Monthly Archives: April 2023

comment section crusade

It was an average Monday when I went to do a routine check on the Google Analytics running on my site when I was met with 18 comments waiting for my admin approval. While I was thrilled at my sudden rise to fame, I was quickly disappointed when the comment section was not populated by real people but rather by some very supportive, poetry-loving, bots. At least I think they’re bots, they could be a supportive individual who runs about 18 Russian Escort service websites that is leaving these comments, but I think they’re a bit too robotically insightful to be true. Since I have decided not to approve them onto my site- as their linked websites are not the type of content I would like to affiliate my site with I have included some of the comments for entertainment here.

“Can I simply just say what a comfort to uncover somebody who truly understands what theyre discussing on the web. You definitely understand how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More and more people ought to look at this and understand this side of your story. I was surprised that you arent more popular since you most certainly possess the gift.”

– Zie

This one almost made it to the actual site just out of how much flattery Zie decided to write.

I have to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping to view the same high-grade blog posts from you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own blog now 😉

– Irene

The winky face throws me off a bit, but I appreciate how I have convinced someone in a very different line of work to apparently get their own blog now.

And while these examples may have been all positive, trolls on the internet and created bots with ill-intentioned coders are the plague of many online creators. Websites like Popular Science are going so far as to turn off comments on their site, as they find, “internet comments, particularly anonymous ones, undermine the integrity of science and lead to a culture of aggression and mockery that hinders substantive discourse (Konnikova 2013).” In plain-speak, having troll comments can make readers doubt the information, no matter how reputable the source.

The reason that I brought up my own comments relates to the impact of commentary on one’s mental health. For myself, the comments were positive, leaving behind a positive impact on my self-image and view of my created content. This is not the case for many other minorities who decide to publish themselves virtually though, with a study by the Guardian finding “that of the 10 most abused writers eight are women, and the two men are black (2016).” This disproportionate attack on minorities is continually found within the Guardians writers with hate spewing into the comment sections of journalists with specific religious, gender, and racial markers (Gardiner et al. 2016). This creates a dangerous crossover of a public platform and racists with hidden identities, a ground for hatred without clear consequence.

Personal mental health also takes a major blow from such online activity and the issue grows day by day. It’s also important to recognize that the internet wasn’t always like this, “in the early days of Twitter, it was … a place of radical de-shaming” a place where differences and obscurities were related to and supported (Ronson 2015). Times affirms such a “personality” of the internet, saying, “once it was a geek with lofty ideals about the free flow of information” but somewhat recently having turned into an entity that helps as much as harms (Stein 2016). Trolls can exhibit a range of habits from “clever pranks” to “harassment and violent threats” with the most dangerous idea being the lack of knowledge of how the internet could react (Stein 2016). Creators do understand that “you can’t exist .. for very long without learning that something you write is going to upset someone, sometime, somewhere,” however the response of disagreement should never be something of potent hatred or false accusation that trolls deliver with ease (Atwood 2022).

So whether it’s bot comments that sing your praises or hateful speech that makes you sick, it’s important to distance yourself from comments that are not from those whose opinions really matter.

 

Works Cited

Atwood, Margaret. “Your Feelings Are No Excuse.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 1 Apr. 2022, https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2022/04/margaret-atwood-hitchens-prize-speech/629443/.

Gardiner, Becky, et al. “The Dark Side of Guardian Comments.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 12 Apr. 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/12/the-dark-side-of-guardian-comments.

Konnikova, Maria. “The Psychology of Online Comments.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2013, https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-psychology-of-online-comments.

Ronson, Jon. “When Online Shaming Goes Too Far.” Jon Ronson: When Online Shaming Goes Too Far | TED Talk, TEDGlobalLondon, 20 July 2015, https://www.ted.com/talks/jon_ronson_when_online_shaming_goes_too_far/transcript?language=en.

Stein, Joel. “How Trolls Are Ruining the Internet.” Time, Time, 18 Aug. 2016, https://time.com/4457110/internet-trolls/.

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My Review of The Bar Method

Hello and happy April!

For years, I have wanted to become consistent with exercise. Like a million teenage girls, I participated in the quarantine workout videos on Youtube (think Chloe Ting and Daisy Keech). But I would do them for a few weeks straight but then lose motivation; until I discovered The Bar Method.


I was first introduced this past summer by my friend. Her mom had two vouchers for a free class and registered us both. Immediately I enjoyed it, and when they had a deal for three months of unlimited classes, I was quick to sign up!

What Does it Consist of?

“Each exercise is meticulously designed to transform your body through high-repetition, low-impact resistance training. With elements of Pilates, yoga and other strength training workouts fused into a ballet-inspired barre workout, you will experience unthinkable flexibility, total-body definition, and metabolism-boosting endurance that lasts long after class.”

– The Bar Method

My local studio (West Vancouver) is a quick five-minute drive from my house, allowing me to be super-efficient with my time. The environment of the studio is so lovely, especially the instructors. Even in my first class ever, the instructor learnt my name and gave me adjustments during the different exercises.

The Classes:

There is a 1-hour and a 45-minute class option. But within these lengths, the type of class varies. There is a classic Bar Method class, Bar Express, Bar Flow (which incorporates yoga!), Bar Cardio, and Bar Advanced. My personal preference is the Bar Express because it is a quick 45 minutes, so I am in and out of there (don’t get me wrong, it definitely doesn’t mean for an easier class).

My Thoughts:

I have been consistently attending Bar classes at this studio since the summer and have noticed changes in my body, especially my strength, which I had never worked on before! The low-impact class is still very challenging, but it’s not difficult enough for me not to want to go back. It always leaves me wanting more, and in each class, I’ve noticed at least one new exercise I’ve never done before.


