#then the problem is on YOU. For not catering to your own online experience. Suspicious if you ask me.

[crezz-star]

DAILY REMINDER

There's no wrong way of pairing characters! There is no WRONG pairings.

If you think there is and you're making reasons to justify it, the problem is ON YOU for not being able to understand the FACT that by the end of the day, all of us are just making paper dolls kiss. That they're not real, and invalidating other pairings by making up reasons about morality and stuff, just makes it obvious you're bitter and honestly it's embarrassing for you.

Don't like the pairing? Don't talk about it. Block it. Block the people who make content of it. Don't look at it. AVOID IT. Cater to your own environment.

✨Be respectful of what others likes✨

✨RESPECTING OTHERS' LIKES AND INTEREST IS FREE. NOT BEING AN A-HOLE IS FREE✨

But what they like makes me angry- Block them and avoid the pairing. But their pairing is weird and gross- Block them and avoid the pairing. But the pairing makes me so uncomfortable- Block them and avoid the pairing. But-- BLOCK THEM AND AVOID THE PAIRING.

[scullyeffect]

how do you feel about younger people in fandom? like the youngest side that are probably on tumblr i.e 13/14ish?

i don’t know if you mean in the x-files fandom, or just younger people getting involved into fandom stuff online nowadays so i’m just going to go with a generalization. 

i’m nobody’s mother and interests are healthy, and honestly i’m 23 so i don’t know anything about anything yet, but i will say that i live with a 15 y/o girl, a 13 y/o girl, and an 11 y/o girl, and i find myself very sad when all they want to do is go on a phone and watch youtube videos and be online instead of doing something more creative or intellectual.

we had a birthday party for 11 last night, and we had to take phones away from like six 10-11 year olds, which is ridiculous. i do understand that we live in a big city (paris, which isn’t exactly the safest) and lots of kids do things independently (walk to school, walk to friends’ houses, take the métro) so sometimes i worry about 11 (who doesn’t have a phone) if she needs to take the métro alone or walk somewhere alone, and i wish she did have some way to reach me if ever she got lost or something, but 11 is so young.

i think in a world that’s become so increasingly digitized and almost making it necessary to be connected in some way, kids are growing up faster, and some of the posts online and on tumblr talk about things they might not understand yet, and cause them to form opinions based on a text post some 18 y/o wrote. i’m even guilty of this. i’ll get too lazy to keep up with the real world and get my politics from tumblr sometimes, and that’s probably not good, even though mainstream news sources can do the same thing. my mom worked for the washington post, and that’s pretty much the only place i get my news from.

i probably got my first tumblr account when i was 15, and honestly i regret it. i was a pretty sheltered kid/teenager who really enjoyed reading, doing art, writing, and watching sad european dramas about dead sovereigns and suffering artists. i somehow discovered pro-ana blogs (blogs that share and encourage eating disorders to the point where healthy people can begin to actively attempt to follow insane tips in order to lose weight), and since i actually had been having trouble with my own eating habits but never really known that those behaviors were bizarre, i self-diagnosed and was part of that “community” for awhile. 

i was interested/ in love with lots of actors and actresses, and as i made it out of kind of the pro-ana area which i realized which was unhealthy lol i found out about stan culture and just real obsession with movie stars/celebrities. when i was a younger teen i was “obsessed” with meryl streep, which at that time meant that i watched all her films repeatedly. i didn’t realize people cared about the actors/actresses’ personal lives until i got on tumblr, and at the time it was really exciting to discover things about my favorite celebrities (i mean, being a fan of someone obviously isn’t new, but it was to me). now that i’m 23 i find it very invasive and somewhat creepy that we’re so interested in someone’s life, sometimes even more than their body of work. we’ll probably never meet that person, and if we do they’re not going to think about you or remember you forever, because there are thousands of other people out there who feel the same way, and they just can’t keep track (at least the huge stars). 

