Let's talk about the 'Tide-pod Challenge'

Okay, let's talk about this, because this is dangerous. First, there was the cinnamon challenge that happened in 2012, then there was the salt and ice challenge that happened in 2017, but that challenge was first done in 2012 as well. All three of these challenges were/are dangerous. They all provide a health risk and I really hope these challenges just stop one day, because this is stupid.

I'm not gonna go into details about the challenges, because I think that would be unwise. I will say this. It is harmful to your health. All three of these challenges are harmful to your health, but we are talking about the most recent one right now. The tide-pods are poisonous. So, why are teens doing this challenge? Because they apparently look like candy... What!?

Some people were seen shaking, stirring, even cooking the packets. These actions were prompted by meme images showing the packets as “forbidden fruit”. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), people have actually died from eating them and has recently renewed efforts to warn against harmful exposure to the pods.

There are serious side-effects that could most likely happen and could most likely end in death. They are: vomiting, coughing, loss of consciousness, respiratory arrest, coma, fluid in the lungs, and cardiac arrest.

It's ridiculous, this apparently started out as a joke, a prank, on the internet, but this has gone way too far. There are some concerns that children will try mimicking the teenagers and trying this challenge themselves.

This is dangerous! It's poisonous! Do not try this!

Source:

https://www.today.com/health/tide-pod-challenge-videos-trigger-warnings-against-eating-laundry-detergent-t121174

Let's talk about 'Fidget Toys'...

These 'fidget devices' (as I like to call them) were a trend last year... well, more specifically, fidget spinners were a trend last year. Every kid had to have one. There are many different types of fidget devices though. Let's go through a few of them.

Fidget spinners are meant for people with disabilities or mental illnesses who fidget. It helps keep them calm as they do what they need to do, like focus on their work in school or at work.

Fidget spinners look a bit like helicopter blades that you can hold in your hands. They come in different styles, most of them have three 'blades' if that is what they are called. I can show you a basic one here:

There is another fidget device called the fidget cube. It's a cube that has something different to fidget with on every side. I can show you what one of them looks like here. Here is a picture that shows what it looks like on every side of the cube:

Now, I personally think this is awesome for people who need it. I'm gonna be a devil's advocate here for a bit, just for a sec... I want to talk about the spinners. I can kinda imagine how some people may think that they can be distracting. The cubes would be much better, in my opinion, for school and the workplace. The problem is, schools are banning them. Well, more specifically, they're banning the spinners. I'm not sure where the schools stand with the fidget cubes though.

There are other fidget devices that are available. Here is a list of 38 types of fidget devices. The article does call them toys, but as I've mentioned before, they are not toys.

https://www.focusfied.com/fidget-toys-help-adhd-add/

I got a fidget cube ring just this past Christmas. Originally, I had said I wasn't planning on getting one, but after my counselor had suggested I get something to fidget with, my mom bought me a fidget cube ring. All the sides looks like it does on a regular fidget cube, except, it has a hole in the middle where you can put your finger through. Here is what it looks like:

It seems to be helping me a little. I'm not sure I will be using it out in public though. I mainly use it when I'm watching TV or when I'm at my computer. 

Anyways, I do hope you are able to get a fidget device if you need one and that you're able to use it whenever and wherever without any judgments.

Sources:

https://themighty.com/2017/03/why-calling-fidgets-a-trend-and-a-toy-can-be-hurtful/

https://themighty.com/2017/05/banning-fidget-toys-hurts-kids-with-disabilities/

https://themighty.com/2017/05/schools-ban-fidget-toys-autism/

http://blogs.webmd.com/webmd-interviews/2017/05/can-fidget-spinners-help-you-focus.html?ecd=soc_tw_170618_cons_blog_canfidgetspinnershelpyoufocus&linkId=100000000486830

I never got to say this but...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yeah, Happy New Year! Happy 2018! I know we're already a few weeks in, but there was this big story (well, stories) I had to cover and well... now, we are here. I feel like I have been writing non-stop since January 5^th... I know, I've been gone for a long time. I do not know why I stopped writing for so long. I did forget how good it felt to write.

