I am attempting to make a Glossary of New Media Propaganda. This will categorize and possibly taxonomize the various spin tactics I’ve witnessed online and in real life. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_techniques is good, but it’s very simple. My glossary will have at least 30-40 terms to describe phenomena that currently do not have easy identifiers. An example of one […]
We exist in an era where more people have the ability to write and publish than ever before, but the mentality of many who would take in that writing hasn’t caught up: standards for legitimacy and notability are rooted in organizational status, not independent-of-status factors. YouTubers exist with viewcounts rivaling or exceeding that of popstars, […]
“If you believe in equality for women, you’re a feminist.” “Being ‘feminist’ just means you’re for equality.” This is a routine and agreeable assertion that appears every time a video of a belligerent feminist activist goes viral, like the 2012 Warren Farrell protest at the University of Toronto or the 2013 “From Misogyny & Misandry” […]
When I watched Keith Burgun argue with someone who dismissed his writing and theories in their entirety, I felt like I had watched an alleyfight in an obscure neighborhood. This wasn’t something familiar to me, it wasn’t clear why they were fighting, and, from an outsider looking in, it seemed like Keith Burgun received an […]
“Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You understand it better, but the frog dies in the process.” Academia has no shortage of theories of humor, many of which attempt to explain what humor is at a fundamental level. While I’m sure such findings are useful for development of AI, the everyday applicability of such theories […]
“Why are you naked?” “Because I want people to look at me!!” “Oh.” “Just kidding. We’re promoting body acceptance!” “Oh.” Just recently I learned that No Shave November has its origins in “Movember”, a month-long period where men grow mustaches for raising awareness of prostate cancer. Having tried the No Shave November thing once and […]
“Did you write a top-40 song?” “No.” “So why are you writing about writing a top-40 song?” The reasoning goes like this: actual top-40 songwriters are not going to share these observations for risk of losing their employment, or, slightly worse, the employment of their colleagues or future children who may enter the same occupation. […]
