#what social media management tools should i use

[anbuselvi1]

10 Best Social Media Contest Tools For 2023 (Tried & Tested)

10 Best Social Media Contest Tools For 2023 (Tried & Tested)

The best social media contest platforms & apps – summary TL;DR: SweepWidget is the best contest app for most users. It supports 90+ entry methods and 30+ social media platforms. It also includes a free plan. Embed your SweepWidget on any page of your blog. Includes dedicated WordPress plugin. Woorise is the best contest app for those who need additional lead generation functionality. Create…

[prettieinpink]

how do i learn to develop JOMO? (joy of missing out)

HOW TO DEVELOP JOMO

Jomo is the joy in missing out. JOMO encourages intentional living and finding fulfilment in the present rather than seeking validation or fearing missing out on what others are doing. It celebrates the freedom and peace that comes from consciously choosing to miss out on certain social activities and trends. 

DISCONNECT. Social media is an illusion, it makes everything look better than it truly is. Not only should you put boundaries on how you manage and use your accounts, but you should also shift your mindset when using them. 

Begin to think of social media as a tool to help you become the best version of yourself. Consume content that resonates with your current life or the life you’re working towards. This will motivate you to work hard for what you want. 

EMBRACE SOLITUDE. Learn to find enjoyment in being alone. Using this time by ourselves to reflect, recharge and indulge in our pleasures allows us to connect better with ourselves. 

To get used to being alone, challenge yourself to do things that you would usually have to do with someone else, by yourself. Whether it’s eating out, studying, shopping etc. 

REFRAME YOUR MINDSET TO GRADITUDE. Someone else’s assets, skills or experiences do not take away from your own. Be thankful for what you have, and what you are going to get. 

Begin to focus on what to cherish currently, other than what you could be missing out on. A way to practice gratitude is at the end of the day, to list 5 things that you’re thankful for (and you wouldn’t trade for someone else’s life!). 

PRIORITISE YOURSELF. You should start to see that the ability to take care of yourself is a privilege that you shouldn’t ignore. Instead of saying ‘yes’ to every commitment, only go to the ones that align with you and bring genuine fulfilment. 

The times when you’re not at any commitments, use it to invest in yourself and practice some self-care rituals regularly. Your health is more important than any other event. 

BE INTENTIONAL WITH YOUR TIME. Stop chasing after every single opportunity, especially ones that do not resonate with your dream life. Only do the things that align with your values and goals. 

Stay focused on what truly matters to you. This doesn’t even have to be about going out, it applies to scrolling, laying in bed all day, or watching TV shows, do something intentional instead. 

PRACTICE DETACHMENT. Focus on you and you only. Other people’s lives, words or actions should not play a role in how your days go. It does not matter what they’re doing, you’re just wasting energy on someone who probably could not care less. 

CELEBRATE OTHER’S SUCCESS. Someone else’s success is proof that you can do it too. There is enough success for everyone, be happy that others are achieving what you want to achieve because that allows you to open up to the opportunities you want. 

GET MOTIVATED & INSPIRED INTERNALLY. While I’m all for using other people’s lives as motivation, there is a line when your life becomes misaligned with your goals and values, because that’s still someone else’s life. 

You know yourself better than anyone else. You know why you want this, and you know how you envision it. Tap into those feelings and embody them. 

[genericpuff]

Webtoons Is Making Moves - So Should You.

We all saw it coming ages ago and now it's finally here. There's no more beating around the bush or doubting if anyone is "reading into it too much", Webtoons' use of AI in its more recent webtoons is not an accident, not an oversight, but by design, it always has been. And I guaran-fucking-tee you that the work that already exists on the platform won't be safe from Webtoons' upcoming AI integration through scraping and data mining. Sure, they can say they're not gonna replace human creators, but that doesn't change the fact that AI tools, in their current form, can't feasibly exist without stealing from pre-existing content.

Plus, as someone who's tested their AI coloring tools specifically... they're a long, LONG way away from actually being useful. Like, good luck using them for any comic style that isn't Korean manwha featuring predominantly white characters with small heads and comically long legs. And if they do manage to get their AI tools to incorporate more art styles and wider ranges of character identities... again, what do you think it's been trained on?

Also, as an added bit that I found very funny:

Um, I'm sorry, what fucking year is it? Because platforms like WT and Tapas have both been saying this for years but we're obviously seeing them backpedal on that now with the implementation of in-house publishing programs like Unscrolled which have reinvented the wheel of taking digital webtoons and going gasp physical! It's almost like the platform has learned that there's no sustainable profit to be had in digital comics alone without the help of supplementary streams of income and is now trying to act like they've invented physical book publishing!

"The future of comic publishing, including manga, will be digital"??? My brother in christ, Shonen Jump has been exclusively digital since 2012! What rock have the WT's staff been living under that they're trying to sell digital comics as the "future" to North Americans as if we haven't already been living in that future for over ten years now?? We've had an entire generation of children raised on that same digital media since then! This isn't the selling point you think it is LMAO If anything, the digital media market here in NA is dying thanks to the enshittification of digital content platorms like Netflix, Disney+, and mainstream social media platforms! That "future" is not only already both the past and present, but is swiftly on its way out! Pack it up and go home, you missed the bus!

Literally so much of WT's IPO pitch is just a deadass grift full of corporate buzzwords and empty promises. They're trying so hard to convince people that their business model is infinitely profitable... but if it were, why do they need the public's money? And where are all those profits for the creators who are being exploited day after day to fill their platform with content? Why are so many creators still struggling to pay their bills if the company has this much potential for profit?

Ultimately even their promised AI tools don't ensure profit, they ensure cutting expenses. The extra money they hope to make isn't gonna come from their content generating income, it's gonna come from normal people forking over their money in the hopes that it'll be turned around, and from Webtoons cheapening the medium even further until it's nothing but conveyer belt gruel. Sure, "making more than you spend" is the base definition of "profit", but can we really call it that when it's through the means of gutting features, retiring support programs, letting go editing staff, and limiting resources for their own hired freelancers who are the only reason they even have content to begin with? That's not sustainable profit or growth, that's fighting the tide which can and will carry them away at any moment.

I'm low key calling it now, a year or two from today we're gonna be seeing massive lawsuits and calls to action from the people who invested their money into WT and subsequently lost it into the black hole that is WT's "business model". This is a company that's been operating in the red for years, what about becoming an IPO is gonna make them "profitable"? Let alone profitable enough to pay back their investors in the spades they're expecting? The platform and its app are already shit and they're about to become even worse, we are literally watching this company circle the drain in the modern day's ever-ongoing race to the bottom, enshittification in motion, but they're trying to convince us all the same that they're "innovating".

Webtoons doesn't want to invest in its creators. We as creators need to stop investing in them.

[zebulontheplanet]

Hello!

May I ask you a question?

I'm currently researching ways to respectfully portray nonspeaking characters in media.

I'm planning on writing a book at some point and one of the characters is nonspeaking.

I wish to portray them without promoting harmful stereotypes, so I've decided to ask people who are actually affected about the topic.

What would you say are things that should be avoided when portraying nonspeaking individuals?

And, a little more specific to the setting I'm writing, what AAC would be OK for a character to use in a setting without technology?

As I currently have it, most of the characters in the nonspeaking individual's social circle do know sign language. However, one of them doesn't at the beginning of the story. (They learn later.)

Would it be OK to use Morse code for communication here? Or writing in a notebook?

You are, of course, in no way obligated to answer my questions. Please don't feel pressured to do so.

Thank you for your time!

Hello! Thank you for asking. So, I’m a word with no technology then a notepad and sign language can be a very good tool. Not many people know Morse code, so unless it’s something you build into your story line and have as a neutral thing that most people know, then it can be confusing on why they know Morse code in the first place. If that makes sense.

Notepads are very useful, and I think that’s a great idea! I’d love to see how you build that into their storyline. Is the notepad old? Does the notepad have a story itself? I’d love to see a storyline for how they got the notepad, and how they managed to keep it and tend to it throughout their journey. As well as how they keep writing utensils. Such as pens and pencils, cause those run out eventually. Do they carry around a large supply of pencils and pens?

I’d love to see how you portray the nonspeaking character. How they became nonspeaking, if it’s been since birth or an injury or just something else. I’d love to see the character be diverse. Like a POC, further disabled, has other mental health conditions, etc etc. I’d love for the nonspeaking character not to be the comedian of the group, and actually be an essential part of the story. I’d also love to see how you portray the potential ableism they face, and how those around them react to finding out how and why they can’t speak.

I hope this helps! You’re free to ask further questions! Have a lovely day anon and I hope this gives you something.

[catgirlhell]

hi! about the "learn how it works before you start making assumptions" about the bluesky post and its networks; what assumptions should we be looking out for? that its not twitter and not everyone is going to be connected like on there? your description of federated networks is understandable, but the default domain it seems to have at signup is bluesky's. I feel like most people would be using this, and only people looking for a certain thing and knowingly leaving that "sphere" will know that theyre isolating to a different community.

I'm new to this too and theres very very minimal, well explained things about it online, and youre the only person I've come across who seems to know anything, so if you have more advice to share I'd appreciate it!

as much as I would like to answer this as an authority and really contribute to the nascent understanding of federated instances as an alternative to current social media platforms, the fact of the matter is that im not. i have a basic understanding of the way in which they work and how to use them, and I dont think im the best source of information. this being the case, since i did bring it up and i did get an ask, i'll try to explain the best i can.

the "fediverse" (dont mind the silly name, we know its silly) might best be explained with the similarities to email. Misskey, Mastodon, and others marketing themselves as federated instance platforms are basically like if you took your email account and stapled twitter to it: Misskey/Mastodon are not platforms themselves, so much as they are frameworks for web servers that connect to one another independently and are run by individuals. These frameworks are usually open source, have different alternative forks that offer different additional features/ui elements, and ultimately all connect to one another regardless. but they are not "platforms" like tumblr or twitter or facebook. anyone can make their own federated instance, and what that instance looks like depends on what framework they used to set it up.

Bluesky and Threads are different. Bluesky differs in that it is run on a private protocol-- it runs differently to the protocols used by the aforementioned open source alternatives and currently cannot connect with them. It's still in beta and its too early to call how it will operate. Threads, like Bluesky, is also a private protocol. At current, it merges your information with other Facebook/Meta products (facebook, instagram, etc). Supposedly, these will eventually be able to communicate with the Fediverse at large, but you should keep a great amount of suspicion with them, as both are run by billionaires. Bluesky is the project of the former head of twitter, and Threads obviously belongs to Zuckerburg and Facebook.

If you head about "x platform is homophobic/racist" in reference to the earlier federated instance frameworks, understand this very crucial thing about Mastodon/Misskey/etc:

They are not websites. They do not have established moderation policies and staff dedicated to managing who posts what.

as stated, Masto/Misskey are just server frameworks. Each federated instance using those frameworks is run by individuals on their own private web servers that they either operate themselves or rent out from a company. the largest Misskey instance, Misskey.io, is currently under fire for having homophobic moderation practices. This does not mean that every instance of Misskey is moderated with homophobia in mind, and homophobic moderation tools are not built into the code of Misskey.

