Cyber bullying: the new crimes that go unnoticed

I just realized I never posted about cyber-bullying so I hope to make up for it now before it’s too late for this post!  Unfortunately, it’s still an issue in our modern society and will continue to be in current forms of social media, but hopefully we will be better prepared to prevent such acts.

Michael Huber arranged for our class to participate in his blog-sponsored event back at St. Rose in the Tulley Auditorium.  They had a panel discussion that featured local blogger/parent Lori Cullen, local news anchor and blogger Lydia Kulbida, Bethlehem Middle School principle, Sandra Morley, Lt. Joseph Donahue of the NYS Police Computer Crime Unit, and two authors of books on the subject, with a special presentation from two students from my alum program, the New Visions class of journalism for high school seniors.

I overall thought that the event was interesting and helpful.  This was reinforced by the amount of questions people had at the end of the night (we could have been there all night talking about it) and the fact that I sat next to a worried mom the entire seminar, who asked me if she could have my notes (I gave them to her).

Cyberbullying exists in so many different forms.  We can’t make excuses for open forums anymore, because they certainly have an influence on us.  When I see a friend request on my Facebook page from my little cousin, a part of me dies a little bit (so young!) and then I get worried.  Not so much that he or she will get bullied, but that she is being introduced to such a possibility so early.  I didn’t get Facebook until senior year of high school when they opened it to everyone and not just college students exclusively. I sometimes wonder if that was a good idea or not.

At the seminar, it was most interesting to me to hear about Lori’s experiences as a parent and as someone who blogs. I don’t think I’d want my future children to look back on my blog posts for one example, but I think I would want to check out their Facebook page occasionally.  It’s how we interact after all, and I think that there needs to be some sort of introduction or disclaimer for parents to share with their kids early on.  It’s very important for parents to educate their kids on Internet usage, but… how?

Lori shared that she checks in with her kids, and looks at their Facebook pages but carefully:  she gives them 24 hours to clear their pages of anything that they wouldn’t want her to see.  This might be the best tactic, because it allows for the teens to think twice about what they are broadcasting on the Internet (something we should probably think twice about doing).  Plus it’s not intrusive so I’m sure her kids are open to it, and prefer it over someone checking their page every second.

Two students from New Visions made a fake Facebook page, and demonstrated an example of the site of FormSpring gone awry.  In life, I’ve only ever been to one FormSpring on a regular basis; my friend set up an advice site that is a must-read in Albany and beyond.  FormSpring is uncensored and anonymous:  two of the Internets main issues.  Anyone can ask anyone anything at any time! It’s wild, if you think about it in theory.  The potential for Internet hazing is more prevalent here, because the questions are isolated and not hidden by news feed updates that are coming in constantly.  The fact that Facebook is always being updated makes cyberbullying go unnoticed in some instances, except to the direct victim.

Lt. Joseph spoke in a very informative matter about how it’s a challenge on how to enforce or even become aware of cyberbullying because it’s often too late by the time it becomes made aware by those in power, off the web. The parallel between a physical crime and a digital is another thing to look at it, because so often we can’t pinpoint the source online.  A bully stealing lunch money is not only a thing of the past but amplified metaphorically with Internet hazing.  It’s interesting to think about how people are getting disciplined for cyberbullying; I’m sure it’s common to feel as though it’s not a big deal, because it’s digital and not physical.

I personally haven’t had any personal experience with this, nor know any victims.  I feel as though the more fast-paced our thinking and Internet usage becomes, the less we take things serious.  For the generation younger than mine, this is not going to be the case.  It’s going to be interesting in the years to follow without a doubt.  I just hope to help educate people and prevent as much suicide (as a result of bullying) as possible.

No better time than now to get an iPhone

With online publishing, it goes without saying that readership increases, it is more accessible to a wider readership and it is published/edited instantly.  However, with that, it also goes without saying that since the content is available for free, publishers need to think of a way to come up with making money.  That has come to be in the form of approaching paid advertisers, but in recent days the option of a pay wall has become more and more a topic of conversation and an idea put into practice.

A pay wall blocks access to a webpage, and before one may enter the site, one must submit payment.  The Wall Street Journal was the first major newspaper in the US (with others already doing so across the globe) to take that leap, and the New York Times followed suit at the end of March this year.