on the flip side, i think it’s good to have role models and people to look up to, but sometimes there’s a thin line there. i’m blonde, but i dyed my hair brown in my first year of high school because i was obsessed with marion cotillard and wanted to look like her. i kept the brown throughout high school because i liked it, and sort of forgot i ever did it because of her, but now i’m blonde again and it looks so much better haha. ALSO i got really interested in france/speaking french because of her (and juliette binoche), although i had a fantastic and enthusiastic french teacher in high school to help fuel my desire to speak french. and now i’m fluent in french and live in france. wow. so, if there are people you look up to in the public eye and they’re influencing you in positive ways, that’s great! i do get suspicious when very influential celebrities share their political views, though. i think we have a tendency to follow in people’s footsteps either subconsciously or in full awareness. that could be in any field. i like certain authors, and sometimes my own writing is heavily influenced by their work. it’s a natural thing that happens. but voting really should be an informed decision...just my opinion.

let’s talk about “just my opinion”. online bullying is real and can sometimes be rampant if there are dividing views on someone and their perceived private life. for example, in the x-files fandom we will, for the most part, absolutely convince you that mulder and scully are fucking like bunnies, when the show’s own creator won’t lol. but there are also people who think that gillian anderson and david duchovny (the leads) were/are/could be at some point in a romantic relationship with each other. they (anderson and duchovny) even cater to the fans a bit, but at the end of the day that’s their business and they don’t owe us an explanation, and a lot of people in fandom sort of act like they do. the point of this example was that because people in fandom are divided about this point of view, if you talk about one side or the other, there are some people who will come at you and say mean things for not agreeing with you, and try to convince you of a truth they have no real authority to speak about. this is obviously just an example, but online bullying is rampant and is often taken personally and can really affect the person being bullied, especially someone younger who may or may not be already facing that in real life at school lol.

i think tumblr is a good place for people who suffer from mental illness to come together in a healthy way to talk through their problems (god i hope i’m telling the truth), and there’s definitely tons of awareness and support that you’ll get on tumblr that you may not find in the real world. for example, i don’t know anyone irl who has epilepsy who i can talk to about mine. on tumblr i’ve talked with people who understand what i’m going through. i think that self diagnosis online, just as much on tumblr as it is when i cough and search “signs of throat cancer or tuberculosis’, read up on web md, and immediately fear my days might be numbered, is a problem. on tumblr i think we’re introduced to concepts and can sometimes treat mental illness lightly, when it shouldn’t. if you’re suffering from a mental illness, the online world isn’t going to be the place that can completely help you (says the girl who refuses to go to therapy and instead complains online about how she’s not getting any better). 

being online immediately takes us out of life and into a different world. we become observers instead of experiencing the world. there’s good stuff about observation, but being online and attached to a website that is more or less just a vice for people will often make us choose to be on our phones instead of doing stuff in real life.

all of these points being said, i’m guilty of a lot of the “bad/unhealthy” facets of tumblr, but as i’ve “grown up” (unfortunately still staying on tumblr for a good portion of that time) i’ve grown out of a lot of these things and can see the good and the bad that the online world has to offer, and know which parts to stay away from. i can recognize that spending too much time on here does nothing for my desire to stay inside and not experience the real world. it also makes me think a lot more about tv shows/films/celebrities than i need to. but i’ve also made great friends from being on tumblr over the years, and gotten support i definitely wouldn’t have gotten in real life. 

back to my real life. do i encourage the girls i live with to be interested in certain media? yes, especially stuff i feel has a good message. i basically sat the two older ones down and showed them the pilot of the x-files. do they experience the same high level obsession i do with tv shows/movies? no. and i’m glad for that. they like to lose themselves in certain tv shows, but when the tv is off they don’t really talk about it. do i introduce them to things i’m interested in media-wise? yes. do i introduce them to books and music i was/am interested in? yes. have i told them about tumblr? no. they don’t have any access to my online “presence” (they don’t know my instagram, twitter, etc), and i don’t talk about it. when my computer is out and they’re in the room doing homework, i’m usually writing. granted, that’s usually fanfiction, but at least i’m writing something. 

one of the boys i tutor is writing a book (he’s 11) which is basically a self insert that takes place in the harry potter universe. he doesn’t know what fanfiction is, and i haven’t told him (although he��d never type it up and put it online lol he barely knows how to turn the computer on), but i’m so thrilled he’s even writing that i make him sit down and write for 10 minutes before we ever start watching a movie (in english). 