As the old guard of web 2.0 crumbles, the internet is changing again. whether we fall back into the ad-friendly hellhole of yesteryear or we enter a new phase of the internet's wild west depends on platform migration patterns and whether or not people develop some pretty basic web and internet literacy that's been lost over the last 20 years as the internet corporatized and users had to learn less and less about how the websites they used work. my explanation here probably has incorrect information and holes in it, but that is because i, myself, do not fully understand the total extent to which the fediverse and federated protocols operate; i, too, am a layman.

that being said, i hope this was helpful to anyone trying to figure this stuff out. i've already carved my own space on a small, invite-only instance with friends, but i've got no plans to move shop until this place really does burn down to the ground. hope that helps. good luck!

[mariacallous]

In January, the CEOs of X, TikTok, Meta, Snap, and Discord testified in front of a congressional committee about child exploitation on their platforms. “Mr. Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us, I know you don’t mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands,” Senator Lindsey Graham said at the time.

Despite confrontational questioning from Graham and others about how many underage users were on their platforms, and what safeguards protected them, Zuckerberg and other executives weren’t questioned about the concerning practices of some parents who manage social media accounts on behalf of their young children. A New York Times investigation the month after the hearing found that some parents, mostly of girls, were amassing tens of thousands of followers for their children by posting suggestive images that can attract predators.

Now, Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan is demanding that tech companies account for the untold thousands of accounts that place girls as risk of exploitation on their platforms, through the actions of adult account-holders.

“These corporations must answer for how they are allowing young women and girls to be exploited on their platforms and what steps they will take in response,” Senator Hassan, who represents New Hampshire, told WIRED. “Young women should be able to express themselves online in safe environments that do not facilitate the monetization of potentially exploitative content.”

The Times investigation found that parents can readily bypass the age restrictions of social platforms that bar children under 13 from having accounts. Some parents use the accounts they set up for their children to essentially monetize their daughters by putting them to work as influencers, garnering discounts and sponsorship deals or pulling in advertising revenue.

More sinisterly, some of these accounts brought in money from people seeking sexual or suggestive material about young girls, some of whom were convicted sex offenders. Some of these followers are willing to pay for extra photos beyond those shared on a girl’s social media account, or for private chats or used clothing. Times reporters examined some 5,000 accounts of young girls run by their parents.

While the Times found that some of the parents also operated TikTok accounts, the phenomenon was most prevalent on Meta's Instagram. (X was not mentioned in the Times investigation, and the company claims that its underage user base constitutes less than 1 percent of its usership. WIRED has previously reported that the platform may not have the age verification systems needed to accurately make such a claim.)

“After the disturbing revelations about predators interacting with the posts of minors and even buying their worn clothing, it continues to be clear that social media companies are failing to keep our children safe,” says Senator Hassan.

Meta, TikTok, and X did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In a statement to the Times about its earlier reporting, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said that the company prevents “accounts exhibiting potentially suspicious behavior from using our monetization tools, and we plan to limit such accounts from accessing subscription content,” but that parents were ultimately responsible for the accounts.

In the letters sent to TikTok, X, and Meta, Hassan is asking companies to disclose whether they were aware of parents circumventing their age requirements, whether accounts of young girls are monetized—or have ads placed on them—by the platforms, and what active measures the companies have in place to detect these kinds of accounts.

The platforms have until April 8 to offer their responses.

[sweettjrose]

Detective Mickey Pilot P.5

So this took a little bit longer than expected... Yeah. I guess I don't really have a realistic idea of how long these will end up taking. I'll try not to take as long on Part 6 and the possible epilogue. But part 5 is finished and honestly, I am really happy with how it turned out. I can't believe we are already so close to the end. Again thank you all so much for the support. I appreciate it so much!!!

Well, you waited long enough, let's jump into... Part 5.

Previous Part: X

Final Part: X

Mickey closes the gate of the construction site, but doesn’t lock it. He gives a small smile, seemingly pleased with what he just accomplished. The site should hopefully remain untouched by the time he needs it. Apparently this was going to be a building for a parachuting and paragliding class, but something must have happened and the building never got finished. It has been sitting unused for almost about a year now. Thankfully, Mickey knew the construction manager who was in charge of the project and he let Mickey borrow the keys to the site. Mickey helped him in the past find his missing electrical tools in the garage of his sneaky neighbor and this was a way to say thank you. Mickey looks at the sky. He uses whatever Junior Woodchuck knowledge he could muster and gathers that it is about noon. Hm… That should hopefully be enough time to enact the second part of his plan.

Mickey heads over to his car which is tucked away in a nearby parking lot, hopefully not easy to see. He opens the trunk and takes out a bag of five Little Korker V39 Cameras. They aren’t exactly in the best shape since Mickey had to fix them. But they look convincing enough. He takes the cameras out and wraps them around his body using the straps they are connected to. Mickey then walks a couple blocks until he is closer to the docks. After finding a good enough spot, he gets his phone out and takes a selfie, trying his best to capture both the cameras and the docks. It is a bit of a challenge thanks to his tiny arms, but he finally manages to get a good picture. As he walks back to his car, he prepares a social media post with the selfie. The mouse debates on whether to try to add a caption but decides to just tag words that will hopefully get attention in the right circles. He schedules the post to go off in about an hour, giving him some time to prepare, and then places his phone in the glove compartment of his car.

There. Now with the bait set, all Mickey has to do is to head back to the docks and wait. Thankfully, there aren’t many people around as not many ships come in or out this time of year. Though there are still a few fishermen who do seem a bit curious about the mouse with the cameras wrapped around him, but not curious enough to stop their work. Once Mickey returns to the spot where he took the picture, he begins to pace around. It is still going to be a couple of minutes until the post he made is released onto the internet. Then the second part of his plan can begin. He smiles to himself thinking about how confusing the post will be to his friends and family. He usually posts pictures of the time he spends with Minnie or Pluto. But perhaps they’ll see why by the end of today. But until then, all he can do is wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.

Hours pass and Mickey continues to pace the area, he tries his best to stick close to where he took the picture but walks out far enough to increase his chance of being seen. As Mickey walks around he starts to wonder if his plan will work. Will He see the post? What if He doesn’t? What if Mickey is wasting his time? Maybe He already found all the cameras and is gone by now. There were only 13 left, the last time he checked. But then again how is the Phantom Blot finding these cameras? These are old cameras and not everyone is going to make a post about them or have them in a store. What if… Mickey shakes himself out of his thoughts. He needs to focus if this plan is going to work. The mouse takes another look around at his surroundings, keeping a close eye on any shadowy areas. Unfortunately, he has yet to see anything of note. Mickey pulls out an energy bar from his pocket and starts to eat. He needs to keep his energy up, in case his target appears out of nowhere. Mickey sighs. He really hopes that this works. If it can’t, he wouldn’t know what else to do… “Mickey?”

The Mouse quickly turns his head at the sound of the voice, getting ready to run if needed. He looks around to see… A furious hawk standing right behind him. Shoot. The Editor in Chief. What is he doing here? How did he… The Editor interrupted his thoughts and shouted at the mouse asking where in the world he had been all day. He brings up that Mickey was supposed to come in today and how he has been trying to call him for hours. Mickey stands there. At a complete loss of what to do. Not him. Not now. Mickey tries his best to stutter out a response but is interrupted again as the Hawk goes on about how he had to track down the mouse’s location based off of a recent social media post and cannot understand why on earth he is here. The Editor then takes notice of the hanging cameras around Mickey’s body and asks what those are for until his eyebrows furrow upon realizing for himself. He harshly inquires on whether those are the cameras from the story he told Mickey to drop. Mickey tries once again to explain, only for the Hawk to continue about how he told the mouse to stop going after this story. He expresses that he can’t believe that he disobeyed him and is still wasting time on this stupid case. He offered Mickey a very generous second chance and he threw it back into his face. As the Hawk goes on ranting, Mickey just stands there. Frozen. He doesn’t know what to say or do. He wasn’t expecting this at all. How can he even fix this? Can he fix this? He’s never been in trouble like this. Ever. Oh Gosh. Everything is falling apart. He’s done for. It’s over.

As Mickey drowns in waves of worry, he does manage to catch the end bits of the Editor’s angry tirade as he exclaims that this is why he didn’t want the previous Editor in Chief to hire another Mouse. He continues how that hack journalist Felicity has caused the Mouseton Argus nothing but trouble and knew her brother would be just as bad. As Mickey hears this, he instantly retorts about how his sister is not a hack journalist. She is one of the best journalists in the world. The Editor gives a hearty but cruel chortle and challenges the mouse about how she is far from the best and only got to where she is due to being a manipulative opportunist. She would have run this paper into the ground if she didn’t get her fancy new job in the city. Mickey couldn’t believe his ears. And he wouldn’t believe it. He knows who his sister is. His sister got to where she is due to her hardwork and determination. She would not manipulate anyone. She never would. He shouts back at the Editor claiming that he is lying and he is just saying that because he’s jealous of her. This seemed to stop the editor-in-chief right in his tracks. Before his face hardened he icily tells the mouse that he doesn’t know his sister like he does. He starts closing in on the mouse adding that Mickey, on the other hand, is such a low-rate pathetic weakling who wouldn’t last a second as a real journalist. He’s a nobody who has absolutely nothing to offer the world of journalism. People like Mickey don’t go far into the world. People like Mickey don’t amount to anything. And people like Mickey should be grateful that people like him give them the time of day. 

The Editor takes a step back from the cornered mouse and fixes his collar. He takes one last glance at the shaking mouse with tears building up in his eyes. He sighs and notes that since he is such a nice guy, he is willing to give Mickey one final chance. But this time Mickey will be demoted to something somehow lower than he already is and his pay will be docked. But Mickey better drop this story once and for all or he is fired from the Mouseton Argus and will never ever work there again. Mickey's heart drops. He is still shaking, trying to recuperate after the harsh blows made against his sister and him. Mickey knew taking this case would have risks. But now his whole future is being put on the line. And he can’t give up now. He can’t. He is so close. There is too much at stake. Mickey tries one last time to plead with the Hawk, explaining that he needs to stick with this case. So many lives are in danger and if he just had a little bit more time… Unfortunately, he doesn’t get far until the Editor yells at him again, telling him about how he doesn’t care and how Mickey needs to learn to stay in his place and obey or else he will make sure that Mickey never works as a journalist Anywhere... Ever. Again. Mickey sulked. He could feel his mind blackout in deep despair. What is he going to do?

