#online-communities

#online-communities

You may have run across the new "slur" making the rounds online, and in middle school lunchrooms: clanker. Borrowed from Star Wars (where battle droids get called "clankers"), the word is supposed to be a knockout insult to robots and A.I. Which would sort of make sense, if machines could actually take offense at anything. Since they can't, clanker is basically an insult that punches at nothing, perhaps the least-effective slur in history.

I spent my daughter's senior year in what felt like survival mode. It was a year of constant decisions and deadlines, culminating in four years of planning. There were dozens of essays for college and scholarship applications, SATs, an artistic portfolio, supplemental applications, and departmental interviews. We had to complete all of this while managing an extremely rigorous senior year with AP classes, dual enrollment courses, and a calendar full of extracurriculars.

In just three years, the ability for any New Yorker to produce a killing device in their own home has grown exponentially. In 2022, police said the lower receiver of a handgun could be made using most 3D-printers, leaving would-be gun manufacturers only to have to order the additional parts. Now, in 2025, about 96% of a firearm can be made in any home, leaving only screws and springs to be added to make it operable.

Goodreads, the largest book-centric social network, functions as a merciless hellscape overrun by petty, perpetually aggrieved readers who post one-star reviews.

In the quiet corners of the internet, an unlikely brotherhood has formed. They call themselves incels—short for ‘involuntarily celibate’—and their forums hum with the voices of young men who believe they've been locked out of romantic and sexual life.

Personalized persuasion, while often appealing, can become concerning when deep tailoring is involved, as it utilizes core psychological beliefs and identities to influence opinions.

Our findings suggest that user activity on r/antiwork significantly evolved, showing disconnects among subscriber growth and actual engagement, particularly post-mainstream media events.

Tate's repeated demeaning and violent statements about women and his mocking of the seriousness of sexual assault are usually brushed aside by his followers.

Joining dedicated online platforms like UX.stackexchange.com can offer valuable advice and insights while also helping you connect with other UX professionals globally.

"The novelty of a website devoted to shock and gore, and the rebelliousness inherent in it, dies when your opinions become the official policy of the world's five or so richest people and the government of the United States."