ANYWAY. i’m nobody’s mother and at the end of the day i’m posting this online on my stupid blog where nothing i say matters or has any influence anywhere, but i think kids should be able to enjoy a non-internet related childhood as long as possible. some of us on tumblr are old enough to actually have children that age, and as much as we like having an account on this site, if asked this same question we might not as readily say ‘yeah it’s great! i want my teenagers to have the same experience as me!’

there’s my two centimes. hope i answered your question. JuST MY OPINION.

[xhostcom]

8 Reasons for Slow Speeds in New York City

One of the major issues facing the internet industry is slow speed. This is more common in bigger cities like New York because of more traffic, extensive usage and large population. It's difficult to imagine life without a smooth and blazing fast internet connection. A slower connection can put the mockers on everything for you and hinder your daily online activities. Even sending a mail can be a torturous experience. In today’s internet-driven society, if you are facing a slow internet issue, it needs to be addressed. So here are the predominant factors responsible for slowing down your internet connection and I identify the issues so that you can fix your internet connectivity properly.

Datacenter Location

Where a data centre is physically located plays a very important role in data speeds and latency. Let's say you own a UK company that services customers mainly in central and south England. Storing your data on servers located in the US means that the data has to travel clear across the Atlantic whenever it's accessed by your customers. That data will not reach a customer's device as quickly as it would if your data centre were located just outside of London. In fact, annual surveys consistently show that internet users are quick to drop sites with slow page load times. People want access to data instantaneously. They don’t want to wait for data to travel across the ocean. At Xhostcom we always ensure that the Datacenters are in line with the business location, and the site is set up with a USA server if in the USA.

Spyware and Viruses

It is a well-acknowledged fact that viruses do slow down your computer. They can slow down your internet connection to a great extent. It is important to ensure safe browsing because viruses can drain your systems and make your internet speeds crumble. Therefore, your systems must be equipped with security software to handle any system malware. It is important to avoid accessing any unsafe files or suspicious links to prevent any decrease in internet speeds.

Wrong Positioning of your Router

Another cause of slowing down your internet might be the wrong placement of your router. Your router might be surrounded or disrupted by physical objects in its immediate vicinity. This usually results in slower connectivity. Therefore you can try to change the position of your router. Make sure there is no radio-based device around as it might cause disturbance to the signals.

Subscription to a Slower Network

Have you thought of checking the reliability of your service provider? You might be in contract with a slower network. Bigger cities offer accessibility to a wide range of options. For instance, if you live in New York, you have a wide range of providers available around you. With it comes accessibility to a vast range of plans and packages that these New York internet providers might have in store for you. All it takes is a little effort to look around for better options. After you have researched well, make sure you subscribe to a provider that offers impressive speed. However, be vary since most of the providers claim to offer blazing speeds, but in reality, they fail to deliver what they promise. Therefore it is always wise to opt for well-reputed providers who enjoy a good prestige in the market as they are likely to offer better internet connection services. Internet speed usually depends on two factors, which include bandwidth and latency. Network latency refers to the time delay between your connecting device and the server, and it can be one of the factors that result in a struggling internet.

Old Equipment

Using old equipment can also be one of the reasons for the slowing of your internet speeds. This is because it might be insufficient to cater the bandwidth that you are paying for. If you feel that it’s been a long time since you have updated your equipment and it might be slowing down your internet speed, then you should contact your internet service provider for a new router that might not cause any hindrance to your internet speeds.