Overall, I highly recommend The Bar Method for anyone looking for a new workout method: “low impact, high reward.” The studio is so welcoming and supportive. And they even have a fantastic student discount. This format of workout has motivated me to become more active, and the

Visit their website here!

a drugged candy web

The start of my story with digital literacy is past my frame of remembrance, but I do have distinct memories of what my school called, “digital boot camp” a chapter in adolescent Ammarah’s majestic entry into dreaded high school.

The day consisted of logging onto your device, downloading Office Suite, installing WordPress, and writing up your very first blog post for your “Edublog” (Educational Blog- genius isn’t it?). Now while I may not have imagined that one blog being the start of a long journey with publishing myself online, my experience with content creation and the psychology of internet interaction has taught me a few things about online dangers and how trusting anyone- or any site blindly, is akin to devouring a tainted lollipop offered by a sweet stranger.

So in honor of five years of blogs and personal sites, here is a list of my top three curated internet dangers.

One: Anonymity

There is a sense of power that runs through a user when no one knows who they are outside of what they describe themselves as, making many believe in perfect anonymity in the cyberverse. And while it is true that, “most people you encounter can’t easily tell who you are” you still leave breadcrumbs of IP addresses and emails, and most importantly, the messages you convey (Suler 2001). John Suler explores this phenomenon in reference to disinhibition, as people when anonymous feel they “don’t have to own their behavior” and can disassociate from the ramifications (2001). This can create a dangerous incubator for “the spread of misinformation or fake news, as well as cyberbullying, trolling and hate crime” all under created names or no name at all (CBBC 2021).

Two: Misinformation

Building off on anonymity, misinformation is also an instigator of tensions online, with tabloids turning into creative writing pieces and Wikipedia offering the reigns to history to anyone who creates an account. Wu Peiyue writes about one particular case of historic internet hoaxes as she describes fantasy writer, Yifan’s discovery of “millions of words” detailing “imagined history” on Chinese Wikipedia, that no one had contested for years (2022). This doesn’t include all the potential, untracked articles, papers, and projects that anyone with internet access could have created with the misinformation they unwittingly propagated. This is combined with the growing trust in platforms like social media for reliable news, with “adults under 30 ..(being) almost as likely to trust information from social media sites as they are to trust information from national news outlets (Liedke 2022).” This growing trend combined with our knowledge of anonymity and misinformation makes for an uncertain road for the average data consumer and a dire need for studies related to misinformation transmission.

Three: Digital Illiteracy

The final internet danger that has me especially fearful is the average individual’s digital ill literacy. Digital literacy as a whole can be broken into three tenets, “finding and consuming skills,” “creating digital content,” and “communicating and sharing digital media” (UOTP Marketing 2022). Digital illiteracy in my definition relates primarily to the consumption of media and how with the propagation of false information, individuals often lack the necessary toolkit to determine what constitutes a reliable site or source. WikiHow runs a three-step test to determine the credibility of the site itself including looking into the site certification and quality of the content (Lloyd 2023). Such tests combined with useful tools like Snopes allow individuals to better understand where their information is coming from and if the fact they are using is really a known truth. Digital literacy also involves critical analysis of bias within media, especially with large, trusted sites like CBC being “in favor of the left,” a bias many may not even recognize (Carafa 2002). So while large, reputable news sources may only have slight biases that may not influence content excessively, there are other sites with heavy biases that can also go unnoticed.

So while digital boot camp was a bit of a headache at the time, it has offered insight into the importance of digital literacy and the dangers of internet quirks like anonymity and misinformation. I wouldn’t take candy from a stranger and taking information blindly from someone on the internet is no different.

 

Works Cited

Carafa, Tiziana. “Is CBC Really Biased?” Policy Options Politiques, Policy Options Politiques, 9 Dec. 2021, https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/kyoto/is-cbc-really-biased/.

CBBC. “Social Media: Should People Be Allowed to Be Anonymous Online?” BBC Newsround, BBC, 26 Feb. 2021, https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/56114122.

Liedke, Jacob. “Trust in Social Media Is Changing. Here’s How It Breaks down by Age.” World Economic Forum, World Economic Forum, 4 Nov. 2022, https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/11/social-media-adults-information-news-platforms/.

Lloyd, Jack. “3 Easy Ways to Find If a Website Is Legitimate.” WikiHow, WikiHow, 10 Feb. 2023, https://www.wikihow.com/Find-if-a-Website-Is-Legitimate#:~:text=How%20to%20Check%20the%20Security%20of%20a%20Website,itself%20%28e.g.%2C%20%22wikihow%22%29%2C%20and%20the%20…%20See%20More.

Suler, John. “The Online Disinhibition Effect.” Psychology of Cyberspace – the Online Disinhibition Effect, The Psychology of Cyberspace, 2001, https://truecenterpublishing.com/psycyber/disinhibit.html.

Tone, Sixth. “She Spent a Decade Writing Fake Russian History. Wikipedia Just Noticed.” SixthTone, SixthTone, 11 July 2022, https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1010653.

UOTP Marketing. “What Is Digital Literacy and Why Is It Important?” University of the Potomac, University of the Potomac, 9 Mar. 2023, https://potomac.edu/what-is-digital-literacy/#:~:text=Because%20of%20the%20overflowing%20abundance%20of%20media%20and,use%20digital%20platforms%2C%20and%20communicate%20with%20others%20eloquently.

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Process Post #11

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This week, our focus has been on various types of media and trans media storytelling, a concept that has gained a lot of popularity recently. Social media has become an indispensable part of our lives, serving as more than just a means to connect with friends and family members. It has now become an impactful tool for businesses and individuals to showcase their brands and engage with their audience. 

