#Lit: Am I Media-literate?
In your opinion, what makes an individual literate in media and information?
For me being literally is more than knowing how to read and write but it’s more of being educated on things, and to fully understand and apply it to everyday life. Being literate in media and information takes more than knowing the basic tools and receiving information’s, one can say that someone is literate if they fully understand how to properly use media and the information’s that we are gathering. Media is something that we can’t take for granted or use it without really educating ourselves on the pros and cons that it brings, its purpose, usage etc. We must understand that media nowadays has become a huge part of our lives, and it is dangerous, it is a threat and a distraction if we use it poorly, incorrectly and inappropriately, so we must really study the medias that we are using and use it for our advantage, convenience, comfort and for us to work more efficiently in many things. Information’s on the other hand is also dangerous, there’s a lot of misleading information’s, fake news that are spreading in medias, so we as an individual must really do researches when we are taking information’s and we cannot just believe everything that we are seeing or hearing online.
What activities/habits do you practice which illustrate media and information literacy? Give at least three examples.
First is, I try to avoid medias that can be way too distracting for me, I set my limits and normally has a fixed schedule every day and different medias that I use. Being able to set a schedule helped a lot in maximizing the things that I can do in that media and prioritize the things that needs to be done.
Second, when seeing information’s online I also try not to react immediately but to really understand, digest and look for more info since I want to avoid being mis leaded.
Third, I use these medias to my advantage as an artist. Studying and learning how medias work helped me to find opportunities, communicate properly with other people and use it to my advantage.
CLASS PULSE 3: #EVOLVE: Traditional to New Media
Given the available media that we now have in the world, what are its roles and functions in a democratic society?
With the media that we have right now and with the situation that we are in, it really plays a huge role in our life. It serves as a platform for our voices to be heard, for us to freely express ourselves, for us to have a better society as with this media we have the power to influence many, to make better decisions, to speak up for our rights, we have a strong responsibility and power in each and every one of us and media is helping us to maximize it. But in all the positive things that media can give to us, it can also give a lot of negative outcomes, consequences and it can be used in evil doings. Though we have a freedom to speak and rights, people use it to take advantage, to spread fake news, to influence many into believing in something that is wrong, it also can control other people, and it can silence many voices.
What activities/habits do you practice which illustrate media and information literacy? Give at least three examples.
It affects us in so many ways. With the rise of media and the rise of people being more exposed to it, we can’t ignore the fact that its already a part of our daily life. It can help us personally as it can expand our knowledge more, we can learn form other people, we can use it to help us academically as it is now more accessible for many, it can help us in our works as it offers a lot of opportunities nowadays. Though a lot of this are really positive, media can also affect us negatively, it can drain us, it can damage our emotional and mental health, with all the information’s that we are seeing it can also confuse us with what is real and what is not, it can cause someone to take their lives, it can cause chaos. As It becomes part of our lives, let us be strong, responsible and knowledgeable with how we use and accept media to our life.
Case 2: Cyber Bullying
What did Carabuena do that made the netizens angry?
Based on the article and video provided, Carabuena verbally abused and assaulted Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) aide Fabros and was caught on camera which circulated online. Based on Fabros statement, Carabuena was pulled due to a traffic violation, but Carabuena is not pulling over. When asked by Fabros for the reason of not following and pulling over, Carabuena started on berating and verbally abusing Fabros and soon Carabuena snatched the cap of the officer and started slapping and assaulting him. With the age, position, argument, and evidences, the netizens are angry with Carbuena’s actions and how he treated Fabros.
Describe the acts of cyber bullying that the netizens did to Carabuena. Do you think their actions are justifiable? Defend your answer.
Verbal abuse, Insults, Harassments, Flaming, Body shaming, and threats are some of the most noticeable and common form/way of cyberbullying. Though Carabuena’s actions are something that shouldn’t be ignored nor taken slightly, the netizens actions towards Carabuena is also something that shouldn’t be ignored as well. Those type of actions and bullying are very dangerous as it is very rampant here in the Philippines, when videos and situations like this happens and once it circulates online, people starts to express their emotions such as hatred towards the offender and their support towards the one being offended, but most of the time those people usually attack the person itself and not their actions. Here in our Country it is very common for many people to use insults in a daily basis and more often than not many people tend to ignore it and so it has become normal which is not a good thing, it is already considered bullying in many ways. Knowing this, we will see the results on how people use it as well in situations where serious matters are involved and in which case results to people actually not just defending someone but also by harming the offender in much absurd ways. We as the viewers, netizens and all who are exposed in this type of cases should know how to act properly, yes, we can defend someone properly, morally, respectfully and do the same thing for the offender, know that we can express our opinions, thoughts in a well mannered way, we can teach them lessons which will not personally hurt nor attack the person directly.
How did the incident affect Carabuena’s life?
