#online safety for older women

[dgspeaks]

Overcoming Tech Challenges Faced by Older Women: A Guide to Bridging the Digital Divide

The rapid growth of technology has revolutionized the way we live, work, and connect with others. However, for many older women, stepping into the digital world comes with its fair share of challenges. From the fear of the unknown to age-related biases, the road to technological fluency is not always easy. In this article, we’ll explore some of the major hurdles older women face in tech and offer…

[inkskinned]

you're grabbing lunch with a nice man and he gives you that strange grimace-smile that's popular right now; an almost sardonic "twist" of his mouth while he looks literally down on you. it looks like he practiced the move as he leans back, arms folded. he just finished reciting the details of NFTs to you and explaining Oppenheimer even though he only watched a youtube about it and hasn't actually seen it. you are at the bottom of your wine glass.

you ask the man across from you if he has siblings, desperately looking for a topic. literally anything else.

he says i don't like small talk. and then he smiles again, watching you.

a few years ago, you probably would have said you're above celebrity gossip, but honestly, you've been kind of enjoying the dumb shit of it these days. with the rest of the earth burning, there's something familiar and banal about dragging ariana grande through the mud. you think about jeanette mccurdy, who has often times gently warned the world she's not as nice as she appears. you liked i'm glad my mom died but it made you cry a lot.

he doesn't like small talk, figure out something to say.

you want to talk about responsibility, and how ariana grande is only like 6 days older than you are - which means she just turned 30 and still dresses and acts like a 13 year old, but like sexy. there's something in there about the whole thing - about insecurity, and never growing up, and being sexualized from a young age.

people have been saying that gay people are groomers. like, that's something that's come back into the public. you have even said yourself that it's just ... easier to date men sometimes. you would identify as whatever the opposite of "heteroflexible" is, but here you are again, across from a man. you like every woman, and 3 people on tv. and not this guy. but you're trying. your mother is worried about you. she thinks it's not okay you're single. and honestly this guy was better before you met, back when you were just texting.

wait, shit. are you doing the same thing as ariana grande? are you looking for male validation in order to appease some internalized promise of heteronormativity? do you conform to the idea that your happiness must result in heterosexuality? do you believe that you can resolve your internal loneliness by being accepted into the patriarchy? is there a reason dating men is easier? why are you so scared of fucking it up with women? why don't you reach out to more of them? you have a good sense of humor and a big ol' brain, you could have done a better job at online dating.

also. jesus christ. why can't you just get a drink with somebody without your internal feminism meter pinging. although - in your favor (and judgement aside) in the case of your ariana grande deposition: you have been in enough therapy you probably wouldn't date anyone who had just broken up with their wife of many years (and who has a young child). you'd be like - maybe take some personal time before you begin this journey. like, grande has been on broadway, you'd think she would have heard of the plot of hamlet.

he leans forward and taps two fingers to the table. "i'm not, like an andrew tate guy," he's saying, "but i do think partnership is about two people knowing their place. i like order."

you knew it was going to be hard. being non-straight in any particular way is like, always hard. these days you kind of like answering the question what's your sexuality? with a shrug and a smile - it's fine - is your most common response. like they asked you how your life is going and not to reveal your identity. you like not being straight. you like kissing girls. some days you know you're into men, and sometimes you're sitting across from a man, and you're thinking about the power of compulsory heterosexuality. are you into men, or are you just into the safety that comes from being seen with them? after all, everyone knows you're failing in life unless you have a husband. it almost feels like a gradebook - people see "straight married" as being "all A's", and anything else even vaguely noncompliant as being ... like you dropped out of the school system. you cannot just ignore years of that kind of conditioning, of course you like attention from men.

"so let's talk boundaries." he orders more wine for you, gesturing with one hand like he's rousing an orchestra. sir, this is a fucking chain restaurant. "I am not gonna date someone who still has male friends. also, i don't care about your little friends, i care about me. whatever stupid girls night things - those are lower priority. if i want you there, you're there."

he wasn't like this over text, right? you wouldn't have been even in the building if he was like this. you squint at him. in another version of yourself, you'd be running. you'd just get up and go. that's what happens on the internet - people get annoyed, and they just leave. you are locked in place, almost frozen. you need to go to the bathroom and text someone to call you so you have an excuse, like it's rude to just-leave. like he already kind of owns you. rudeness implies a power paradigm, though. see, even your social anxiety allows the patriarchy to get to you.

you take a sip of the new glass of wine. maybe this will be a funny story. maybe you can write about it on your blog. maybe you can meet ariana grande and ask her if she just maybe needs to take some time to sit and think about her happiness and how she measures her own success.

is this settling down? is this all that's left in your dating pool? just accepting that someone will eventually love you, and you have to stop being picky about who "makes" you a wife?

you look down to your hand, clutching the knife.

[proshippers-against-censorship]

I’ve spent a few years in online fandoms now (pre Voltron era) and have found that the following applies to (not all) antis:

They’re largely between 13-19 or early 20 at most

adults older than that make up the smallest amount

Antis’ friend groups are almost entirely online

people with social connections offline are or people with fullfilling jobs are usually not antis (there are of course exceptions)

Almost all antis have intergenerational friendships. This isn’t unusual irl when it affects people who go to school (like HS and college) or neighbors or irl friends, but antis’ friend groups consist of total strangers. Very few only want followers of the same age range

Because of this, minors are easily more radicalized on the internet. Currently I would say Twitter and Threads contribute the most to it because these platforms are rife with hate, disinformation and have a general lack of online safety features

Therefore they may also develop moral scrupulosity ocd, a form of OCD where people are afraid of being “immoral”, therefore they seek for moral purity and find their beliefs echoed in purity culture

which is also why they tend to flock to people who portray themselves as “safe” or who call out “morally corrupt” people (proshippers). Those who call out moral corruption can possibly be no “bad” people

anti rhetoric is strongly based on anti kink/anti sex and “kink critical” radical feminist and conservative rhetoric

the anti phenomena is also largely American. Despite antis being people of many different ethnicities, most anti rhetoric reflects America’s political views on sex/gender, feminism, sex ed, sex in general and the increasing amount of anti science beliefs and anti intellectualism

therefore, antis can only be countered by:

Stopping the spread of disinformation

Instead internet safety should be taught again

social media should employ better moderation (which I get is not possible unless we switch to dedicated fandom forums or something )

make people aware of red flags to look out for (for example online grooming, cults, radicalization)

share facts about queer history and explain why radical feminism is bad for everyone (including cis women)

parents should definitely monitor their kids more often. I don’t mean 24/7 surveillance, I mean teach them where and how to find information safely and age appropriately

bring back places where kids can be kids offline and online (not asking this of common people but as a suggestion for politicians we vote for)

report, block, mute and make people aware of fandom etiquette

Ate and left no crumbs. I may link this at the top of my page.