As a social media enthusiast, I found this idea to be particularly fascinating. In this blog post, I will share my thoughts on the subject, and also discuss how I use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for different purposes. Furthermore, I will delve into the reasons why I haven’t shared my transformation journey on any of these platforms yet. So, let’s explore the topic together!

 

Recently, I have been thinking about sharing my website as it is a part of my online art portfolio. As someone who aspires to be a UX/UI designer, I want potential employers to see my characteristics alongside my projects. Furthermore, by sharing my story, I hope to provide insight into my self-development and the journey I have been on. I believe that posting blogs is an excellent way to achieve this, as social media platforms are not suitable for long-form writing.

 

While transmedia storytelling is often associated with large corporations, brands, or franchises such as Pokemon, Harry Potter, and Star Wars, it also exists on a personal level through our involvement in the social web. Social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and personal blogs, provide a platform for us to share unique narratives about ourselves, our interests, and our passions.

 

Building digital legacies involves accumulating tweets, status updates, and blog comments, which tell a story and are fed by our social media outposts. Adopting social technologies is driven by the compulsion to seek out those who share common ideas and beliefs (Lynch, 2021).

 

As a content creator, how we tell our stories can have a powerful impact on our audience. Using multiple platforms to share our content and weave a coherent narrative, we can reach a wider audience and connect with them on a deeper level. However, it is also crucial to find a balance between the different platforms we use. Each platform has strengths and limitations, and we must adapt our storytelling approach accordingly.

 

For instance, Instagram may be great for visual storytelling and building a personal brand. At the same time, LinkedIn can help us showcase our professional skills and connect with potential employers or clients. Similarly, TikTok is an excellent short-form video platform that captures attention quickly (Social Pilot, 2021). 

Of course, creating content for multiple platforms can be challenging and time-consuming, especially for someone who is just starting. But I believe that the benefits of transmedia storytelling outweigh the costs. By investing in our personal brand and online presence, we can create opportunities for ourselves and achieve our career goals.

 

In conclusion, transmedia storytelling is a powerful tool for individuals who want to build their personal brand and share their stories with the world. Using different platforms to showcase other aspects of our lives and interests, we can create a more complete and compelling narrative that resonates with our audiences and helps us achieve our goals. So, if you’re looking to transform your online presence and tell your story in a more engaging and effective way, I encourage you to explore the world of transmedia storytelling and see what it can do for you.

To conclude this post, I would like to encourage you to take a few moments to watch a comprehensive video on social media strategy. This video has been a great help to me in gaining a better understanding of the subject, and I hope it can provide you with valuable insights as well!!

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography: 

 

Britten, K., & Lauren, L. (2013, November 21). Pokémon as Transmedia Storytelling. Kevin Britten & Lauren. https://kevinbrittenylauren.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/pokemon-as-transmedia-storytelling/

Patel, N. (2018, April 3). How to Create a Social Media Marketing Plan: The 6 Step Framework. Neil Patel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaMx2pG3LJw&t=561s

SocialPilot. (2021, April 22). The Power of Social Media Storytelling: Why It Matters and How to Do It Right. SocialPilot. https://www.socialpilot.co/blog/social-media-storytelling

Lynch, M. (2021, March 1). Which Social Networks Should You Focus on? 5 Key Questions to Help You Decide. HubSpot. https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/which-social-networks-should-you-focus-on

 

 

Shopping Secondhand at Hunter & Hare

Early last month when I was in North Vancouver, I stumbled upon this women’s consignment store along the Lonsdale Quay area. Their items were adorable and I loved the aesthetic of the store in general. Although I didn’t purchase anything, I hope to come back again in the near future.

Check out the Reel I made about my visit!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqhTRYcjUq2/

Transformation #11-From Entertainment to Education: The Many Benefits of Listening to Podcasts in My Transformation Journey

Unlocking New Horizons: How Podcasts Helped Me Learn Unique Topics Directly from Experts

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Image source: Pexels

As the world went into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I found myself with a lot of free time on my hands. With limited options for entertainment, I turned to podcasts as a way to pass the time. Little did I know that this simple decision would change my life forever. In this post, I’d like to share how podcasts have played a crucial role in my growth journey by providing me with access to expert knowledge on various topics without having to incur the costs associated with traditional classes or the risk of failing through trial and error. I will also highlight the significance of podcasts in my daily life and how they have helped me to broaden my horizons and deepen my understanding of the world around me.

Podcasts as a Personal Therapist, Mentor, and Resource

One of the things I love most about podcasts is their versatility. Depending on your needs and interests, you can find a podcast that serves as a personal therapist, mentor, or resource.

If you’re struggling with mental health issues, some podcasts focus on mindfulness, meditation, and self-improvement. If you’re looking for career advice, some podcasts feature interviews with successful professionals in your field.

 

Whatever your needs and interests, there is a podcast out there that can help you grow and learn.

 

 

The Benefits of Listening to Podcasts

Listening to podcasts every day can be empowering. It provides an opportunity to learn valuable insights, receive free coaching, and gain new ideas. It can also be a source of motivation and inspiration. Listening to podcasts in the morning helps to set a positive tone for the day and gives me the confidence to tackle new challenges.

Furthermore, listening to podcasts can be a form of self-care. It allows you to take a break from the stresses of daily life and focus on your personal development. It’s like having a personal therapist, mentor, or life coach that you can access for free whenever you need it.

 

Learning Unique Topics Directly from Experts

Listening to podcasts has been a game-changer for me when it comes to learning about my favourite topics. I mean, have you ever stumbled upon a podcast about something super niche like AI, relationships, politics, or startups? Because I have, and let me tell you, it’s been a total game-changer for me.