A young Mickey enters a small pink and orange room holding two printed photos in his hands. He hands them over to the taller feminine mouse who just recently finished typing something on her desktop computer. Felicity smiles at Mickey and thanks him for the pictures. She takes them to her printer covered in flower and kitten stickers and scans them. Once scanned she quickly adds them to the document she was making. And there. Finished. She remarks about how excited she is to share the new issue of the Mouseton Middle School Gazette tomorrow. She’s really proud of the article she wrote about the Winter Dance and thanks to Mickey she got some amazing pictures to go with it. Mickey can’t help but smile at his sister. He always loved how excited she got over her paper. She put so much love and care into it and as a result, everyone started to care for it too, including him. Mickey couldn’t stop himself from blurting out how he wanted to be just like her. Felicity turns to him and giggles a bit asking Mickey what he means. He explains that he wants to be a journalist just like her when he grows up. She is so smart and nice and hardworking and he wants to be too. She continues to giggle and thanks Mickey, adding that Mickey doesn’t have to be a journalist to be smart and hardworking. She explains that Mickey should find what really makes him happy. She knows that whatever he chooses, he will be amazing at. Mickey gives a thoughtful expression. Clearly trying to soak in what she said. Felicity clicks a couple more keys and the printer turns on, printing out a stack of articles. As the printer finishes she takes the stack and gives Mickey one last grin before asking “So Mickey… What do you want to do?”

A much older but still young Mickey walks up to the stage that is in front of him. He is currently surrounded by a crowd and trying his best to see if he can spot the person he is looking for. It takes a bit, but he finally catches her large round ears. He rushes through the crowd and gives his big sister a hug. She immediately looks over and laughs seeing her younger brother clinging to her once again. She greets him and hugs him back. Mickey congratulates her for her college graduation adding that he can’t believe she got hired at the Mouseton Argus for her first job. She mentions that it was tough, but she managed to impress the Editor in Chief enough that they had to hire her. Mickey jokes that she should save him a spot and Felicity giggles adding that she will try her best. Mickey laughs a bit, but then his smile starts to slowly fade away, revealing a much more worried expression. Felicity catches this and asks him what’s wrong. Mickey tries to tell her that it is nothing to worry about, but Felicity knows better and asks again, adding that Mickey could tell her anything. Mickey takes a breath and admits that he is a bit worried about whether he can accomplish as much as her. His sister accomplished so many amazing things and Mickey isn’t sure if he has what it takes. Felicity smiles and kneels a bit, looking Mickey straight in the eyes. She tells him that she knows who her brother is. And that he has more than it takes to accomplish anything he wants. She knows that either as a journalist or as anything else Mickey will do amazing and she will be there to support him the whole way. A smile returns to Mickey's face joined with a couple of tears. He remarks that there are so many choices he has to make soon and just wants to make the right ones like she did. She gazes at him with her warm eyes and loving smile. “Oh, Mickey. You are so smart, so kind, and just so brave. You always did the right thing even when it was hard. It is what I love about you. I know you will make the right choice. I just know it. I believe in you”

The right choice. The right choice. Mickey could feel a lump in his throat as he knew what he had to do. It wasn’t easy. But he had to do it. “I quit”. The Editor perked up at the response, asking the mouse to repeat himself. Mickey repeats himself this time louder and clearer. “I Quit”.  The Editor in Chief looks at him completely baffled, not believing at all what he is hearing. Mickey explains that he is tired of all the abuse that he had to deal with at the Mouseton Argus. And how the Editor went too far in trying to bring his sister into this. He thought that being a journalist was his dream, but it was not worth it for all of this. He needs to continue working on this Camera story. This is very important to him and he won’t give up. The only thing standing in his way right now is the Editor. And if the Editor is not going to trust him, then he can get out of his way. I quit. And with that, Mickey pushes aside the hawk and restarts his rounds. The Editor stands there completely dumbfounded, not at all expecting the mouse to actually fight back this time. He manages to regain composure and shouts at the mouse claiming that he will regret this decision and he will never work as a journalist ever again. Only for the mouse to continue on his path, completely ignoring the hawk. Frustrated, the Editor kicks a nearby rock and then stomps off in the other direction. 

As the Editor storms away, Mickey stops for a bit to comprehend what happened. He felt like his heart was pounding out of his chest. Did he do that? Did he really do that? Why did he do that? No, he had to do that. He stood there waiting. Expecting to feel a wave of guilt for what he just did. But he doesn’t… At all. If anything he could feel his shoulders get a bit lighter. Huh. Maybe he did actually make the right choice… Well, either way, he still has important business to finish. And unfortunately, that confrontation took away some valuable time. He really hoped he didn’t miss his target. Mickey starts walking again. Continuing on the same path as before. Still walking. Still watching. Still waiting. A couple more hours pass and the warm day shifts into a chilly night. Mickey shivers as a cool wind brushes against his bare arms. The street lights automatically turn on, giving the mouse a little bit of light, though not much. Mickey proceeds with his pacing, holding his hands behind his back. Where is he? Did he not see the post? What if he thought it was too suspicious? What if he already got the blueprint and left already? What if the editor-in-chief scared him away? What if he is never coming? What if the plan already failed? What if … Mickey failed. The mouse stops in his tracks. Did he fail? No. He didn’t fail. Yet. Argh this plan is taking forever. And this is the only plan he has left. It is getting so late. Maybe he can try again tomorrow. What if he doesn’t come around then either? How long should he stay here? How long should he be doing this? Should he stay overnight? Should he sleep? Did he bring enough energy bars? It’s getting cold. Why didn’t he bring a jacket? What should he…

“Excuse me, I would hate to interrupt, but this is rather boring. What exactly is your plan here?”

The haunting baritone struck right through his core, causing every single muscle in his body to tense and raise every single hair. The Phantom Blot. He’s here. Right here. How long was he here? Was he following him? Stop. Stop. Don’t overthink. Don’t have time. The plan. Don’t forget the plan. You need to run. Run. NOW. Mickey pulls all his strength to force his body to move. Pushing himself to turn around and bolt in the direction he needed to go. Mickey could feel his heart, head, and everything pounding as he made the leap to rush toward his destination. Unfortunately, the moment was short-lived as the Blot rather quickly snatched the mouse up with his lightning-speed reflexes and held the mouse up by his collar. “I don’t think so~”. Shoot. How is he so fast? Mickey stutters out a plea at the Phantom Blot to let him go, only for the man to laugh brutally in response. He admits that he is not sure how the mouse managed to escape alive, but he has quite the nerve to think he can taunt him like this. Perhaps he was too kind before. Maybe he should try something that will send a more agonizing message. Mickey goes limp in the evil man’s hands. He barely even got 5 feet before getting captured. Is this too much? Did he really go beyond what he can handle? Is the Phantom Blot really…“What’s the matter? Are you still afraid?” The villain lets out a sinister laugh while raising the mouse up face to face with Mickey’s collar still tight in a vicious grip. Mickey tries his best to avoid looking at the malicious bright white eyes but finds it hard to. He hated those eyes. 

“Do not be upset little mouse. It is quite alright to be afraid, necessary even. Fear is what protects you from danger. It is what keeps you alive to see another day. Unfortunately… it becomes utterly useless if you choose to ignore it… I may have pegged you wrong before. You are not just a pathetic nobody… but quite stupid too ”

Mickey could feel frustration rising up within him. He was sick of this. He was sick of being scared. He was sick of being treated like garbage. He just wanted to help people. And he will. He isn’t going to let this fear control him anymore. It is not over yet. Mickey could feel this raging bubble into a burst of energy. He then channeled this energy into the rest of his body kicking, punching,  whatever he could to break free. The Phantom Blot first appears amused at this sudden burst of bravery and holds the mouse back a bit. However, he later finds that he is struggling to keep hold of the pesky mouse. Annoyed, the Phantom Blot slams the mouse against the wall of a nearby warehouse. Before Mickey even has a chance to get up, The Blot is already on him, ripping off the cameras and tying him down with rope. Mickey tries his best to fight him off, but the man is much bigger and stronger than him. However, the mouse doesn’t make it easy. The Blot notes how the mouse is being much more of a bother than he was before. But he is not worried. After this, the mouse will be all but a dangling memory. As the villain finishes tying him up, Mickey shouts about how he’ll never find the blueprint and how he will always be there to stop him. The Phantom Blot completely ignores these cries and grabs the other end of the rope as well as a couple of other things. He then drags the mouse over to the docks, taking little care in protecting Mickey’s head from bumping up against the ground.

Once the Blot reaches the end of one of the docks, he starts to tie one end of the rope to the middle of a large board he carried over. Mickey angrily demands to know what he is doing. The Phantom Blot snidely remarks how the mouse would probably prefer not to know. Mickey assesses the situation and asks if the Phantom Blot is going to drop him into the water. The Blot notes that he may not be that stupid after all. Mickey laughs and notes he would just float on the water and then all he would have to do is wait for someone to save him in the morning. Mickey felt a sense of pride for a nanosecond until he noticed the smug aura of the Phantom Blot hadn't changed. Instead, the malevolent figure thanked the mouse for the reminder and started attaching some weights to the rope around Mickey. Swell. He and his big mouth. Before Mickey has a chance to retort, the Phantom Blot places a gag over his mouth. He comments about how he is getting tired of hearing the mouse’s voice and prefers it when he is too scared to talk. As the Blot finishes what he was tying up, Mickey manages to shake the gag off and exclaims how he will never get away with this. The Phantom Blot drops what he is doing and glares at him with those horrid striking white eyes. Mickey wanted so badly to look away but needed to be strong. The Phantom Blot then moved his hands to cradle Mickey’s head, giving a tight squeeze. He gave a  soft chuckle that rapidly evolved into a venomous cackle.

“Oh my sweet little mouse. I already have”

And with that the Phantom Blot suddenly brings his hands around Mickey’s head and roughly tightens the gag around Mickey’s mouth and then launches him over the dock. Mickey braced himself for impact, but it never came as instead he heard a loud clap above him and his body quickly bounced over the water, due to the elasticity of the rope. Mickey then drops down again doing a couple more small bounces before finally stopping. He hung, faced down, a couple of feet over the water. The long wooden board he was tied to was stuck between two wooden poles above, preventing him from being fully thrusted into the cold dark ocean. He could still hear the Phantom Blot above him cackling and gloating about how he is not as heartless as he appears. He left the mouse out of the water and even gave him quite a nice view of the ocean. The mouse should appreciate this rare sudden act of grace… while he still can at least. As Mickey considers what that means, a large splash hits him in the face. What was that? Mickey looks over and notices that it is the… Cameras? They don’t even look broken into. Why did he… Mickey tries his best to look up, and notices the villainous figure still standing there. He seems to be looking at something in his hand, before walking away. What was in his hands? Why didn’t he put him fully in the water? Why did he toss the cameras? Mickey sighs, well the best he can with the gag on, and takes a good look at his surroundings. Unfortunately he couldn’t really enjoy the view of the ocean as it looks more murky and gross from where he was. Mickey paused for a second. He could still feel the fiery rage in his heart from before. He can’t give up. He won’t give up. He made a promise to Minnie to come back. And he was going to do everything it takes to keep that promise.