[tenroses07]

My final thoughts on the neil gaiman allegations;

Do I believe the women?: Yes. While I do find it still a bit odd that there’s missing context, I think that’s a fault of the podcast and not the fault of the women. I hope that they come forward to more reputable news sources and give their stories fully soon.

Do I think this is a right wing conspiracy: Yes and no. I do not think all of this is one big lie, but I do think the journalism here is clearly biased and I do not think these women’s stories would’ve been aired if they (the journalists) did not believe there would be any political gain. I do believe that it could be possible that tortoise media is trying to slander those who have worked with him. I do not blame the women for this.

Do I still wish to see more proof?: Of course. I think it’s possible to believe victims while also still wishing to see more proof. It’s important to be critical still, but once again this does not mean that it’s okay to say these women are lying because you haven’t seen proof.

Do I think any fandoms for media he created should interact with him again?: No. He clearly has a record of abusing his position of power, and I do not think any fans should interact with him again for the sake of their own safety. This includes on any social media. If he returns to being online, don’t send asks or react to them. Don’t return power to him.

Do I think anyone who was worked with him is obligated to come out with their reactions immediately?: No. It’s entirely possible the news hasn’t made it to them yet. It’s also entirely possible that they could be still processing things after working personally with him. If we as fans are shocked in disgusted, then imagine how those who have worked with him feel. Do not condemn them for speaking out immediately, they have lives too.

Do I think you can still watch his shows?: I feel mixed about this personally. I think it’s a better idea to 🏴‍☠️, but I also understand he is not the only person who worked on these shows. 🏴‍☠️ing affects more than him, so personally I don’t see a problem with watching his shows as long as you condemn him.

Do I think you can still read his books: Yes, but it’s a bit different here. I do not think people should be buying his books now. If you want to own them, buy second hand. If you don’t mind reading online, then 🏴‍☠️. I wouldn’t really recommend checking them out at a library as that still does give him support since the library could decide to purchase more of his books.

Do I think you can enjoy media he’s worked on or created without supporting him as person?: 1000%. His actions and alleged perversions do not translate into any of his work from what I’ve seen. I think it is 100% possible to separate him from his media in this case, especially with Good Omens and his shows.

Do I think you should burn/trash your books or media by him?: I don’t see a point, but I understand why someone may want to do this. Everyone is angry and upset, and if you want nothing to do with his works anymore that’s 100% valid. I just personally don’t see a point since they’ve already been purchased, and unless you bought them recently and can return them, you’re not taking any money away from him. If you don’t want to keep his books anymore, I’d suggest donating them to a thrift store or a library.

Edit: I wanted to add a section here about the relationships he had with these women since I didn’t really mentioned it before, so here (TW FOR SA);

While the relationships themselves were consensual for the most part (besides the two allegations of SA) I still do not think they were right to be had. The power imbalance and age gaps are gross. They’re not illegal, but morally they’re incorrect in my opinion. I know one of these women was a fan of his, and I believe he took advantage of that. And im also pretty sure he was 40 years older than her at the time. That’s gross.

As for neil’s current response as featured in the article, I don’t think he’s telling the truth. He admits to having relationships with those women, which adds to fact that I believe he’s not a good person for having those relationships already where he clearly was the one in power. The false memories claim could have some nuance to it (it’s possible that it could be something that happens to that woman without it being stated on medical records) but I personally believe it’s an excuse on his end, true or not.

Of course, continue to be kind to each other online. Don’t berate those who are upset and confused, and don’t berate the victims either. For those who believe it’s still all a lie, you have no reason to believe he wouldn’t be capable of any of this. You don’t know him. He doesn’t know you. I urge you to rethink everything about this situation and take some time to process it on your own. Denying everything is not the way to go about this.

I believe that’s everything I have to say. If you read all this, I appreciate this. If you think my wording is odd in some places or if it seems I said something I didn’t mean, please let me know. I’m writing this all on a bit of whim so I can put my thoughts out there instead of keeping it all inside. Thanks again, and stay safe

[tra-archive]

It’s super annoying seeing 4B called a “sex strike.” I’ve been participating for almost a year now and it’s not about getting back at men or punishing men. I don’t even think about men when I’m not online posting radfem/terf stuff. My personal goal is to ignore men altogether and focus on my safety, my career, and my success. I’m only focused on myself and protecting other women. If that’s selfish and MiSaNdRiSt, so be it. (Also let’s not even get into the fact that plenty of 4B participants are lesbians and bisexual women, so some of us are still dating & having sex, just not with males)

4B is also about building a community, a sisterhood. I’ve never felt lonely because I don’t have a boyfriend, I have a strong female friend group and we hang out and play games on the regular. I also go to events that are either only for women or strongly female-dominated, where I’ve met so many amazing women, older and younger, that have become good friends to me. Many of these events are created and run by older women, who always seem very happy to have a young person like me join them. It makes me so mad seeing how older women are demonized especially on social media.

Just remember that if you’re new and considering 4B. It’s not about sticking it to men. Focus on keeping yourself safe and forming strong female friendships and communities.

[forsafety2]

Lol what’s the point of this blog even? Most of the blogs you end up calling out don’t even get termed and the rest just make new emails and come back with new names. You’re literally just running in circles 😂 plus staff doesn’t give a shit, if they did there is a plethora of things they could do to make this site safer but choose not to do. Wanna know why? Cause it’s not profitable for them to do so. They don’t get anything out of it so they don’t give a fuck. Realistically you can’t stop young women from pursing old men or vice versa, truth is no online space is ever truly safe for minors. What are you going to do if tumblr gets shut down permanently like Omegle? You gonna go fight the pedos on Twitter next? Reddit? Instagram? Facebook, YouTube, online gaming, etc. it’s just not feasible. All you’re doing is advertising where these young kids can get groomed cause spoiler alert: they actively seek it out.

Lol what's the point of this ask even? Most of your points are badly thought out and make you out to be a pedo.

I'll tell you what, you send a message off anon and out yourself to everyone and I'll think about stopping caring.

This really doesn't deserve an answer but you've caught me on a bad day, so let's look at a few of your points. Companies caring more about profits than safety is probably never going to change, but if it's called out there's more chance something might happen. Realistically I can't stop young women pursuing older men, correct, but as a community we can warn them of the dangers and try educate young people that the people willing to interact with them don't have their best interests at heart. Realistically I can't stop older men pursuing younger women, I shouldn't fucking have to, they should know better.

This goes on whether I make call out posts or not, there's tags for this shit, there's grown men inboxing none sexual accounts trying to groom them, me not being here makes no difference, but me being here might help some one, I know for a fact it already has.

Thanks for the anonce, be better

[trash-and-trash-accessories]

I don't want to be an alarmist. I don't want to run around screaming "the sky is falling" all the time.