Rush Hours

Accessing the internet during rush hours can also be a reason for experiencing decreased internet speed. It happens because of the higher levels of traffic in specific hours like 6 pm to 11 pm during the weekdays and during weekends. If it is occasional, then there is not much to worry about. However, if it happens frequently, then you must try switching your internet provider.

Inadequate Bandwidth

If you are working in an office based in New York and facing internet speed issues, then there is a possibility that your office might not be offering the required bandwidth. The bandwidth might be less for the multiple operations performed on a daily basis. If that is the case, then it is time to upgrade the current internet plan and switch to a better one.

Cheaper Plans

Your internet might also not possess impressive speeds because you have subscribed to a cheaper plan that offers lesser bandwidth. Bigger cities like New York have greater traffic accessing internet connections for various purposes. Therefore if you are in need of a faster internet connection, you must subscribe to higher-tier plans that come at a greater cost but offer blazing speeds that can accommodate all your online activities swiftly. Therefore try investing more by taking a better internet plan or package to enjoy the perks of a seamless connection. Conclusion The above reasons can be the root causes of your slow internet connection, so if you are having these issues, it is important to pinpoint the possible cause of the problem. You can check out if the above-mentioned factors are causing the problems and if so,you need to address them in order to speed up your internet experience. It is only through a reliable and faster internet connection that you can carry your online tasks and activities in an effective way. Once you find the issue, you can effectively solve it to enjoy seamless connectivity. If you enjoyed this post, and on the subject of speed, why not check out this article on WP Rocket Premium Caching Plugin for WordPress! Post by Xhostcom Wordpress & Digital Services, subscribe to newsletter for more! Read the full article

[onespyindia-blog]

Install Hidden Spy App to know everything in the “Unknown World” of Internet

Internet is a world in its own, a large virtual world. It has many secrets and information which can take years for a person to experience. What is better than the internet when it gives you everything in its core with just a few strokes of your fingers? This makes the internet a world of the unknown, people usually don’t know the extent of the things they can do on internet. This makes Hidden Spy App necessary for the people to keep a continuous track on the internet activities of their close ones.

Internet can be tricky sometimes with the amount of information it has to offer. Anyone can reach to the infinity of the information and things on internet. The extent of internet is infinite and it makes it interesting, tricky and dangerous at the same time. Interesting because the amount and variety of information one can get from the source. It is always amazing to be guided by a single service. ONESPY’s Hidden Spy App helps you in figuring out the type of information your kids are searching on the internet. Internet is filled with inappropriate content, which you don’t want your kid to access.

Tricky in terms of the authenticity of the information that is provided on the internet. There can be several different details related to the same topic on different websites. It becomes confusing in analyzing the right and the wrong information. Internet is the biggest source of false information and most people usually believe everything they see or read on internet. Kids sometimes start believing all the false things from the web. A Hidden Spy App helps the users to keep a track of all the internet searches made from the target phone.

The biggest reasons to put a check on the internet

The major problem for the parents is that they sometimes have no idea of what could be dangerous for their kids. One reason for this problem is, that there is a very thin line between danger and safety that needs to be checked.

Hidden Spy App helps the parents to keep the odds in their favor. To decide what is wrong and what is right, parents need to update themselves of all the bad things on internet. So, in order to keep their children safe from the online predators, parents need to continuously upgrade their online awareness.

Detection of the suspicious websites is just as important as upgrading yourself. Parents need to teach their kids how to evaluate the tricks of the online fraudsters. This could only be done when the parents are themselves updated of the dangers that online predators create. ONESPY is a Hidden spy app for Android which helps the parents to check the unending internet usage of their kids. They also get access to all the social media accounts of the kid through this Hidden Spy App.

Kids these days are always on internet, they are constantly in front of their phone screens. They are mostly on the internet, doing something or the other. Maybe they are playing games, surfing through social media, chatting with friends or even searching for some information. Teenagers use the internet more than the adults these days. In times like these, parents need to educate their kids about the after effects of online frauds and also the variety of the frauds that are committed by the online fraudsters.