I fell back into a depression during the holidays, probably around Thanksgiving and my birthday, somewhere around there, I think. And I do know why I felt so depressed this holiday season, it's because I'm getting closer to 30 and I haven't done much with my life. I'm 27, by the way. Yeah, you may think “You still got a few years”... well, I've been living in my current location for three years and I haven't done much at all. I wanted to find my purpose. I wanted to feel needed. So, a good friend of mine suggested I try starting up this blog again. So, here I am again.

I don't “make resolutions” ever. I just end up breaking them. Instead, I make goals for myself. My goal for this month was to start my blog up again. I am off to a great start. Now, my goal is to make sure I'm writing for the whole rest of the year. My goal for next month is to start volunteering somewhere. If I get that done this month, then yay! But if I don't get it done next month, then that's okay, I still got the rest of the year.

Also, I want to get closer to God this year. If you didn't know, I am a Christian. I don't pray and read the bible everyday like I should though and I'm working on that.

I am determined to make 2018 my year!

Youtube's 'open letter' to the public

On January 9, 2018, Youtube released a statement on Twitter discussing Logan Paul's controversial video. The statement read:

“Many of you have been frustrated with our lack of communication recently. You’re right to be. You deserve to know what's going on. Like many others, we were upset by the video that was shared last week. Suicide is not a joke, nor should it ever be a driving force for views. As Anna Akana put it perfectly: "That body was a person someone loved. You do not walk into a suicide forest with a camera and claim mental health awareness." We expect more of the creators who build their community on YouTube as we’re sure you do too. The channel violated our community guidelines, we acted accordingly, and we are looking at further consequences. It’s taken us a long time to respond, but we’ve been listening to everything you’ve been saying. We know that the actions of one creator can affect the entire community, so we’ll have more to share soon on steps we’re taking to ensure a video like this is never circulated again.”

There are people who do not think Youtube has “acted accordingly” to this situation. Many have criticized that statement. A youtuber, Philip Defranco, posted a video response on Twitter. His response is this:

“What are you talking about? What kind of revisionist history bullshit is that… When you say you ‘acted accordingly,’ did you say that you had the video trending, top trending, on YouTube, that you acted accordingly in waiting about a day and several million views of people watching this dead person in the video in the thumbnail until Logan Paul decided to remove the video, but you, despite all the people flagging the video, were like ‘Fuck it.’ Just own the mistake.”

And here is the tweet with the video:

https://twitter.com/PhillyD/status/950863985632452608

I remember when Pewdiepie, another youtuber, posted a video that seemed to have anti-semantic imagery. Youtube doled out a number of consenquences, including canceling his Youtube series. And yet, here we are, a week after Logan posted that video and Youtube has done nothing.

What do I have to say about this? Youtube really messed up here. They should have done more, but they haven't really done anything. I really think they could have done more. I think they still can and should do more. But, of course, this is Youtube. I don't think they're gonna do much.

Source:

https://themighty.com/2018/01/youtube-open-letter-logan-paul-suicide-video/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Mighty_Page

https://www.polygon.com/2018/1/10/16873340/youtube-logan-paul-statement-consequence-channel

Update: January 10, 2018

There's been an update to this story and I thought I would add it here rather than make a separate post about it. Youtube is finally doing something, but is it enough? You tell me. Youtube removes Logan's channel from Google's ad preferred program, he will no longer appear in the Youtube series, Foursome, and his own youtube series are being put on hold. The reactions seem to be mixed.

Originally, I had said Youtube could have done more, and it looks like they did. I'd say it's better than nothing, but is it enough?

It still does not change the fact that Youtube seemed to let some things slide. Why punish Pewdiepie right away and then wait for more than a week to punish Logan Paul? Like I said before, Youtube messed up.