But that's who and what I am.

I'm a queer Jewish anarchist living in a red state.

And it's time to start screaming.

There WILL be another far-right coup attempt in 2024. And with 6 supreme court seats and a house speaker, it will likely succeed.

With the courts packed, no military coup is required. An electoral coup utilizing the courts can, has, and likely will happen in the US. They have been preparing for this.

If this far-right coup is successful, we are looking at a ramping up of the already in-progress genocide which begins with queer people but will likely ramp up against the Latino community specifically, Jews, and other marginalized communities.

What can we do?

Well, the things that can be done at this point I can't say online. The short answer is, a full-blown people's revolution. Which is unlikely.

Joining activist groups already working on this will help, joining or founding mutual aid networks is vital, organizing and involving yourself in your local queer community in person, not just online, and getting involved in activism that way. Fighting and involving yourself in local politics - school boards, sheriffs, city council - can help keep your city safe. If this means running, backing candidates, or showing up to every school board meeting making sure these assholes don't win their censorship fights, do it.

National elections obviously matter, but regardless of who wins this election, the far-right is in position to steal it and overthrow the government anyway. It's very likely they will at least try, and probably succeed. They spent years packing the courts for this moment.

As long as our current supreme court members are alive and in office, we are in immense danger.

In the meantime, just about everyone in our communities needs to have a plan in place to get the fuck out of AT LEAST their conservative state, IDEALLY the country.

Flee the country

It can takes months to renew a passport, if you will need to in the next few years, do it now. US passports are self-ID, make the best choice for your safety, whatever that is.

Countries that offer the longest tourist visas (temporary, but get you in fast and some can be as many as 180 days)

See if you can transfer to another country at your workplace, if that's a thing you can do.

Make sure you are fully vaccinated as required by the places you are considering fleeing. Some countries require more/different vaccines than the US.

If leaving the country will be impossible, make connections with people in blue states and try to get there, or prepare to stand your ground and defend yourself and your community. I know most of my fellow Appalachians will be standing our ground. They can pry Appalachia from our dead queer hands. They can try.

Can't leave? Hide or Fight.

Stock up on your medications. Trans femmes have an easier time with this, you can have your cis women friends get a script for spiro via a dermatologist "for hormonal acne", and older women in your circle can easily get estrogen scripts "for menopause". These are also available online more readily, but be careful. Trans mascs may need to have cis men in their lives get t scripts, or take a lower dose of what's prescribed, then when your bloodwork is low, get a higher script than what you need and stockpile. This is medication fraud, and a crime. T is a controlled substance. But do what you gotta do.

Stock up on birth control methods, plan b, and abortion pills if you need them. These will likely be banned. You can get a long-term implant now, or get an additional birth control prescription via an online pharmacy, in addition to the one you are already using to create a stockpile.

Get medical training. Stop The Bleed is available online, for everyone, for free. EMT basic is widely available and relatively affordable.

Get armed, if you can. This especially applies to people running rural queer communes, as is popular in my region. We've all read Parable of the Talents (I hope), they will come for you. Arm, train, and fortify. Develop connections outside your commune who will worry about you if you suddenly go out of contact. You're not safe because you're rural and growing your own food. When they come, you want to at least take them with you.

Save, download, stockpile queer literature, queer websites, and resources that may be destroyed. A lot of people download the entirety of wikipedia. Scrubbing queer content from society will start once the far-right have taken over. That process has already begun on a smaller scale.

Join preexisting activist groups already working against these people, regardless of whether they are specifically queer-focused or not. Building in-person, offline connections will be vital. Information control will be the norm. Online organizing may become impossible.

If necessary and possible, scrub your online information, go deep in the closet, and wait it out. This is impossible for most of us, but it was a valid strategy for a lot of queer people and other minorities during the Holocaust. A lot of people survived by pretending to be something they weren't and simply waiting it out, obfuscating and working against the fascists when they could, and surviving to tell the story. Not everyone is a revolutionary. This often involved lesbian couples marrying gay men. Temporary detransition, and simply laying low. Fascist states fall eventually.

[pptinfantry]

Here's a few rules for the first time leftist gun owners:

1.Firearms are a tool. Take care of your tools, and they will take care of you.

2.Keep your ammo and your weapon separate, preferably with one or the other locked up. This goes double if you live with children or people with mental health problems.

3.When you do shoot, make sure that you know exactly what is behind your target. Do not aim a weapon at anything you do not want to remove from this Earth.

4.Build community. Join your local John Brown Gun Club, Armed Equality, Pink Pistols, socialist polycule with a girl or two whose super into gun safety/usage.

5.You can keep your ammunition in ammo cans you can get from milsurp stores or online. Put a desiccating packet in there to keep moisture out. With modern magazines, you can keep ammo loaded in indefinitely. Older magazines might get spring tension problems.

6.Weapon cleaning mats are super useful, especially if they have mechanical breakdowns. These are popular for AR builds.

7.Exercise how and when you can, but try to keep it regimented. Some fascists like to work out, but they rarely like cardio, arguably the most important battlefield focus.

8.A long gun will always be superior to a pistol for accuracy, stopping power, and stability. Shotgun, rifle, or carbine platforms. ARs are modular and reliable, AKs are rugged and have cheap ammo. Shotguns are solid workhorses overall, and can be loaded with buck shot or slugs. Birdshot is for birds.

9.Ceramic plates. Lighter and more rugged than steel plates, without the spalling problem. Steel is fine for training, unsat for actual deployment. Half the weight and twice the protection. Aim for Level III or IV, with IV being a preference.

10.Stay safe. The world is scary now, especially for our LGBTQ+, women, racial minority, and immigrant friends. It's incumbent on all of us to help each other.

My message box is open if you have any questions.

[beardedmrbean]

A majority of  Asian Americans living in New York City have altered aspects of their lives to prevent being the target of an anti-Asian incident, according to a new study released Thursday. 

Three-quarters of Asian Americans in the city have adopted at least one “avoidance behavior,” which includes not taking public transit or speaking in their native tongue, the survey, conducted by nonprofit The Asian American Foundation, found. Younger Asian Americans tended to be more likely to say they adapted their behavior. 

“Younger Asian Americans — many have grown up here in the U.S. — have the language and the cultural skills to adapt and become ‘more mainstream.’ It’s what they feel like they need to do to avoid bullying in schools and other attacks,” said Norman Chen, the organization’s CEO. “In the short term, maybe that’s saving them from potential violence and attacks, but in the long run, reducing who they are. We need to find better solutions.” 

For the study, TAAF researchers surveyed 1,000 NYC-based Asian Americans, ages 16 and up, on the subject of public safety between Nov. 30 and Dec. 19, 2023. The surveys were conducted over the phone and online in English, Chinese, Korean and Bangla. 

