New York Attorney General Warns People about Fake Online Reviews

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. fraudulent [FRAW-juh-luh nt] (adj.) – involving dishonesty

Example: The court sanctioned the company due to its fraudulent transactions.

2. anonymously [uh-NON-uh-muh s-lee] (adv.) – characterized by having an unacknowledged or unknown identity

Example: Customers give out comments anonymously to avoid exposing their identity.

3. legitimate [li-JIT-uh-mit] (adj.) – proper, accepted, or authorized

Example: One cannot question a legitimate proof of ownership.

4. dissect [dih-SEKT, dahy-] (v.) – to closely look into the specific details or parts

Example: Attorney Smith dissected the case from the largest to the smallest information.

5. rely [ri-LAHY] (v.) – to have trust or to depend on something or someone

Example: The new employee relies on her manager for instructions.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

New York’s attorney general Eric Schneiderman [SHNAHY-der-muh n] warns the public against fraudulent online reviews about different products and services. Although most online reviews are posted anonymously, many people still rely on these reviews when it comes to purchasing food, clothing, and services for recreation. In fact, a recent survey says that after advertising by word-of-mouth, online reviews are the second most trusted form of advertisement. According to a recent research from the Harvard Business School, an increase of rating in online reviews may boost the sales of a business. For instance, Yelp.com—an online business rating and review website—can make an eight-percent increase in a restaurant’s sales just by adding one point in its rating. Also, an additional rating on Travelocity or TripAdvisor may result in an 11-percent increase in a hotel room rate. However, Schneiderman emphasized that many of the online reviews are not legitimate. People who have not even experienced the products or services appear to be giving fake reviews that can deceive many customers. In order to get rid of fake reviews on the Internet, Schneiderman and his office are trying to dissect this false system by conducting thorough investigations. As part of the investigation, staffers of the attorney general pretended to be owners of a yogurt shop. They contacted a company that posts fake reviews for products and services on various search engines. Last month, Schneiderman has already reported 19 companies that are involved in making fake online reviews. With enough evidence, the said companies are penalized to pay $350,000 for misleading the customers.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         In your opinion, why do some companies hire fraudulent online reviewers?

         What do you think can be the long term effects of fraudulent online reviews to a certain business? Please explain.

Discussion B

         Why is word-of-mouth marketing very effective?

         How did the Internet change the way products or services are marketed today?

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National Zoo’s New Panda Cub Gets First Checkup

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. cub [kuhb] (n.) – the offspring or baby of a carnivorous animal, such as a bear, lion, or fox

Example: The lion teaches its cub how to hunt for food.

2. examine [ig-ZAM-in] (v.) – to look or check carefully

Example: The doctor carefully examined the patient for possible diseases.

3. overprotective [oh-ver-pruh-TEK-tiv] (adj.) – being excessively protective of someone or something

Example: A mother has a tendency to be overprotective of her children.

4. patch [pach] (n.) – a small part that is different from the other parts

Example: Pandas have black and white patches all over their body.

5. habitat [HAB-i-tat] (n.) – a type of environment where an organism or a group lives normally

Example: The zoo employees closed the panda’s habitat to give the panda a quiet place to live in.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

The National Zoo's newborn panda cub has undergone a 20-minute veterinary checkup for the first time last September. Born on August 23, the yet-to-be-named female cub has been finally examined after the veterinarians waited for three and a half weeks. The veterinarians quickly took the chance when Mei Xiang [may-SHONG] finally put the cub down and left the den to eat some bamboo and drink some water in another area. Mei Xiang, the mother of the baby panda, has become overprotective of the cub and has not allowed humans to go near it. Known as a great mother, Mei Xiang spent most of the time cradling and cuddling her little cub. After the checkup, the veterinarians found that the panda cub has grown a lot ever since it was born. It now weighs a little less than two pounds. It also measures 10.6 inches long from nose to tail and 9.8 inches wide around its belly. Despite these developments, its eyes have not opened yet. Nonetheless, the cub’s growth and development is still amazing, said Brandie Smith, the zoo’s senior curator of mammals and giant pandas. According to the report, the cub’s black patches around the ears, eyes and back are now showing. It is also expected to grow as large as Mei Xiang, who weighs about 233 pounds. On another note, the habitat of the pandas in the National Zoo has been and will remain closed to give Mei Xiang and her cub a more peaceful environment. But, people who wish to see the pandas can do so through the zoo’s panda cam, which can be accessed on the Internet.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         In your opinion, why do mother animals tend to be overprotective of their offspring?

