Blog #4

 Privacy

We all have been lectured by our parents, teachers, and other adults in our lives about the importance of watching what we post online, because it is permanent.  However, I think that as a society we need to take that more seriously, because the consequences can be massively life altering.  I liked how Juan Enriquez explained that the things we post are like online tattoos, because I feel like this can be put into perspective even better for us.  I took away from the video that social media and other online sources talk for you and give you an image even when you don't want them to.  The comparison to tattoos makes perfect sense, because you should watch what you post, because anyone has access to it... if you don't want your parents seeing it, it shouldn't be posted!  Just like tattoos as well, online media that you or the people you care about post can create an image that gives others the opportunity to judge you.  Whether these posts were taken out of context or if emotions ran high and you just weren't thinking when posting, news travels so fast and these kinds of things can stay with you forever.  Therefore I think that people, especially our generation, should really think long and hard about what they post, because even if it's not a physical tattoo it can still stay with you and taint your image forever.

Our social media and online activity isn't the only thing being watched by others.  In Catherine Crump's TED Talk, she explains how police departments across the country have been using mass location tracking devices, such as license plate readers, in order to track where people go on a day-to-day basis.  This originally was used for the purpose of keeping tabs on people who were doing something wrong, however it has now stretched to everyone, no matter your criminal history.  I think that this is a complete invasion of privacy and I think that state governments should all have laws forcing police departments to delete the data taken by these mass location tracking devices, unless they are used for the purpose of keeping track of people who are actually in the wrong.  I don't think it's fair that we should have to watch what we do and where we go.  I feel targeted and don't really see any benefits of watching every person's location.  In a sense I feel like this labels everyone as a bad guy and causes an uncomfortable relationship with law enforcement, who, in reality, we should trust a lot.

In regards to our online presence, I didn't think that there was much we could do in order to protect ourselves from having others eavesdrop on our texts, calls, etc.  It freaks me out that when creating telephones, the first priority was surveillance.  This is bizarre to me, because I feel like we should have privacy and it feels as though someone is always watching, capitalizing on what we say, even when it's confidential.  I believe that our country doesn't make it a priority to protect us, but instead feels that people are always doing something life-altering, and they feel that they need to capture it.  Even though this gives me an uneasy feeling, I was relieved to be told by Christopher Soghoian in his TED Talk that using iMessage, FaceTime, and WhatsApp is the best way to not be watched.  It was eyeopening to me, because I assumed that there was no way to protect ourselves, because all companies wanted to use this surveying technology.  However that is not the case, and some businesses do want to protect your privacy.  Therefore, I suggest using the apps I listed above in order to protect yourself from people inside and outside of this country.  I understand why people want to survey others, especially with the threat of danger always looming, yet I think that we can go about it a different way.  I think that companies should develop a way to put people on the government and local law enforcements' radars, if these people are discussing topics or making threats that could put others in danger.  Yet, I want to emphasize that I don't think it's right to survey everyone, especially the innocent, but I don't think that we should completely eliminate surveillance, but instead tighten these systems up. 

We all have heard the saying money makes the world go around and Andy Yen proved this again in his TED Talk.  He explored how big named online companies, like Google and Yahoo, use email servers to access our emails in order to gear their advertisements towards specific audiences.  The most effective way to find out how old we are, what we like and dislike, who we interact with, and what we talk about in order to get us to buy products is finding out this information through emails.  There are numerous steps that need to be taken, but I think the most important ones are to use a different platform which encrypts data from our emails and to develop an internet which has privacy as its default.  If we band together and use programs like ProtonMail and donate towards groups who are trying to develop new ways to protect our privacy on the internet, we should eventually be able to feel safe on the internet and have limited fears on what people can and cannot see.  It's our information and it is up to us to support those who are trying to protect it.

Finn Myrstad opened my eyes to how easy it is for app companies to access our data and information.  People in our generation dislike reading, especially when they view it as pointless.  I know many of us, including myself view apps' Terms and Conditions as being pointless to read and we mark the check box anyways without reading it fully or at all.  This may not seem like it is a big deal, but I learned that it actually is, due to the fact that you can be giving access to photos and information related to topics- without knowing so.  These companies defend themselves by saying that consumers are giving permission and this privacy issue isn't their fault.  However I have to agree with Myrstad that this information is difficult to read and understand, so by default people just give permission.  I do it all the time, and I'm sure you do too, because you assume that giving permission can't be that awful, if almost everyone does it.  It can be awful, because the information accessed can be embarrassing and you may never know that people have access to it without being able to understand what you're consenting to.  It's a violation of privacy, because in a way without understanding, you can't truly consent.  Therefore, I believe that the government needs to crack down on apps' Terms and Conditions and force app companies to make them shorter, clear, and more concise.  As avid app users, I think that we have to keep educating one another on this problem and we need to push for more clearness in these Terms and Conditions, in order to protect our private information and to avoid it being manipulated in the future.