The experts on these shows have taught me so much, and I’ve gained a much deeper understanding of these topics. When it comes to technology and startups especially, listening to these experts’ chat feels like you’re getting insider knowledge worth way more than any book or course could ever offer. They’re not trying to sell you anything or teach you something for a grade; they’re just two people shooting the breeze and sharing their hard-won wisdom. It’s real talk, and it’s precious.

And honestly, some of the best parts of listening to these podcasts are the moments when you hear your favourite experts just chatting and being themselves. It’s like you’re a fly on the wall of their conversation, and you get to learn from their stories and experiences. The lessons I’ve learned from these podcasts have helped me so much in my personal, educational, and social life. I am still determining where I’d be without them!

 

The Empowering Effects of Daily Podcast Listening

Listening to podcasts every day can be empowering. It provides an opportunity to learn valuable insights, receive free coaching, and gain new ideas. It can also be a source of motivation and inspiration. Listening to podcasts in the morning helps to set a positive tone for the day and gives me the confidence to tackle new challenges.

Furthermore, listening to podcasts can be a form of self-care. It allows you to take a break from the stresses of daily life and focus on your personal development. It’s like having a personal therapist, mentor, or life coach that you can access for free whenever you need it.

Different Types of Podcasts and Their Benefits

there are so many different types of podcasts out there, and each one has its own dope benefits. Like, interview-style podcasts are great for getting inside the heads of experts and hearing about their experiences and insights. 

 Personally, I’m into podcasts where two experts just shoot the breeze on topics I’m already familiar with. But when I’m trying to learn something new, I like the narrative style that takes me on a journey. When it comes to relationship stuff, I’m all about solo experts dishing out the advice or an interview style where they share their experiences and wisdom.

How to start a podcast AU Capterra Infographic1
Image source: Capterra

My Top Podcasts

Here are some of my favourite podcasts that cover a diverse range of topics. If you’re new to the world of podcasts, these shows might be a great starting point:

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      â€ą Tabaghe 16: When it comes to podcasts, my all-time favorite is Tabaghe 16, hosted by Soheil Alavi. On each episode, he and one of his friends, who are usually tech industry leaders in Iran, meet on zoom or in-person, in Soheil’s 16th floor apartment in Toronto to dive deep into discussions about startups, technology, and daily life habits.

I really enjoy this podcast because Soheil and his guests have such candid and insightful conversations. It’s refreshing to hear experts and thought leaders share their knowledge and experiences in an unfiltered way, and I find their discussions to be engaging and enlightening.

But what really sets Tabaghe 16 apart is the personal touch. The hosts are not afraid to share their own struggles and experiences, making it relatable and inspiring for listeners like me. It’s a podcast that not only entertains but also educates and empowers, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in the tech industry or entrepreneurship. 

Overall, I highly recommend Tabaghe 16 to anyone looking for a podcast combining expert insights and personal anecdotes. So tune in and join Soheil and his friends on the 16th floor for an unforgettable listening experience.

  ‱ Lex Fridman Podcast: 

Tune into this podcast for fascinating conversations on science, technology, history, philosophy, and the nature of intelligence, love, consciousness, and power.

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The Joe Rogan Experience logo

 ‱ The Joe Rogan Experience: 

 This podcast covers an eclectic mix of topics, including comedy, pop culture, politics, and philosophy.

 ‱ How I Built This: Join this podcast to hear interviews with successful entrepreneurs and innovators about their journey to success.

‱ Inner peace: For those interested in self-improvement, psychology, self-consciousness, and personal growth, this solo podcast is definitely worth a listen.

 

I hope these recommendations inspire you to explore the world of podcasts and find some shows that resonate with you!

Finding the Right Podcasts for You

It might take some time to find the perfect ones for you, but trust me; it’s definitely worth it!

To get started, think about your passions and what you’re curious about. You can also browse “top podcasts” or suggested podcasts from Spotify or Castbox apps or chat with your friends and family for recommendations.

When you’ve found a few podcasts that spark your interest, hit that subscribe button and tune in regularly. And don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try out new podcasts or explore different topics – you might find your new favourite! Remember, the more you listen, the more you’ll discover!

 

Conclusion: The Endless Possibilities of Podcast Learning

As I reflect on my experience of listening to podcasts during the pandemic, I see it has been a life-changing journey for me. Through the power of podcast learning, I have broadened my horizons and gained a deeper understanding of the world around me.

By listening to various podcasts, I have been able to explore new ideas, perspectives, and insights in a non-biased format, which has expanded my knowledge in ways that I never thought possible. The daily dose of motivation and inspiration from my favourite podcasts has given me the push I need to achieve my goals and has helped me make every single moment of my life productive.

I encourage everyone to give podcasts a try and experience the endless possibilities of podcast learning for themselves. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge, gain inspiration, or pass the time, there’s something out there for everyone. So, put on your headphones, hit play, and unlock new horizons with the power of podcast learning. Trust me; it might just change your life!

Process Post #9

Analytics (Google, Facebook, Twitter etc.) is a very valuable tool for building your audience. For content creators, knowing how your reader behaves on your website can help enormously with developing the best content, posting at the right time, and developing the appropriate engagement strategies. On the flip side, for the reader or user, it can be tiresome and even worrisome knowing you are providing data trails every where you go online.

I find it easy to get mesmerized by the analytics of the people viewing my content. My first exposure to this side of being a content creator was a couple years ago when instagram provided its users with the analytics of their following (age range, gender, etc.). As a content creator it’s nice to have access to this information, as I find it helps to know your audience so that you can provide them with the best content you can. 

A few weeks ago I installed google analytics on my site. I’m still figuring out everything that it tracks, but what I have particularly liked knowing is how far my website has reached.  According to google analytics people in Canada, the United States, American Samoa, and France have visited my site. 