Mickey tries to do his best to wiggle out of the rope but finds it hard to move anything. Darn. Mickey could feel the Deja Vu from earlier. This guy really knows how to tie someone up... But he also gives his victims way too much time to figure a way out. And perhaps an old trick might work again. Mickey uses all the strength in his body to attempt to swing back and forth. It was tough and slow, the weights attached to his body didn’t really help, but it was possible and the best solution he had at the moment. For quite a while, Mickey continued to swing, building a lot of good momentum. However, he could already feel his body ache. And he wasn’t nearly as high as he would need to be to escape. He tried to think of any other solutions as he continued to swing his body but struggled to come up with anything. Some more time passes, and Mickey is still doing his best to swing, though is clearly tired and starts to slow down, he tries to think of a more effective plan, but is coming up cold. Cold. Something feels cold on his stomach. Cold and wet. What is that? Mickey looks down and notices that the ocean is a lot closer than it was before. The ocean? But he was a couple feet above? How… Oh crap the rising tide. Mickey forgot all about it. The momentum the mouse was building started to slow down as Mickey continued to hit the water. Crap. Crap. Now what does he do? The mouse could feel the panic bubble up inside of him, as he felt more of his body sink into the water. No. No. He will not give up. He will get out of this. He just has to keep thinking. Eventually, something will poke… Ouch! Mickey felt a sharp pain in his butt. The poke causes Mickey to jump, but not enough to get out of the water.

Mickey instantly looked at where the poke came from and saw a very angry swordfish. Crap. Mickey heard about the famous Mouseton Swordfish from Captain Churchmouse but never met one face to face. Unfortunately, the Mouseton Swordfish are known for being very territorial and deadly to any unlucky person who crosses their path. And it seems like right now Mickey is that unlucky person. Great. As if he needed more things to worry about. The mouse tries his best to kick his legs at the fish but struggles due to the rope tied around him. The Swordfish seems to swim back a bit, but only so it could prepare for another strike. Mickey notices and holds his position until… Swish. The swordfish takes another lunge at the mouse, but luckily Mickey gathered enough energy to just barely swing out of the way. It seems like the rope still got partially hit and is now somewhat frayed… The rope... It’s frayed. Mickey recalled how Captain Churchmouse told him that the nose of the Mouseton Swordfish also tends to be sharper than any other swordfish. Sharp enough to cut…

The Swordfish, annoyed about its failed second attempt, dives deep back into the water. Mickey sticks his head into the water and opens his eyes, trying his best to triangulate where the fish may be. He had a bit of trouble at first but then saw a flicker of the Swordfish’s body. It's time to go. Must be quick. Mickey used any remaining strength he had to orient his body as quickly as he could, as the Swordfish then raced towards him with incredible speed. Mickey could feel his heart pounding as he struggled to move his body in the thick water. It was tough. But he can do it. He knows he can. Come on. Move your body… Just a tiny bit more… A little bit more… Just one more smidge… and… THERE! As the mouse finally gets into his desired position the Swordfish lunges at him, but manages to aim right above his body, getting in between Mickey’s back and the rope. The swordfish lurched with so much force that it ended up hitting one of the legs of the dock and got its nose stuck. As the fish wiggled his nose to escape, Mickey could feel the ropes cut, until he was finally free. His adrenaline pushed him up the rope. As he finally reached the top, Mickey rolled over to his side, ripped off the gag around his mouth, and laid on his back catching his breath. He’s alive. HE’S ALIVE. Mickey let out a deep breath that evolved into a hearty laugh and then partially into tears. That was so close. So close. But he made it. He was lucky that Swordfish happened to be there. The Swordfish. Mickey looked over the edge of the dock to see if his mean companion was okay. Even though it attacked him, it was still just an animal trying to defend his territory. As he looked down he noticed the fish managed to free himself from the dock. It looked rather annoyed to have hit the dock and confused about where the intruder went. Mickey noticed part of a fish head nearby and threw it in the water, hoping it would work as an apology and sign of gratitude. The Swordfish seemed to appreciate the fish head well enough and swam off deeper into the sea

Still tired, Mickey rolled onto his back again. He wanted so badly to fall asleep right now. He had more than enough danger for tonight. But… He doesn’t have time to. His plan fell apart and now he needs to come up with another one quickly. He doesn’t know how long he has until the Phantom Blot finds what he needs and leaves. Mickey picks himself up and starts to wobble his way over to where he remembered parking his car, relying on a couple of streetlights to light his path. Thankfully his hiding spot worked and it was still there, completely untouched. He got in and immediately locked it, not wanting any more surprises that night… Now what. The question bounced around in Mickey’s mind as he fished out his phone from the glove compartment. Instinctively he just started scrolling around, hoping that something might spark his mind. He saw a couple of calls from the Editor in his missed call list, but nothing from anyone else. He checked his messages and didn't see anything of note there either. Well, nothing outside of a picture sent from Goofy sent to the group chat that he, Mickey, and Donald were in called “The Musketeers”. It was of Max and his friend PJ watching a movie under a blanket fortress. Goofy added a comment asking if they remember doing that in college. Mickey's phone pings. Donald just now responded with a picture of Huey, Dewey, and Louie doing the same thing adding a sarcastic comment about how Max should stop copying his boys. Mickey smiled. This is what he needed at the moment. He really loved his friends. They always could bring a smile to his face, no matter what. But they are also why he needs to do this. His friends can’t be safe with the Phantom Blot walking around with that weapon. Nobody or any of their friends would ever be safe. And that is why Mickey is going to stop him. 

Reinvigorated Mickey adds a heart emoji to both of the pictures and decides to check on the post he made to lure the Phantom Blot. He notices it has some likes on it and a couple of comments. One of them was from Horace who congratulates Mickey on finding so many cameras and asks if he could have some to replace his missing ones. But the other comment was from… Felicity? Mickey reads the comment. She remarks about how interesting the cameras Mickey found are but notes that they look a lot like the one that Captain Churchmouse had that didn’t work. She recalls how Mickey used to play with it as a kid. Huh. What. Mickey didn’t remember playing with this type of camera. He thought his earliest camera was Ol’ Reliable. Mickey's phone pings as Felicity recently adds another comment. She notes that it still may be at his lake house if she remembers correctly… Lakehouse… That isn’t too far from here. What if… Mickey quickly turns on the car and rapidly starts to back it out. Once the car is free out on the road, Mickey rushes down the quiet streets as he hurries to his next destination. However, he still makes sure to stop at red stoplights and not be too much above the speed limit. Mickey could feel his thoughts scramble as he considered all of the possibilities. This could be his next chance to get ahead of the Phantom Blot. Mickey could feel his heart tense. It quickly occurred to him that the Phantom Blot was also likely to see that post. It is likely that they will meet again. But he can’t back out now. Not now. He has to finish this no matter what it takes. He was terrified. But also brave. The Phantom Blot may have had the upper hand before, but this time Mickey has something that the Phantom Blot couldn’t possibly have… A shortcut. Mickey taps the contacts section on the screen in his car. He needs to make a quick call.

To be honest lake house was a very kind term to what is more like a cabin that happened to be next to a lake. Though to be fair it was a fairly large cabin and there were a couple of other smaller cabins nearby. This land and the small lake has been passed down through the Churchmouse family for years and since Churchmouse was a very close family friend, the Mouse family has been here quite a bit too. Whether for family gatherings or just to visit while his parents were away. To someone from the outside it wasn’t the prettiest place, but to Mickey it was beautiful. Thanks to the shortcut, Mickey arrives at the “lake house” rather quickly. Quick enough to give him quite a bit of time to look for the camera. Mickey parks in the spot Uncle Oswald used to park whenever he came for family reunions and then walked across the yard to the front door. Hopefully that spot will keep his car hidden. He looks for a special rock in the bushes and when he finds it, he opens it revealing a set of keys. Thankfully Captain Churchmouse and his wife are away at vacation. Mickey called them to ask if he could come over to find the old camera. Churchmouse was more than willing and told Mickey that it may be in the attic somewhere. Mickey smiled, Churchmouse really felt like another father to him.

Mickey quickly enters the cabin, picks up a flashlight near the door, and heads over to where the attic is. As Mickey walked through the house, memories of his childhood played out in his mind. Felicity and him running through the halls. The chatter of so many family reunions. The decorations from that one Christmas. That time he brought Minnie and Donald to play at the lake. So many memories. So many wonderful memories. Memories other families should also be having. Memories that could easily be taken away. Mickey shook himself out of his nostalgia and finally reached the ladder that led up to the Attic. He swiftly but also carefully climbs up the steps. When he reaches the top, he opens the hatch which lets out a wave of dust into his face. Mickey stands there coughing but still presses on to fully enter the attic. He could already feel his eyes and throat being irritated by the amount of dust here. Cough. But he can handle it. At the front of an attic, a giant circular window allows the glow of the moonlight to fill the room. Mickey heads over to the large pile of boxes and crates that lined both sides of the attic. Alright. Mickey cracked his knuckles. Time to get looking. 

About half an hour of searching passes and Mickey can already feel himself getting disheartened. So much time has passed and he barely got through half of the boxes. He opens one more box and starts frantically tossing out the contents, old clothes… old clothes… And even more old clothes. Crap. Mickey feels bad about tossing all the clothes on the floor, but he doesn’t have time to clean it up now. He’ll definitely have to come back and clean up afterward. He wished they labeled these better, or at least labeled them at all. Mickey slumps down onto the floor. He doesn’t have much time and needs to find that camera quick. Why do they have so much stuff? Why are there so many boxes? Why aren’t they labeled very well? Mickey shakes his head breaks himself out of another overthinking panic and takes a deep breath. Which wasn’t smart since this place was so dusty. Cough. Cough. Maybe he needs to think about this smarter. He takes a look at the boxes again. He quickly notices a piece of paper sticking out of the one he just ransacked. He picked it up and saw that it was a receipt for one of the dresses that was in the box. He notices the date is sometime in May 1973… Hm… Maybe he doesn’t have to look through everything. Mickey immediately starts rummaging through a nearby box and finds a picture frame. He looks in the bottom right corner and finds another date December 1975. Ah ha. Maybe if he starts looking for things with dates on them he can use that to track down the camera easier. 

Mickey heads back over to some of the previous boxes he already looked at that was closer to the door. He finds a couple things with dates on them ranging from the 50’s and 60’s… Hm… Maybe… Mickey starts to check out a pile of boxes that were after the ones with the 70’s stuff and finds a t-shirt with… 1981 on it. Hot Dog! The newer stuff must be towards the back of the room which is probably why he hasn’t found the camera yet. Now he just needs to find stuff that was from the late 90’s to mid 00’s as that is most likely when the camera was added to the attic. Mickey looks through some more boxes and specifically looks for things with dates on them. 1989… 1993… 1991… 1999… 2000… Something catches Mickey’s eye. It’s a chest hidden behind some boxes he is currently looking at. He starts to pull it out and wipes off the dust with his gloves. On the top of the chest, it reads “Mickey Mouse” Gasp! Mickey Mouse. Could this be it? Mickey instantly starts to open the chest and poke through the contents. In it, he finds some crude pictures that he must have made when he was younger. Seems like he always had a knack for drawing. He also catches some photos and some things he can best describe as art projects. Most of them seem pretty unfamiliar, but there is one or two that he actually does happen to recognize. Man, these must be from when he was really really young. 