Hidden Spy App helps the parents in continuously monitoring their kid’s activities so that they are always ready to face bad situations, if they may come. ONESPY is one of a kind, Hidden Spy App which helps in monitoring each and every activity of the target phone. It monitors each and every activity and puts the parents in the right position to tackle any kind of situation which can put their family in danger.

Information about Internet’s information is essential

Internet is a cyber world where anyone can get answers to any of their queries. Trusting everything that is on Internet is a mistake and sometimes can lead to wrong information. Your kids need to be guided about this as soon as possible. It is an open platform and anyone can put anything on it, this information often leaves the teenagers in trusting the wrong facts and figures.

Through a Hidden Spy App, parents can track what information their kids are searching for and how relevant that site is. Parents need to constantly check on their kids through a Hidden Spy App which lets the parents to take necessary actions on their kids. Parents should guide their children that all the information that is present on Internet is not authenticated and it can be misleading, very often. They should educate their kids about the things to keep in mind while searching for any information on the internet. Parents can do all this by installing a Hidden Spy App.

ONESPY caters efficiently

ONESPY is a Hidden spy app for Android which provides the best and the greatest number of tracking and monitoring features to the customers. The engineering team of ONESPY has created more than 30 superiorly engineered features which never go nonfunctional. ONESPY reigns the spy business because it is 100 per cent legal and authentic. It fully works under the laws of the Indian constitution.

ONESPY has the most number of efficient features which gives accurate results in the tracking and monitoring sector. It is preferred by the best companies and many parents to keep an eye on their employees and kids, respectively. This Hidden Spy App gives you the most efficient experience of tracking and monitoring.

[michaelwatson987-blog]