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portfolio service

The Importance of the Online Portfolio

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Empac: Hyper Rainforest Sound Exhibit

Originally published here, on KeepAlbanyBoring.com

Last night kicked off the world premiere of Hyper-Rainforest, a sound projection and sonic stimulation created from unmodified sound bites captured directly from rainforests all over the continents.  The piece was developed in residence at (and commissioned by) the Experimental Media And Performing Arts Center over in Troy, a.k.a. literally the coolest building bordering Albany county lines.

Over the past 20 years, Francisco López has worked extensively doing field recordings and submerging himself in the rich, natural sounds that rainforests provide.  López is internationally recognized as one of the major players in the world of sound art and experimental music.
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Recap: Kevin Devine at UAlbany

Originally published here, on KeepAlbanyBoring.com

Last night, the Campus  Center Ballroom at UAlbany, accomadated students looking to break up their academic week nicely, with the treat of some live music from local musicians and city folk alike.  WCDB got it right on point that a concert was a more solid, positive form of distraction from prepping for next week’s final exams than getting worked up over whether or not the fountains will be turned on or other various areas of focus these days on campus. BTW, Shoenice won.

I personally have realized the past few shows that, well, these things start on time and for some reason I always assume they never do.  Therefore I regret to report that this is the second time in a row that I’ve attended where I’ve missed a band that I did not want to miss. Sgt Dunbar and the Hobo Banned opened up this show, after being out on the road touring extensively for a month or so.  They trekked across country playing shows all over the west coast and central US, as well as playing as a part of this year’s SXSW festival.  The band is no doubt up to good things, and you can be sure to catch them at this year’s Tulip Fest on Sunday, May 8th.

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Bassnectar review

Originally published here, on KeepAlbanyBoring.com

Last night, 4,500 of our closest friends flocked around the outside of the historic Washington Avenue Armory and pulsed inside for hours, hands up and asses out. Bass heads were summoned, from all over the Capital Region and beyond, to board the mother ship back home to get lost in the spacey electronic sounds for a few fast-paced hours.

photo by andrew franciosa

Bassnectar, the moniker for DJ and electronic music producer Lorin Ashton, attracted an eclectic and colorful crowd to the auditorium, where everyone communally drank up the sweet nectar of his sound swarm. Also hitting the decks were opening acts Eliot Lipp and EOTO. It was truly impressive that this show started on time, given that the staff had to accommodate an event that was at capacity for the entire evening, as well as host a solid bill of 3 different electronic acts. Despite the scattered line outside the Armory, which stretched around the block, moving fairly quickly, I still didn’t catch a single beat from Lipp. Eliot Lipp accompanied Bassnectar on 10 shows of his majority sold out spring tour, which spanned the east coast from Providence to Burlington to Portland to Boston, with a final stop in our fair city.

Lipp recently released a collaborative remix album, Brolabs, which you can download here for free. Highlight tracks include “It’s Time To Leave,” remixing with Pretty Lights, Big Gigantic on “Yeah,” and Mux Mool on “The Outside.” Each song was created with a personal touch and some face time, not done via trading samples over the Internet. He’s up to some good things these days and I recommend you keep him on your radar upcoming, especially with this summer’s festival spread in mind.
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UAlbany’s Fresh Paint Job

Originally published here, on KeepAlbanyBoring.com.

If you’re walking around UAlbany’s campus today, look up from your cell phone screens and take notice of the fresh stencil work that appeared overnight, scattered throughout the podium.

On roughly 25-30% of the cement columns, reads the message, clear in purple spray paint (for “school spirit”):  “Did you know 99% of UAlbany students were NOT part of the Kegs N’ Eggs riot but were punished for it.”

The stencil is designed as a riff on the University Counseling Center’s infamous “Did You Know?” social norm campaign.

Edward Durell Stone, the renowned architect of the uptown campus’ unique design, must be cringing in his grave, as this chronic daily headache returns to the University and its reputation.

Looks as though many are making it clear that the Kegs ‘N Eggs and Fountain Day fiasco from a couple weeks back is far from over.  This quasi-experiment very well could be foreshadowing that the still-pissed-off students are continuing to rally in response to the cancelation of Fountain Day.  There’s potential something big could go down in the weeks ahead.  Any else got Shoenice revenge theories?