Another important piece of information I received is that of those who look at my site 70% of them access it from their desktop. This is beneficial to know as I will now focus my attention on how my site looks on desktop versus the mobile. 

I am both a content creator and a content consumer. I benefit from the likes of app tracking, but when I find myself on the other side of the data it’s hard to know if the benefits outweigh the costs. Apps monetize the digital breadcrumbs users leave through their use of media platforms. In the article Digital Breadcrumbs: the digital trail we leave behind us they talked about how media consumers play a hand in their data being used from their use of location tags and the usage of contactless cards people. Companies pay for this data as it helps them know how their targeted demographic lives their lives. 

It’s frightening how much information these companies can get about a person. Through this data collection they can find out “each shopper’s consumer behaviour, demographics, home address, occupation, estimated salary, as well as the websites they visit are all recorded” (Digital breadcrumbs, 2016, para. 56). I don’t like how much information is collected about individuals through the use of apps. I think it’s sad that that’s the cost of getting apps for free.

Kill ‘Em With Kindness

I was on a work call the other day where my boss was talking about how we are expected to interact with our customers. The customers often don’t agree with or are not happy about how my boss runs his business. His piece of advice for myself and my coworkers as we are the ones who talk with the customers, is to kill them with kindness. 

I honestly think this is one of the most underused tactics in life. We so often are set on proving that we are right or winning the argument that we forget that the easiest and usually best approach is to just be kind. In a world that is already so tough and cruel to so many, so why would we want to add to that. 

Another way of thinking about it is that you really don’t get anywhere by just arguing with someone, even if you know you’re not changing your stance. Instead let them talk and hear what they have to say. I have found through my own experiences that by doing this they become more receptive to my actions that follow because they feel as though I did hear them out.  

Kill them with kindness. It seems like such a simple thing to do, but by the lack of use in our world I would say that isn’t the case. I just think it is such a powerful weapon to have for use. The only way that you can use it though is when you are confident enough in who you are that you can take the higher road that results in less resistance. This is a skill that is so valuable to have, and usually overlooked. The good thing is though that it is never too late to start killing people with kindness. 

Process Post #8

The time has finally come. Artificial Intelligence is taking over. I have always been a skeptic of AI and its capabilities, but I can no longer deny how far technology has come. Although I think it is amazing all that AI’s like DALL-E2 and ChatGDT can do, it does frighten me a bit. Used as a tool, I think these AI’s can do a lot of great things, but I think there’s a fine line between what we should have the AI do for us, and what we should do ourselves. As soon as the AI starts thinking for us, the use of AI is wrong. People have fought for centuries to have their own voice, and by having AI’s write papers for us and tell us what we should think on a certain topic we start to give them the right to our own voice
what’s to say we’ll get it back?  

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a number of advantages, including:

  1. Efficiency: AI can perform tasks faster and more accurately than humans, reducing the time and resources needed to complete complex tasks.
  2. Consistency: AI systems can be programmed to consistently perform tasks to the same high standard, eliminating the risk of human error.
  3. Cost savings: AI can automate routine and repetitive tasks, reducing the need for human labor and saving on labor costs.
  4. Decision-making: AI can analyze large amounts of data and provide insights that can help humans make better-informed decisions.
  5. Innovation: AI has the potential to create new products, services, and business models, driving innovation and economic growth.
  6. Safety: AI can be used in dangerous or hazardous environments, reducing the risk to human lives.
  7. Personalization: AI can be used to create personalized experiences for individuals, such as recommendations for products or services based on their preferences and behavior.
  8. Accessibility: AI can help overcome barriers to access for people with disabilities, improving their quality of life.

Overall, AI has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, from healthcare and transportation to education and entertainment.

These benefits to using AI were generated by ChatGPT. I could easily pass its ideas and or its writings as my own, but I will not do that because I still believe that the principle is of utmost importance. For that reason I will never try to pass the AI’s work off as my own. I still see the value in my own voice even if I am not able to go through the entirety of the internet to generate my opinions or ideas. AI is no doubt going to play a huge role in our future and I see no problem in that, but I do think people need to be taught how to use it as a tool rather than a crutch.

The Edge of Seventeen (& Seventeen & Seventeen): Why is Nothing Original Anymore?

The Original Broadway Cast of Mean Girls the Musical (ph. Joan Marcus)

It’s 2023. You open your phone to the news that Mean Girls The Movie Musical is in production, a movie adaptation of the musical adaptation of the movie of the same name. Do you follow? With the oversaturation of unoriginal content on the Broadway stage and in the surrounding industry, it calls into question why nothing seems to be original anymore; just a retelling of a retelling in a new form. 

In recent years, you couldn’t browse the titles on Broadway at any given time and not recognize at least one or two from movies, books, albums or other properties that already existed. Jukebox Musicals like The Cher Show, Jagged Little Pill, Ain’t Too Proud, MJ, and so on or adaptations of films like Mean Girls, Beetlejuice, Moulin Rouge, and the like permeated the market, translate well known and well loved properties to the stage. The question this engenders, then, is why? What makes original work so difficult to bring to stage? Why are we turning to preexisting properties in order to create theatre when original storytelling ins built into the medium’s history?

This, of course, can be answered like any other question in the postmodern world: money. There is ascertain guarantee of capital that reiterations or revivals or adaptations carry with them, either from fans of the original work, or the nostalgia factory that revivals like Company or Jukebox musicals like MJ provide. Ticket sales, then, are practically promised, and ticket sales means the longevity of the musical and the ability for the theatre to keep its lights on. Of course, theatre is a market, an industry, and it would be ignorant to suggest that art needs to meet some kind of moral or artistic standard in order to validate it. Indeed, to suggest that musicals need to be original stories in order to be good is simply wrong, however it is fascinating to see just how quickly the market has shifted away from original work to adaptation.