He was suspended by his company, he was under investigations for his actions, he was verbally abused, insulted, shamed by many people, there are a lot of threats in his life, he experienced discomforts which led to him being rushed to the hospital and many more. These things are just some of the after effects of his actions and to see that yes
some of this are being taken properly and in a lawfully way because those are the consequences of his actions, but some are the things that are below the belt and is not correct anymore. His life will never be the same anymore, with the amount of people who expressed their hatred, and even wished ill things to happen to him, he will suffer a lot from those both emotionally, mentally and physically. He already skipped some process of the case because he was too afraid to go out, he felt that he was not safe and that he is scared for his life. Knowing that every second you are not safe anymore with all the people sending him death threats is something that can affect his life forever. Knowing that he is suspended, of course his financial status, everyday life will be affected with his current record I doubt that if he gets fired, companies will tend to not accept him anymore and it will have a huge impact in his future. Knowing that many people’s eyes are looking on your every action, and that they can do something to you in so many ways, is something that will haunt him forever.
Do you think technology and the internet has made cyberbullying easier?
Absolutely. With how advanced the technology is, there are so many ways to bully someone over the internet. You can easily post something about a specific person, you can comment on them with just one click, you can harass easily by messaging them in different social media platforms and sites, you can easily send threats and gather lots of information’s online, you can easily berate and verbally abuse someone in a game or call, you can hide in different accounts which will help many people to bully with no fear of getting their identities exposed and these are just some of the advantages of social media. I actually watched news a few days ago and it was about cyber bullying. The news was aired by TV Patrol and in the news a person in education organization said that bullying was already rampant before in face to face classes, but expect that the chances and percentage of bullying will be higher especially with the setup that we have now. Cyberbullying made it easy for many children/ students to easily tease, insult and harass someone online because there is less contact and less supervisions because teachers are not physically in contact and can only do so much with the situation, and that they are in the comfort of their own homes and the environment is much relaxed.
Give one suggestion to avoid cyberbullying. Give one suggestion to avoid being a cyber bully.
It might be a cliché thing to say but one suggestion to avoid cyberbullying and being a cyber bully is to “think before you click” and to “Respect and know your boundaries”. We must be careful and mindful of how we act towards other people and situations especially in social media, because it’s very easy for us to click without thinking. We must know our limits, we must learn how to respect, we must learn the difference of proper opinions, lessons, that we share compare to insults, harassment, etc. We must also teach ourselves
how to be kind, to know the rights of other people, to know that they are also human like us. We also must know how our words; a simple click could affect or ruin someone’s life.
Summarization/conclusion
In short Carabuena’s actions are something that shouldn’t be tolerated, Carabuena deserved all the proper, legal and appropriate consequences for what he did, but all the things that he received from the netizens is something that no person should’ve experienced. The netizens actions shouldn’t be tolerated as it could affect someone’s life dramatically and it is basically ignoring and breaking the rights of a human. We must learn to know our limits, to know where our boundary is and how we should act. We must learn how to respect and to think a lot before we say or do anything. We must be mindful or our actions as it could start something that is not right and something that we will regret in the future. Cyberbullying is no joke, it is a very serious matter and we should educate ourselves; we should know how our actions can affect someone, how it could affect them emotionally and mentally. We should not feel entitled, we should not berate someone, and instead we should share positivity and we should be the one helping to stop cyberbullying and not the ones who continue and promotes it. One click, change for the better or change for the worse? Choose and think wisely.
Class Pulse 7: #TEXT:
What's in the message
1. What is the tone of the first text? How about the second text?
The first one gives romantic vibes in my perspective. Though the message can also give a different vibe, sweetness and love is the most noticeable feeling the text is giving. It can be incorporated with being separated with your loved ones and this message is a promise that no matter what, you will find each other and that you’ll be together again. While on the other note it gives a stalker, killer and horror vibes. Normally in movies or in any other categories and themes, this kind of text which is rough, messy, mixed with a red hue which can symbolize blood because of the style of the text, the meaning of the message becomes dark and scary. This message can also show threat or by any means to scare someone, or to hunt them.
2. If you will receive the first note from a friend, how would you feel?
How about the second note?
If I receive the first note from a friend, I would feel really happy and I could feel that they are sincere with the message. It comforts me and I would feel loved because of how sweet the message looks especially that it comes from a friend. As I mentioned in my first answer, it feels like the message is a promise between me and my friend and It shows how that friend cares and loves me. But if I receive the second note from a friend, I’ll be scared and terrified. I would feel threatened especially if we had an argument or some sort before they gave that message. I would be totally scared for my life and I feel like they are going to do something bad to me. But then it can also be a joke in some cases especially if we are celebrating Halloween and It’s just for fun.
3. Do you think that text-based messages are poweful?
Yes, because it can change not just the theme of the text but also the message of the text. In many cases I always try to plan the texts that I will be using in my works, I have to consider the theme, the message that I will be sharing, the mood etc. and if the text itself is not matching to any of these, my work can fail in so many ways, it can affect the visuals of it and the message itself.
Class Pulse 8: #REiMAGINE:
Branding Redefined
SOURCES
Vibar, Ivy Jean. (2012). "Carabuena: From bully to cyberbullying victim".
ABS-CBnews.com. Retrieved March 4, 2022, From
https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/08/23/12/carabuena-bully-cyberbullying-victim
Kantahanblues.(2012). Robert Alyas Blair Carabuena sinapok si Mang Saturnino Fabros, MMDA Traffic Enforcer. Retrieved March 4, 2022, From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLr-laylF4s