Top rated Tips And Advice On Finding A Reputable Professional locksmith

When you consider a bad condition, can you try and instantly put it away from your head? Many people just loathe to consider the bad things which can happen, which results in them inside the lurch after you could try these out they do happen. Plan for the most severe by getting a excellent professional locksmith because of the ideas below. Whenever a locksmith professional is exchanging a fasten for yourself, be sure that they are making use of a new one that may be within a covered package deal. It can be the best way to make sure that they haven't crafted a replicate. When they do, consequently they can gain access to your home each time they like. Several locksmith professionals will quotation that you simply value over the telephone. Once they be able to your physical location and alter their brain, do not keep on working with them. They may be just attempting to make use of the situation, and you ought to be suspicious. There are many of locksmith professionals in any presented area, so usually do not sense stuck into making use of someone who you aren't more comfortable with. Take notice of the auto the professional locksmith is driving. It needs to be decorated with her or his business motto. In the event the locksmith comes in a unmarked car, it really is possibly very best to search for other people. The locksmith that you named will not be genuine and might try to scam you. Before you work with a local locksmith professional, look at the neighborhood legal guidelines. Numerous claims have rules set up to shield buyers from fraud and sub-par operate. As an illustration, Ca mandates licensing. Understand how the regulations in the area are established to shield you and make sure that they can do! You've got also mcuh on the line to never. Get yourself a invoice as soon as the work is carried out. Most locksmith professionals are needless to say truthful, but you can find scam musicians on the market. That is why you want proof which you compensated them. Keep the invoice to make sure you have it offered when a transaction concern arises afterwards. Most locksmith professionals understand the way to select a lock and enable you to access your own home. In case you are told the overall lock has to be changed, you should check this out as a caution indication. This fees considerably more than choosing the lock, which is the cause some locksmiths will say it really is required. Be prepared and locate a locksmith professional before you decide to demand their solutions. Throughout an crisis, you will find a lot much less alternatives to select from. You may even end up utilizing an individual using a below stellar status. If you reside in an exceedingly sizeable town, it might be almost impossible to choose among every one of the locksmith professionals accessible in your neighborhood. Phone several locksmith professionals and prepare in-particular person meetings as a way to protect quotations. Select the locksmith that gives the best price estimate and contains the insurance plan and experience to support it. Usually request a professional locksmith provided you can visit a image Identification well before they get started. Usually do not be offended if they request you for the very same. Anything good professional locksmith asks for an ID so they know that you are someone that is authorized to get in the property or motor vehicle involved. If the professional locksmith shows up on-website, ensure that the retail price fits the purchase price you gotten on the telephone. When the two rates tend not to complement, will not let them work with your automobile or property. There are a variety of factors the 2 prices will not go with, a lot of them will not be very good. Never ever use any locksmith which will charge you just for arriving! Most locksmiths will not do that, so if this takes place, maybe you are getting cheated. Speak to the authorities if you think you are receiving scammed. Locate a professional locksmith before you need them. This really is key to ensuring that you know the individual is trustworthy and trustworthy. Don't just look online, but contact them, meet them and understand whatever they offer you. You'll get a sensing to them and know if you believe in them from the very beginning. A professional locksmith is normally related to home and vehicle tresses, but remember that they may be known as if you are having issues accessing a safe. You should offer sound evidence that you are in fact the individual of your safe, however they will certainly allow you to obtain accessibility. Be sure you receive an invoice which happens to be itemized when the jobs are carried out. It will consist of elements, effort, additional fees, taxation and everything else billed to you personally, including mileage. The greater number of detailed it really is, the higher, especially if you find yourself disputing fees after the phone is over. Examine your state's Lawyer General web site when studying community locksmiths. They may have information about local business owners as well as problems registered from them. This can be a wonderful way to restrict your collection just to individuals who are premium quality organizations who truly offer anything they assurance when you work with them. Make sure that the retail price you had been quoted on the phone closely suits the cost you will be receiving on location. There are plenty of scams around, which bait and switch is one of them. It's wise to veterinarian locksmiths just before an urgent situation even happens just to ensure that you don't end up in this case. Should you be considering a locksmith, it is best to investigate before getting 1. Find out about a possible locksmith's expertise, insurance plan, permit and referrals. If something about the subject looks off bottom, you should look for someone else. This is a lot safer to err on the side of extreme care in such a case since your safety reaches danger. When it is your vehicle that your locked out of, pull out your insurance credit card and get in touch with your insurance firm the first thing. Your insurance firm could have particular demands about which locksmith is utilized. They will also be ready to manage all the information for you personally. It's the wise initial proceed to safeguard oneself. Once you choose a legal representative, you ought to obtain the scenario to become stress and anxiety-free and successful. You must get a professional on part who will genuinely cater to your preferences. So long as you make use of all of the recommendations offered in this article, you ought to have no worries obtaining a locksmith professional these days.

[egnblogs]

Fake News, Information Bubbles and Skepticism

At the time of this writing much of the discourse surrounding social media is related to the emerging problem of fake news. Actually perhaps “emerging” is a little misleading, as what is currently deemed “fake news” is just the old problem of misinformation given a new label. The specific term seems to have come to prominence in the days after the 2016 election, with many blaming the results of the election on misinformation spread by social media.

What is new, however, is the sheer amount of misinformation out there and how the simultaneously developing problem of internet information silos assists in its propagation. Digital content creation tools have never been easier to access or more ubiquitous, and while that brings forth a host of benefits such as more diverse viewpoints, it also creates that much more misinformation, spread by those who are either uninformed or manipulative. This overabundance of misinformation is not helped by the dual threat of confirmation bias and information silos. Algorithms created to cater to internet users, by providing them with only information that will be relevant to them personally, end up creating information bubbles that admit few outside opinions or facts. This problem is further compounded by a natural confirmation bias, human tendency to seek out and engage only with information that reinforces already held beliefs and viewpoints. These two aspects combined lead to a situation where algorithms used by social media platforms reinforce an already human tendency to self-select information, and either misinformation or information presented through a biased lens is propagated throughout that existing bubble.