Researchers found that during the time period, 36% of respondents feared being verbally or physically attacked due to their race, and 48% avoided going out late at night, with an even higher percentage of women reporting they do so. Forty-one percent of Asian American New Yorkers also refrained from taking public transit. 

“That has a huge effect on people’s mental health, on their livelihood and on their work,” Chen said. “It’s something very concerning.” 

The report also found that 17% of Asian Americans in New York City said they refrained from speaking their native tongue in public. 

“The fact we have to … be on guard all the time when we’re outside and hide our culture, hide our identity, and not speak the language that we perhaps want to speak — that’s a real step backwards for us in our community,” Chen said.  

According to the survey, public safety is the top issue for Asian American New Yorkers, with 78% of respondents saying it was either a “major problem” or “somewhat of a problem.” When asked about their experiences with anti-Asian hate incidents — defined as insults, harassments, threats or a physical attack — about half of survey respondents said they were targeted in 2023 due to their race or ethnicity. And 1 in 5 reported experiencing physical attacks or assaults in that year. However, this includes attacks that were not necessarily reported crimes. 

“The fact that people may perceive that this crisis has diminished really minimizes the truth that there’s just still rampant levels of anti-Asian hatred and violence still going on in the city,” Chen said. 

The TAAF report shows a departure from the dramatic downward trend seen in crime data against Asian Americans collected by the New York Police Department. In 2022, according to NYPD data, there were 82 hate crimes targeting Asian Americans, and  the next year, the number decreased by almost half, at 45. 

Sruthi Chandrasekaran, director of data & research at TAAF, said the disparities are likely due, in part, to the way in which the NYPD records crimes — which unlike incidents, require a high threshold to meet. The study may also have featured higher numbers because it was conducted in several languages, accessing more harder-to-reach populations like older New Yorkers, immigrants and first generation Asian Americans, she said. 

Additionally, many Asian Americans feel uncomfortable with reporting their experiences, Chandrasekaran said, noting that 54% of respondents did not report to “anyone at all.” 

“Asian Americans may also feel that what is happening to them is an isolated incident —  they may have felt more of an impetus to report during COVID because they were seeing and hearing and experiencing anti-Asian hate directed at them and others in their community,” Chandrasekaran said in an email. “With time, this issue has gotten less attention, which may lead people, including Asian Americans themselves, to think it is an isolated incident and may not warrant reporting.”

[nightguide]

maturing is knowing pornhub is actually very educational if you knew the limits to sexual desire than the exposure of nudity is like to medical community to release and explore bodies for a way to cure diseases acutely measured to women's privacy being protected online (haya)

so women do post nudes online and you may have heard e-safety video's about girls as young as 9 being exposed online for 'trash fantasies' kids may have growing up being publicly aware of what flesh can do, or so sexism being narrated in older women esteemed enough that their lives are not great enough to sustain lives of their own (emotional incest) so, it would actually damage womens lives growing up much later on that they would never feel to appeal to the eyes of the public from hate sensitivity that they remain the same due to the way images corrupt a mans mind from enigmatic control (women being men) so it would make lives of poverty stricken women so much harder to realise the truth in social democracy that time and time itself again, TV is actually forbidden to be seen from years on after because the way the world realised to poverty stricken women is the moment their bodies are realised by worth and not esteem based emotional irritation TV characters occur to.

not much like the latter that a naked woman can do but it's objectification that scores instant gratification making the end times scenario's much easier to face on a TV based theory (like my blog) but you do know (blog handles) that your power have so much accuracy in irritation against the boggled minds as i do with my list of people i aim to guarantee that no words can hurt you, here is my theory resolution scenarios.

Rachel Berry (Glee) = 00's energy is complete with you being the main character

Selena Gomez (Glee) = self image is restored

Demi Lovato (Doctor Who) = 1984 - George Orwell has officially ended

Keanu Reeves (Matrix) = social deficit on poverty making equals of everybody

Will Schuester (Mindhunter) = responsibility is guarded for partners to feel safe with each other than without

Anson Seabra (Little Birds) = your social circle is protected from hate eternally

there is in every way that society is guarded on devices only (innovation restoration) for what is created gets used like of (gadgets now are similar to the human heart) so, there is what will be restored in actual reality after the major world ending case scenario's every TV show faces in retaliation

Rachel Berry = (apple phone) Doctors face a childhood situation that occurs to them later in life that is a metaphor of their lives effecting to how they met River 14, so she lives her life separate to the world of TV retaliated to on her real life heartbreak (she never went to one of her Dad's funeral)

Selena Gomez = (innovation became the human body) spotify is easily accessed to by your music become you, so being famous comes with a social price of being dead for but being 'dead' will bring about Gomez's superstitions about solving humanity then because of her lazy argument against Hailey Bieber for the one and only 'crown of the universe' because she heavily procrastinated her social life just so she can actually win an argument on Only Murders In The Building with a legit coronation scene in it, so she thought everything but facing Steve Martin and Martin Short royally because of her stereotype making my blog the reason for the fight she lost at.... soooooooooo ... what.. is.. thepoint?

Demi Lovato = (sex scenes on TV) River Song will have a greater point with her lifestyle after the events of the Doctor's death date, much known the actresses privacy rights putting men in the scene with them with the 'turn it over' cuz kids shows are not likely going to be the same (CBEEBIES BEING THE NEW KIDS SHOW DEFAULT) like everything you love will have a private expression of peace being taught with sincerity (hence being the Doctor's wife) so social events in and out of TV (Pushing Daisies being a documentary of hyper-sensitivity) leading to new norms of artists with an escapism adventure capitalism on the rise of being socially rewarded for and out of being on TV (rags to riches fantasy coming true) for new actors to embrace their roles like their natural persona than to being 'of the man they thought first' (David Tennant being pretty annoyed of society not glamorising his hands more-so than his face deeming to be with character socially (the world ending), so Demi's contribution doesn't matter to her fanbase as long as her reputation becomes solidified intuitively (right ones love her through Neuro-divergent people, so it's not that Lovatics remained still with Demi, but she known better than to stay away from Selena by prioritising her fanbase to her social circle instead than Selena's plan to 'overthrow the throne' than actually remaining true to her role in Sonny With a Chance

Keanu Reeves = (LGBTQIA+ having an equal relationship with Muslim women as their leading cause for concern which is Rupaul's priority) desi women struggle with the affair of an emotionally stricken male relative in the family causing heartbreak in their health https://www.therightsideoftwenty.com/post/the-brown-girl-struggles-of-living-in-yesterday-s-society https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/brown%20girl%20problems (like i will follow this up with a heavy explanation on making desi voices heard but they're pretty much on their own right now because their social status lies on that one white friend they have that knows too exclusively about their problems like it was their own so their emotions get an equal understanding with religion as they are their own skin as one person

