Reading responses-8/29

"Why I like vicious, anonymous, online comments"


The author Matt Zoller Seitz touches base on how the internet can and is used as a mask. The internet allows others to post, comment,write articles, and express on whatever they please. To such posts comments and articles, others are then allowed to say and express what they feel in response. As Matt said, it is not as filtered as writing actual letters by going through the process of writing, editing, sealing, stamping and mailing; which then breaks the "mask". On the internet, there is a wall which makes people feel invincible which then leads to sometimes hateful and rude responses. For those who post things on the internet, they are trying to be "heard" and allowing others to view it as well, but to those viewing it, they are also wanting to be "heard" as well. The internet makes people hypocritical, as in they most likely wouldn't say these things in person, they make think such thoughts but never express them. With the mask of the internet, such thoughts can be expressed.

"Join the Civilogue"


Like Matt, the author of "Make our Ugly Discourse Better: Join the Civilogue", he tells us how the internet is used as a "mask", but to take those anonymous comments and response to them politely. Just because the internet puts up a wall for others to post and comment anonymously, doesn't mean there shouldn't be a response back; a polite one. Freedom of Speech is definitely okay, but saying rude comments in person or behind the "mask" is never okay. Find a happy medium and have a normal discussion. Not everyone agrees and likes the same things, but that gives us no reason to be hateful, especially when its behind a "wall".

The American Life "Two Wars"

In the video This American Life “Two Wars”, an Iraqi man came to the U.S to seek who is for or against the war. Many people who approached the booth titled “Talk to an Iraqi”, discussed what they knew about the war and what they thought the Iraqis wanted and needed, instead of actually asking him who could fulfill their answers. People also never compared the times between then and now. They weren’t as informed as they once were and didn’t care to be informed on the new news. What I didn’t understand was why people didn’t give the Iraqis in America a chance. Once they would see someone of that race, there would be automatic judgment. Not only why didn’t we give them a chance after few attacked us, but why did the U.S troops invade their land rather than attacking a few targets? Many people say they attacked their whole land because they were enemies. But how do they know who the enemy is and who the innocent are? One interviewee, Mike, a U.S Marine, commented they need to be “able to get rid of all terrorists” in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, and he doesn’t feel bad at all. Not all Iraqis attacked the U.S, so not all Iraqis should be attacked by the U.S. The Iraqi interviewer says he now feels like he is looked at differently for living in the U.S. He sees that people in the U.S don’t have worries about what’s going on in Iraq. We live such “peaceful” lives to stop and worry about what’s going on in a country we “don’t get along with”. Although, not all the interviewees had no understanding; mothers, daughters and wives of soldiers were the most understanding of the war in Iraq because they know what it feels like to be away from their loved ones. Others said that the war makes it all okay because they are fighting for U.S “freedom.” I don’t agree with the war because how does it make it right that are we fighting for our freedom when we’re taking away someone else’s. Yes, Iraq attacked us and killed many loved ones, but that doesn’t mean we need to go attack their whole country killing all Iraqis.

English 2-butte

First assignment