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Day: December 31, 2017

Swearing helps us battle pain – no matter what language we curse in

Bridge Agents

(Conversation) – Swear words have many functions. They can be used for emphasis, for comedic effect, as a shared linguistic tool that strengthens social bonds and maintains relationships, or simply to cause offence and shock. They are words that can be emotionally electrifying. We can express utter horror, disdain, or just frustration through the utterance of a simple four-letter word (or several). But swearing isn’t always associated with negative emotions or unpleasant events. A study by Emma Byrne investigated how swearing on Twitter was used by fans at football games….

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Twitter Japan is Not a Safe Space for Minority Users

Bridge Agents

“Stop hate speech!” Poster created by the Japanese Ministry of Justice to address hate speech. (GVO) – The absence of measures to control online hate speech discourages freedom of expression among ethnic minorities in Japan, especially resident Koreans, according to a series of reports published by Kanagawa Shimbun, a regional newspaper. The report details how online hate speech makes non-Japanese residents in the country uncomfortable online. While various city, regional and national efforts have been made to address hate speech, Twitter Japan has been slow to respond, prompting demonstrators to gather on…

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