardless of how they choose to identify.

Summary of “Making Bathrooms More Accommodating.” By Emily Bazelon

Emily Bazelon’s article, titled “Making Bathrooms More Accommodating”, starts by describing the heteronormative viewpoint that our society exhibits. It illustrates the obvious differences between the Men’s restroom and the Women’s, from the signs on the doors to the “proper” etiquette that is understood. It also describes the strange position that most transgender men and women struggle through on a daily basis. Whether it is at work or in school, many transgender individuals feel isolated or looked down upon for visiting the bathrooms, which most individuals take as commonplace and fundamentally expected.

In the women’s room, the long lines have created a sense of togetherness as women stand together waiting for a stall to open up, while men can enter and exit within the same two minute period. Many feel that their sense of camaraderie will be destroyed if transgender women are allowed to use the same bathroom as them. The issue that many women see is the entrance of the male anatomy into their private escape from the patriarchal society that surrounds them. Opponents of a law that would protect against discrimination in housing and employment, the Broad equal right ordinance, made t-shirts that said “No men in Women’s Bathroom” and used fear mongering to play on the public’s apprehension, by showing a TV ad with frightening images of aggressive men threatening defenseless women. Voters rejected the Ordinance

In schools across the country, Transgender individuals are called by the gender that they assume. This major step is great, but deciding how the school district approaches showering and restrooms has been more complicated. One transgender girl in Illinois was sent to a separate room from both the boys and girls to change. Once a Civil Rights complaint was addressed the government swooped in to rectify the situation. They added a privacy curtain for her use and the other girls. This Solution is an example of accommodation and the author of this essay points out what this means.

The main aspect that she chooses to explain is “moving over to make room for others, whether you want to or not” (Bazelon). Accommodations have been made by congress in many situations. For example, those of certain religions were forced to conform to an American view of their traditions, but in the 1960’s Congress allowed them to express their faith and wear traditional religious clothing or exhibit prayer at certain times. As well, many disabled Americans had issues being in certain buildings for the reason that they couldn’t open doors, get past the stairs, or use the restrooms. In the 1990’s congress created the American with Disabilities Act to make sure accommodations were made so people could live, work, and function in the building without an excessive amount of effort. It is brought up that Transgender Americans have done most of the accommodations without much done for them.

If bathrooms are slightly modified and people are more accepting, Bazelon believes that coexistence is possible. She finally raises the fact that humans all have the need to belong, but also the right. No one should have to change themselves to fit it, yet the Transgender Law center says to either not look at anyone, or try and prove that you are the gender you identify as by pointing out the characteristics that you share with the stereotype of that gender. In my eyes this seems like a truly terrible thing to advise someone. If you identify as a woman but you have a penis, low voice, and muscular features, then who cares. You don’t need to explain yourself or why you are a woman to anyone. If you identify as a man, but you have breasts and a vagina, you don’t need to avoid eye contact and act like you don’t exist to be accepted. You only need to act how you would any other way. Changing yourself to fit it, isnt fitting in. It is being pretending to be something you aren’t.