The final topic discussed is much more intense than the other ones I have discussed prior and it is much more personal.  Revenge porn is when ex-lovers get angry, become manipulative, and use explicit photos in order to humiliate their ex-partners.  It is extremely troubling to know that this is a lot more common than most think and that it isn't talked about enough, even though it is extremely damaging to victims, like Darieth Chisolm.  These victims deserve justice and our government is simply not doing enough, because we have hardly any laws that protect people from this malicious form of revenge.  The punishment for these acts are hardly earth shattering, even though these acts destroy lives.  People lose jobs and their reputations are damaged not only with the public, but with their spouses, children, parents, friends, etc..  This can effect all of us, as we embark into more serious relationships.  It's scary to think that relationships can change so drastically, but they do.  In order to protect ourselves, we need to push for laws that make revenge porn a crime, and ones that make the punishments more severe.  It is not enough to slap someone on the wrist and make them pay a couple of hundred dollars.  We need to act so that you or your loved ones are protected from those who can't handle when things don't go their way in a relationship.  We should all be free of fear as we break up with someone or reject someone, so we must act now and start standing up for our personal privacy in the physical and emotional senses.

Blog #3

 Eight Values of Freedom

One of the Eight Values of Freedom that piqued my interest the most was to Promote Tolerance.  In a sense this means that there are little regulations on what we can and can not say.  However even with these little regulations society is trained to regulate speech.  It doesn't seem like this would be the case, because how could society as a whole regulate something that the law doesn't.  Lee Bollinger wrote about this value and opened my eyes to another reason for using speech, which is "...the object is not to express a point of view but to disrupt other interests, such as peace and quiet, or to challenge and provoke an audience to a violent confrontation" (Bollinger).   He considered words with this intention as social fighting, which to me seems like a legitimate reason for the government having control over that aspect of speech.  Yet, I understand why speech can't be censored, because if one aspect of speech was censored, I feel that once one aspect of speech is censored, what controls the government from not taking away more.  I think that this kind of speech can not be censored, because if it was I feel that as a society we would not care as much or focus on the impact of using speech that is hurtful and it simply would alter our character.  I find that it is better to not have the government involved, because people are able to express what is acceptable or not and why, which in turn helps people understand right and wrong better.  I feel that if the government was telling us what to say it would lead to rebellion, even if people knew this speech was wrong, they would turn around and say it anyway.  The government is put on a higher pedestal than everyone else, and many people dislike authority and being told what to do.  Therefore allowing this speech to be expressed, even when it is bad, is better than having the government have a say, because people are more likely to stop this speech if people of the same class tell them to do so.  There's more of an understanding amongst people and they are more susceptible to listen to a mass group of individuals around the same status as them.  I think that allowing this speech allows for more educational opportunities and ultimate growth, because if the government just simply banned it, I think that people would either never really understand the reason why certain speech is wrong or they would simply use it as retaliation and hurt others even more as a result.

This value is seen in society when people get called out in person, on social media, and in numerous other fashions when they say something offensive or derogatory.  I think that this is needed, because people need to be called out in order to set an example and establish societal norms.  It is very similar to our structure of government in a sense, because all involved keep an eye on one another and make sure everything is happening properly.  For instance, the Federal government looks down at the State government while the State government looks up at the Federal government.  They do this in order to make sure that they are both following their own procedures and duties and not overstepping.  Then as a safety net it is up to us individuals to make sure that both governments are following the regulations and aren't trying to take too much power away.  For the sake of Freedom of Speech, we take the governments' power away from determining what we can and can not say, in order to make sure that if issues occur they can be vocalized and fixed.  In order to not overcomplicate things and allow chaos to ensue, the government takes a step back and essentially allows speech, even words that hurt, because the individuals play a more effective role in forbidding this type of language.  The government would simply get in the way and the lessons taught would turn into rebellion and more hatred.  It's truly fascinating to me how much power an individual actually holds and I think it is essentially that we as a society hold the power over what is just to say and what isn't.  I feel that it is not talked about enough and that many feel that it is a governmental power, when in reality they keep their hands off of it.  So next time you hear someone say something that you don't approve of, don't forget that it is your duty to say something and educate them on why it's wrong.  It may not seem like you are doing much, but you are, you're adjusting the social norm.