The solution to this multi-faceted problem must be as multi-faceted as the problem itself. New algorithms will have to be created which expose social media users to differing viewpoints and stories, but equally people must be taught to engage critically and skeptically with the stories and claims they encounter. People must be encouraged to seek out differing viewpoints, to get past inherent biases and self made echo chambers. At the moment, it would seem large sections of society simply do not possess the skills needed to critically engage with news stories found online. Consider a recent study done by the Stanford History Education Group, which found that most students in the public school system cannot distinguish fake news from genuine news stories.

The experiment run by the group asked students at several levels of education, from middle school to college, to evaluate the credibility and accuracy of various articles and ads presented to them as news sites, tweets, infographics and other websites. Most students were able to successfully distinguish ads from news articles, but most students also failed to distinguish traditional news reports from “sponsored content”, despite content being clearly labeled as such. They saw no reason to be suspicious of content that was being sponsored by groups with agendas, and even with the ability to use the internet and search for outside information on the source, did not pick up on potential conflicts of interest when examining websites funded by lobbying groups. More than 80% of middle-schoolers who took part in the experiment couldn’t discern what the difference was between sponsored content and non-sponsored content, which is rather disturbing when 88% of young adults regularly get their news from some form of social media.

(Let me do due diligence before moving on. It is not necessarily that sponsored content cannot is entirely fake or that it cannot make arguments worth hearing. If an argument is supported by solid reasoning and evidence than the origin of the claim should not matter. Yet when seeing sponsored content, one should be extra careful to read the article with a skeptical mind and seek out alternative viewpoints.)

It is clear that the skills needed to effectively engage with news and information in this current era (an eye for possible bias, a skeptical mind, a willingness to seek out other viewpoints, etc.) are deficient in many members of society, and it is not entirely their fault. The public school system must begin teaching the sorts of skills needed to effectively navigate today’s news world. Furthermore it falls to all of us in society to encourage critical thinking and diverse viewpoints, to keep each other honest and informed.

Let me say also that skepticism is not the same thing as refusing to engage with a person or source. A worrying trend is the refusal to engage with traditional news sources, a fundamental distrust people seem to have developed in institutions. Distrust in governmental bodies, distrust in academic institutions, distrust in news media, and distrust in the very scientific endeavor all seem to have increased in the past few years. There is an assumption that the educated elite of society, who have spent their lives studying and thinking about their own fields, are out-of-touch, power hungry, corrupt, or utterly mistaken. What has taken their place is a reliance on anonymous twitter users, viral images, reddit/tumblr armies, Youtube celebrities, caps lock posts and yes, fake news.

It is good to practice skepticism, but that skepticism should be applied equally to every claim you interact with, not just to those who represent “the establishment”. It is good that the internet enables more diverse viewpoints, but standards of evidence and logic need not degrade to accommodate them. Experts on fields of inquiry and politics should be heeded, not worshipped blindly of course, but given a benefit of the doubt until an individual has done the amount of homework necessary to call their views into question. Yes, no doubt modern news media deserves much of the criticism it receives, as focused as it is on tabloid stories, celebrity gossip, and the shallow bias coverage created by the 24-hour news cycle.  However, remember that not all news media is the same, and to distinguish between individuals and institutions. Good institutions have self-correcting mechanisms like fact-checkers and ethics boards (many news companies have these, surprise surprise), the self-correcting mechanisms of science work the same way. If we are prepared to dispose of an institution, we should have something better to replace it with. At this moment, I venture to say we do not.

Isaac Asimov said that, “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’”

We want the internet to be a place that celebrates intellectualism and the standards of evidence and argument that advance science and epistemology. We do not want it to be a place that promotes anti-intellectualism and sacrifices these traits in the name of equality. If this situation is to improve, companies like Facebook and Google will have to do their part in combating fake news, yes. Yet it will fall to all of us to keep ourselves and other intellectually honest, curious, and skeptical and for those of us who can to help others develop those all important traits and skills.