Will Schuester = (boundaries of a Muslim neuro-divergent) if you know Glee, then you know how Will avoids the latter by letting down the entire group by one theory only, 'anything Harper (POC) will do, i will do' so he let down his preggo wife for a then 14yo, so now all Muslim neuro-divergent's are going through an insane mental apocalyptic drama that refuses them of their freedom to return to their mothers because Will's vagina is hungry for more, i now want to go and hug the Glee cast as a neuro-divergent podcast host (i suddenly feel like i'm the crazy one for not admitting the 'TV truth' to my Mom about the world breaking down while she thinks about my brother's benefit than me getting my voice heard from a God that 'banished me' more than i do with my dreams of getting a healthier body and a new beginning from having an estranged relationship with my family, like this isn't easy enough to be around them talking about a TV show you love, but what if those stupid people inside your head gave up fighting you because you knew your ummah was strong with you being yourself for the love of creation)

Anson Seabra = (personal history) your past is everything to you but you don't care, social classes exist and you're way too fond with your sister too intimately that families took on after your initiative by wealth disorder (yes, Anson. your stupid lyrics got people battling for ill wealth than ill health to your sister's shitty display of the Cabbal with dissociative paranoia of being 'the main character' waiting to come on display after the 'paki neuro-divergents die of Allah disease' and she gets to paki her way into precisely Jeff Buckley's life as a 'dajjal' and kill him also because she's canon as Voldemort on Harry Potter now

fckin curse everybody but especially curse her

[bulliness]

(cw for mentions of sexual assault) Speaking of, it's been driving me CRAZY because I've seen not one but multiple LGBT people proudly "come out" as pedophiles recently and then claim they were only getting hate for being LGBT like if y'all don't read the fucking room... "thought crime" my ass. I really don't vibe with the idea that because someone is sexualizing something on the Internet that means they can't possibly be doing that crime in real life. My older sibling was in online spaces regarding anime, furries, fandom etc. I won't go into details but he sexually abused multiple children, family members, and animals. Whenever I see someone bragging about these things and showing no remorse online I can't convince myself they aren't doing it irl! I know it's my trauma but it really happened to me it does cause real harm, I have PTSD and am constantly suicidal. "thought crime" im sure child abusers are giddy as hell about the pro pedo sentiment that's getting more popular in spaces that used to be more safe. I feel like I'm going to chew off my arm. Sorry, something about imaginary sister in your post made me go !!! bc I was the sister but I definitely wasn't imaginary, yk? In the past couple years I keep seeing these 4chan esque morally reprehensible arguments that make no sense. "kill the cop in your head that says assaulting people in their most formative years is wrong" bitch do you hear yourself?! I've been here a long while and I miss the days you could talk about wanting to kill your rapist when this site was, at the very least, larping as feminist. I'm literally too scared to bring this up on my own blog bc sometimes pedos will send ppl who disagree with them csam. Also I'm not trying to start the most triggering rancid internet shit storm ever in my notifs :/ I did not mean to write out this much omg. You dont have to post this btw lol

No you're fine!! I completely agree that people have gotten way more comfortable being open about being into these things in the name of "queerness" and it actively detrimental to the community.

There was a time when even I was being accused of pedophilia baselessly, that thankfully didn't result in any harassment because all my mutuals called the anon on their shit. So like, yeah, there's baseless accusations and hate campaigns against innocent trans people (mostly women).

But the whole point is that these women DON'T have "MAP" or "big sister" or whatever in their bios. The second you do that shit, you stop being a victim to me because you thought what you jerk off to was more important than the safety and comforts of people that faced abuse.

It's just really frustrating having to scan every tag and post on a blog before following, just in case they're a secret freak. He'll, the reason I didn't know about this blog is because her tag for it wasn't something I'd thought to check on her blog. Actually pisses me off.

Anyway I hope you can avoid this stuff as much as possible. This is quite literally the first time I've been caught off guard like this, because everyone I follow is chill and rarely get into arguments with these people. Good luck 💜

[parkminijiminie]

i want to say something i’ve been thinking about for a while and figured this would be a good forum for it since a lot of people are discussing how they feel about how Jungkook has changed during this solo era. I think this is something that I thought I was struggling with alone but its starting to look like its not the case based on everything I’ve read outside of Twitter/X (that’s a whole new world these days, unfortunately).

I think what a lot of us are experiencing with Jungkook is really tied to the parasocial relationship we have with BTS, as well as cognitive dissonance. Since I became an army, Jungkook is the member I’ve least been able to connect with at an emotional level, after Tae. Ironically, we have a lot of things in common, including our intense adoration for Jimin. Despite that, I have always thought of him as someone kind, talented, passionate, and ambitious. None of those things have changed so, why is it so difficult for me to be interested or engaged with any of the things he’s doing nowadays? He is obviously the most active member right now, and everytime I go on twitter there is a lot of content and a lot of people reacting to that content. 80% of the time I feel annoyed by this and then I get this very guilty feeling of “why do I feel this way?”

I don’t know if others are like this but in my experience the more I am exposed to something I’m not that interested in the more I start to resent it. Unfortunately, I think that’s been the case with JK since every time I go online in army spaces I just see things about him and not Jimin (who is obviously my bias lol). When you add the whole pseudo bad boy schtick on top (something I’m 100% turned off by) then it starts to become really annoying to engage with his content and all of the overwhelmingly positive (i.e. horny) reactions to it all the time (on army twt that is).

Additionally, my “attraction” for BTS really was based on this perception that they are men that provide this sense of safety, unlike most other men. Their music wasnt fixated on “getting” women or bragging about them, in fact the whole opposite, there was this profound feeling of appreciation of women, among the other topics theyve discussed in the past like mental health. So now, that I’m being spoonfed this music that is exactly what I don’t like from any male artist, then there’s this sort of subconscious feeling of betrayal.

I feel like most of us are trying to convince ourselves to look past everything he’s putting out because he’s someone we’ve admired a lot. But honestly that just puts a lot of pressure on him when instead that we probably need to do is just not engage with things we’re not interested in. I know that’s exactly what I would do with any other artist so the fact that I’m trying to force him to fit into the box of “things I like” when he doesnt anymore is kind of unfair to him too.

There are many reasons that justify why he is choosing to act like this now. I’m a couple months older than he is and I’m also struggling to figure out who I really am and what I want to do with my life. I think its fine for JK to go through this journey and I get why he would need to make these mistakes in order to actually mature. I’ve just realized that the best thing for me to do is distance myself from it without feeling like a solo or an anti just bc I don’t resonate with what he’s putting out and am not interested in engaging with that all the time.

Anon, I love your mind and I think you hit the nail on the head here. In fact, you even helped me realize a few things that have been bugging me ever since Seven was released.

