the revolution will not be tumblr-ized

"You will not be able to stay home, brother. You will not be able to plug in, turn on and drop out."- Gil Scott Herron

[doctorwhogeneration]

they are all Doctor to me

[bluzella]

She fits right in!

[necrophilofthefuture]

those 10 seconds after your laptop dies when u just hopelessly stare at the dark screen

[bluzella]

Loudest, most bombastic voice!

[bluzella]

[bluzella]

#officialpostnumeroocho

Block & Clone - Targeted freedom.

One of the things I respect most about the originators of the internet was their desire for it to be a place where knowledge and information could be shared freely. This has been reflected in what people can say through social media platforms - the myriads of perspective that lace their way through the online social sphere.

Freedom as expressed under the declaration of human rights states:

Article 18.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

China has very cleverly given the semblance of these freedoms by establishing China-net, emulating major social media outlets, and allowing freedom of political expression when it suits the political agenda of Central China.

By having the servers of their internal internet in Beijing they have immediate access to all the data transmitted across the country. 

While there are 300 million plus microbloggers, which makes their social media world very diverse and eclectic, Chinese citizens still know what they can and can’t say.

Monitored is monitored. 2 plus 2 definitely equals 4. 

[bluzella]

officialpostnumerosiete

Online gaming in a multiplayer world. Of all the topics we have traversed, this is the area I have the least personal experience in. I’ve lived without access to broadband for nearly 4 years, and have missed a lot of the advances in the online gaming world. From the readings the thing that intrigued me is the self regulating or disruptive behaviour that gaming communities develop as a means of establishing an agreed order that is not covered by the EULA. It fits with some anarchist theory that we do not need governance to be civilised, and create community. 

That the parameters of the experience will define the behaviour of the participants, and they will reign in and regulate according to their own collectively developed code of conduct. 

I guess the inherent problem with this is that the squeaky wheel gets the oil, the most bombastic, controlling personalities get to establish the field of play. So is it really the collective deciding or is it the loudest voices making themselves dominant? Is it the interpretation of the parameters of the game extrapolated into morality, then expounded by the participants? These are incredibly interesting philosophical questions, ones that pertain to the inherent nature of human behaviour, both on and off line.

These questions are ones that do not really have answers, but are reflections of the way social beings create law to feel a sense of safety and ensure that an idea of fairness is adhered to...

 What gaming championships looked like in 1982, man, were they cool. >_<

[bluzella]

#officialpostnumerosies

semi colon: “Within the belief that suicide is generally preventable, the mission of Project Semicolon is to help reduce the incidents of suicide in the world through connected community and greater access to information and resources. We believe that suicide prevention is the collective responsibility of each and every person on the planet.” - (Projectsemicolon.com, 2017)

This project struck me with its simplicity. A way to say, take a breath, take a long pause and then keep going. Let this moment that has overwhelmed you pass. A simple unobtrusive reminder that our story continues. 

According to their own information they have helped over 5.2 million people since 2013. This is an extraordinary undertaking, one that has used social media to tap into the hearts and minds of the people who are most effected by the mental, emotional and life circumstances that can make ending their story a consideration. Take a long pause, but not a full stop.

On a side note:

Looking for imagery to express the topic of the need to self harm (with a view to praising the semi colon initiative): Tumblr popped up with this message below, providing me with immediate links and contacts.

Sources: Projectsemicolon.com. (2017). Project Semicolon – Mental Health & Suicide Prevention – My Story Isn't Over Yet. [online] Available at: https://projectsemicolon.com/ [Accessed 18 May 2017].

[bluzella]

#officialpostnumerocinco

Leveraging big data - crowd sourcing information. or giving up your privacy for the greater good.

When I was researching the mapping and leveraging of data one of my favourite examples was the CSIRO’s map of emotions. This real time map of the emotional state of things can be found here: http://wefeel.csiro.au/#/

[bluzella]

#officialpostnumerocuatro

What is a troll?  Internet buffoon, goon, misanthrope, mastermind propagandist, symptom of a disaffected society that ignores outliers, and the disenfranchised. 

It seems to me that a ‘troll’ is all of these things. It is someone who utilises the internet to further their agenda, not through generating original thought, but via shit posting on the thoughts of others. 

They are the parasites of the commentary box, the person who uses the anonymity of the internet to fortify their version of reality by belittling others. What concerns me is the potential influence on the political machinations of the world. That the trolling identity is being championed by those who feel that mainstream media doesn’t speak redneck xenophobe and is using trolling as a means to spread the hate around. 

Trolls are using irony and appropriation of imagery, like Pepe the frog to appear to be satirising itself, so they can point and say its just a joke. Its not a joke, the hatred, fear and loathing expressed is real. The goading to violent action is real. 

