Discussion questions:

Why is it that video-games draw a lot of attention?

What are video-games good for?

Are video-games the answer to social issues since they are easy to relate to for our generation?

Cyberbullying SAP intro.

What our group decided to do was to collaborate with the other group focusing on cyberbullying. Our original idea consisted of wearing shirts around campus that had words on them that we were self-conscious about. We are transitioning by joining the other group and bringing in a speaker. This speaker will come and speak in the auditorium, meanwhile, each individual group member will post 5 Yik Yak's per hour. This should draw attention to the topic of cyberbullying, even if it is neglected by the users of the app. 

The reason for such an urge to minimize cyberbullying is because of an increase in technology and how much our generation is dependent on the internet. Everyone is using the internet to communicate, be entertained, and stay updated, which allows for cyber bullying to occur more often. We plan on drawing attention to the John Carroll Community, due to the effects of cyberbullying. The social effects from cyberbullying can lead an individual down the wrong path, including: drugs, alcohol, and social isolation. The political effects from cyberbullying can include raising awareness for human rights. No kid should have to go to school afraid, be scared to open their messages or social media account, and sacrifice his/her true self to fit in. Another effect from cyberbullying is culture. Our society is transitioning to the point where everyone is on the internet. Kids are also getting cell phones earlier and earlier, allowing for more cyberbullying. As technology grows, and more social media websites pop up, so does cyberbullying.

I do believe that bringing in a speaker to campus will draw attention to this topic, and if they do not hear about the speaker, I'm sure they will see the posts on Yik Yak through out the day. 

Illegal Immigration

A current social justice issue that I believe needs to be addressed is illegal immigration. There is an estimated 10 million undocumented aliens, which is good for the economy and the attractiveness of America. On the other hand, it shows how open our borders are. For the most part, these illegal immigrants come to America for a new life and more opportunity. As Americans, we cannot allow them to keep crossing our border and taking the jobs of our fellow citizens. The United States also loses money on taxes with them because they are not documented as citizens and we don't know they exist. Also, when illegal immigrants come to our country, they for the most part do not speak english, causing more confusion, as well as the continuous bilingual debate. As sad of a story it is with children endangered with violence and crime wanting a better life, there has to be a point where we draw long and understand how having our borders not secure can negatively effect us. Lastly, with the current pressing issue of ISIS, having our borders wide open is a huge risk. It allows terrorists to come into our country and pose potential risks to our people. My solution would be to tighten up our borders and have a certain percentage of illegal immigrants be allowed to apply for American citizenship.

Title: The Pros and Cons of illegal immigrants
Link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5309849
Date accessed: October 15th 2014

Social Action Project- introduction 

The topic I want to research for my social action project is cyber bullying. Cyberbulling is bullying with the use of electronic devices by intimidating or threatening a certain group or person. It has to be involved with a minor, whether that be the instigator or the victim.  The reason kids cyberbully is because they might be filled anger, revenge, frustration, or just simply do it because they are bored. It is easier for the perpetrator to use his/her electronic devices to bully because they do not need face to face interaction. Individuals can pretend to be someone else or create a fake account to spread embarrassing pictures of someone so it does trace back to them. Cyber bullying can lead to anxiety, depression, and suicide. 1 in 3 teens or adolescents have been bullied through some sort of online communication and of the 1/3rd, 1 in 10 tell their parents. Also, 1 in 5 teens say they have sent or received sexual content on their cell phones, and if it ends up in the wrong hands, it can be devastating. The ethical significance of this issue is that it is causing minors to harm themselves or others. They believe that they are not doing anything immoral because their actions are through the internet so they think they are not physically harming someone. The historical significance of cyberbullying is that it has drastically grown. When minors grow up around electronics it becomes the norm of communicating, therefore it allows easier access to cyberbullying. As technology keeps advancing, cyberbullying will grow. In order for this to stop, it has to be prevented and actions need to be taken.

Title: Cyberbully Stats
Link:http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/cyber-bullying-statistics.html
Date accssed: 8 October 2014

For my social action project I would make a twitter account that tweets facts about cyberbullying. These facts would be used to draw people's attention to how important this is and how fast it is growing. Obviously this would not just blow up with retweets from the start, it would need help from bigger people. I would hope to have influential people retweet the tweets and sponsor the idea of stopping cyberbullying like the "Don't Text and Drive" campaign, but on social media. Cyberbullies use the power of the internet and how fast things can spread to their advantage, so I would as well. There are plenty of accounts with the same idea as mine in the past, such as the link attached. The one thing these do not do is reach out to more influential people to help them, which is what I would do. This type of response to the issue of cyberbullying works out perfectly. As is said earlier, cyberbullies use the internet to bully people, and I am using it to stop them. It is sort of like the saying " taste of your own medicine". There are many other options in order to prevent cyberbullying such as flash mobs, protests, civil disobedience, but I think this fits best to the idea of trying to stop it because it allows for people to relate to due to how predominant social media is on our lives today. 

Twitter account: @StopCyberBullies
Date accessed: 8 October 2014

Discussion questions #2:

When you buy an electronic product, are you indirectly pushing a Foxconn employee to commit suicide?

Even though Foxconn is one of the most employee-friendly factories in China, is it still "just" because they provide housing, food, etc.?

Are Foxconn employees being overworked for what they are paid?

CyberBullying

I believe a pressing issue in our world today is cyberbulling. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying with either the cell phone or online which makes it easier to be harassed, embarrassed, or put down due to how fast pictures and posts spread. Cyberbullying is easier for individuals to say whatever they want because it allows for them to create screen names so people cannot identify who the bully is, rather than saying it in person. These threats made online can cause mental and physical harm to the victims, leading to suicide in some cases.

About 1 in 3 kids say they have been cyberbullied, and it is most common a gens 9-14. Online bullying can range from online video games, social networks, and instant messaging. USA today reports that girls mock each other about appearance and boys make more sexually explicit comments. Girls are also twice as likely to be cyberbullied than boys.

There are several ways to stop cyberbullying: don't respond, sign off and block the bully, change ones contact information, save all of the bullies messages to send to your internet provider in order to have them blocked, and don't assume kids will tell their parents because a majority of them won't. 90% of kids who are cyberbullied will not tell their parents/ any adult. In recent years, cyberbullying has been increasing which means something needs to be done now.

Title of article: Social Justice Project on Cyberbullying
Link:http://cyberbullyingin2012.blogspot.com
Date accessed: October 3rd