         Why do you think the zoo temporarily banned people from visiting the pandas’ habitat?

Discussion B

         Why do you think physical tests and examinations are important to animals?

         How can humans help protect endangered species like pandas?

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Internet Affects Young People at Risk of Suicide

"The internet is linked to an increased risk of suicide and self-harm among vulnerable adolescents."

Oxford researchers have found internet forums provide a support network for socially isolated young people. However, they also conclude that the internet is linked to an increased risk of suicide and self-harm among vulnerable adolescents.

Following what is thought to be the biggest review of existing studies into internet use and young people, the researchers suggest that, in future, clinical assessments of such young people should include questions about the online content they have viewed.

The global review shows that young people at risk of self-harm or suicide were often online for longer periods than other teenagers. The Oxford team analyzed a total of 14 studies and found contradictory findings on whether the internet exerted a positive or negative influence.

• Some studies found that internet forums support and connect socially isolated people, helping them to cope.
• But other studies conclud that young people who went online to find out more about self-harm and suicide were exposed to violent imagery and acted out what they had seen online.
• The review finds that internet use is linked with more violent methods of self-harm.

Moderate or severe addiction to the internet is also connected to an increased risk of self-harm, as well as increased levels of depression or thoughts about suicide, according to the Oxford review. The review also says there is a strong link between young people using internet forums and an increased risk of suicide -- a connection not found in relation to other social network sites. In one of the studies reviewed,

• well over half (59%) of young people interviewed said they had researched suicide online.
• Meanwhile, of 15 teenagers who had carried out particularly violent acts of self-harm, 80% said they had gone online to research self-harm beforehand.
• Of 34 who self-harmed by cutting, 73% said they had researched it online.

". . .out of nearly 300 posts, 9%  (of) users went to (internet) forums to swap tips on how to hide the problem."

Internet Anonymity
Young people who used the forums stressed the value of anonymity. One of the studies reviewed suggested that young people using the forums appeared to normalize self-harm. Most users went to the forums for empathy or to discuss safety issues rather than talk about how they could reduce their self-harming behavior. Another study showed that out of nearly 300 posts, 9% were about methods of self-harm and users went to the forums to swap tips on how to hide the problem.

Internet forums did not make the users feel any better, and in some cases they showed signs of increasing distress after using the sites, said one study. However, another study contradicts this, saying that an analysis of the posts created by forum users reveals that by the third month they were less distressed than they had been in the first couple of months. Young people who went to the forums said positive behavior was encouraged -- they congratulated each other for not cutting or urged one another to seek help from GPs.

Despite this, the review says that overall although forums may have provided emotional support, there is no evidence to suggest that this translated into young people actually reducing levels of self-harm. There was no consensus among users as to whether forums altered this behavior.

Cyber-bullying
The review also highlights the risk of cyber-bullying to vulnerable young people. Online bullying was found to make victims more likely to self-harm. One study suggested that it slightly increased rates of attempted suicide by the victim as well as the perpetrator. Email was used in 18% of cases of cyber-bullying, followed by instant messaging (16%), MySpace (14%) and chat rooms (10%), says the review.

*  *  *  *  *

Adolescent Suicide
by Alan L. Berman

Internet and Suicide
by

Story Source: Kate Daine, Keith Hawton, Vinod Singaravelu, Anne Stewart, Sue Simkin, Paul Montgomery. The Power of the Web: A Systematic Review of Studies of the Influence of the Internet on Self-Harm and Suicide in Young People. PLoS ONE, 2013

Zoo Bans Animal Print Clothing to Avoid Confusing Animals

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. baffle [BAF-uh l] (v.) – to confuse someone

Example:  Her strange behavior this morning baffled her boss and some of her coworkers.

2. dress code [dress kohd] (n. phrase) – a set of rules specifying the kinds of clothes that one should wear

Example: The dress code in the theater includes comfortable work clothes and closed shoes.

3. zero-tolerance [ZEER-oh TOL-er-uh ns] (n. phrase) – the process of automatically imposing punishments, often severe, to any rule violator

Example: We did not bring any gum to Singapore because the country has a zero-tolerance ban on chewing gum.

