Sexism in video gaming refers to prejudiced behavior or discrimination based on sex or gender that is experienced by people who play and create video games, primarily women. In some cases, these prejudice behavior can lead to harassment. One may be familiar with the media critic and blogger, Anita Sarkeesian. Her Facebook, YouTube and email accounts were flooded with hateful and sexist comments, death and rape threats, and photo-shopped pictures of her getting raped by video game characters. This hatred grew to the point that a speech at a University had to be canceled since an anonymous email was sent stating a mass shooting would be held if they hosted her speech.

Recently, Anita was listed in the Top 100 Most Influential People in TIME Magazine for launching her campaign for Tropes vs. Women in Women Games, which raised $150,000. This web series would explore five common and recurring stereotypes of female characters in video games. Since Anita held a supportive fan-base (along with the haters) – she hit her goal of $6,000 in just the first day. Ultimately, the campaign has raised more than $150,000. Although Anita suffered through harassment and terroristic threats, she never backed down and stood up about the role of women in video games.

It is evident that video games are influenced by culture and culture is also influenced by video games. Video games affect our lives even though we think it’s just a simple game or toy. But does our modern culture encourage sexism? This article takes the opinions of many people from the University of Hawaii to form a consensus from modern day college students. A majority of the students agree that modern culture encourages men and women to have sexist attitudes towards women, and in almost every statement the media is where this sexism occurs. When we observe television or video game trends, it is common to see women as sex symbols and men as dominant-strong characters.

Although our culture has made improvements in non-sexist attitudes towards women, it doesn’t seem to be enough. We can see this in the changed look of Tomb Raider’s character Lara Croft. When the company began modeling this character after real human models, her character became less sexualized (shown in the photo below). If all video games took these precautions, sexism against women would be less apparent.

While many, including Anita Sarkeesian, are asking video games to change their views on women; should we be asking our culture to change?

Need help paying college tuition at Penn State? You’re in luck, Penn State was ranked #17 on the dating website, SeekingArrangement.com, and you can be the next member. When most people hear the term “sugar daddy,” they picture an elderly well-off person who pays for whatever their younger partner needs. Not many people think of the “sugar baby” and their side of the story.

The website, SeekingArrangement.com, brands itself as a gateway to find a “mutually beneficial relationship.” The process is stress-free: create a membership, connect with a wealthy man or woman and begin your mutual relationship. While most members of this website make an upward of $500,000 or more, they are happy to pay you for just about anything. These arrangements can range from a casual dinner at a local restaurant or sexual favors. Most partners will make a contract and have a specific arrangement but can this turn into something more than a business deal?

When searching the Internet on this topic, I found a great insight on the subject within “Dating Sites Reviews.” A review by Ash told a different story than one would expect as an experience with the site. Ash had been a member for a number of years and had only met with a few clients, since she only met with sugar daddies she felt were safe and secure. Eventually she met with a sugar daddy and completely hit it off. This relationship became more than a business interaction when it transformed into love. Ash and her sugar daddy are now in a committed relationship and no longer have profiles. Although Ash thought she would regret the experience, it was settled entirely different than she had planned and is happy it did.

When examining SeekingArrangement.com, it is clearly stated that safety and privacy is taken very seriously. These profiles have an option to be checked to ensure you are who you say you are and have no secrets – relating to warranting. You can see who has purchased this check as it states they are verified on their profiles. This creates a more trustworthy experience.

So what does this mean for Penn State and online dating? Do you think this is a dangerous outlet for predators to get in contact with desperate college students? Or do you think this is a great way for students to make money?

If you keep up with the news, you know there is a steady stream of American Muslims, radicalized by overseas extremists, engaging in violence here in the United States. These attacks are considered Domestic Terrorism and are increasing rapidly. Initially, Homeland Security and the United States were nervous of large-scale attacks such as 9/11, but this is quickly changing. With the “lone wolf”, one who acts alone with support of a group, attacks taking over headlines… we need to take precaution.

As technology becomes more complex, the social network of terrorist groups will also become complex. The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has already recruited many of their members through social media. ISIS has used Skype, Facebook, Google Chat and more exclusively, Twitter. In June of 2014, CNN wrote and article on the Syrian jihadists using Twitter to recruit foreign fighters.

The transactions usually begin over Twitter where recruiters will direct message potential fighters and convince them to fly to Syria. When the citizen flies to Syria, they begin to learn Radical Muslim values and how to fight. After these radicals return to U.S. soil, they either attack or recruit. This becomes complex to track due to the lack of connections and value of privacy in America.

Although Twitter has been very cooperative with Federal Agents, is it enough? Twitter has been actively shutting down accounts affiliated with terrorist groups but this may be counteractive. A large step in finding terrorist activity is to follow social interactions and these interactions are easily found on Twitter. Since twitter is not encrypted, it is simple for the federal government to track conversations and create a network of ISIS contacts.

Should Twitter be shutting down accounts affiliated with terrorist groups? Should the technology sector not encrypt social media sites to have the benefits Twitter has?

As we are all excited that McDonald’s is set to offer All-Day Breakfast, they have more change in store for the United States. Announced in 2014, McDonald’s plans to bring touchscreen ordering to the U.S. The move could help McDonald’s, who has struggled with slowing sales, though it also creates new costs and complexities. McDonald’s will use the “Create Your Taste” ordering kiosk to boost revenue and have cashiers serve the food to tables.

According to McDonald’s, the touch-screen technology is meant to “speed up the ordering process and give people more control over customizing their food, while reducing opportunities for human error.” On the other hand, many believe the technology is made to eventually replace staff to avoid the rising labor costs in the United States. With minimum wage almost doubling in certain areas, it is almost impossible for the business’ to keep up.

Touchscreen Kiosk

Do you think technology should replace human labor?

56% of people said “No” when asked on Debate.org. One person replied by stating, “Many people would lose their jobs should technology replace human labor. Should technology take over, there would be little need for people who were previously working. This could cause massive unemployment if technology really did take over human labor.” Although I do agree it would affect the job industry negatively, I do not agree that we should be hesitant to change.

By using technology to replace the jobs we do not desire, prices of production will be vastly cheaper. Also, technology has, in many cases, replaced a great deal of human labor. This progress has been going on in the industry for decades.

How do you feel about technology replacing human labor?

The idea of a 3-D Printer is nothing new in today’s society. In 3D printing, additive processes are used, in which successive layers of material are laid down under computer control. 3-D printers have unlimited capabilities, including building houses and producing food. Although we tend to think of the big picture, other day-to-day objects can be made with a 3-D printer. About 2 years ago in May 2013 the world’s first gun made with a 3-D printer was unveiled.

Ever since the first 3-D printed gun was created, advancements have been successful. I attached a video below of the man, Cody Wilson, who has received much attention for his innovation. About two years ago, Cody Wilson published his blueprints of the Liberator pistol, for others to create their own guns. The major controversy surrounding the subject is the commonality of shootings in the United States and if this innovation will supplement to the already high numbers.

This controversy has become monumental, already becoming a landmark lawsuit making it to the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals. Wilson was ordered to remove the blueprints from the Internet, due to the international export of unapproved firearms. Later, Wilson filed a lawsuit claiming that the State Department’s order was a violation of his First Amendment rights. Although many see this as a Second Amendment issue, this case will make precedent for the 3-D Printing industry as a whole. Do you think it should be legal to 3-D print firearms at home? Will 3-D printers have to block certain blueprints from being used? Do you agree that this is a First or Second Amendment issue?