Cyber-Bullying

I'm not sure whether this deserves to be in Serious Discussion, but I suppose it doesn't fit in General Chit Chat, but here it goes:


Cyber-Bullying

Technology is brilliant. It is perhaps one of our greatest inventions in the history of human-kind. And degrading down from that path of technology itself, we have the internet that allows us to communicate with others globally without any physical interactions, which also includes the phone (texting and calling wise). Without it, ZU and every other website that you love wouldn’t even exist.

But with every great invention that exists, negative light arises from it, bringing in some of the darkest issues that have never existed before screens appeared before our very eyes. And you would have heard of it. Cyber-Bullying. You might even be a cyber-bully or a victim of cyber-bullying yourself in the past or very recently, but right now, that doesn’t matter just yet.


Cyber-Bullying isn’t the bully that you would remember years ago back in Primary School of the boy or the girl that intimidated you, pushed you or even bashed you after the bell for home time. No. This is something nowhere near that degree. Those kinds of physical bullies perhaps even leave pain on you that are easily forgotten after a few years, when we mature and move on with our lives. Punches, kicks, bites, slaps, and bruising stay on you for a short period of time, depending on its severity. We could look back and perhaps feel some pain, but it is nothing compared to psychological or emotional pain that comes from your very own computer that is connected to everyone else globally.
Cyber-Bullies are like the Dark Wizards of humanity itself. They are like the shadows that lurk behind every internet page and site, waiting to prey on someone, which could be a young child to an elderly person. They are armed which such sharp vocabulary skills and their keyboard where they will deliver such psychological and emotional punches instantaneously to a point that you would never experience such a blow no playground bully ever dreamed possible.
What’s worse is that these Cyber-Bullies do these things that they would never do offline. They know what could happen if they start harassing a child on the streets. Yes, the child can complain and any physical hits are sure to be reported to the police and bingo! You are in trouble mate with a high chance of charges pressed against your existence. However, the internet has given every single person the possibility to hide themselves from who they truly are. No one knows their identity. They are like an unknown being, genderless, ageless and so dark with their behaviour that discovering them in real life will shock you to the point that to think that one, insignificant person could commit such an act? You might have even experienced it. Gazing into the face of the Cyber-Bully will only shock you further because they just seem such a heavy threat and a much bigger person to who they really are. It’s quite amazing, yet so unique to what we are dealing with. It’s pretty much an illusion online.

Why do we only see them in a much bigger light than to what they truly are? Well, let’s think about that. If you were placed in a room with only a computer and someone mysterious starts harassing you online, you only feed off what they say to you, which is some pretty negative stuff that psychologically and emotionally hurts you. These feelings make an image of this person, something big and sinister than to what we actually know of the person. They are like a preying monster, something bigger than to what a human could possibly become. At the end of the test, you walk out and so does the bully on the other side. Wow… He is only so young, wears glasses, has happy freckles all over and has such a sweet face… Could this person really have done all of what you experienced? Amazing! Because what you imagined was some dark being, perhaps maybe their physical appearance matching that of one of the insane murderers out there with scars all over their face, huge shoulders and an expression that would make every child cry out in terror in the playground.

The real matter is that children are being exposed to some very dangerous issues online that, unfortunately can haunt them for the rest of their lives. It’s sad to say that the playground bully that was an intimidator or a pushy is now outdated with this new phenomenon over the internet. The phrase “knowledge beats strength” really comes into play here since mere physical punches are nothing near the devastating blow of the psychological punch online. And what’s worse? Cyber-Bullying is a permanent record that will be forever written with time since the internet is basically shared with every single person who owns a computer and the internet = billions of people worldwide. The playground fight? It will be forgotten in a few months or even sooner after another pointless and childish fight. You can see the massive level of difference there.


But enough with the rambling because this is where I feel there should be more work on when it comes to Cyber-Bullying issues.


Children are always afraid to report matters like this, be it may even if they are 16 or such. They still won’t mention a word to their parents. They developed an irrational fear that by telling their parents that someone is harassing them online with their friends, the parents might ban them from using the internet permanently and you have to admit that sometimes the internet is one’s social world. Robbing the internet will be like taking the alcohol away from the adult man. Without alcohol, there is no going to the pub which is his social world to have a good time and to communicate with others of his age and interests. So you can see where it is very hard.

Another is charges against Cyber-Bullies that are caught. I’m pretty sure most of you have heard the case of Megan Meier, the young girl who was manipulated online from a boy that she fell in love with, who was really a 40+ year old woman. In the end, after the “boy” rejected her and said that she was better off to not exist in this world, she committed suicide in her room, only to be found by her tear soaked mother.
Usually Cyber-Bullies get away with such monstrous attacks, and it’s because we act heavily on physical attacks than psychological attacks because there is proof. Cyber-Bullies only pay small charges which aren’t really enough to buy a new car or to spend a time in jail that won’t even sink into their minds. Sometimes, and unbelievably, they get a small smack on the wrist to not do it again and to have charges laid off and the sufferer could be receiving treatment for severe depression or such for many many years to come. It’s just not fair on how ruined victims become.