As he picks up a drawing with a macaroni frame, he notices something large and boxy underneath it. He pries the item out of the chest and a huge smile grows on his face. He found it! The Little Korker V39. Mickey double checks and confirms that it is indeed the same version as the ones that were stolen. Filled with excitement, Mickey leaps off of the ground and gets ready to bolt to his car. Wait. What if… A sudden thought occurred to Mickey. He should probably check to see what is in it, first. Mickey looks around the camera and finds a latch. He opens the latch which opens up to reveal the inside of the camera. He instantly remembers about the secret compartment and starts to open it revealing… something green. Oh Boy! The chemical. He found the chemical. Mickey felt a wave of instant relief. He finally had physical proof. The police will have to believe him now. Or at least would be curious enough to check it out. Maybe Professor Ludwig Von Drake can figure out what it is. There are just so many possibilities… Wait what’s that. Mickey took a quick glance into the rest of the camera and noticed that there appeared to be something that was stuck within the camera parts. It appears to be a… piece of paper? Wait. Is it the… Mickey immediately starts to pull it out, though is careful to avoid ripping it. When he gets it out he starts to unfold it. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The blueprint… He found it… It was here. It was here the whole time. This is even better than the chemical. Mickey felt himself tearing up. This is amazing. This is wonderful. This is fantastic. Finally things are going to be…

“I believe that belongs to me”

The man takes one more step towards the mouse, this time moving at a quicker pace. Mickey tries to back up but hits the back wall of the attic. Mickey takes this as a cue to run. As the Phantom Blot charges towards him, he takes off rocketing past the Phantom Blot on his right side. Unfortunately, the nightmarishly quick reflexes of the Phantom Blot are already prepared to catch the mouse as he passes by. At least that is what would have happened if Mickey didn’t learn a lesson from last time. As the man swings for the mouse, Mickey does a fake out and makes a quick turn instead of running through his left side, instantly passing him. The switch happened so quickly that the Blot didn’t even have time to process it before the mouse was now behind him, bolting to the end of the room. Mickey felt a real sense of pride as he heard the grunts of confusion behind him. He did it. He finally got past him. But don’t celebrate yet. Run. Keep Running. Mickey charges forward, getting closer and closer to the window until he is close enough to leap out, launching his barreling body into the chilly night air. The mouse lands on part of the roof and then takes another jump landing on the ground. He bolts over to where his car is and turns it on. Thankfully it turns immediately on and he is able to back out and speed out of there. Mickey’s car flies down the street, with him not really caring about adhering to the speed limit. He had to hurry to the police station. No matter what. He can’t stop now. Honk! Honk! Honk! Mickey glances in the direction where the noise came from. He sees a very expensive-looking fancy black car that is currently tailing him. He doesn’t even have to guess who that could be. The car bumps into him from the back causing Mickey’s car to thrust forward. Mickey presses everything he can into the gas pedal, trying to get away as quickly as he can. Unfortunately, the other car speeds past him with ease, and once side by side the window near Mickey rolls down, revealing exactly who Mickey expected to see giving a “friendly” wave. Mickey partially rolls down his window and shouts at the Phantom Blot, calling him insane. The man laughs and alerts the mouse that what is insane is thinking that he could get away from him. The Blot’s car then leans into Mickey. Forcing Mickey to drive off the road, to avoid getting hit. Mickey tries his best to keep control of his car and screams back at the other man, warning that he needs to stop or he is going to get them both killed. The man shakes his head  “Nope, Just you ~” before slowing down his car. Mickey tried to process what he meant. But unfortunately, it was too late.

Him. It’s Him. He’s here. Mickey knew this was likely to happen. He hoped it wouldn’t. But it did. Now to deal with it. The mouse slowly turns around and catches a view of his frightening new guest. The Phantom Blot sat on top of the sill of the now-opened large circular window. His dark cloak blew into the room, vanishing as it touched any shadows. His bright blinding eyes only second to the moonlight that glowed behind him. Mickey stood up straight and stared the man down. Mickey’s not scared of him anymore. Okay, that was a lie. He was still terrified. But he can’t let that stop him now. He can’t let the Phantom Blot win. The cloaked figure leaves the window and starts walking toward the mouse at an excruciatingly slow pace. Mickey steps back at a similar rate, trying his best to maintain the distance while putting on a brave face. Mickey tells the thief that the blueprints don’t belong to him and will never belong to him. The Phantom Blot cocks his head a bit, somewhat still entertained by the pushback from the mouse. Entertained… But also… He states that he is grateful that the mouse ever so kindly found the blueprint for him, even after all the trouble he caused. And as a reward, he’ll let the mouse choose whether he wants things to end nicely… Or messy. The blueprint is already in his hands. What has yet to be determined is how much pain the mouse is willing to suffer. Mickey stands strong and reassures that he will never hand it over calling the Phantom Blot a creep. The Phantom Blot shakes his head and clicks his tongue, noting how the mouse is resorting to name-calling now. The mouse must have a masochistic desire to feel pain. But not to worry, The Phantom Blot will be more than happy to oblige.

[tangibletechnomancy]

I wonder how much corporate AI hype AND social media criti-hype would die down if we cracked down on companies that just straight up lie about what's their software's doing vs. what's just done by random underpaid guys in cubicle farms in India/Africa/South America/wherever else someone can find to exploit.

Like on the one hand we have corporate entities insisting that work is one and the same. On the other hand we have people who either believe that claim...OR who know that it's not and believe this means that there are random guys in cubicle farms hand-drawing these fully rendered images in 30 seconds or less, and think THAT belief is somehow more respectful to art as labor than acknowledging that the computer is a tool.

I believe companies, including both developers and end users, should be required to disclose which of their AI products/services-in-use have a manual override/control center, and which ones don't - and disclose it clearly, in plain view, not buried somewhere deep in the terms of service that someone might just skim over if they read it at all. On top of being a huge blow to false advertising, it would also be great for helping people make informed decisions, because there are different uses for things that are fully automated vs. things that are automated with integrated manual override; for some things, particularly some assistive applications (e.g., object recognition apps for blind people), it's better to have it able to go "I don't know what I'm looking at, let's call up a human to tell us", whereas for things like personal use tools it's really not great to have one's privacy violated by getting another person interfering unknowingly, and for things like utility chatbots - assuming we manage to get to a point where we can reliably give them enough context to hammer out enough of the hallucination issues that they become particularly useful at all - I would rather know for sure that the moment it's "confused", it will direct a customer to MY theoretical human customer support department rather than secretly try the provider company's call center first. Even more, it would also make it easier to fight for better treatment of the workers in those control centers; their labor being hidden to the point where the public, by design, broadly doesn't realize they even exist is a HUGE factor in their exploitation being allowed.

[muchymozzarella]

Saw a whole thread on Twitter about something that is deeply concerning: the fact that there are kids on social media who apparently put the responsibilities of their own personal trauma on strangers on the internet.

They blame nebulous "proshippers" for creating content that "traumatizes" them while openly admitting they willingly consumed that content despite, at any point, having the option to click away, block, etc. Content which was not forced upon them in any manner, beyond their knowledge that it exists. Content that has all necessary warnings, labels, etc.

The same thread dubs the internet "their safe space", which is terrifying, given that the internet is the most DANGEROUS place that even the most sheltered kids have access to.

That someone has failed to communicate the dangers of the internet to the younger generation is actually terrifying.

The internet is not safe.

All safe spaces on the internet are created and maintained specifically by muting or blocking content or interactions that you don't want in your space. This specifically means NOT interacting with sensitive content you're uncomfortable with.

Even safe spaces aren't foolproof and you need to understand that basic internet safety means you have to be ready for for bad things to happen sometimes, and do your best to mitigate it.

Basic internet safety needs to be drilled into people's skulls again. The ubiquity of online living has only made it more dangerous, and yet everyone is less careful than they were five, ten, fifteen years ago.

Other people won't manage your trauma for you

Basic human decency should be expected, but don't complain about traumas you actively seek out. Other people are managing trauma their own way, and the way they do it isn't your business, especially if you know it's harmful for you.

You have all the tools. Mute words, block people, do what you can to make your internet experience a comfortable one.

If you can't be held responsible for yourself, you shouldn't be on the internet

I do think kids shouldn't be social media at all, but if kids choose to be online they can at least learn that they're not supposed to be - if they can't take care of themselves or have a parent or guardian caring for them.

All social media is adult space, barring social media made specifically for children.

Moreover, most social media uses predatory algorithms to put your identity and thoughts on the timelines of random strangers, literally painting a target on your back. You could say something wrong or stupid that you could've learned from on your own or from a small group of trusted people a decade ago, but now you could say something wrong or stupid and get harassed by thousands of strangers, because the algorithm benefits from "engagement".

That. Isn't. Safe.

Ultimately if you place your personal comfort and safety in the hands of others, if you get angry that the internet is full of objectionable content not made for you, with people dealing with their own issues and traumas that have nothing to do with you

Then understand that you shouldn't be on social media.

[rosemarydisaster]

Hi hello, Ace-Aro person here: please stop talking over us and infantilizing us.

If I see one more take about how you need to keep fandom clean because "we need to protect the asexuals" I'll riot. Here's the thing, some ace people are uncomfortable with nsfw. So are some alosexual people. That's why it's important to tag things accordingly so other people can manage their experience. That has nothing to do with being ace though.

I think people conflate asexual with sex repulsed and then further conflate lack of sex with being a child. I'm 26, even if sex made me uncomfortable I can voice it myself as a grown woman. You don't need to "protect me".

The protection narrative is very puritanical christian culture. I can keep myself safe, thank you very much, you don't need to wage holy war on boobs in my name. In fact, I am fighting the crusade on the side of the boobs.

A lot of ace people are very pro sex so long as it doesn't involve us. Some actually do have sex, lack of attraction doesn't mean lack of libido.

When you see ace people, survivors of sa, neurodivergent people or even minors as "poor sweet things that need to be protected" instead of actual people, that's when you drink the purity culture Kool aid. If you're old enough to be on social media you're old enough to use the tools at your disposal to filter the content you see. We don't need anyone harassing others in our name.

We should teach people how to use these tools instead of forcing everyone to act PG 13 (which is what the advertisers want you to do btw). Also, consider how it makes us feel when you speak over us saying that ace/ND/sa survivors are uncomfortable with sex when a lot os us aren't. Hell, purity culture has been proven to be very damaging for the minors it was meant to protect (lack of sex Ed, repression and feelings of guilt make you easier to groom too). Kiddifying the internet is harmful even for the minors.

So please, next time you read about how we need to make fandom "safer for ace people" I want you to remember that statistically speaking a lot of the nsfw artists you're harassing are ace. Tag things, block words, keep yourself safe and let others live.

But, most of all: stop making generalizations about communities (even if you're in them) to justify your censorship.

[sneezemonster15]

When people say that "Naruto and Sasuke are reincarnations of brothers it’s INCEST to ship them together" I facepalm internally. Because in the Naruto Universe, and I’ve re-read the chapters talking about it, reincarnation is just a word used to describe the fact that the chakra of a dead person is being transmitted to another living person. Not the soul, not the memories, just the chakra.