Blog #2

Supreme Court Review

I learned a lot about the Supreme Court by watching these two videos, because I understood the purpose of the Supreme Court, but had never actually studied the format of it before.  I find it to be very interesting how each justice on the Supreme Court gets their own private time with each case.  This makes perfect sense to me, because if they didn't, their opinion could be swayed so easily by others- before even forming their own.  This wouldn't be fair, because one of the justices could have a separate opinion from the rest, but could be too afraid to speak out, so they instead conform.  Being a chief justice is a humongous responsibility and I just find it to be truly fascinating how whoever is picked to be one by the president can really determine the outcome of so many cases.  I say this, because many presidents think about what they have planned for the country and pick people who they think will agree with them; in order to carry out what they have planned.  It's scary to think that one person could alter a decision which leads to altering so many lives.

The most surprising thing that I learned about the Supreme Court was in the first video  where Justice David H. Souter is discussing what his colleagues call the Three Year Rule or as some call the Five Year Rule.  These rules are essentially explaining that it is very challenging to be a justice and that the job is very abnormal at first.  This was alarming to me, because Justice Souter explained that it takes awhile to get used to it and really start doing your job properly.  This kind of raised a lot of questions in my head, the main one being: Are the justices making the wrong decisions in the beginning chunk of their career as justices?  It's concerning to think that they aren't use to the job from the start and that it takes time to get used to.  I know it's by human nature that it takes time to form habits, but I wish there was a way for justices to feel comfortable from the start, so that there wasn't the possibility of them not being used to the position and making a poor decision as a result.

The biggest take-away from the two videos was the fact that no matter who you are, no matter what your case is, all the chief justices look at your petition privately in order to see if a lower court had treated you unjustly.  This is a huge deal and makes me really respect the Supreme Court, because this job is extremely overwhelming and is especially important not to discriminate against anyone and take your time with everyones' petitions.  I learned a lot about how important the Supreme Court really is and how much pressure is put on these justices, because they have to balance so many cases and make so many life-altering decisions.  Another key take-away was showcased in the second video, explaining the oral argument.  I found this to be very eye opening, because there is so much that goes into these arguments and the essence of the idea of the argument in general.  It's important to understand that the issues that the court take to these arguments are things that have been an issue in the country for awhile, which can't be decided without the justices' help.  These pressing matters need to be attended to and when they are attended to the process seems very chaotic for attorneys who have to balance numerous questions from the justices.  I thought it was very interesting how the one justice put that it isn't an argument between lawyer and justices, as it may seem.  But the reality is, that it is an argument between the court and itself, with the lawyer as a link between the two.  I feel as though that this is a key point that not many people know about, because it's not everyday that you get an insider point of view.  These take-aways are important to take into consideration, because I feel that they change your perspective on the Supreme Court, by allowing viewers to understand the time it takes to look at all cases and the complexness of oral arguments.  I think that you are able to appreciate the Supreme Court more, because they are taking the time to not discriminate and to really try to find the answer to each case by asking extensive questions.

    

Blog Post #1

My Five Major News Sources

In the past I have not been overly into following what is happening in the world, because I felt that I couldn't do much about it- so why care.  However, as I have begun to pursue a career in journalism, my perspective on receiving news has changed.  I find it to be very beneficial, not only for understanding what is going on around me, but also to show me how journalists are presenting news to viewers.  It is very important for me to understand the way viewers want to gain news and what piques their interest the most, because I want to be able to write stories on interesting topics in interesting ways, to keep readers engaged.  By reading or viewing the news I can understand what is in the now and how journalists are showing it to viewers across numerous platforms.  I can also look at it from a viewer's perspective and see what I find effective when reading and viewing the news, to see how I would format a story or explain a situation for it be most effective.  So, coming to HPU and majoring in journalism has opened my eyes to the importance of paying attention to the news for viewing and journalistic purposes.  I hope that explaining these five sources helps you see that there are numerous personal benefits for paying attention to the news and that you can receive the news in multiple ways that suit you best.