And I do not want to hear the words that the victims should simply “get over it,” or are portrayed as “weak minded people.” You tell me how someone who is new to the internet and pretty attached to their social world to develop such an immunity to block mind blowing attacks. It’s pretty much like someone having cancer. You can’t see it, so would you expect people to say to them “get over it” or “they are weak” because they are dying of an unforeseen cancer? No. Anyone suffering from either of the two can’t just toughen up. Trust me, it does hurt so many people out there and even those who you might look up to as inspiration to their courage and strength over their life. Because the thing is, every bright, strong person has a dark history to them.



In the end, what are your thoughts on Cyber-Bullying? Should there be a stricter law for such bullies to pay such a penalty that will satisfy the victim? Were you ever a Bully or a Victim (you don’t have to answer that). What should parents do more for the protection of their child instead of pulling the internet cord out of the wall and force them to play outside? And why do you think people do such acts to others online? I just believe that there needs to be done more on Cyber-Bullying since who knows? You could be a victim of something monstrous at anytime. I don't mean to exaggrate on this issue, but I believe this should be taken more seriously.

Thanks for reading.

Personally, I would rather be bombarded with flames and trolling than to be physically assaulted or to be digital harmed (such as getting viruses or data to be stolen). Maybe it's because I can handle it or whatever, but not everyone can.

I guess individuals need to be made aware of what is on the net. Parents should inform their children of cyber-bullying, and maybe people could inform their elderly relatives.

I don't cyber-bully myself, but this may be because I have an "Internet identity" - a reputation to keep up.

In all honestly, trolling flaming, etc, is fun as hell. Why? Because you get to do something in a fake environment that you can't do in the real environment. For example, if I kill someone in world of warcraft, will they be scarred for life in real life? No. Because it's fake, same thing with flaming. Sensitive idiots who think that some nerd on the other end of a wire can hurt them are insecure and need to grow some balls. People aren't going to stop because your feelings got hurt. You have to fight back, outwit them and put them in their place, and if you can't do that too bad, don't whine to others and get other people to solve your problems for you, because that will put you in a bad mindset.

Please, don't be a noob.

FoV -- some could say that your need to assert yourself in a place where physical size and wit don't matter because you can bat whatever you like back with an arrogant twirl shows a need for control that you cannot achieve in real life.

I mean, seriously. You enjoy hurting people online because you think it's not real? How can any of us be a moral judge -- and make this experience bad for anyone else using it? If you were on a boat -- would you try and push people off the side who you didn't like, or agree with?

I do not see what gives us the right to tell people what to be, and flame them until they convert to being like we want them to be. If anything, we should be accepting.

Originally Posted by Awkin

FoV -- some could say that your need to assert yourself in a place where physical size and wit don't matter because you can bat whatever you like back with an arrogant twirl shows a need for control that you cannot achieve in real life.

I mean, seriously. You enjoy hurting people online because you think it's not real? How can any of us be a moral judge -- and make this experience bad for anyone else using it? If you were on a boat -- would you try and push people off the side who you didn't like, or agree with?

I do not see what gives us the right to tell people what to be, and flame them until they convert to being like we want them to be. If anything, we should be accepting.

It for fun, like I said people who take it seriously, need to not, and are probably insecure.

I think Awkin's right. The people who bully and grief others online are the ones who are petty and insecure, whinging that it's 'all a bit of fun' when such behaviour offline would merit them with a smack in the gob and a few less teeth. Grow up. Acting like a **** doesn't make you a big man.

Originally Posted by Pelagias

I think Awkin's right. The people who bully and grief others online are the ones who are petty and insecure, whinging that it's 'all a bit of fun' when such behaviour offline would merit them with a smack in the gob and a few less teeth. Grow up. Acting like a **** doesn't make you a big man.

I feel this could be redefined - how about organized ragers? There's people who rage games as a sport, for example. Blocking corridors or teamkilling could for example be seen as "cyber-bullying".

Originally Posted by Pelagias

I think Awkin's right. The people who bully and grief others online are the ones who are petty and insecure, whinging that it's 'all a bit of fun' when such behaviour offline would merit them with a smack in the gob and a few less teeth. Grow up. Acting like a **** doesn't make you a big man.

People who bully probably aren't trying to seem big, they just like out witting people because they can.

Originally Posted by Flames of Valor

In all honestly, trolling flaming, etc, is fun as hell. Why? Because you get to do something in a fake environment that you can't do in the real environment. For example, if I kill someone in world of warcraft, will they be scarred for life in real life? No. Because it's fake, same thing with flaming. Sensitive idiots who think that some nerd on the other end of a wire can hurt them are insecure and need to grow some balls. People aren't going to stop because your feelings got hurt. You have to fight back, outwit them and put them in their place, and if you can't do that too bad, don't whine to others and get other people to solve your problems for you, because that will put you in a bad mindset.