Firstly this: "He is obviously the most active member right now, and everytime I go on twitter there is a lot of content and a lot of people reacting to that content. 80% of the time I feel annoyed by this and then I get this very guilty feeling of “why do I feel this way?” - I have been asking myself this question for months now and you just gave me the answer.

The fact it, that while other members' debut and eras lasted a month or two at most and then sort of died down, I feel like I've been bombarded with Jungkook's content for months now, even during Tae's release. Even since Seven came out, JK is continuously everywhere - Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and almost all the posts I ever see anymore are of him, despite me also biasing Jimin. As you said, since I also don't have any interest in this "pseudo bad boy schtick", but was basically forced to consume both it and "the overwhelmingly positive (i.e. horny) reactions to it" all the time, it became tiring and annoying to me as well.

On top of that, as you wrote, BTS was a safe place for me , too. As a female presenting person, I am so tired of listening to music and consuming content about men “getting” women or bragging about them" (brilliantly said). I really felt safe and secure with BTS, as artists who respect, understand and value not just women, but all genders, and by extenstion I felt safe in the fandom. But the fandom itself changed with the release of Seven. It was never as horny, deranged or overly sexualizing, as it is now. For example, I feel like I have been literally followed everywhere by comments about "champagne confetti" and "Jungkook is a confirmer head pusher".

For me, the type of music JK does now is truly exactly what I don't like listening to from other male artists and the fact that it was coming from a member of BTS, was jarring to me. Rather than it being a "light playful shock", it really was more of "a subconscious feeling of betrayal", as you put it, and I am only now realizing it.

I am not a person to make myself try to like something I don't, but since it was Jungkook doing this music, I still subconsciously have been feeling guilty for not supporting him. Even though I don't actively force myself to listen to it, there is still this urge in me to do it, because this is BTS and I have always supported them, and yet I can't seem to do it, which adds more to my guilt and frustration.

I think these feeling really are due to our parasocial relationship with BTS and Jungkook, who for some of us have been an important part of our lives for years. But honestly, as you said, this truly isn't fair to Jungkook as an individual and an artist. Firstly, this despite JK being a part of BTS, this isn't BTS music. This is Jungkook as a solo individual artist. Whatever reason he had to want to choose this path for his career, it is his right and prerogative. It is time some of us, including me, to accept that the Jungkook we see now and his music, are simply not for us anymore and to distance ourselves from it. Even though I am a heterosexual person , exactly at the age to not mind songs with such adult themes, I actually feel too old for this type of music now. It is maybe best suited for someone in their early 20s, than in their 30s. It simply isn't for me.

We should let go of the guilt for not being able to support Jungkook the way we are used to doing for years with BTS and simply let him live they way he wants to. For his own peace, but above all, for ours.

When BTS reunite again some day, we will have our safe place again.

[mermaidsirennikita]

Yeah this needs to be talked about more, the amount of articles, podcasts, youtube/tiktok videos or just online comments that I saw after season 1 came out that just assume the Bton books were diverse because the show is? And the fact the new marketing push around the books is not disabusing people about that notion, mainly through the new covers (both regular and the show tie-in ones).

It's a really complicated, thorny issue in some ways and very simple in others. If I look at Just Romance Novels (which is obviously a niche, just zeroing in a genre for the sake of discussion) the genre is still dominated by product from white authors, largely with characters written as white. While it's diversifying (far more slowly than it should be) a lot of the older "proven success" books are written by white people, about white people. I don't think it's wrong to cast diversely if you're adapting those books--and on a practical, "people putting food on the table" level, I want actors of color to have as many solid, well-paying opportunities as possible.

At the same time, there are still so many authors of color neglected. Not all of whom wrote people of color on the page, of course, especially in historical romance--Sherry Thomas and Stacy Reid are two historical romance novelists who write about white characters, and it's no surprise that the potential adaptation of Stacy's works would be cast more diversely. There's a level of tracking how expectations have changed when you look at how Sinful Wallflowers was presented as a book series, and how it could be presented as a show.

And like, I'll allow that we're in the midst of a sort of "boom" (who knows how long it'll last) of period pieces cast more diversely than they would've been even 15 years ago. The approaches are often different and individualized. The Great has people of color playing characters who'd be literal white Russians "in real life", and it's literally never commented on, which I think many would prefer for a show like Bton. BUT, most of the lead characters are white, with Orlo (who I think did not get the strongest writing from jump, though Sascha wanting to leave after s1 didn't help) and Arkady (who I think is hilarious and finally got more screentime in s3, but he could've gotten more from the beginning... so much Velementov screentime should be Arkady screentime) being two of the only truly prominent people of color onscreen.

Then you have something like Sanditon, where Georgiana gets better writing than many people on Bton, but the show obviously never knew how to really confront her background, made the racist old lady the peak comic relief, and never prioritized Georgiana the way her white counterpart Charlotte was prioritized. Georgiana got an afterthought of an ending after being humiliated by the narrative several times.

One of the shows that handled this best was Tom Jones--Sophia is treated as this gem of a girl whose grandfather and aunt love her, but clearly aren't fully sure about how to solidify her safety as a Black woman of means in England. There's a very tender scene where she discusses her father enslaving her and her mother with Tom, and the show doesn't shy away from Sophia's mixed feelings on the entire thing. There's a heavy implication re: her being made to perform whiteness with face powder, etc, but nonetheless this is not dominating Sophia's storyline. She gets to be the swooning girl who falls head over heels and is desired by a good man and upheld as his ideal in every way. She confronts conflict, but she does not SUFFER, and she is not MINIMIZED in favor of white women in the story--Sophia is really pretty explicitly like, The Woman of that piece. Presented as the most beautiful, as not flawless but good and deserving of love, as a true classical heroine whose personal narrative is actively expanded to match Tom's. The only thing I find prominently weird (after one viewing) is that she and Tom never had like, a sweet wedding night scene, as we saw Tom have sex with three different white women onscreen, of of which was like.... the core villain. I would've liked to have seen Sophia get the full physical adoration there, onscreen, and it did stand out a bit that she didn't.

So those are adaptations with growing pains, not getting everything right, but some being better than others (and Bton being the bottom of the barrel, there).

Then there are things that are unequivocally wrong, and not a part of growing pains as adaptations navigate between what sells and what diversifies and what works, and one of those unequivocally wrong things is selling the Bton books as diverse reads. Those books are some of the most conventional Regency romances out there; you don't even get a lot of economic or class diversity, let alone any racial diversity. Almost everyone in that series is upper class. Even Sophie is the daughter of a nobleman. And I'm not saying it's wrong to write about those people, but for the books to now be sold as something they're not, when the author didn't even think people of color could get HEAs in her Historically Accurate World... is the worst kind of capitalism.