Source:

https://www.buzzfeed.com/claudiarosenbaum/youtube-cuts-business-ties-with-logan-paul?utm_term=.btzm6mOPXw#.kfD696ybO5

https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/10/16876178/youtube-logan-paul-ban-ad-partner-red-monetization-canceled-controversy-google

https://themighty.com/2018/01/youtube-logan-paul-removed-google-preferred/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Mighty_Page

I'm sorry for this long post, but what do you think about all this? Has Youtube done enough or should Youtube do more? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Let's talk about charity

A few years ago, in 2014, I talked about paying it forward. Now, I want to talk about people who are paying it forward. I want to talk about a youtuber named Jacksepticeye. His channel consists of videogame “let's plays” where he has played many, many kinds of videogames. He's been on youtube for 5 years and currently has 17 million subscribers.

The reason I am talking about him is because he has responded to the Logan Paul situation in a big way, by doing a charity livestream for The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He and his audience has raised over $200,000 in just 8 hours. Jacksepticeye was able to turn something negative into something positive by doing this.

And while I'm on the subject of charity, I'd like to give a shoutout to any other youtubers who uses youtube to do charity work, or to spread the word about a charity or charities in general.

I'd also like to give a shoutout to another big youtuber who does charity livestreams. He does them almost every month. His name is Markiplier. His channel also consists of videogame “let's plays”. He also has been on youtube for 5 years, and he currently has 19 million subscribers. He has done livestreams for many charities.

There are good people in the world. There are good people on Youtube who are spreading positivity and inspiring people to be better versions of themselves.

Sources:

http://www.wetheunicorns.com/youtubers/jacksepticeye/response-charity-stream/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2WdWh8XGf0&feature=youtu.be

Okay... There's an update to my previous post!

Let's talk about Logan Paul... again!

More specifically, his fans... which, I cannot believe there are fans who still are willing to defend him after what's he's done. If you would like a recap, please feel free to read my previous post about Logan Paul here:

http://csullivanwatchtower.blogspot.com/2018/01/its-been-awhile.html

Now, as I've mentioned in my previous blog post about this topic, there have been many people who have spoken out about this. I've mostly seen this on Twitter and Youtube. Today, I am talking about a youtuber who goes by the name, Reina Scully. She has been receiving some backlash from Logan Paul's fans for speaking her mind about this situation. They have been saying some things I will not repeat here, but I will include the article which includes some of the comments. I am sure she is not the only one who have received backlash from his fans.

I think this is disgusting. I think blind loyalty is not good. You want to know why I think blind loyalty is not good? Because it can lead to stuff like this. It makes me angry that a community would resort to this. I... have no more to say on this... I think I said it all in my previous post.

I'd love to know what you think.

Source:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/logan-paul-vlog-response_us_5a4cf90ce4b06d1621bc68bf

It's been awhile...

Well, it's been a long time...

But, let's talk about Logan Paul. He is a youtuber. He has been getting some backlash lately because he has done something that is completely disgusting in my opinion, and apparently, I am not alone with this opinion.

There is this forest in Japan, called the Aokigahara forest, otherwise known as the 'suicide forest' because of the number of people who have committed suicide in that forest. There have been annual searches for bodies and Japan's officials have put up signs urging people to seek help.

Now, back to Logan Paul. Recently, he visited Japan. He went into this forest and posted a video about his 'adventure' in the forest. I did not get to see the video, I only saw the backlash and 'apology' on social media. Apparently, he found a body of someone who passed away, possibly by suicide, and he started laughing and making jokes.

To me, and many others, it was disgusting. It makes me angry that someone would use a platform like youtube to do something like this. I do not believe his 'apology'.

If you're thinking of suicide, please don't. There's so many people who care about you. Even if you're not sure of it yourself. I care. I may just be a stranger, behind a screen, possibly many, many, miles away, I care.

I have a couple of websites for you to look into if you feel the need to. Unfortunately, I could only find the number for the one for the US, but please, if you're outside the US, get some help, in some way.

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

https://www.crisistextline.org/

Source for the Logan Paul story:

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/01/02/youtube-star-logan-paul-apologizes-for-sharing-video-dead-body.html