39 Matching Annotations
  1. Oct 2019
    1. And that because of the fact that I am attempting to reproduce her voice as faithfully as I can, it must now re-emerge in a voice unavoidably my own.

      It shows an amazing skill we human have, which is none other than the ability to adapt. This person focused on reproducing the voice of someone else, and after the attempts this person was able to do so with mastery. And it was to the point that it felt as if it was now natural.

  2. May 2019
    1. “Catfishing’ refers to a scam where someone, the ‘catfish,’ creates a fictitious online identity and seeks out online relationships. These are frequently romantic relationships, and online dating websites and cell phone dating apps are fertile hunting ground for catfish. However, there are also catfish who seek out friendships and other forms of social contact. Catfishing involves significant deception

      This description of catfishing is more general than I've heard, and it allows me to see the topic from a wide range of aspects. Very useful indeed.

    1. On April 23, 2017, their story became a tabloid sensation in England. “My catfish became cupid,” Emma told the Daily Mirror, “And now we’re living happily ever after.”

      It's nice to see that she did found love out of all this mess. But I still wonder: what if she had reacted different to all this; what if she had given Alan a second chance; or what if Emma had cared more about the person she came to feel attached to (Alan), and not so much the physical appearance of Adem that charmed her? Then things would have turned different.

    2. On March 31, 2017, Emma sent her catfish a goodbye text message:“Alan I wanted to tell you that tomorrow I’m going to pick up Adem at the airport. And I still don’t know if it’s good or bad but I’m going to meet ‘my Ronnie.’ You built up all this shit, I’m not sure if I should thank you or detest you for that. But this is happening.”

      And there it is. She decided on completely finish every with her scammer, and move on with the rightful owner of the images.

    3. They stopped talking about Alan’s scam, and very slowly the conversation between the shy model and Emma, who had so recently been burned, became emotionally charged.

      So, it appears that Emma is falling for the person who she initially fell for. This makes so much sense. Or does it? Because the man she talked to all the time, was Alan, not the man in the pictures (Adem).

    4. Alan “needed to apologize to her face-to-face,” he said.His face was red with shame. “The hug went on for about a minute,” he told me, “I was just, like, quite tearful.” Emma pulled up an armchair and they sat uneasily side-by-side, making small talk. Then, Alan said he was sorry.He said he did it to escape the agony of loneliness. When Emma studied him, she saw a man just two years younger than her own father.

      What a turning point in the story! Alan had fallen for her and developed feeling for beautiful Emma. But at this point it seems things might now turn out the way he would have wished. After all, he only has himself to blame of things don't go his way.

    5. “I knew,” Emma told me. She typed Alan’s email address into Google.I asked what she found.“Everything, everything,” she sighed. “His Twitter accounts. Where I’ve seen his face.”“It was devastating and I felt sick,” she said. “You have no idea how much I’ve been hurt inside.”Alan was in early-morning traffic when his cellphone rang.“Is your real name Alan?” Emma asked.

      She didn't want to listen to advice from her friends or family in the first place, since she was too fixed on this online relationship and fantasizing about the character Alan had created (Ronnie). Her pain after discovering the truth is only reasonable.

    6. Alan elected to bypass the company’s selfie-based verification system, a spokesperson for Zoosk told me, following an internal investigation. He admitted using photographs of a random male model from Google that he had stolen. “I’m always nervous about posting personal images of myself,” he explained.

      I'm actually surprised that the investigators from the Zoosk application actually allowed ronnie to keep using the images from another source online (on google), just because he didn't want to show his real picture. This is probably the reason why many catfishers get away with it on the application.

    7. Ronaldo Scicluna was a fictional character created by Alan Stanley, a short, balding, 53-year-old shop fitter—a decorator of retail stores. Alan lived alone in Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Like one of the Bard’s shape-shifting characters, Alan used a disguise to fool women into romance, and to prevent himself from getting hurt. His alter ego “Ronnie” was a ladies’ man, charming, and attractive—everything Alan was not.

      This is very typical of catfishing. Although the purpose or goal of the catfisher may be different with each, the the objective is the same (to deceive their victim for their own personal gain).

    1. After you have registered, you can then choose your desired profile portrait and five other additional pictures

      From my experience using the app, the additional images don't help much when preventing scammers to use it. They still find their ways to get their hands on multiple images of the character (fake) they are creating.

    2. link up your Facebook account with the app. Confirm the company’s terms of service and access to your phone.