And they can’t be blamed for this pattern, either. Shows that do present completely original material  are often overshadowed by their big-named competitors or the preexisting fans of translated media. As a result, though, we are also seeing the translation in the opposite direction. Musicals like Mean Girls, Wicked, In the Heights, The Prom and countless others are either in the works or already released, bridging the industries the other way, and likely amassing much more capital than a singular stage in a singular city could ever. 

The thesis of my entire existence is that capitalism is the death of art, and I stand by that, however I would be remiss not to acknowledge the incredible art that has resulted from these attempts at generating capital. Indeed adaptation and translations of content can be some of the most influential and poignant pieces of art, allowing for material to find new life and a new audience. It is a little sad, still, though, to see media become an echo chamber of art that once was, leaving little room for the potential at something new, waiting to be born.

Glowbal

April 1, 2023. This past weekend, it was Ben and my 1 year anniversary. Because I am the type of person to plan it all, I made a reservation back in February for Glowbal. I was thinking about what type of food we have not had yet that can be a nice change. From there I realized, after all this time of going out with my friends and family for brunch, I had never gone with Ben. Of course, I looked at the menu and saw Eggs Benny’s so I was all good to go to book it. On top of that, I wanted to find a restaurant that didn’t break the bank at all, and although some items were on the pricey side there were other reasonable options.

When we arrived at Glowbal, the entire restaurant looked spectacular. They asked us if we wanted to sit inside or outside and because it was a beautiful day I said inside. Once you sat down, you could see so many beautiful purple flowers hanging from the ceiling and beside us, there were little balls with flowers surrounding them too. The whole patio looked like a garden I would say. There was even a nice little fluffy pillow behind me and heaters all around so I was comfy and we were warmed up.

Soon after we had sat down, our waiter brought us each some type of strawberry yogurt smoothie in a shot glass as well as mini donuts to start us off. Knowing Ben very very well, I had a feeling he wouldn’t be full after our breakfast, so I gave him a protein bar I had to fill him up for some time before our food arrived. For the actual food, I had looked ahead and knew that I already wanted eggs benedict. I had ordered the “Farm-House Eggs Benedict” with a side of fresh fruit and Ben ordered the “Breakfast “FRY-UP””. 

Farm-House Eggs Benedict & Fresh Fruit
Breakfast “FRY-UP”

When I made the reservation, there was this option that said something like the reason for coming and I had put anniversary because, well, it was our anniversary. So not knowing what would happen, they brought us two complementary drinks with a sparkler in them.

Overall, the service was great, Benjamin and I were both full, and the extra things made our experience special. I would give Glowbal a 5/5 and would definitely want to try their lunch and dinner menu as well. Also, their cocktails look so cool so I will for sure be coming there in a couple months after my 19th birthday!

Process Post #10: Understanding and Improving User Experience

As I was showing one of my friends my website on her laptop, I noticed that the layout looked a bit different and the size of the pictures on my homepage did not appear the way I had arranged them from the perspective of my computer. I had thought that my website would not appear the same on all mobile devices as it also looks different when I open The Fashion Daily on my phone, but I was not quite sure how to go about fixing this. I had tried to alter the design of my homepage by changing the size and spacing of the images to see if that would make a difference in the appearance on other devices than a macbook, but then the homepage didn’t look right on my computer. So to sum it up, I am still working on making my website accessible for all viewers and hope to try and achieve this by the end of the semester. 

It is important to consider how your audience is going to be viewing your website, especially if your content is directed to younger Gen Z viewers. According to State Of Mobile, a statistical article we read for class, 7 of every 10 minutes on mobile was spent in social, photo, and video apps in 2021 (2022). On top of this, the average daily time spent on mobile devices was 4.8 hours per user, which is ⅓ of the average total daily waking hours (State Of Mobile, 2022). With this information, we can infer that users spend a great deal of time on their phones and rely on them to get their information or search the web more so than other devices. With this in mind, it is safe to assume that a good portion of my potential viewers could find my website while browsing on their phones, especially because my content and theme cater to more of a late teen – young adult audience. Based on my Google Analytics, the majority of visitors to my site are using a desktop, with only a few using a tablet. Nonetheless, it will be important for me to make my site more accessible to viewers using all platforms as I would like for everyone to be able to have a good user experience, and be able to view The Fashion Daily in all of its entirety. 

References 

Data.ai. (2022). State Of Mobile 2022. https://posiel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/dataai__state_of_mobile_2022__en.pdf

Post feature image generated by DALL-E

Process Post #9: Digital Breadcrumbs

Image above generated by DALL-E.

Growing up, posting and social media in general always made me nervous. I specifically remember in Grade 8 when we had a presentation on social media and the presenter said something along the lines of, “I could find any of your past or present posts, snapchats, etc. What if I pulled some of them up now?” I was completely freaked out. I had nothing to hide in my digital footprint, but the idea of anyone being able to see my social media presence seemed really scary to me. It’s safe to say that I began to use social media much less after that presentation, and I actually boycotted Snapchat for almost two years! However, while it is still unnerving to never really know who is seeing your posts, snapchats, and whatnot, I did begin to get back into social media as I got older. While I’m still cautious of my online activity, I nowhere near as fearful and anxious about being present on social media as I once was, and I have become more willing to share parts of my life on these platforms. When I first joined this class, I was super excited to be able to have the opportunity to design my own website, but having a public domain was a bit daunting. On my social platforms like Instagram I am usually just sharing pictures of myself and the things that I get up too, not necessarily opinions, ideas, and knowledge that I would be sharing here on The Fashion Daily. When I am writing, I try to keep my posts as real and true to myself as possible. I use this platform as a personal self expression outlet for my love of fashion, and I try not to let the idea of this being a public domain affect or restrict the things I am wanting to share and explore. 