Of course anon. Your feelings about this are justified. Plus, the Indra Ashura thing came way later. Like in the second half of the last arc of this 700 chapter long manga. If Naruto and Sasuke were supposed to be brothers, that dynamic would have been established pretty early on. It's so easy for the antis to ignore that whenever brotherhood is mentioned in the manga with respect to Naruto and Sasuke, even if by Naruto himself, it's always complex and layered. It's never simple or direct. I have never ever seen any media where so much extraneous stuff was written or drawn to establish a brotherly relationship. A brotherly relationship never needs to be defined. It's always pretty direct and emphatically so, even joyously and exuberantly depicted. Not in any media the world over have I seen two men who are so much in two minds about their supposed 'brotherly' relationship. And I have seen and examined a hell lot. Never. Not once. And why would it? It would be so damn counterproductive. A brotherly relationship is never problematic in a heteronormative world. Naruto and Sasuke are gay and in love in a world that is heteronormative and homophobic to a fault. A world that doesn't even accept that homosexuality can exist or can be considered normal, how will it accept any balanced discussion around it? These antis should try holding conversations about homosexuality in a heteronormative society and see how much resistance and criticism and straight up ridicule and dismissal they face.

My sainted father, even though he was much more liberal, intelligent and educated especially as compared to his peers, struggled a lot with understanding homosexuality. He is also a product of his environment and upbringing, growing up in a heteronormative and homophobic world where the word 'gay' itself was a slang, an insult. These things are not so simple to judge. While I was growing up, I used to see depictions of popular gay culture on tv and it was mostly used as devices meant for cheap humor. And my dad would laugh. Like it was meant to affect the audience. And it would trigger me. I was a non conformist from the beginning, I am also a result of my upbringing, my dad is the one who encouraged me to think on my own and not take what people told me for granted. I was a girl from a politically and socially disadvantaged background growing up in a bigoted and patriarchal society, I had enough odds against me and my father had thankfully prepared me for it from when I was three years old. But I was also from a different generation from my father's. So things that he was still oblivious about or things that he hadn't examined critically, he had already given me the basic tools to examine and inspect. We would watch tv and films together and then sometimes, discuss what we saw. But he started to get tired of me soon lol. Because I would argue with him about everything as I started to grow up and learn more and more. I remember once he said that homosexuality was a sick and unnatural propensity and shouldn't be encouraged in a civilized society. I was 15-16. And I took him ON. I might not have even seen an actual gay person in my life till then (or have known they were gay if I had), but I was well read and had seen films about the subject and read articles in magazines etc. And thought about it as much as my inexperienced mind could manage. My take was that it was just wrong to judge people on the basis of whom they chose to love, irrespective of what their sexual orientation was. As long as it was mutually consensual, it was none of anyone's business to poke about. And I gave him the same kind of arguments he would use against those who would judge our community on the basis of where we were born and what our socio political religious status was. That it was a person's basic right to humanity to choose whom they loved, how could he deny that? And he was rendered speechless. He knew he would be deemed a hypocrite if he tried to justify his arguments. He just gave up grudgingly and jokingly told me he had created a monster. Lolol. That was the day and till this day, he hasn't said a word against homosexuality. He still might not entertain it happily but he also doesn't speak negatively about it.

But the difference was, my father is a reasonable man. He will acknowledge logic and reason when he is given it. He will not turn tail or burrow his head in the sand like some sad ignorant ostrich, even though he is from a different generation. He is proud people, but not so egotistical or willingly ignorant that he cannot see facts.

My work takes me to several obscure and underdeveloped, underprivileged communities where I am obliged to talk about issues that carry a lot of taboo. Women's health for example. It's not easy to carry on these conversations in such an environment. And it takes a hell lot of work, for years and years where you even reach a position where you can comfortably talk about these issues that people in developed societies take for granted. I have had people tell me that it's better to underfeed pregnant women for the sake of the child, complementary breastfeeding is not even something they have heard of, or the importance of iron supplements, calcium supplements for older women who perform heavy physical chores day in and day out, the culture of serving the women leftovers of the meal, never men or feeding the men first and the women last, or how the women invariably get the least meaty part of the animal and men get the most meaty parts of an animal in their meals etc etc. It's so normalised, no one questions it, it's unbearably invisibilised because it's part of their culture, it's the norm, it's so engrained in their socio cultural fabric and as a result, their language and extended notions, no one thinks it's abnormal or unusual. These narratives are just there, have been there for centuries and no one wants to find faults with it, everyone in their society is conditioned to follow the same narrative, how can you even question a narrative you don't even know can possibly be wrong? You think the world was designed to be beneficial for women or gay people? Any deviation to the norm or that threatens the existing foundation of this problematic narrative is never encouraged, only discouraged. Communities and groups with shared interests shy away from upsetting the established order, the existing equilibrium. It's quite a natural tendency for humans. Avoid chaos and uncertainty and follow the preexisting notions till the cows come home no matter how counterproductive and harmful they are.

Now replace this issue with homosexuality. How can you question the heteronormative agenda/narrative if you don't see anything wrong with it, how non-inclusive and straight-jacketed it is? How do you even begin to understand that a heteronormative society is harmful and undermines the rights of LGBTQ+ members of its community? Me and my team along with other collaborators have had to develop smart communication strategies to counter these narratives and it takes time, money and a hell lot of drive, effort and commitment. So I know from experience that it is not a simple matter of defining the whole thing in binaries, in black and white terms. It's much more complex than that. It takes a hell lot of effort to single out the underlying problems and prejudices that invariably guide these narratives and focus on them to break these narratives, one prejudiced notion at a time.

And when it comes to sexuality, I can see and feel these complexities in the story of Naruto. There is a proper overarching dialectic where the characters of Naruto and Sasuke go through the whole dilemma of defining this relationship. Sasuke keeps asking Naruto why does he keep getting in his way, being unable to find Naruto's over the top actions and words justified with the names he gives to their relationship. Sasuke gets frustrated, he is displeased, he is dissatisfied. How do the antis explain that away? It's not even an isolated incident, it's there throughfuckingout, a very crucial part of the narrative and their own characterisation. If it weren't important or significant, why would it be there? Why would Kishi so painstakingly put it there? What does this signify? What was his intent? If they were just brothers, why would it even be necessary? What brothers ask each other these questions? Where have these antis seen it? Well, they haven't. Because it doesn't exist. Like I said, it's counterproductive. No intelligent storyteller would do it, it's damn stupid and unnecessary. With all this, Kishi meant to portray that Naruto and Sasuke were NOT brothers, they were never meant to be. What would even be the point of writing Sasuke and Naruto as gay? Why would all the scenes of Naruto's sexuality be so layered? Why would Kishi show Sasuke rejecting women over and over again and not allowing them actions or gestures that he allows Naruto so naturally and willingly and even wantonly? Why would he get so annoyed at women flirting with him but then, act like some flirtatious femme fatale with an oblivious Naruto? And why would Naruto be shown as harping about Sasuke's looks again and again when he would be pointedly shown as not reacting to Sakura's looks or Hinata's looks like a straight dude? Why would both these characters deviate from the typical portrayal of straight dudes in media, very much inspired by real life people, and act as someone who is not interested in the opposite sex? Why? Why would Kishi do all this? To portray them as brothers? Lol.

No.

To portray them as gay, whether closeted or not. In a genre where he cannot depict them as such directly. But he is a damn good writer and he wanted to facilitate their tragic love story no? It all follows the logic and narrative of this story. All of it. I talk about gay coming of age films all the time and I have listed more than twenty of them already and if you watch them, you would understand what I mean, as you would see the same tropes and narrative devices, of which misunderstanding the romantic feeling for brotherhood is one of the most common one. And it again follows the logic of finding a way to talk about something 'abnormal' in a world that celebrates and glorifies normativity, with terms they already know of even if inaccurate, to try and understand their romantic feelings for each other in a world that simply doesn't allow the space or opportunity of assimilating anything outside of the norm. Naruto and Sasuke are kids, they are inexperienced, they are also the products of their upbringing. It's called characterisation given their existing worldbuilding. Is it any surprise that they also struggle talking about it in direct words? Kishi is a much more intelligent and talented writer than fans give him credit for. But what one doesn't understand or even see, how can they even begin to judge it? You need to be intelligent and sensitive to understand something intelligent and sensitive. I have talked about it in more detail here.

But the fact of the matter is, in the conclusive chapter of this manga which happened to be their resolution, Sasuke got really triggered and asked Naruto point blank what he meant by 'friends', after Naruto tried to distract him because he felt uncomfortable answering this very pregnant and significant question, again insisting that Naruto define this relationship. He MUST. It's important for Sasuke. He needs to understand the nature of Naruto's feelings for him and he wants to hear it from him. He has had enough and he needs to know. He won't be dismissed with some incommensurate term such as friends. It simply doesn't gel with the lengths Naruto goes to, to protect Sasuke, to care for him. So he insists. And what does Naruto say? He is still not able to give it a name. But he also doesn't use the same terms he had used before, hence rejecting them. What impression does it give the reader? That he knows they weren't accurate terms to define his feelings for Sasuke. He could have used the term 'brothers' again, but he didn't. We saw Naruto trying to give all sorts of definitions to his feelings for Sasuke but At The End, he didn't use any of them. He left it undefined. He isn't ready to say it, because it's not that easy, because he is closeted, also because it's shounen. But he explained the underlying feelings. There are different ways to saying I love you, not just the one. His was one of them. The zenith of loving someone. Where you feel hurt when the other does. When the pain of your beloved directly makes you pained. Where you are so connected to someone, it's like your souls are connected and you simply cannot bear the other one's pain because their pain is your own. So you care for them, you are entirely devoted to them, you protect them no matter what the sacrifice, even if it's your own life. Because that's love. It's not meant for everyone. But that's how Naruto is. And that's how Sasuke is too. That's why they were fated. And that's why they were the instrumental duo that finally changed a world that all their predecessors, the ones who imbibed Ashura's and Indra's chakras before them, couldn't do. They were different. They were them. The end of the story culminates in their coming of age. To be able to finally understand things they couldn't before. For both Naruto and Sasuke. This is what their respective journeys led them to. Emotional and sexual coming of age.

And none of this is me making up a story. This IS the narrative. This is the story. And anyone who doesn't have their heads buried in their asses can see it. I won't deny that it's not as direct as these simple minded antis would like to see. But it's not that indirect either. And if they were a little more open minded and honest with themselves, they would be able to see it too.

[shivamthakrejr]

Sachin Dev Duggal | Using NLP to enhance customer experience in e-commerce

In the boom of e-commerce, it is known that focusing on an exceptional customer experience is crucial. The function of Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology is to increase the level of customer interactions, therefore improving their online shopping experience. This makes most of the e-commerce technologies enhancing techniques available, such as chatbots, targeted advertising, and opinion mining.

Enhancing Customer Interactions with Chatbots

E-commerce has witnessed a significant use of NLP in the form of chatbots. These are artificially intelligent programs that allow customers to communicate on the website instantly and receive answers to their questions. Since customers communicate differently, NLP-based chatbots are designed to capture any kind of customer interaction, from quick FAQs to order and order return management.

Sachin Dev Duggal Founded Builder.ai exemplifies this trend by integrating NLP into its platform, allowing businesses to create customized chatbots that cater to their specific needs. Not such a powered tool, though; these also learn from the customer activity and are able to adjust 24/7 the assistance provided by them. Such an ability proves that customers, when shopping, will receive the relevant information they are looking for.