4. bouncer [BOUN-cer] (n.) – a person who is employed in an establishment to drive out disorderly people

Example: The bouncer refused to let the girls in because they were inappropriately dressed for the event.

5. publicity stunt [puh-BLIS-i-tee stuh nt] (n. phrase) – any staged event designed to get the public’s attention; often for marketing purposes

Example:  Many people believe that the actor’s bizarre clothing and outrageous public behavior are just part of a publicity stunt designed to revive his career.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

A zoo in England has banned guests from wearing animal print clothing to avoid baffling the animals. Located 17 miles away from London, the Chessington World of Adventures Resort said it decided to impose a dress code because certain animal prints may provoke strong reactions in some of the zoo animals, especially the giraffes and the rhinos. According to the management of the zoo, the banned prints include zebra, giraffe, leopard, cheetah, tiger, striped hyena, and African wild dog. Furthermore, the ban will be a zero-tolerance rule, and bouncers will be stationed all around the zoo to ensure compliance. Guests who come wearing any of the banned prints will be asked to take their clothes off and wear Chessington clothing instead. Robert Hilsenroth, executive director of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, believes that the dress code is well-intentioned and is not just a publicity stunt. According to him, prey animals can recognize certain colors and patterns in predators, and exposing them to predator prints may cause undue stress. For example, a leopard print may scare off gazelles as they instinctively avoid leopards, who are their predators. Likewise, lions may get excited at the sight of a zebra print, because they feed on zebras and other animals. Hilsenroth added that while this is the first time he has heard about a zoo imposing such a rule, he would not be surprised if zoos in other countries would follow suit.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Do you approve of the ban on animal print clothing at the zoo? Why or why not?

         Why do you think are animal prints extremely popular in fashion? Discuss with your tutor.

Discussion B

         Is it important for zoos to ensure the welfare of the animals? Why or why not?

         Do you agree that keeping animals in zoos and show parks are a form of animal cruelty? Explain.

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An Epidemic of Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence

There are some days you have to wonder how any of us survive childhood at all, or that each of us isn't more screwed up than we are.  My parents divorced after my father suffered a major mental collapse and disappeared.  And I've been married three times.  I wonder why?  Think there's a link?  Naaa.  Can't be.

Here's more cheery news about generations to come, entitled ~

Silent Victims -- An Epidemic of Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence.

Over 15 million children are exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) each year, and the health consequences of this exposure are well-documented. The Institute of Medicine and the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommend routine screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) in women of childbearing age. These recommendations represent an important step forward in improving the health of women affected by IPV.

In discussions about healthcare providers' role in IPV screening, however, the significant impact of IPV on child health is often missing, according to Boston Medical Center (BMC) pediatrician Megan H. Bair-Merritt, MD, author of a perspective in this week's New England Journal of Medicine. "Therefore, the healthcare community now has an important opportunity to mitigate the adverse impact of IPV on both women and children.

When the occurrence of IPV is disclosed, hospital and community IPV programs are essential partners that can help clinicians and their patients develop sound management plans that protect women and children's safety and abide by state-specific reporting laws.

"The health care system has effectively tackled critical health problems and led the charge to address many public health problems. We now have the opportunity and obligation to identify women and children who are experiencing IPV and to promote evidence-based interventions to prevent, or at least attenuate, the health consequences of childhood IPV exposure," added Bair-Merritt.

*  *  *  *  *

The fifteen million number is disturbing.  Well, as a writer, it's just more grist for the mill.

Right?

The Secret Keepers: Narratives Exploring the Inter and Transgenerational Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Violence
by Susan Dale

Don't Hit My Mama: Overcoming the Effects of Childhood Domestic Violence
by Renesia D. Martin

Story Source:  Megan Bair-Merritt, Barry Zuckerman, Marilyn Augustyn, Peter F. Cronholm. Silent Victims — An Epidemic of Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence. New England Journal of Medicine, 2013

YouTube Comments Get a Makeover

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. tweak [tweek] (v.) – to make adjustments to something

Example:  She tweaked the camera’s settings to get a good picture despite the dark surroundings.

2. unruly [uhn-ROO-lee] (adj.) – refusing to follow the rules or the law

Example: The website strictly implements the new rules to keep unruly users off the site.

3. trolling [TROHL-ing] (n.) – the act of posting hateful comments or articles on a website

Example: Trolling is usually done to stimulate strong reactions or to start fights online.