I figured that my website probably wouldn’t reach a wide audience over the semester, and I honestly never intended for it to. My goal was really to design this website for myself. When I added Google Analytics to my site and could visually see how many visitors had been on the page, it was kind of nerve-wracking. The majority of users are friends and family members that I have shared my site with, but the number of visitors to my site tell me that a few strangers (maybe classmates as well) have stopped by too which was cool to find out. The first few times I checked my Google Analytics and saw that I had gained a few viewers I was a bit stunned and nervous at the idea of it like I mentioned above. Now however, I find it really cool and check my analytics quite frequently in hopes of finding that my site has gained more viewers/visitors! 

I think a part of the reason why I no longer shy away from using social media and other platforms such as this website is because I realized that in this day and age, it is almost impossible not to leave any “digital breadcrumbs” behind, as Pod Academy would describe it (2016). Throughout this article, it describes how we both intentionally and unintentionally leave digital footprints or “bread crumbs” of ourselves in our everyday lives. Whether that’s sharing your location on your phones, searching something on Google, or even using debit or credit cards to complete our everyday transactions. Activities that we engage in daily gather information about us and our movements, and there is not much that we can do about it. With this in mind, the thing that we can control is how much of our lives we share online or how many “breadcrumbs” we leave behind. This realization allowed me to feel more powerful and in control of how I share my life online, and also helped put my anxiety of sharing my online self at ease. Nothing that I have posted or shared online is anything that I really need to worry about or feel the need to hide (except for maybe some embarrassing photos and videos I posted when I was 10!). I have always given thought to what I share online, and like one of the interviewers stated in the article in regards to the possibility of being watched by cameras through different technology devices we use, “ When I first heard about it, I got really nervous, I was like, “this is so ridiculous!” we’re being watched. But then as the days go by you just don’t notice it anymore and you just take it for granted that you’re being watched every single minute”( Philip et al, 2016).  I don’t necessarily take it for granted that my every move is being watched, but I do just tend not to think about it. Doing so allows me to just continue living my life and focus on what is within my control, like being present and enjoying the moments in life that only my eyes are seeing; with no cameras. 

Overall, The Fashion Daily is a larger “breadcrumb” that I am leaving behind in my digital trail, and I am proud to do so. This website is evidence of hard work and displays my love for fashion, which I am more than happy to talk about as well as share with the world. This week, I encourage you to reflect on the digital breadcrumbs you have left behind in your life so far. Think of instances where you are proud of something you have left behind in your digital footprint like a post for instance, and some moments you maybe wish you didn’t share. If you would like to read more on the idea of these “digital breadcrumbs” that I have been mentioning, you can check out the article here: http://podacademy.org/podcasts/digital-breadcrumbs-our-data-trail/

References

Philip, G., Lazo, J.A., Jamali, R., Jaroodi, R.A. (2016). Digital breadcrumbs: the data trail we leave behind us. Pod Academy. http://podacademy.org/podcasts/digital-breadcrumbs-our-data-trail/

Peer Review #3 – Spilling the Royaltea

a screenshot of the homepage for the website "spilling-the-royaltea.com".
A screenshot of Olivia’s homepage.

This week I’ve been tasked with reviewing the website of a classmate, Olivia. Olivia’s blog is named Spilling the Royaltea and focuses on hot topics involving the British royal family, whether positive or negative, mundane or sensational.

Her blog posts are separated into three main categories: hot takes, ranked, and news. Hot takes refers to drama involving various members of the family, ranked pits endearing moments and fashion choices against one another, and news involves reporting the latest updates relating to the royal family.

From a marketability standpoint, Olivia’s blog seems to cater towards a unique audience. Since Olivia stays impartial in her overall opinion on the royal family, she can create content pertaining to both fans and critics alike. This offers her more flexibility when creating blog posts, which she takes advantage of.

This can also give rise to pushback from either community, as Bryce Renninger (2015) points out in his writing on counterpublics. Renninger states that “…counterpublic communication online is often tenuous, at risk of being disrupted, ridiculed, dismissed, or ignored
”; fortunately, Olivia doesn’t seem to have this problem.

Despite my negative stance towards the royal family, I still found myself fascinated by Olivia’s analysis of fashion, controversy, and press releases that I would not have otherwise seeked out. I’m glad to have been paired up with this website, as I don’t often think about the royal family and was surprised at what kind of news was prevalent in the community.

Each of Olivia’s mini assignments fit perfectly within her blog subject, and range from the playful teasing of Prince Harry’s memoir to a thoughtful critique of wealth disparity in the UK. I enjoy the headings found in each post, as they help break up longer pieces of writing with proper context and make it easier to skim posts if needed. Overall, Olivia’s content is deliberate and appropriately matched to the website’s design, which I will cover next.

Olivia immediately showcases the subject of her blog through a well-organized collage of photos placed front and centre on the website’s homepage. Together with the site’s name, Spilling the Royaltea’s subject matter is easily discernable to most people on a first visit.

If I was creating this blog from scratch, I would probably take inspiration from magazines articles, which Travis Gertz (2015) points to as a prime example of more visually interesting design. Gertz posits this in his article Design Machines, with the question “how do magazines achieve rich reactions and connections, and how do we translate those approaches to the screen?”

News about the royal family has usually been relegated to these methods of communication, and I admit that I have a certain nostalgia for these publications as well. However, despite Gertz’s caution towards pre-built and uniform blog themes, I believe that Theme Fourteen Blog is very fitting for Olivia’s content.

The minimalistic and clean layout pairs well with the aesthetics of the royal family, and the typography lends itself well to both serious and more playful topics. Olivia uses Josefin Sans for titles, Lora for accents, and the popular Open Sans for paragraphs. 

