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You asked. So here are my thoughts on how osteopathic medical students should respond to the NBOME.
(thread)
Look, even before the Step 2 CS cancellation, my DMs and email were flooded with messages from osteopathic medical students who are fed up with the NBOME.
There is *real* anger toward this organization. Honestly, more than I even heard about from MD students and the NBME.
The question is, will that sentiment translate into action?
Amorphous anger on social media is easy to ignore. But if that anger gets channeled into organized efforts to facilitate change, then improvements are possible.
This much should be clear: begging the NBOME to reconsider their Level 2-PE exam is a waste of your time.
Best case scenario, youâll get another âtown hallâ meeting, a handful of platitudes, and some thoughtful beard stroking before being told that theyâre keeping the exam.
Instead of complaining to the NBOME, here are a few things that are more likely to bring about real change.
(thread)
I think most of us are over here waiting to see what @jbcarmody has to say about the latest NBOME email pic.twitter.com/bVWkS23V7z
— Jake Berg (@jberg521) January 28, 2021
Look, even before the Step 2 CS cancellation, my DMs and email were flooded with messages from osteopathic medical students who are fed up with the NBOME.
There is *real* anger toward this organization. Honestly, more than I even heard about from MD students and the NBME.
The question is, will that sentiment translate into action?
Amorphous anger on social media is easy to ignore. But if that anger gets channeled into organized efforts to facilitate change, then improvements are possible.
This much should be clear: begging the NBOME to reconsider their Level 2-PE exam is a waste of your time.
Best case scenario, youâll get another âtown hallâ meeting, a handful of platitudes, and some thoughtful beard stroking before being told that theyâre keeping the exam.
Instead of complaining to the NBOME, here are a few things that are more likely to bring about real change.
Good news! The New York State Board of Elections voted yesterday to REJECT certification of ES&Sâs ExpressVote XL all-in-one barcode ballot marking device (BMD), a glitchy & hackable touchscreen that ES&S has hoped officials would stupidly buy in lieu of pen and paper. 1/
Iâm still trying to find out @NYSBOEâs reasoning, but I know one problem was that the ExpressVote XL runs on Windows 7 and can only mark ballots in English. If the XL were a person, it would be a MAGA. 2/
The XL has other problems. It runs the barcode âpaper ballotâ back under the printout AFTER the voter reviews it, which experts say means it could be maliciously programmed to eff with the barcode that is the only part of the âpaper ballotâ counted as your vote. 3/
Unfortunately, Philadelphia did choose the ES&S ExpressVote XL all-in-one ballot marking device (BMD), ignoring expert advice. I wrote about that unfortunate decision here in 2019. 4/
Here, for @NYRBooks, I also discuss problems involving the ES&S ExpressVote XL in PA in 2019. ES&S lobbyists had secretly donated to the two decision makers who then chose this system in Philly in lieu of #HandMarkedPaperBallots (pen & paper). 5/
It\u2019s official. The @NYSBOE rejected the certification of the ExpressVote XL.
— Common Cause NY (@commoncauseny) January 28, 2021
Now lawmakers should pass legislation that bans hybrid machines like the ExpressVote XL for good. https://t.co/hE83CTdgiJ
Iâm still trying to find out @NYSBOEâs reasoning, but I know one problem was that the ExpressVote XL runs on Windows 7 and can only mark ballots in English. If the XL were a person, it would be a MAGA. 2/
The XL has other problems. It runs the barcode âpaper ballotâ back under the printout AFTER the voter reviews it, which experts say means it could be maliciously programmed to eff with the barcode that is the only part of the âpaper ballotâ counted as your vote. 3/
Unfortunately, Philadelphia did choose the ES&S ExpressVote XL all-in-one ballot marking device (BMD), ignoring expert advice. I wrote about that unfortunate decision here in 2019. 4/
Here, for @NYRBooks, I also discuss problems involving the ES&S ExpressVote XL in PA in 2019. ES&S lobbyists had secretly donated to the two decision makers who then chose this system in Philly in lieu of #HandMarkedPaperBallots (pen & paper). 5/
A quick and easy step by step guide on how to deal with online harassment.
I was going to make a video on this but my face is too puffy from crying my eyes out last night.
If you look at what my former friends said last night, itâs pretty disgusting.
Compare that to my direct interactions with them.
Why not call them out by name? Itâs called class. I donât even call out my harasser by name.
I spent the evening discouraging people to not speak out in my defense. It leads to further problems.
Anyways, here we go.
Step 1. Google your name.
If youâre an anon account, what you need to do is Google your username in various combos with your actual name.
For example:
[username] + Sarah
[username] + home state
[username] + employer
If you can find it, someone else can, too.
Simple stuff.
Step 2. The quickest/easiest way to be identified is using the same username on multiple SoMe platforms.
Everyone is on multiple platforms. If youâre posting pics or list your name, itâll be found.
An anon shared identities w me using this method. I ignored the info.
I was going to make a video on this but my face is too puffy from crying my eyes out last night.
If you look at what my former friends said last night, itâs pretty disgusting.
Compare that to my direct interactions with them.
Why not call them out by name? Itâs called class. I donât even call out my harasser by name.
I spent the evening discouraging people to not speak out in my defense. It leads to further problems.
Anyways, here we go.
Step 1. Google your name.
If youâre an anon account, what you need to do is Google your username in various combos with your actual name.
For example:
[username] + Sarah
[username] + home state
[username] + employer
If you can find it, someone else can, too.
Simple stuff.
Personal safety involves a combo of Google searches. We need to assess what info is publicly available.
— Sarah Mojarad (@Sarah_Mojarad) December 8, 2020
Google the important info:
Name
Phone number
Address
Name + address
Phone number + address
Family members
Folks, your safety is important. Do this NOW before the harassment.
Step 2. The quickest/easiest way to be identified is using the same username on multiple SoMe platforms.
Everyone is on multiple platforms. If youâre posting pics or list your name, itâll be found.
An anon shared identities w me using this method. I ignored the info.