Online Arguments


Why did you choose this online argument for your assignment?

I chose this argument because I have a daughter who attends elementary school and I wanted to research how people may feel about the topic of gender identity being taught to children. I know a couple of parents who have discussed this topic among themselves and there are a variety of views. Though this topic may not be relevant now, since my daughter is only in second grade, it will likely come up. 


 

Provide three negative examples and concerns you have with this online argument?

Three negative examples and concerns I have with this online argument are how people are quick to call each other names, put each other down, and create assumptions about someone, merely because they do not agree with the other's viewpoint. As seen in the screenshot from the Reddit discussion, Should elementary school children be taught about gender identity? Why or why not?, after a couple of back-and-forth replies between the two commenters, the name-calling begins. It is difficult to be able to decipher what tone a commenter may be trying to convey. Misinterpretations can quickly escalate to poor online etiquette.






Create five rules for how people should argue online correctly.

5 rules I would create for people to argue online correctly are:

1. Keep your composure- Resorting to name-calling, insults, or curse words will not back up what topic someone is attempting to defend or shed light on, but rather detract from the topic's importance and makes the commenter appear immature and unprofessional. Speak how you would wish to be spoken to.

2. Have empathy- Not all topics being debated in an online argument may directly affect the person commenting on it, however, recognizing that the topic may affect others differently can help someone to acknowledge an alternative perspective.

3. Check your facts- When engaging in an online argument, it is important to be able to back up your claims with reputable sources.

4. Check your grammar- As with name-calling, cursing, and insults, having poor grammar within online arguments can discredit what someone is attempting to convey.

5. Accept defeat- Sometimes, it is best to step away from an online argument, especially if it is becoming heated. Not everyone can be persuaded to side with another's perspective but, hopefully, helps them to recognize alternative views.


This site goes further into depth on how you may conquer etiquette when communicating and debating online.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

About Me

Image
 Hello all! My name is Stefanie Quintanilla. I was born in Monterey, California, raised in Salinas, California, and currently reside in Pacific Grove, California. It is a little coastal town located between Monterey and Pebble Beach. I adore this town because it is quiet, safe, and only a 5-minute drive to my favorite beach, Asilomar State Beach! I am pursuing a bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Oregon State University's Ecampus. I have an associate's degree in Horticulture from Monterey Peninsula College, the local community college. I have worked with cut flowers and plants in retail for nearly 18 years. I chose to pursue a degree in horticulture because it is an area of never-ending knowledge! Upon completion of my Horticulture degree, I hope to find a career in the landscaping field, particularly sustainable landscaping. A local company, Rana Creek Habitat Restoration, provides the designs and installations of sustainably-focused landscapes locally and globally. Th...
Read more

The Battle For Public Opinion

Image
Social media platforms have impacted public opinion significantly. According to an  article by Pew Research Center , 70% of the 19 countries assessed felt that the spread of misinformation on social media is a major threat to their countries. Additionally, many felt people are easier to manipulate through social media (Greenwood 2023).  One major issue that leads to the possibility of spreading misinformation and rumors is people's unwillingness to validate the information received. The  SIFT  method suggests four easy steps to help validate information: stop, investigate the source, find better coverage, and trace the claims. The following video gives additional suggestions on how to avoid misinformation... Some key factors contributing to the online battle for public opinion are environmental, mass media, and social media. The article  "Components of public opinion: attitudes and values" , notes how environmental factors, especially social environments (family...
Read more

Social Semiotics

Image
       Discovered by Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure and American philosopher Charles Sanders Pierce,  the field of semiotics examines the connection between signs, anything that represents something else (Riera 2021), and how we perceive them. Semiotics is derived from the Greek words semeio ( meaning interpreter of signs), and the word tikas (meaning pertaining to). Semiotics  is important because it helps us decipher the meaning behind signs, especially those that have to do with marketing.      Some of the rules associated with semiotics/methodology are sign, context, and meaning (Riera 2021). Sign  or the signifier determines how information is interpreted by the receiver. Context  refers to the specific meaning of conversations or interactions that provide relevant information. Meaning is how the recipient determines the meaning behind a sign or context , based on personal experiences.         ...
Read more