      I think linking your Facebook to Tinder is a bad idea. This is because you never know the type of people you will find in Tinder, so you are risking them having additional personal information about you. Not only that, but you are risking your own contacts (family, friends, ect..).

    1. During this final phase, the scammer finally asks the victim for money, usually to help with some sort of emergency.

      As cliche as it sounds, it's how it goes. After the establishing (at least in their mind) of a friendly relationship online, they start to make they move and ask you for money. In most cases, they will ask for you to send them money through electronic services (Western Union, e.g.) or even to buy them a gift card and give them the numbers.

    2. As soon as they make contact, they quickly try to move the conversation to another platform, like text messaging, or email. Sometimes they’ll claim they’re leaving the site, or that their subscription is about to expire.

      This is often the case, from what I've seen. And the funny thing about it is also that they will always (or normally) the ones to contact you on these online spaces. They just pop up from nowhere and ask you for personal information, then to talk with you in other platforms like email or text messages.

    3. According to the online dating site Zoosk.com, 25% of the scams reported on their platform involved people impersonating members of the military. Zoosk shares an example of what these attempts look like:

      Yes, Zoosk is one of the dating applications where you can find these type of scammers. And why not? After all, it is a great way for them to reach their victims with little or no risks of being caught by the law, since everything they says is online under a created account.

    1. Many victims report that the person said all the right things, they tapped into their deepest needs and said only positive things. 

      If someone you're talking with online, who happens to be a stranger, constantly tells you everything you want to hear, then you know something is fishy. I mean, what are the odds that this person has all of your interest, tastes, likes, goals, and much more? If they do, it is obviously to try an convince you of something and gain your interest.

    2. Don’t be too quick to believe everything you read. If they claim to be a brain surgeon and part time pilot,

      This is very true. You shouldn't always just believe everything anyone online (or in real life) tells you. You always have to take everything with cautiousness, and a little bit of doubt (just in case). This is especially the case if the person you are talking with online is someone you don't personally know.

    3. You can empower yourself by starting to listen to your rational voice, and you’ll soon be separating the princes from the frogs like a pro. Here are some tips for spotting a Catfish:

      These tips are very helpful, and I wish I had come across them earlier. In fact, I wish I had come across the entire term of catfishing earlier too. The consequences can be bad both emotionally and financially.

  3. Apr 2019
    1. Digital Alchemist

      As digital alchemist we really expose ourselves to so a large variety of anything related to the internet. I guess that's where the 'digital' aspect of it comes in, as being part on the internet (not necessarily a physical thing, but rather digital). It is fascinating to be able to learn so much about the internet from this perspective of an Alchemist.

    2. communicating online

      Online communication these days can have a dark and light side to it. This is mostly because of all the scams that can happen to almost anyone online, especially in online spaces where you expose yourself to other profiles, which might turn out to be fake. This is the dark side of it, but where is the light side? Well, the light side with online communication is how fast and reliable it can be used in the proper settings (work, online voice or video chat, or communicating with people or networks you trust online). In this sense, there is a beneficial to it of course. No longer do you have to travel far away to meet someone know lives across the world. If you want to physical be around them is a different thing, but communicating with them is now easier thanks to online communication.

    1. super-powers

      Super powers don't have to just be 'super strength, speed, super hearing, or flying', it could also be simpler and more realistic things like being super smart or super cute (in the case of my alchemist). I'll brag about her because I created her, so she deserves it.

    2. your alchemist

      Creating our alchemist has an enjoyable experience. One of the things that I kept in mind when creating my own alchemist was creating one who has a deep understanding of what the topics I want to study. For this reason, I created my alchemist to be someone who is an expert in topics I will work for future projects.

    1. GIFs

      I personally feel this from of expression is more efficient than MEMEs. This is because it add another layer of communication to it (a short motion picture). This alone can give the audience a better understanding of your idea, point, comment, or even argument.

    2. creativity

      Creativity is so important for the creation of GIFs and MEMEs. Depending how you go about creating and formatting these images, is how much you will be ale to express on it. Also, it will help the viewer to get a better understanding of your idea.

  4. Mar 2019
    1. computer

      The invention of computers has been one of the greatest, for mankind. Yes, there are some consequences to it, but there are plenty of good benefits from using them. You know the saying: there is always something good for something bad, and something bad for something good. This is almost a natural force that applies to everything in our daily lives, since it is hard to perfection.