[doctorwho247]

“I just wanted to say, ‘Hello’… ‘Hello Doctor!’” 

On this day in 2011, the TARDIS spoke to the Doctor for the first and last time.

[bluzella]

Finding help in a crowd

Crowdsourcing Presentation

https://prezi.com/view/6oDYBXA4wRL1QRdSR6BF/

@captainwhitestormy @socialmediakilledtheradiostar @pleaseconnectme

[bluzella]

Russia bans picture of Vladimir Putin in drag

Image depicting Russian president with painted eyelashes and lips has been banned by the justice ministry in Moscow

[bluzella]

[bluzella]

#officialpostnumerotres

Activism on line: does slacktivism lead to IRL activism?

A great deal has been made of ‘slacktivism’. We point to it as lazy activism. A way to satisfy our desire to help, with one click, the entering of an email, a share on facebook and we are absolved of complicity found in silence and in action. 

I would argue that while this can lead to an apathy about causes, it can also lead to awareness. This awareness creates opportunities for change, by highlighting the problems at hand, by sharing and bringing issues to light, this is a kind of action. It’s the beginning of lancing boils, it’s a way in which we can be see the collective thread of action.

One of the ways this can be seen is through the use of hashtags, tying the conversation and debate together. Groups that encourage group action like GetUP and Avaaz, work on binding this collective thought, and presenting to people who can effect change. These groups produce reports on what actions have been effective and part of driving changes in law, changes in structures, promoting awareness and using crowdfunding to assist.

Avaaz was able to organise one of the largest, global IRL protest around climate change in 2014. 600,000 people were recorded to have marched world wide. This was organised using social media platforms, email and through a public invitation to attend a march in a city near them.

30,000 people marched in Melbourne.

I would argue that the denigration of online activism is the inevitable backlash that all new forms of media receive. On the one hand we have the excitement of possibility and the other the fear of the unknown. Personally I like the access to the information, the potential for global awareness, and local awareness that being exposed to online activism provides.

[bluzella]

(T3H Records) #Slacktivism 

[messengersofhumanity]

Take action - 4 things you can do for Syria

As the war in Syria enters its seventh year, many of us feel helpless. We hear stories about children such as Fares, a 6-year-old from Syria who has never seen a classroom in his life, and we wish there was something we could do.

“My name is Fares. I do not know how to read or write. I only know how to draw the sky, the sea and the sun.”

But we must not give up hope. Together, we can take action. Together, the Messengers of Humanity can show their solidarity with the Syrian people.

In the following weeks, we will send you powerful actions that you can take to make a difference for the people trapped in Syria’s conflict and for the people who had to flee and leave everything behind.

Remember, you are not alone! The UN and our partners in Syria are delivering aid to millions of civilians, trying their best to reach as many people as possible. And on 4 and 5 May, world leaders will come together in Brussels to discuss the future of Syria and to find a lasting political resolution.

Her are 4 actions you can take to support refugees & displaced people

1.      Make sure that Syria is not forgotten – share on social media

UNICEF released this moving video of 10-year-old Ansam, a blind girl who was displaced by the violence in Syria. Her song is a message of hope to the world. Children such as Ansam are not giving up and neither should we. Please share!

Click here to tweet: Do you wish there was something you could do to help #Syria? Check out these 4 actions that you can take now http://bit.ly/4thingsyoucando

 2.      Encourage universities to offer scholarships for refugees

For refugee students, not being able to continue their studies is devastating. Help them by writing an e-mail or a letter to your own university or a college near you and ask them to support a refugee. You can also e-mail major universities in the USA, asking them to admit more refugees. Here is a handy template.

3.      Support internally displaced people in Syria

We hear a lot about refugees who seek safety outside Syria, but more than six million Syrians are displaced within their own country. They are often forced to flee at very short notice and have to leave everything behind. Many of them find refuge with host families, but others have to stay in overcrowded shelters. As the conflict continues, they are struggling to find food and water and are in dire need of humanitarian aid. If you want to help internally displaced people in Syria, you can donate to the UN’s humanitarian fund in Syria. Your donation will provide emergency food, water, shelter, medicine and other life-saving assistance to those who need it most.

4.      Help refugees to integrate into a new culture

Refugees often feel lonely and isolated when they try to restart their life in a new country. Could you see yourself mentoring a refugee family? Imagine teaching the kids your language or helping the parents figure out the public transport system. Even small gestures of friendship can mean a great deal! A quick Google search can show you which groups and local non-profits are active in your area and looking for volunteers.

That’s it for today! Stay tuned, because over the following weeks and months we’ll share more actions that you can take to make a difference. 

[bluzella]

@amateur-author 

[bluzella]

#SelfFulfillingProphecy