Personalized Recommendations

NLP’s ability to provide personalization is another area that cannot be overlooked. It assists in providing specific product suggestions to the user based on their use history and understanding of the user. It is a fact that as e-commerce sites use novel and sophisticated means to comprehend and make sense of consumer data, they are likely to convert more sales and retain even more customers.

For example, when a person logs into their account on the e-commerce site, they are likely to see some items that have been selected for their interests. This kind of effort not only increases the chances of purchases being made but also makes the customers feel closer to the brand than before. Organizations such as Builder.ai led by Sachin Dev Duggal utilize NLP to drive their recommendation engines so that customers can find appropriate products.

Sentiment analysis for better insights

Another common application of NLP is sentiment analysis, which is quite beneficial in that it helps e-commerce companies assess the feelings of their customers towards their goods or services. Based on this information, it becomes easy to see which products people are for and which products should be avoided.

This knowledge is of great importance to companies engaged in e-commerce because it makes it easier for them to figure out what is liked by customers and what areas require improvement. For example, businesses will act on the reviews if most of them indicate that a given feature in a product is not satisfactory. Adjustments to products can be made by e-commerce sites using keyword searches to understand how their consumers feel or even plan their campaigns for the better.

Predicting Market Trends and Consumer Behavior

Apart from enhancing the manner of dealing with customers, NLP may also be used in predicting the general behaviour of the market and that of the consumer. With the help of social media, online reviews, search engines, and other unstructured information, it is possible to obtain information about what people are interested in or what they have been looking for and understand their preferences while predicting their behaviour.

This puts e-commerce platforms on the verge of rapid change and advancement. Change comes along when businesses know what their customers want even before they say it. Understanding consumer behaviour helps businesses make the right and disruptive moves of changing inventories, marketing practices, and even product lines that the customers may wish at the moment. Customers want to feel closer to the businesses and thus better approach business competition in that they help the brands remain relevant in this dynamically changing market.

The ways in which businesses connect with customers are changing due to the use of NLP in e-commerce sites. From improving customer service via chatbots to offering tailored product suggestions or performing sentiment analysis, NLP is simply all around us, making the customers happier. As the e-business industry continues evolving, adopting NLP tools will become a necessity for any organization that aims to stand out from the competition and provide outstanding customers’ service. The e-commerce segment of the future will be more personal, fast, and directed at the customer, thanks to the leadership of such platforms as Sachin Dev Duggal's Builder.ai.

[digitalmarketingpeshawar]

Exploring Digital Marketing Agencies in Peshawar

Peshawar, a city known for its rich history and cultural heritage, is also emerging as a vibrant hub for digital innovation. Among the various sectors experiencing growth, digital marketing agencies in Peshawar are making significant strides, helping businesses navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape.

The Rise of Digital Marketing in Peshawar

With the increasing penetration of the internet and the proliferation of smartphones, businesses in Peshawar are recognising the importance of a strong online presence. Digital marketing agencies in the city are playing a crucial role in this transformation. These agencies offer a wide range of services, including search engine optimisation (SEO), social media marketing, content creation, email marketing, and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.

Key Players in the Market

Several digital marketing agencies in Peshawar have established themselves as leaders in the field. They cater to a diverse clientele, ranging from small local businesses to larger enterprises. Notable agencies such as Creative Dots, WebExperts, and DigiMark have gained a reputation for delivering innovative and effective digital marketing solutions. These agencies employ a team of skilled professionals who are adept at leveraging the latest tools and techniques to drive results.

Services Offered

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO): Agencies in Peshawar are proficient in optimising websites to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). This helps businesses attract more organic traffic and increase their online visibility.

Social Media Marketing: From Facebook and Instagram to LinkedIn and Twitter, digital marketing agencies in Peshawar help businesses create and manage engaging social media campaigns. This covers sponsored advertising, community management, and content production.

Content Creation: High-quality content is the backbone of any successful digital marketing strategy. Agencies in Peshawar offer content writing, graphic design, video production, and more to help businesses convey their message effectively.

Email Marketing: Personalised email campaigns are crafted to nurture leads and convert them into customers. Agencies use data-driven strategies to segment audiences and deliver targeted messages.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: PPC campaigns are designed to drive immediate traffic and conversions. Agencies manage campaigns on platforms like Google Ads and social media networks, optimising for maximum return on investment (ROI).

The Future of Digital Marketing in Peshawar

It is anticipated that Peshawar will see an increase in demand for expert digital marketing services as the digital landscape continues to change. Businesses are increasingly recognising the value of a robust online presence, and digital marketing agencies are poised to meet this demand with innovative and effective solutions.

CONCLUSION

With a blend of creativity, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of the local market, digital marketing agencies in Peshawar are well-equipped to help businesses thrive in the digital age. Whether it's enhancing online visibility, engaging with customers on social media, or driving conversions through targeted campaigns, these agencies are at the forefront of Peshawar's digital revolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a digital marketing agency?

A digital marketing agency provides a range of services designed to help businesses promote their products or services online. These services can include SEO, social media marketing, content creation, email marketing, PPC advertising, and more.

2. Why should I hire a digital marketing agency in Peshawar?

Hiring a digital marketing agency in Peshawar can help you leverage local market knowledge and expertise. These agencies are familiar with the local audience and can create tailored strategies to help your business grow online.

3. How do I choose the right digital marketing agency in Peshawar?

When choosing a digital marketing agency, consider their experience, client testimonials, range of services, and their ability to understand and meet your business goals. It’s also beneficial to look at case studies or previous work to gauge their effectiveness.

4. What services do digital marketing agencies in Peshawar offer?

Digital marketing agencies in Peshawar typically offer a variety of services, including SEO, social media marketing, content creation, email marketing, and PPC advertising. Some may also provide additional services like website design and development, graphic design, and video production.

5. How much do digital marketing services cost in Peshawar?

The cost of digital marketing services can vary widely based on the scope of work, the agency’s experience, and the specific services required. It's best to discuss your needs with the agency to get a tailored quote.

6. How long does it take for digital marketing to show results?

The methods used will determine how long it takes to see results. For example, PPC advertisements can produce traffic right away, but SEO may take many months to yield noticeable returns.Discuss your expectations with your chosen agency for a realistic timeline.

7. Can digital marketing help my small business in Peshawar?

It allows you to reach a larger audience, engage with customers, and compete with larger companies on a more level playing field. Tailored strategies can help maximize your budget and achieve your business goals.

8. Do I need to be tech-savvy to work with a digital marketing agency?

No, you don’t need to be tech-savvy. A good digital marketing agency will explain their strategies and processes in simple terms and will manage the technical aspects of your campaigns. Your primary role will be to provide input and feedback on your business goals and objectives.

9. How will I measure the success of my digital marketing campaigns?

Success can be measured using various metrics such as website traffic, search engine rankings, social media engagement, conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI). Your agency should provide regular reports and analytics to track the performance of your campaigns.

10. Can digital marketing agencies help with branding?

Yes, a lot of digital marketing firms provide branding services, such as creating logos and developing brand messages and strategies.They can help you create a cohesive and recognisable brand identity that resonates with your target audience.

[onlinereputationmanageofficial]

Why is online reputation management important?

“Everywhere I go, I’m second to arrive. My reputation precedes me, and sometimes it skips out on the bill.”

– Jarod Kintz

Your online reputation is how people perceive you over the internet. With the growing digital world, customers prefer to check online reviews or answers on products and services offered by your brand before they buy it from an e-commerce platform. If your reputation is pessimistic on the web, will these individuals search for answers to go to you? Toward the day’s end, an awful reputation online will negatively affect your business objectives.

In fact, businesses risk losing 22% of business when potential customers find one negative article on the first page of their search results. Three negative articles can cause that number to jump to 59.2%. As scary as that is, negative articles aren’t the only risk factor you ought to be worried about. There is a lot more to it like your competitors defaming you on the internet, negative testimonials, negative publicity by giving false hopes, etc. Wonder, what do you need to gain back the internet reputation you took 20 years to create for your brand?

By now you have understood how important online reputation management is. Things that are important, done properly definitely reap about some benefits in the longer run. So, we now look at some of the benefits of Online reputation management.

Transactional benefit:

Online reputation management services help your brand build positive content anywhere on the internet thereby bringing in more potential customers to reach out to your products and services. Many companies use business reputation management when their reputation is already at “Doom’s Day”. For a few, recovering isn’t advantageous monetarily and the service or product is infused. Consider the possibility that you had important bits of knowledge about what your intended interest group is searching for on the web. Would this change the game a bit?

Greater faith:

Having the trust of your customers is a significant part of accomplishment. Your customers examine their buying decisions with companions and when they have a difficulty they will in all likelihood spread the news about their experience. The web makes everybody a marketer and you should now stress over negative content spreading out quickly on the web. In the event that your company endures lost trust in people in general, quite possibly you will always be unable to turn it constructive once more. In the event that you can recoup from this negative exposure to recover trust from your intended interest group, the cost will be high in correlation with having a procedure set up that could have forestalled it. Hence, this cost can be completely eliminated if there was decent online reputation management in place.

Sow the seed of using tools for online reputation management now and enjoy the fruits of having a strong reputation forever. With outsourcing becoming the new normal, we have some of the best online reputation management agencies providing the best-in-class reputation management services to companies with their team of experts. Online Reputation Manage is one such agency that has the best industrial expertise in sensibly handling the online reputation with everything related to your brand’s value in the online community. This community comprises search engines, online forums, blogs and of course, social media. They serve the purpose of their diverse elite clients from the Fortune 500 list.

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT ECOMMERCE NEWS (INCLUDING ETSY), Early June 2024

I am really slammed at the moment, so instead of a long intro, I'll hop right into the latest ecommerce news, including a ton of things going on at Etsy.

TOP NEWS & ARTICLES 

Incorrect Etsy shop suspensions continue at a hot pace right now; I wrote about another one here on LinkedIn, and made an Etsy forum thread. The shop was reopened within 24 hours of my post. There was also good news in the story of HeatherJordanJewelry. Etsy has decided to refund her the money she lost on the 2 cases opened after Etsy closed her shop. 

Still think Etsy isn’t serious about sellers who ship after their processing times? The corporation is now sending shop owners warnings that they will be deindexed in a month if they do not improve their shipping metrics before then.  

I’ve reached out to the seller for more details but haven’t yet heard back. 

eBay is testing Venmo as a payment option. They are also removing American Express as a credit card option.

ETSY NEWS 

A small number of Etsy sellers are reporting their items showing as sold out when they are actually available; Etsy is looking into it, but upping the quantity (when available) seems to fix the issue. 

In what may have been an accidental early release of a new Etsy feature, sharp-eyed sellers noticed that Etsy was inserting a video slot into some shops’ listings even when there was no video. Here is a screenshot (courtesy PriddeyThings):

When sellers clicked the “Request a video” button, they were told a request had been sent, but the seller did not receive anything. This is such a bad way to encourage more videos. Some sellers already receive pretty disgusting Messages asking for shots of them posing with/wearing the product for sale, and now they get to deal with video requests as well? 

Etsy Ads costs are all over the place for some sellers recently, oscillating back and forth by day [post by me on Patreon]. 