1. ESPN

My dream is to be a sports journalist, so I get a lot of my information about what is going on in the sports world from ESPN.  In the settings of my phone, I have notifications set for ESPN, so I never miss top plays, scores, trades, or social issues that are showcased in sports.  I suggest using ESPN to you all, especially sports fans, but for people who aren't avid sports fans as well.  I say this, because sports can open a lot of doors for people, even when they least expect it.  Sports aren't only about winning and losing, and topics come up that not only affect sports, but other fields of interests as well.  So, it doesn't hurt to look at ESPN for interesting stories that may have an impact on you or may shockingly peak your interests.  I love getting news from ESPN, because I think that their reporters are the best in the industry and are a great model for me to go off of in my future articles.

2. Google

I use Google as a jumping off point when I am looking for something that I have heard about by either word of mouth, social media, TV, etc..  If something piques my interest, I take to Google secondly to ESPN, because it's quick, constantly updated, and can be a good fact checker.  I say that it is a good fact checker, because you can look up a topic or situation that is going on in the world and can see numerous articles covering the topic.  Then you can see if the original source that you received the information from was accurate or not.  If it was, most of the articles should have similar information in comparison to it.  As a warning I would try to make your searches as unbiased as possible and, in a sense, very broad, because it is possible that Google will give you biased articles depending on the wording of your search.  Since it is a search engine; it obviously wants to give you the information that you are looking for.  So, if you tailor your search to a specific viewpoint or opinion, you will most likely receive that.  It might not be as beneficial, because it's possible that that viewpoint could be inaccurate, or may not get the full picture.  Google can be a great resource that provides you with numerous articles with various viewpoints... just make sure you make your searches unbiased!

3. Associated Press

I use the Associated Press when I'm curious about what is going on in the world and I don't really know what I want to hear or read about.  This news organization covers numerous topics with their articles and videos.  My professor suggested that we look into the Associated Press, because they are trustworthy, they stay up to date, and are organized.  I would suggest using the Associated Press for you all, especially those who aren't necessarily into the news, like I was.  I think that this organization is good at hooking readers within their own individual articles, so it will not bore you, if you check them out.  I also believe that they don't just give you the bare minimum and move on, but instead provide you with other links and videos so that you can continue to gain more information if interested.  I like that they don't only focus on one topic or field of interest, but instead cover many things, from politics to entertainment.  Associated Press is very organized in its format, as I mentioned previously, so I think that it is a great resource if you want to get your news on a variety of topics, all with just the click of a few buttons.  Due to the organization, I don't think that it will be difficult to find stories to read or videos to watch on numerous topics, so it should ultimately make the news easy and hopefully a pretty consistent activity in your day.

4. Tik Tok

I personally am not on Tik Tok all that much, but when I am on it, I usually learn something from at least one video, if not more.  I know that this is hard to believe, especially since this platform has been scrutinized for creating dangerous trends and for basically being a giant waste of time.  However, I would consider Tik Tok as a news source for numerous reasons.  One reason is that many news organizations, national and local, have their own Tik Tok pages.  On these pages, they can post short news stories to hook the audience and then can link the full articles in the caption or comments for people to look at.  So Tik Tok is a great resource to jumpstart your interest in the news.  I also think that Tik Tok is an effective news source because anyone can come to the platform and post about whatever they would like.  I find that it is a source that can cover an abundance of topics, because people of all walks of life can post on it.  Therefore, I feel that we never really know what to expect on the app and we are exposed to information and insider perspectives that we haven't been too prior.  In a way, I think there's a sense of beauty to the app, because you can express yourself in many ways, and people use it as a resource to get information out, especially when they want to advocate for something.  When used in appropriate measures, I think that it can be very useful to get information about international, national, and more personal news.

5. Family

My family and the people I surround myself with are also sources for news because we discuss topics that they see from their news sources and vice versa.  I think that it's very beneficial to have conversations about what is going on in the world with people you are close with, because you can confide in people on how you feel about certain topics and understand them better too.  You can understand the topics better by feeling comfortable enough to ask questions if you are confused, and you can see news from different perspectives, depending on how your family and friends feel about certain topics.  Overall, I think it's beneficial, because you can stay in the know with many different topics, by being revealed to various opinions and standpoints.