Month: January 2023

When something as life changing as the University of Idaho murders occurs, it can inspire the desire to catch the one responsible.

Not for justice, but for the fame that comes with it.

Despite a suspect being apprehended for the Idaho murders and the growing mountain of evidence accompanying him, a group of so-called social media sleuths continue to seek for the “true” culprit. This leads to false accusations of innocent people who are trying to mourn the loss of their friends and family.

To say this is an ignorant and emotionless play for views would be an understatement. I find it quite disgusting.

One particular case, albeit extreme, was when a self-proclaimed psychic detective on TikTok, Ashley Guillard, decided it would be a great idea to make serious accusations against Rebecca Scofield, a professor at the University of Idaho. How did she conclude this professor murdered her own students? Tarot cards and a surplus of imagination.

Along with Guillard’s tarot card readings, she proceeded to give “motive” for the professor to kill or order the killing of Scofield students. Some of the possible motives provided by Guillard included the professor harboring romantic feelings for one of the students and that she may have ordered another student to commit the crime in her stead.

The professor, Rebecca Scofield, has since gone on to sue the wannabe psychic for defamation, but instead of retracting her statement and apologizing for her actions, she doubled down on her remarks, only making the ditch she fell into even deeper.

Such unwarranted theories and accusations leave a horrible aftertaste to an already tragic event that is actively being investigated. Does this mean cyber sleuths are the bane of any investigation?

Absolutely not. In fact, there are some cases of crimes being solved because of the deductions of the community through social media and the internet as a whole.

Sometimes you need that extra thousand set of eyes to catch something that may have been missed. The ingenuity and use of the internet for the greater good can be extremely lucrative.

In the case of the Idaho murders, however, there is already a suspect, and justice being served sounding more likely by the day. Instead of just trying to make pointless accusations toward innocent friends and family of the victims, how about we let bygones be bygones and allow the authorities do their jobs.

Speculation can be used for good when it comes to solving crime, but I find it done best when it comes to cold cases or cases that have been open for years. With the ingenuity of the internet, it has become fascinating to look up old cases and come up with theories to give that sense of closure to otherwise depressing endings to horrible crimes.

Many of these cold cases and all of their relevant information can be found easily through a search engine. It’s truly a fascinating topic to discuss with other avid true crime aficionados.

Cases like the black dahlia, D.B. Cooper and the prison break of Alcatraz can be really entertaining for research and creating possible solutions to these otherwise dormant cases.

Over-speculation works best with cold cases because any possibility would be nice in receiving a proper ending to some of these otherwise tragic events. When it comes to open cases, it’s a bit more tricky.

Cases like the lottery winner murder are an example of the internet doing what it does best for justice, being nosy. The police may have suspected the culprit, but it was because of the knowledge and skepticism of the internet that allowed the authorities to make the arrest.

We live in a country where things like the Idaho murders and school shootings are more common than they should ever be. It’s understandable that people would want to throw their hat into the ring to help, but a large number of these self-proclaimed detectives tend to throw accusations into the wind to see what sticks.

At the end of the day, I think it’s important to sit down and review the facts. Four innocent people were killed, and the man who most likely did it is already in custody and people like Guillard think it’s OK to keep accusing at random.

At that point, speculation is not helping. No truth seeker would vie for benefits from the death of four students. There are other ways to get an investigative fix that doesn’t harm families who have lost their loved ones. Overall, just be considerate and read the room before speculating on a problem that’s already been solved.

I can remember growing up and observing all of the adults around me using phones that flipped open and shut before they were forced out of popularity with the advent of the iPhone.

Well flip phones are back—or at least trying to come back.

Thanks to viral TikTok videos of creators using flip phones and documenting their experiences, the hashtag #bringbackflipphones has over 25 million views on the app.

So, what is it about flip phones that is suddenly so appealing to Gen Z and myself? Well, some experts claim they can improve mental health, are satisfying to use, are more durable than smartphones and are part of a modern fascination with retro technology.

Flip phones improve mental health

Many TikTok creators seem to have many positive things to say about using a flip phone, including the impact it has had on their mental health. They believe smartphones have a negative effect on young users, and flip phones provide a less distracting and stressful alternative when going out with friends. 

Some negative effects smartphones can have on users include:

• Poor sleep patterns
• Concentration and learning issues
• Less physical activity
• Eyesight problems
• Lack of personal communication

I personally can think of many times when I have been out in public with the opportunity to socialize and meet new people but instead have retreated to the comfort of my phone.

Flip phones are satisfying to use

I was watching one of my favorite TV shows, Breaking Bad, last summer when I realized the protagonist Walter White used a flip phone. White was often shown flipping his phone open to check a text message or aggressively flipping it shut to end a phone call. There was something satisfying about the way the character did both of these actions.

Imagine you are in an argument on the phone, and instead of touching a button on the screen to hang up, you slam your phone shut with a satisfying sound to highlight your anger. This is a feature phone manufacturers should have never gotten rid of. 

Another bonus of using a flip phone is how cool you’ll look when you pull your phone out of your pocket and whip it open. It might make you feel like a spy with a cool new gadget or a business person from the 2000s.  

Flip phones are durable

Both of my parents had flip phones when I was a kid. They were fascinating at the time and seemed almost indestructible. I can recall a few times when my mom accidentally dropped her phone just to pick it up with only a few minor scratches to show. Now, with smartphones being used by the vast majority, every time we drop our phones we have a quick moment of panic before we pick it up to see if the screen has shattered or if it’s broken in any other way.

Flip phones typically have the screen fully protected when the phone is off and folded while the other parts of the phone are built in very durable and long lasting ways. 

Flip phones are retro

After I finished “Breaking Bad,” I spent the next few weeks searching thrift stores to find working flip phones with no success. At the same time, I was trying to convince my friends that they should get one too by telling them it could be a secret form of communication within our friend group. I then realized I had become a victim of this growing trend, and I was fully onboard with it. 

Gen Z seems to have a fascination with old trends and technology while other generations don’t. In other words, retro is the new normal. Flip phones join a list that includes polaroids, bucket hats and thrift shopping, so what is it that makes retro technology and fashion so appealing? 

Well, it’s nostalgia.

Retro tech may make us feel like we are living in a more simple and stress-free time that we may remember from our childhoods. It makes us feel comfortable and briefly forget about the problems we are facing as adults. It also allows us to feel more like the people we grew up idolizing. 

Flip phones today may include modernized features

Now, I know you’re thinking flip phones are lacking many of the everyday features you rely on by using a smartphone like maps, high-quality cameras and internet access. However, there are many solutions to this problem if you do decide to go the flip phone route. 

After spending 30 days with only a flip phone, TikTok creator @imacrispynugget decided he was going to continue to use his flip phone a majority of the time. He will only use his smartphone when navigating somewhere or when in need of a personal hotspot for his computer. 

Many modern flip phones are also much more advanced than those of the 2000s. Some even include things such as Google Maps and internet search bars. 

If you haven’t already jumped on the bandwagon of using a flip phone, I suggest you do.