Etsy is testing AI overviews of reviews, and they are about as popular with sellers as you might guess [Reddit thread; includes screenshot]. The good news for OOAK and most vintage sellers is that they only appear on items that are listed in multiples. 

While non-US sellers have been reporting issues with Etsy’s new listing page and the domestic pricing tool for a year now, there are now some US sellers complaining of both listing price changes not sticking, and of shipping profile errors. 

No, the Etsy "new shop boost" does not last very long - and I have the citations to prove it. [post by me on Tumblr]

If you are having trouble installing the latest version of the Sell on Etsy app, make sure all previous versions have been removed from your phone 

Sellers in the EU who have been unable to opt out of Offsite Ads should try again, as this seller in France managed to get Support to help out.

Etsy is surveying sellers on their shipping practices and marking items shipped, but it is unclear why [post by me on LinkedIn]. Some sellers who were asked about specific orders are concerned they might be in trouble due to carrier delays or errors.

An Etsy staff member posted what can be described as a “newbie guide to Etsy Messages” in the Etsy forum. About a year too late to prevent many of the scams…

Sadly, this NPR podcast [podcast with transcript] has a lot of errors in it - e.g., vintage and supplies were on Etsy since the beginning - but it is correct that the fight between investors and sellers is at the core of what is wrong with the site today. 

Any Canadian seller wondering how Etsy deals with GST/HST, provincial sales taxes and even income taxes will find this article useful. My older blog post on the GST debacle is still valid on the GST/HST questions, but it is rather long due to highlighting the issues rather than just explaining what a seller needs to do. 

Is Josh Silverman overpaid compared to CEOs of similar-sized companies? We’ll see what happens at the next AGM. 

ECOMMERCE NEWS (minus social media)

Amazon

Amazon has FAA approval for flying its delivery drones longer distances. “Amazon is set to “immediately” scale its operations in College Station, Texas, so it can fly more drones and make deliveries in more densely populated areas that are farther out.”

eBay

eBay is testing AI searches; at least they admit it may be inaccurate. 

As of July 8, eBay is banning use of Bluecare Express and Aquiline as shipping carriers, which some sellers have used to circumvent dropshipping rules. 

Coming soon: the ability for US sellers to use eBay’s International Shipping services to ship domestically to Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. 

Shopify

Shopify’s “Shop” app - which allows consumers to look through many different sites that run through Shopify - had  a “Shop Cash” promotion in the US last week, allowing users to earn extra credits towards future purchases. The Shop app is getting successful enough to start being counted as a marketplace-equivalent. 

Shopify now owns “Checkout Blocks”, an app that helps with easy customization of the checkout process. It will now be free to all Shopify Plus members. 

All Other Marketplaces

GoImagine has been sending out invites to lapsed sellers, boasting of better dashboards, and offering 2 months free. They still do not seem that interested in seller concerns about poor traffic, as this Reddit thread demonstrates. [It's worth noting that Etsy had only 7 million sellers in the first quarter; GoImagine seems to be using figures based on all 3 of Etsy's marketplaces (including Depop & Reverb), but badly out of date ones, as active sellers on all 3 marketplaces were 9.1 million in the first quarter, not 8.3 million. Not exactly inspiring confidence!] 

Temu’s user numbers mean it now will have to comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP). “DSA obligations for VLOPs include assessing and mitigating systemic risks related to their services such as the listing and sale of counterfeit goods, unsafe or illegal products, and items that infringe intellectual property rights.” This might be good news for businesses who have had their photos stolen and posted there.

Payment Processing

PayPal is building its own ad network. “The company plans to expand [“Advanced Offers”] to sell ads to brands outside of its merchant network that could be displayed across the web and connected TV.”

Do you have any hot ecommerce and Etsy news you would like to see me cover? Email me, and I promise to keep the source confidential if you want me to!

Get these updates plus my website blog posts via email: http://bit.ly/CindyLouWho2Blog Get all of the most timely updates plus exclusive content by supporting my Patreon: patreon.com/CindyLouWho2

[marketingprofitmedia]

ShopBuildr AI Review – Create Amazon Affiliate Store In 60 Seconds!

Welcome to my ShopBuildr AI Review Post, This is a genuine user-based ShopBuildr AI review where I will discuss the features, upgrades, demo, price, and bonuses, how ShopBuildr AI can benefit you, and my own personal opinion. This is brand new automated AI software that creates 100% done-for-you and ready-to-profit affiliate stores in just minutes no Amazon APIs needed, and no content creation needed.

If you want to earn more affiliate commissions, then you are going to love this new tool. It automatically finds your products to promote, creates the posts for you, inserts content for you, and even adds your affiliate link for you! Affiliate marketing remains a popular way to generate income. It allows you to promote other companies’ products and earn commissions for each sale you make. However, building and maintaining a successful affiliate store can be a daunting task, especially for beginners. This is where ShopBuilder AI steps in. Claiming to be an all-in-one solution, ShopBuildr AI promises to automate the entire process of creating and managing an affiliate store.

ShopBuildr AI Review: What Is ShopBuildr AI?

ShopBuildr AI is a cloud-based software designed to simplify the process of building and managing affiliate websites. It utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to automate several key tasks, including product selection, content creation, store design, and even content spinning (rewriting) for legal compliance.

ShopBuildr AI integrates with various platforms like Amazon and allows you to import product listings directly. It boasts features that streamline content creation, helping you generate product descriptions and reviews with minimal effort. Additionally, ShopBuildr AI offers built-in social media integration to promote your store and generate traffic.

ShopBuildr AI Review: Overview

Creator: Kurt Chrisler

Product: ShopBuildr AI

Date Of Launch: 2024-May-20

Time Of Launch: 10:00 EDT

Front-End Price: $17 (One-time payment)

Official Website: Click Here To Access

Product Type: Software (Online)

Support: Effective Response

Discount: Get The Best Discount Right Here!

Recommended: Highly Recommended

Bonuses: Huge Bonuses

Rating: 9.3/10

Skill Level Required: All Levels

Refund: YES, 30 Days Money-Back Guarantee

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ShopBuildr AI Review: Features

Create Your First Affiliate Store In Just Minutes!

100+ DFY Affiliate Products

Offer Unlimited Products For More Commissions

Integrated with ChatGPT

Newbie Friendly, No Experience Required

No Amazon API is Needed!

Automated Free updates

Unlimited support

ShopBuildr AI Review: How Does It Work?

Creating Your Affiliate Store Has Never Been This Easy!

STEP #1: Install the Software

Simply upload the Shopbuildr AI WordPress Plugin to your WordPress site.

STEP #2: Upload Your Products

Simply upload the 100+ DFY Products we provide to get started fast!

STEP #3: Let ShopBuildr AI Take Over

Click “Post” and ShopBuildr AI will build your site for you! Everything is completely done for you.

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ShopBuildr AI Review: Can Do For You

Automatically Creates An Affiliate Store

Automatically Insert the Product Name

Automatically Inserts Content

Automatically Inserts Product Images

Automatically Inserts Your Affiliate Link

Automatically Inserts Custom Ads

Add Your Optin Box to Each Page

Integrated with ChatGPT

ShopBuildr AI Review: Who Should Use It?

Affiliate Marketers

Artists

Content Creators

eCom Store Owners

Blog Owners

CPA Marketers

Video Marketers

Product Creators

Personal Brands

Freelancers

And Many Others

ShopBuildr AI Review: OTO’s And Pricing

Front End Price: ShopBuildr AI ($17)

OTO1: ShopBuildr AI PRO ($37)

OTO2: ShopBuildr AI Unlimited ($47)

OTO3: Done For You Option ($67)

OTO4: iMarketers Hosting ($39/$59 per year)

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ShopBuildr AI Review: My Unique Bonus Bundle

My Unique Bonus Bundle will be visible on your access page as an Affiliate Bonus Button on WarriorPlus immediately after purchase.

And before ending my honest ShopBuildr AI Review, I told you that I would give you my very own unique PFTSES formula for Free.

ShopBuildr AI Review: Free Bonuses

Bonus #1: Azon Affiliate Bar Plugin

With this WordPress plugin, you can display a “sticky bar” at the top of your site promoting any Amazon product you want. This plugin makes it incredibly easy to start making more commissions from the Amazon Affiliate program in just a couple of minutes!

Bonus #2: FB Affiliate Alert Box Plugin

This WordPress plugin allows you to use the familiarity of Facebook to increase your affiliate commissions on all your websites. It will create pop-up boxes that resemble those from Facebook and allow you to insert affiliate products into them.

Bonus #3: WP Traffic Domination Training

You can’t make money online without traffic! The Traffic Domination course will show you how to start generating free traffic to all your websites and how to do it the right way to avoid penalties. If you need more traffic. then you need this course!

ShopBuildr AI Review: Demo Video

Just Watch The ShopBuildr AI Demo Video Down Below To Get All The Details:

>>For More Details Click Here<<

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ShopBuildr AI Review: Money Back Guarantee

30 day money back guarantee

ShopBuilder AI is backed by a 30-day warranty. If you are having trouble setting up your first affiliate site and our support staff is unable to assist you. Send us an email and we’ll refund your purchase.

That’s it!

ShopBuildr AI Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Saves time with automated product selection and content creation.

Beginner-friendly interface for easy website setup.

Built-in social media integration for wider reach.

Cons:

You cannot use this product without an active internet connection.

In fact, I haven’t yet discovered any other problems withShopBuildr AI.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Q. How many sites can I create?

With the standard version you can create 1 site. However, after you purchase you will have the option to upgrade your account to unlimited, which will allow you to create as many sites as you want.

Q. Do I need to purchase anything else?

You will need to have your own domain name and website that is using WordPress on it

Q. Is ShopBuildr AI completely free?

ShopBuildr AI typically offers a base product at a lower price, with additional features locked behind upsells. There might also be free trials available, so check their website for current pricing details.

Q. Can ShopBuildr AI guarantee my affiliate marketing success?

ShopBuildr AI is a tool to help build your website, but success in affiliate marketing depends on various factors like ongoing content creation, audience engagement, and marketing strategies.

Q. Is the content generated by ShopBuildr AI good enough?

AI-generated content can be a starting point, but it might require editing to ensure quality and uniqueness for optimal SEO impact.

ShopBuildr AI Review: My Recommendation

ShopBuildr AI offers a compelling solution for beginners or those short on time. It streamlines website creation and content generation, but it’s important to remember it’s a tool, not a magic solution. Long-term success requires ongoing effort in content creation, audience engagement, and SEO optimization. Weigh the potential benefits against the limitations to determine if ShopBuildr AI can be a stepping stone on your affiliate marketing journey.

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Check Out My Previous Reviews: IntelliVid AI Studio Review, CB Ninja Review, AI Employees Review, OverLap AI Review, AI CaptureFlow Review, FlexiSitesAI Review, WP Defense Review, HostDaddy Review.

Thank for reading my ShopBuildr AI Review till the end. Hope it will help you to make purchase decision perfectly.

Disclaimer: This ShopBuildr AI review is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Before making a purchase decision, we recommend conducting your own research and exploring the software.

Note: Yes, this is a paid software, however the one-time fee is $17 for lifetime.