    2. sculptures

      Somewhat of a dying art now, especially after invention of digital cameras and devices that capture images instantly. This goes even further with the latest technology of 3D-Printing. It seems as if sculptures are becoming more and more now of a classic unpopular art. But even so, it is one that won't be completely dying any time soon, since it is human tendency to appreciate classical things.

    1. How can you communicate that to others? Why not meme it?

      We should definitely use more memes online (positive memes, though). They never get old. And they clearly tell a message or story. And on top of that, they are humorous enough to brighten up your day.

    2. meme

      The funniest on-point/vivid images you can find online these days. They make our day if we're feeling a bit sad. Just give a try when you're feeling down. It's works! Better than 'laughter' medicine.

    1. self-love.

      This is probably the main reason to why we take selfies today. This is because one of the reasons we take such images, is mostly when were are feeling good about ourselves and are appreciative of what we see on the captured picture (selfie).

    2. selfie-culture

      As much as it appears that selfies are the new cool thing now online, it probably existed in different forms centuries ago. A good example of this is the 'self-portrait' (picture or painting).

  5. Feb 2019
    1. Share

      We share everything online and sometimes we share more than we should. We might even do this is realistic or fake ways because we feel more confident and freedom for expression 'online'.

    2. created an environment where it makes more sense to be fake online

      It is obviously easier for people to feel that they can have a fake identity online, since the person on the other side will not even know the truth. This will benefit the 'fake person' with their manipulative means or any other.

    3. bots masquerading as people

      Nowadays, this is even more possible due to the intelligence of our technology. The program is so advanced that they can function on their own without the need of human's supervision.

    4. Nowadays, this is even more possible due to the intelligence of our technology. The program is so advanced that they can function on their own without the need of human's supervision.

    1. reality

      It is hard to even think of what reality is anymore. More often than not, it comes down to how we perceive things and nothing more. Then, in other cases, it comes as the one thing everybody agrees on. Then, again, sometimes it comes off as just that thing that can be backed up with data and what we believe to be factual. But when it comes to the internet, which is one of these really works; especially when we are trying to figure out if what we are viewing is real or not?

    2. Facebook

      This is probably one of the best places where you will find all types of information being distributed by its users - from comments and opinion, to facts and copied data from other online sources (which by the way, many users don't even care to cite because to them it is just part of using 'Facebook').

    1. discriminatory

      This really never ends, and it's part of being a human. The problem is that, many of us take certain matters more personal others. We humans discriminate all the time (as a habit or human instinct) the things we don't like because they don't normally relate to us. That's really way to put it, if we think about it. The problem is much complex than just RACE, SKIN COLOR, OR GENDER. But often times it is mostly focused on these. Tell me of one time, when you went shopping and you bought the shoes that you liked for a good price? Why didn't you buy the pair that you didn't like? Ohh, wait! That's a waste of money, right? Funny.... It is more like 'I was discriminating against the other type of shoes'. Yup, hit the nail right on head!

    2. Rhetoric

      Such a huge subject to even think of. After a few college classes in college, you (unless you have had special training on it, or a PHD) still only understand it as "PERSUSION or FORM OF PERSUASION". But deep inside our minds, we also leave those classes with another knowledge of it and that is also much more: a form of communication, expression, thinking, and the list goes on.

    3. algorithmic

      This is one is now used in the internet to take advantage (especially by collecting our data unnoticed and using it for their own profit) of us, the unaware users of programs, websites, softwares, and applications. It's hard not to be a victim of it when using these tools, when many of use (especially newer generations of people) we have become so used to the digital world. This is mainly because for most of us, it is all we've known from a very young age. It's like being given regular cow milk from the age of 2, then being told to stop (replaced with healthier alternatives) at the age of 20. AHA, good luck!

  6. Jan 2019
    1. machine intelligence

      Interestingly enough, we saw it coming. All the advances in technology that lead to this much efficiency in technology, were not to be taken lightly. A few decades ago (about 35 years, since the invention of the internet and online networks in 1983) people probably saw the internet as a gift from heavens - one with little or any downsides to it. But now, as it has advanced to such an extreme. with advanced machines engineering, we have learned otherwise. The hacking of sites and networks, viruses and malware, user data surveillance and monitoring, are only a few of the downsides to such heavenly creation. And now, we face the truth: machine intelligence is not to be underestimated! Or the impact on our lives could be negative in years to come. This is because it will only get more intense with the years, as technology further develops.