Is It Funny or Offensive? Comedian Impersonates FBI on Twitter, Makes MLK Assassination Joke. January 2020. URL: https://isitfunnyoroffensive.com/comedian-impersonates-fbi-on-twitter-makes-mlk-assassination-joke/ (visited on 2023-12-05).
The article describes a comedian who impersonated the FBI on Twitter and posted a joke about the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.. The post sparked debate online, with some people finding it humorous while others saw it as offensive and inappropriate.
What do you think is the best way to deal with trolling?
The best way to deal with trolling is usually not to engage. Trolls are often looking for attention or a reaction, so ignoring them removes the reward they’re seeking. If the behavior is harmful, it’s better to use platform tools like blocking or reporting rather than arguing back. Overall, setting boundaries and protecting your own time and mental energy is more effective than trying to “win” against a troll.
Steven Tweedie. This disturbing image of a Chinese worker with close to 100 iPhones reveals how App Store rankings can be manipulated. February 2015. URL: https://www.businessinsider.com/photo-shows-how-fake-app-store-rankings-are-made-2015-2
In this article, Steven Tweedie describes a photo showing a worker surrounded by nearly 100 iPhones, all being used to download and interact with apps. The purpose is to artificially boost app rankings in the App Store. This demonstrates how companies can manipulate popularity metrics by using large numbers of devices to create fake downloads and activity. This makes apps appear more popular than they actually are.
On the other hand, some bots are made with the intention of harming, countering, or deceiving others. For example, people use bots to spam advertisements at people. You can use bots as a way of buying fake followers [c8], or making fake crowds that appear to support a cause (called Astroturfing [c9]).
I think this part of the chapter shows a really concerning side of bots. Using bots for fake followers or astroturfing makes it hard to know what’s real online. It made me realize we need to be more critical of what we see, since everything can be artificially created online.
Tsze-kung asked, saying, ‘Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one’s life?’ The Master said, ‘Is not reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.’” Confucius, Analects 15.23 [b9] (~500 BCE China)
The quote from Confucius reminds me that when we interact with others, we should learn to put ourselves in their position. It made me think that a lot of conflicts or misunderstandings could be avoided if people just asked themselves, “Would I want to be treated this way?” I think that this quote is practical and it can be something you can apply in small, daily interactions. To me, it emphasizes empathy and mutual respect. It also makes me see the importance of understanding others and acting with consideration.
Confucianism
For confucianism, I want add an important idea of self-cultivation over time. Confucianism emphasizes that becoming an ethical person is a lifelong process of learning, reflection, and practice. This is very different from Mencius, which believes that people are naturally ethical when they were born. This highlights that morality is about continuously improving oneself within society