4. bolster [BOHL-ster] (v.) – to make something stronger

Example:  The company bolstered its website with an improved online viewing system.

5. test the waters [test thuh WOT-erz] (idiom) – to partly implement an idea to see if it will work

Example:  The CEO decided to upgrade only 10% of the company’s computers to test the waters before committing to a full upgrade.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

YouTube has announced that it will tweak its comments system to make feedback from users more relevant and less hostile. In an announcement, YouTube’s parent company Google said that with this change, it aims to turn comments into meaningful conversations. The decision is welcome news for many YouTube users who watch millions of videos and read comments on the website every day. While unruly comment sections are a widespread internet problem, they are particularly evident on YouTube, whose comments sections are often overrun by trolling, bullying, racism, sexism, and other hostile behaviors. One of the biggest changes will be the integration of Google’s social network, Google+, into YouTube’s comments system. Under the new system, commenters will need to link their YouTube account with a Google+ profile, a move that Google hopes will encourage responsible speech and behavior. The new system will also prioritize relevant comments over recent ones. Instead of showing the newest comments first, comments from friends or celebrities will automatically rise to the top of the list. Finally, Google will bolster video creators with more powerful tools to better regulate discussions. For example, creators will be able to create a blacklist of offensive words. If a comment containing a blacklisted word is posted, it will automatically be filtered to await approval. To test the waters, Google will roll out the changes gradually over the coming months. Those who prefer the current system will have an option to revert to the old system, but the redesigned system will be turned on by default.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Do you agree that the unruly comments on YouTube are an inconvenience to users? Why or why not?

         What other ways can you think of to encourage responsible and civil comments on YouTube? Discuss with your tutor.

Discussion B

         Do you consider trolling to be a form of freedom of speech? Explain.

         Do you think the Internet should be regulated by the government? Why or why not?

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Too Much Texting Can Disconnect Couples

According to a new study out of BYU, couples shouldn't let their thumbs do the talking when it comes to serious conversations, disagreements or apologies.  This jibs with an study posted here several months ago, Excessive Facebook Use Can Damage Relationships.

Brigham Young University researchers Lori Schade and Jonathan Sandberg studied 276 young adults around the country and found that being constantly connected through technology can create some disconnects in committed relationships.

Here are a few highlights from the report they published this week in the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy:

• For women: Using text messages to apologize, work out differences or make decisions is associated with lower relationship quality
• For men: Too frequent texting is associated with lower relationship quality
• For all: Expressing affection via text enhances the relationship

"Technology is more important to relationship formation than it was previously," said Schade, who earned her Ph.D. from BYU in August. "The way couples text is having an effect on the relationship as well."

The study participants weren't just casually dating -- 38 percent said they were in a serious relationship, 46 percent were engaged and 16 percent were married. Each participant completed an extensive relationship assessment that included questions about their use of technology in the relationship.

About 82 percent of them traded text messages with their partner multiple times a day. And it's not always "I <3 u!!!" or "Where do you want to go for lunch?"

Many of the couples used texting for stuff scholars call "relationship maintenance," or the kind of conversations that help couples get on the same page. Ordinarily having these conversations is a good thing, but texting can get in the way and makes things worse.

"Reaction to disappointment and reality testing occurs more quickly face to face," Sandberg said. "There is a narrowness with texting and you don't get to see the breadth of a person that you need to see."

For men, more texting doesn't necessarily mean a better relationship. And they don't just get tired of receiving texts; their relationship satisfaction is also lower when they send a lot of texts themselves.

"We're wondering if this means men disconnect and replace in-person conversations with more texting," Schade said. "Maybe as they exit the relationship, they text more frequently because that's a safer form of communication. We don't know why, that is just a conjecture."

The good news is that saying something sweet in a text works universally for men and women. In fact, sending a loving text was even more strongly related to relationship satisfaction than receiving one.

The bottom line is that if you don't have something nice to text, better not text at all.

*  *  *  *  *

Reasons Relationships Fail: Too Many Options
by Twame

The Therapeutic Narrative: Fictional Relationships and the Process of Psychological Change
by Barbara Almond

Story Source:  Lori Cluff Schade, Jonathan Sandberg, Roy Bean, Dean Busby, Sarah Coyne. Using Technology to Connect in Romantic Relationships: Effects on Attachment, Relationship Satisfaction, and Stability in Emerging Adults. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 2013