That's part of the extra ugliness (on top of all the obvious ugliness) here. Julia Quinn was against what she's now profiting from. It's not just picking a white author's works to be emblematic of diversity they don't represent; it's THAT author's works. And I think that making Queen Charlotte from all this, putting Julia's name on the cover (I am.... 90% sure that book was ghostwritten, with input from Julia and Shonda, but go off) just adds to all of it.

[datinggr]

KoronaDates - The #1 best dating site in Greece and Cyprus!

We've discovered KoronaDates as a shining pearl in the murky sea of online dating.

And most importantly, everyone is already there! Your neighbor, the one with the expressive eyes and rich inner world? She's there too, sending selfies of her rich inner world to some wealthy Saudi now.

Are you going to be left out like a hermit crab?

What is so great about KoronaDates and what's with all the fuss?

The company behind the website has already seen great success with a series of successful applications targeting markets in the Persian Gulf and Eastern Europe. By uniting the beauties of the East with Arabic luxury, they created an explosive combination that left behind hundreds of happy couples. And now, they've set their sights on conquering the Greek market!

KoronaDates is currently the exclusive dating club for men, where everyone can find something that suits their tastes.

With a youthful design, user-friendly interface, and complete freedom, you can enjoy meetings, hot chats, search for sugar adventures, or whatever your soul desires.

Whether you're a married person looking for an "escape" or a single seeking a serious or casual relationship, or a lone wolf looking for conversation, or discreet sexy time with safety and confidentiality, KoronaDates always has something for you.

Starting from a market with strict morals, KoronaDates prioritizes complete protection of your personal information, ensuring full privacy and security for its members. For user safety, the website prohibits the sharing of personal data and will never ask for information like other social networks. Remember when Facebook blocked you and asked for your ID, tax returns, three sworn statements, and two fee deposits at the Municipality to reopen your profile? Forget about it! On KoronaDates, it will never happen!

Registration is easy, with just an email address and a click to confirm through the link sent to you. Users register anonymously with a simple username, discouraging the use of real names for personal safety. So, if you're thinking of signing up as "John Marcus Stephenson, resident of McDonald blvd, 2nd floor, apt6, ID number 93319892" as Mr. Zuckerberg has taught you, forget about it!

Moreover, women always go through verification via a selfie to ensure the authenticity of their profiles. This offers extra security and protection for men, as on most social networks, there are often other men hiding behind women's profiles.

Any photo or video you choose to upload to your profile stays there as long as you desire, and it disappears from the page forever once you press the delete button. While registration is free, the use of the service is a premium service. We know all good things in life are either illegal, unethical, make you fat, or have a cost. However, the connections you make on KoronaDates will not be illegal unless you live in some weird place that punishes adultery. They won't make you fat unless you go on the first date for ribs, and ethics are subjective for everyone. KoronaDates continues to be one of the cheapest applications of its kind, offering fantastic value for money.

In addition, your payments for the service won't raise suspicion from your spouse, as the website supports discreet transactions with GooglePay, ApplePay, and even fully anonymous transactions with cryptocurrencies. This aligns more with the dominant male, as everyone knows the true Alpha Male is already years ahead and knows all the secrets of cryptocurrency transactions!

Regarding usability, we found KoronaDates incredibly user-friendly and comfortable, with all profile settings consolidated on one page, making it easy for both younger and older users. The website attracts users of all ages, thanks to its straightforward design.

Searching for matches was exceptionally easy, with the site's algorithm constantly presenting new potential matches based on the user's profile settings.

For those who enjoy playing double-triple board games, the site allows users to hide their personal photos and surf with one of the beautifully pre-installed avatars. This feature is available only for men.

Additionally, for those feeling competitive, the site offers the "boost" feature, which elevates your profile in searches above your "competitors," ensuring you're always at the top and surpassing others like a conquering emperor!

Unlike other apps that limit users to their local village, asking for extra payment to change location, KoronaDates allows users to communicate with anyone from any country at any time. So, if someone got tired of Mary's and Elens for some reason, they are free to find a hot Latina Juana Dolores dela Cuna Tonores and try to open up the world like a "sword-wielding oyster," as the immortal Shakespeare put it.

Overall, our experience on KoronaDates aligns with the reviews of other users in Greece and internationally, finding it from "satisfactory" to "fantastic." Some users from more "progressive" countries had complaints about the lack of extra "equipment" in the pants on the site. Unfortunately, not everyone can be satisfied with everything, but we believe there are already enough apps covering that specific market, like TS-dating.

Taking all this into account, our editorial team's experience on KoronaDates was positive, and we give it a rating of 9.7/10.

Visit Website

[decorworks]

How to Avoid Food Poisoning Over the Holidays

The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and indulgence in delicious meals with family and friends. Amidst the festive cheer, it's crucial to stop and prioritize food safety to ensure everyone enjoys a healthy and happy holiday season. When traveling abroad, try to avoid foods that are raw or might not have been cooked fully. Look for steaming hot food to ensure the dish is fresh and bacteria-free. Follow the locals and eat where they eat. Check reviews online before choosing a place to eat. Wash your hands regularly, especially before eating, and carry hand sanitizer with you. If you do get food poisoning, drink lots of water and replace lost salts and minerals with rehydration sachets.

