Overlooked: Fighting Cyberbullying »
Posted By Dakota 10 months, 2 weeks ago in NewsFighting technology with technology: YouTube's new anti-cyberbulling channel allows teens to submit videos talking about their experiences fighting online bullies. Will efforts like these help curb cyberbullies and deter more teen suicides?
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Dakota
A reporter for Propeller, Dakota writes the Overlooked column for the web site. If you submitted a story and feel it deserves a second look ...
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Comments So Far: 31
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tkyrchncs10 months, 2 weeks ago
Aw, jeez, guys, it's an electronic communications device! Cut it off! This stuff in no way compares to real bullying where the victim is humiliated and/or injured in person. Nobody has to submit to it because they are small or weak or timid. Just block the bully, don't answer, CUT IT OFF! I know it hurts most emotionally to be bullied, because I was bullied in the flesh, and I also feared for my life at times. I feel for these kids, but if bullying of any kind makes you suicidal, then you are not yet mature enough to deal with the situation alone, and this includes chatting via computer or phone.
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Fangarius10 months, 2 weeks ago
There's the rub though. One can argue over the means, whether it's in CyberSpace or RealSpace, but bullying is bullying no matter what. Sure it doesn't compare with physical bullying, but psychological bullying is just as worse.
I can recall one year where an entire school bullied me over one stupid mistake, which was actually insignificant if you look at it now, but it still hurt just the same.
It's easy saying, 'cut it off' but it also depends on the ones conducting the bullying themselves. Most cyberbullies don't stop with terrorizing their victims on the internet. If they know who you are, they can start making life in the real world equally as miserable.
Also for the record, suicidal thoughts aren't discriminating, they affect everyone in ways you can't imagine. Because when you're bullied--be you a child or a young adult--you do end up with low self-esteem, where depression sets in, and yes, people turn to suicide just to escape from their tormentors.
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Fangarius10 months, 2 weeks ago
Not quite a rational decision, but many who do bully never realize the consequences of their actions, until it's too late. Or they're so apathetic about life in general, they don't care.
The real reason I believe the problem is overlooked is the fact, we've become so de-sensitized towards the concept. The truth is, reality is not a sitcom, nor a prefabricated script, and you're going to have bullies for most of your life. The thing here is, regrettably, thanks to the anonymity of the Internet, bullies have a new terrority for ruthlessly assaulting their victims.
Yes, it may not be like 'real' bullying, but it's just as bad since bullies realize here they can literally get away with murder since nobody knows their true identity. Whereas in the real world, one can eventually stand up to his/her physical bullies.
Just a thought here.
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tkyrchncs10 months, 2 weeks ago
But you can stop them any time you wish. You have to turn a machine on, and read or listen to whatever it is these bullies do, so you are an accomplice in your own bullying. You often CANNOT prevent bullies from blacking an eye, loosening teeth, or breaking bones. In cyberspace everyone is equal. Not so on the playground or on the way home from school. The answer to it is all the same, though. Avoid it or take your bully on.
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Fangarius10 months, 1 week ago
To tkyrchncs:
First off, I would never stoop to mudraking because you're the first person in Propeller who's given me a serious debate on a topic.
And it's understandable on how you feel about adults acting like bullies as well as terrorizing kids. In fact, working in retail sometimes I envision scenarios making the Marquis De Saad and Morticia Addams proud, when I have customers who dare threaten me or other customers.
Also you're right about it not being the government's business on how we treat others. I guess what's getting in my craw while we've been taught to respect others how we ourselves would like to be treated, you'll always have those who ruthlessly torment others just for the sheer pleasure of it.
Regardless of the consequences.
To Ghengiskhan: Dude, first off, nobody ALLOWS themselves to be bullied, it happens. Because first off, we perceive things individually.
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Fangarius10 months, 1 week ago
For instance, I can actually offend you without resorting using vulgarities. Say I sent you a message on a loop stating "I want your babies." How you interpret this is up to you. You can either determine it as bullying, or just some demented freak with far too much time on their hands.
Not dissimilar to bullying in real life, nobody inquires or requests for one to be psychologically and physically terrorized, it happens, and as tkyrchncs indicated, there's very little anyone can do about it, because regrettably it's encoded in our nature. We are a violent race. Even long before the media and electronic devices have come into play.
The dilemma here is we consider bullying as a component of childhood and schoolyard drama. In the media, whenever they show films, books, magazines, what have you, there's ALWAYS a bully. And believe it or not, there's a game based on bullying.
We do glamorize bullying to a degree where we now consider it acceptable.
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Fangarius10 months, 1 week ago
So in a way, one must wonder how far do we allow this before it gets too far out of hand? Perhaps we are overreacting, perhaps the parents should've monitored their daughter better, who knows?
Nobody. You see, here's the thing, if the object bullying you was a prefabricated being composed of electronic instructions, yes, you could easily switch it off. Regrettably, these are people who have far too much time on their hands, and can't find anything better to do than terrorize strangers. Yes, we can switch it off, yes, we can ignore them. But what about the next victim who just wants nothing more than enjoying their online excursions?
To Acer454: Ah, the classic, stay out of the offending areas argument. The reason it doesn't serve as a practical solution is this: if you keep avoiding the places for fear of conflict, then you end up avoiding life altogether. You might as well be a hermit. Which is ridiculous indeed.
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AnnaPeres7 months ago
saying that you'd prefer being bullied on Internet vs. Bullying in general ... well, there are other forms of cyberbullying than just namecalling, dont you think so? Russian recently discussed a proposed bill on this matter (see newsclips here at http://partkom.com/category/space/ ), and there was quite a buzz...
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