Swoleroid v. Leonard would’ve been one of the decade’s largest trials had it happened in real life. It was a case of merciless cop-on-civilian violence that happened in NoPixel, a roleplaying server of Grand Theft Auto 5, that hundreds of thousands of people tuned into; Leonard, a police officer, had shot Swoleroid even as he pleaded for his life. It sparked heated debates about the incident, like how the cop roleplayers tried to cover it up, and how the shooting may have been warranted due to Swoleroid’s criminal history.
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