The most common types of food poisoning are caused by various bacteria and viruses. Some of the most common causes of food poisoning include: - Campylobacter: It is the most common cause of food poisoning and is often associated with raw or undercooked poultry, unpasteurized milk, and contaminated water. - Salmonella: This bacterium is commonly found in undercooked poultry, raw eggs, and raw meat. It can also be present in fruits and vegetables due to cross-contamination. One of the biggest source of salmonella food poisoning comes from the popularity of romaine salads, so wash your green leafs well. - Escherichia coli (E. coli): E. coli can be found in undercooked ground beef, unpasteurized milk, and raw vegetables. It can also be transmitted through person-to-person contact and contaminated water. - Norovirus: This virus is a common cause of food poisoning and can be transmitted through contaminated food and water. It is highly contagious and can spread quickly in settings such as cruise ships and nursing homes. - Listeria: Listeria can be found in unpasteurized dairy products, deli meats, and certain soft cheeses. It poses a higher risk to pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. These are just a few examples of the many types of food poisoning. The symptoms of food poisoning can include diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. It's important to seek medical attention if you experience severe symptoms or if you belong to a high-risk group, such as pregnant women, young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. The holidays are a time for feasting with family and friends, but it's important to take precautions to avoid food poisoning. Here are some tips to help prevent foodborne illness during the holidays: - Thoroughly Wash Your Hands: The foundation of food safety begins with proper hand hygiene. Before handling any food, especially raw meat and vegetables, wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Encourage everyone involved in meal preparation to follow this practice diligently. - Separate Raw and Cooked Foods: Cross-contamination is a leading cause of foodborne illness. Keep raw meats, poultry, seafood, and their juices separate from ready-to-eat foods to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria. Use separate cutting boards, utensils, and plates for raw and cooked items. Prevent juices from meat, chicken, turkey, and seafood from dripping or leaking onto other foods by keeping them in containers or sealed bags. - Cook Food to the Right Temperature: Cooking food to the proper internal temperature is crucial for killing harmful bacteria. Invest in a food thermometer and use it to ensure that meats, poultry, seafood, and leftovers reach the recommended temperatures. Refer to USDA guidelines for specific temperature recommendations. Germs can grow rapidly in the danger zone between 40°F and 140°F. Keep hot food hot (above 140°F) and cold food cold (below 40°F). Use pasteurized eggs for dishes containing raw eggs. Salmonella and other harmful germs can live on both the outside and inside of normal-looking eggs. Many holiday favorites contain raw eggs, including eggnog, tiramisu, hollandaise sauce, and salad dressings. Store eggs in their original carton. - Chill Perishable Foods Promptly: Refrigeration is your ally in preventing bacterial growth. Perishable foods, including leftovers, should be refrigerated within two hours (or one hour if the temperature is above 90°F/32°C). Ensure your refrigerator is set to 40°F (4°C) or below and promptly consume or freeze leftovers. - Mindful Thawing Practices: If you plan to serve frozen items, such as turkey, make sure to thaw them safely. The safest methods include thawing in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. Avoid thawing at room temperature, as it can lead to bacterial growth. Thaw turkey in the refrigerator, in a sink of cold water that is changed every 30 minutes, or in the microwave. Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter. - Be Cautious with Buffets: Buffet-style meals are common during the holidays. However, they can pose a higher risk of foodborne illness due to extended exposure to room temperature. Keep hot foods hot (above 140°F/60°C) and cold foods cold (below 40°F/4°C). Use chafing dishes, ice trays, and other equipment to maintain safe temperatures. - Stay Informed about Recalls: Before heading to the grocery store, check for any food recalls that may affect the items on your shopping list. Stay informed about potential contamination or safety concerns related to specific products. Many authorized food and safety departments offer email alerts on food notifications. - Practice Safe Egg Handling: Raw or undercooked eggs can harbor Salmonella. Use pasteurized eggs in recipes that call for raw or partially cooked eggs, and cook egg dishes thoroughly. Avoid recipes that involve raw or lightly cooked eggs, especially for vulnerable populations like young children, pregnant women, and the elderly. - Hydrate and Use Safe Water Sources: Ensure that the water you use for cooking and drinking is safe. If you have any doubts about the water quality, use bottled water or bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it in food preparation. - Trust Your Senses: If something looks, smells, or tastes off, trust your instincts. Discard any food that seems questionable, and don't take chances with items that may have been improperly stored or handled. You can significantly reduce the risk of food poisoning during the holiday season. Remember that food safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone involved in meal preparation plays a crucial role in ensuring a safe and enjoyable celebration. Prioritize hygiene, follow recommended cooking temperatures, and stay informed about potential risks to safeguard your festive feasts and make cherished holiday memories for everyone. DecorWorks showcases the latest trends and tips in home decor and interior design to inspire your best life. We curate architecture and design inspiration for global audiences, and show you practical tips to create any imaginable space. Read the full article

[swinstudent]

Week 10 - Digital Citizenship and Conflict: Social Media Governance

The ‘Snowflake generation’ (Haslop, C., O’Rourke, F., & Southern, R. 2021), that's what we are. A generation of feeling offended by let's say, offensive things, but hey! It's nothing close to what the generation before us went through, right? 

The term ‘Snowflake generation’, can be described as a somewhat derogatory way of labelling “young people” perceived for their “intolerance and over-sensitivity.” (Haslop, C., O’Rourke, F., & Southern, R. 2021)

The term, often utilised in the mouths of older generations, that can’t understand the concern surrounding harassment online. Who are, hypocritically, also the very individuals who refuse to engage in specific social media applications so would have no experience on the topic. 

Digital conflict exists as different groups of communities online demand a sense of power, and therefore, diminish certain groups or individuals through online harassment.

Examples of online harassment range from sexual, impersonation, physical threats, rumour spreading, etc. and exist on the digital realm as a result of the lack of accountability, posed to individuals hidden behind screens seeking to impose power. 

One of the most common online harassment examples is sexual abuse, in the form of ‘dick pics’.

A sad common denominator amongst my female peers, is that we all either have received a non-solicited dick pic, or know someone close to us who has…gross! 

Unfortunately, this is not the only example of female targeted abuse online, “young women aged 18–19 years old were more likely to report degrading comments on their gender, sexual harassment and unwanted sexual requests” (Laura Vitis Fairleigh Gilmour 2017) However, being one of the most common forms, it can be argued that dick pics are a power move in the hands of men, so there is no questioning “women and girls’ participation in online spaces…marked by concerns for their safety.” (Laura Vitis Fairleigh Gilmour 2017)

The existing power thirst from men online, reflects that of real life, whereby similarly, women face higher levels of harassment, which Laura Vitis and Fairleigh Gilmour, 2017 raises a similar question of, “whether such harassment simply repeats real world gendered inequalities and tensions or whether it is a product of the Internet” (Laura Vitis Fairleigh Gilmour 2017)

Presently, attempts to minimise online harassment can be seen in social media governance, which takes form on applications such as Instagram and TikTok as something you might be familiar with as… ‘community guidelines.’

Personally, the times I have stumbled across community guideline restrictions, I haven’t been its biggest fan, with experience having my very PG rated TikTok videos removed based off ‘explicit content’ that falls into one of the many brackets of ‘unsafe viewing'. 

Although, this is a good step in the right direction and allows prevention of explicit content, sometimes the governance might be argued as too strong - pushing the boundaries of removing digital communities freedom of expression. On the other hand, content moderation techniques imposed by social media applications such as Instagram, highlight the need for corporate social responsibility - Whereby, accountability has limited space to fall onto the individuals doing the bullying, so platforms need to assist in preventing it.

Another example of attempts to minimise digital conflict and harassment is the legislation put into place to encourage safety online ‘online safety act 2021.’ 

Yet still, harassment is prevalent and expected on all forms of social media as we speak, proving a difficult problem to combat - so what can be done? 

References - 

Haslop, C., O’Rourke, F., & Southern, R. (2021). #NoSnowflakes: The toleration of harassment and an emergent gender-related digital divide, in a UK student online culture. Convergence, 27(5), 1418–1438.

Laura Vitis and Fairleigh Gilmour (2017) 'Dick pics on blast: A woman’s resistance to online sexual harassment using humour, art and Instagram', Download  'Dick pics on blast: A woman’s resistance to online sexual harassment using humour, art and Instagram', Crime, Media, Culture. 13(3) 335-355.