Please, don't be a noob.

The internet is just as real as real life, you're saying actual things to actual people.

You might as well argue that no one should be offended if you stand in their face and yell insults at them because only idiots think people who do that will actually hurt them.

Originally Posted by John

The internet is just as real as real life, you're saying actual things to actual people.

You might as well argue that no one should be offended if you stand in their face and yell insults at them because only idiots think people who do that will actually hurt them.

Virtual worlds are not real worlds, if you die in warcraft you don't die in real life.

People who bully probably aren't trying to seem big, they just like out witting people because they can.

How do trolls and flamers outwit anybody?

They put themselves out of harm's reach and shout over the parapet to people. There is no incentive to listen to anyone, no incentive to use actual logic and sod all incentive to ever admit you are wrong.

Killing people in a game designed for you to kill people is acceptable. But in a place such as this, where we come to talk and find some kind of enjoyment -- an act tailored to deprive of that is clearly unacceptable.

Originally Posted by Awkin

How do trolls and flamers outwit anybody?

They put themselves out of harm's reach and shout over the parapet to people. There is no incentive to listen to anyone, no incentive to use actual logic and sod all incentive to ever admit you are wrong.

Killing people in a game designed for you to kill people is acceptable. But in a place such as this, where we come to talk and find some kind of enjoyment -- an act tailored to deprive of that is clearly unacceptable.

It could be argued warcraft was meant for killing monsters. Therefore killing people would be bad.

Originally Posted by Flames of Valor

Virtual worlds are not real worlds, if you die in warcraft you don't die in real life.

There's a difference between griefing and trolling.

And the inconvenience caused by griefing is perfectly real.

Originally Posted by fratey

I feel this could be redefined - how about organized ragers? There's people who rage games as a sport, for example. Blocking corridors or teamkilling could for example be seen as "cyber-bullying".

Yeah actually, what about team killing in video games?

For example, I play a game called "WarCraft III" now and again, and I sometimes play "ladder" games, which are games where one is set with random opponents (and depending if one wishes - random allies), and these games are one which count towards one's % win record and one's number of wins in "ladder" games determines the range of avatars they may pick from, and if one is good enough, they are placed on the official ladder of the list of players.

Anyways, my point is that if one chooses to play that game and to play the game mode where they are assigned random allies, then their allies could "team kill", i.e: actively work against their own team by attacking their structures and units etc.

Would this be considered "cyber bullying"?

If someone takes what people say on the internet in such situations seriously, they deserve it. Anymore people are way too quick to take offense to crap. You have every option to leave the site. It's just that simple.

Cyber-Bullying should be taken very seriously. Many people do not know what psychological harm it can do to an individual especially if it is a child, since they are easier to manipulate or to be taken advantage.

I love the "Blame the Victim" mentally of some posters here. Then again, I'm been guilty of using that mentally as well when I troll at time.

Cyber bulling is done by pussies who are too much of cowards to do it face-to-face so they hide behind their ****in' computer and talk **** and harass people online. Yeah, I mean, you ain't suppose to take **** seriously online but some people sadly don't have common sense or the mental level to handle minor **** like flamming and cyber bulling.

Trolling is one thing but cyber bulling is taking it way too far.

Originally Posted by Tally-chan

If someone takes what people say on the internet in such situations seriously, they deserve it. Anymore people are way too quick to take offense to crap. You have every option to leave the site. It's just that simple.

yes, because its only name calling:

http://www.slais.ubc.ca/COURSES/libr...n/examples.htm



Oh wait... never mind.

These victims do nothing towards their attackers. Yet they have websites dedicated simply to insult and threaten them. They are constantly being spammed with text messages/emails with hurtful things.

Maybe you can shrug this off, but not everyone can. Does that mean they deserve it?

Unlike playground bullies, these people have the ability to stay anonymous. You don't know who it is. It could be just about anyone.

Originally Posted by Snow_Storm

I love the "Blame the Victim" mentally of some posters here. Then again, I'm been guilty of using that mentally as well when I troll at time.

Cyber bulling is done by pussies who are too much of cowards to do it face-to-face so they hide behind their ****in' computer and talk **** and harass people online. Yeah, I mean, you ain't suppose to take **** seriously online but some people sadly don't have common sense or the mental level to handle minor **** like flamming and cyber bulling.

Trolling is one thing but cyber bulling is taking it way too far.

If you take a wall of text seriously, you are a fool and if it is a child their parents need to let them know that it doesn't mean ****. It's sad how sensitive everyone is.

Originally Posted by Flames of Valor

If you take a wall of text seriously, you are a fool and if it is a child their parents need to let them know that it doesn't mean ****. It's sad how sensitive everyone is.

Agreed. This post = WIN!



People should not trouble themselves. It is so easy to ignore other online users, and it surprises me how immature people behave when it comes to dealing with trolls.