Oliva’s blog is a delightful read, with blog posts that a wide variety of people can enjoy. I especially like her posts ranking different fashion styles, as that is another interest of mine. Spilling the Royaltea has certainly grown on me as I’ve explored the website, and I’ll definitely be returning to see what Olivia posts next!

References

Gertz, T. (2015, July 10). Design Machines: How to sur­vive the dig­i­tal apocalypse. Louder Than Ten. https://louderthanten.com/coax/design-machines

Renninger, B. J. (2015). “Where I can be myself
where I can speak my mind”: Networked counterpublics in a polymedia environment. New Media & Society, 17(9), 1513–1529. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444814530095

Mini Assignment #5: Create an infographic that summarizes your online self

Digital-IdenTITYDownload

For week 5’s mini assignment, we were asked to summarize our online selves by using an infographic. I searched how to make an infographic and canva came up. Canva is really proving to be one handy tool when creating imagery for my website. I had a lot of fun creating the infographic and chose a gardening tip theme and just remixed it with garden and publication jargon. I called it “7 easy ways to grow a digital identity.” I threw in what I wanted my online self to come across as in Little Feather Adventures. In the infographic, I included my love for the outdoors, adventuring, gardening, animals, and photography. I also wanted my true self to come out within some of my humour as part of my online self.

blink and you’ll miss it

Media and the internet have evolved faster than the rate of comprehension, creating new norms and nuances that we could not have seen coming. Some of these changes happen overnight while others slowly erode the very fabric of the internet, and our contemplation of it. When it comes to changes online, blink and you’ll miss it. These variations are often not good or bad but are just different and we can explore some recent ones by looking into memes and slang two online expressions that can influence the way we interact.

To me, memes are the encapsulation of human existence in a visual, uncomplicated form. There’s an image, or two, a few lines of text, and suddenly you’re laughing at a picture that otherwise had little meaning. Memes can be reused, reduced, and recycled like any sustainable internet phenomenon and have brought about a new age of laughter and even political commentary. Alexis Madrigal says it best,
“in the end, the meme itself is powerful. It spreads to tens of millions of people. It makes one woman rich. It helps market soda (2018).” Because what are memes if not the culmination of creative and ideological expression? They may not be the most elegant way of communicating how much you hate Donald Trump, but these images are able to condense profound insights or passive opinions and spread them at a rate unimaginable. Many individuals who became internet sensations overnight dealt with ranging experiences from Ghyslain Raza facing immense “cyberbullying” and “death threats” to Laina Morris who “initiated her own Internet fame, and she has embraced every bit of it (Merrill 2015).” Instances like these show that there is a light and dark to the internet and that even seemingly harmless memes have great power.

I would argue slang is one of the most difficult languages to master, it’s not static and while there are some evolving guides, slang often varies depending on the demographic you are part of. It’s also a pretty universal experience to have a time when you just did not understand a reference, or think someone was speaking strangely but they were using slang you just didn’t know. The blame is not only on the uninformed though, apps like TikTok have an “interface (that) makes it difficult to link out to external information” a strategic tactic that has users, “digging through the comments for an explanation for something living rent-free in their heads (Weekman 2022).” For those wondering, I don’t know how to quite encapsulate what ‘rent-free’ means so I turn to Urban Dictionary to offer you assistance. Like memes these words also have powerful messages that often rely on a backstory that viewers must understand, often taking one word and inputting innuendos and layers to the point where the definition cannot quite set you on a straight path to understanding the slang. From fake accountants to relationship status nails, the internet can create neuro links that the average user can only take so much of. This said, having shared online experiences, words, and customs can create a culture that transcends traditional barriers of space and characteristics, a girl in Canada can suddenly relate on a deeper level to her counterpart across the world- a microcosmic feat of globalization. These transmissions of phrases do come with their problems, with “internet slang” … increas(ing) its influence over everyday language, …concerns about how those trends appropriate African American Vernacular English (AAVE)” are also prevalent in media (Thompson 2022). Policies on hate speech and appropriation can be used to mitigate such risks but in such an evolving landscape stopping such issues is easier said than done.

Memes and slang serve as examples for the case of internet evolution while also showcasing the dangers and benefits, in equal measure, of various platforms. It is up to us, the creators and curators of the internet, to use it responsibly.

 

Works Cited

Madrigal, Alexis C. “What Sorry to Bother You Gets Right about Memes.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 24 July 2018, https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/07/what-sorry-to-bother-you-gets-right-about-the-power-of-memes/565835/.

Merrill, Brad. “5 People Who Became Memes, and How They Reacted.” MUO, Make Use Of, 6 Apr. 2015, https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-people-became-memes-reacted/.

Thompson, Dillon. “Is the Internet Changing How We Talk about Slang Words?” In The Know, In The Know, 17 May 2022, https://www.intheknow.com/post/slang-words-tiktok-gen-z-linguist/?guccounter=2&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9wb3NpZWwuY29tLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACu2GNjkeKAqgad9gt8WcHdGUucEcsythL-jYIYKAbCOYs343vCDNLgsFAzP8axg4Aav6gBAyySmJmLM-3b2xhsJ0ngHiPKiYHIdltGdoe0mEHLW2HuARE-j3nO8xVS067t5n_WViVldWXWO3ZYJK6uH-0kjLIDIrYl7Epw0iMqR.

Weekman, Kelsey. “In the Know Glossary: Your Guide to Internet Slang, Trends and Celebrities.” In The Know, In The Know, 16 May 2022, https://www.intheknow.com/post/in-the-know-glossary/?utm_source=internallinks&utm_medium=internallinks&utm_campaign=internallinksglossary#letterv.

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