Extremely serious among adolescents. They are at the age where we, as humans, need acceptance and a sense of belonging. It being reason for suicide seems futile for the ones who have outgrown it.
Being an arsehole and victimising people, in person or online, it's just as real. The emotional and mental effects are just as valid and people who are affected by it shouldnt be treated like they're weak or pathetic.
I don't agree with this. The problem here isn't with people being mean on the internet, it's with adolescents seeking their acceptance and belonging on the internet in the first place.
Being one who was actually bullied in school and had very little friends, I will admit I have very little sympathy for these people. I can see, as the OP said, if there are threats and attacks involved, but the cyber-bullying phenomenon as a whole has gotten way out of hand. It almost seems to be treated more seriously than actual bullying by some people.
I'm wondering if there is something to be said about the way cyber bullying works though. It's different from regular bullying just because it's relentless. I mean, we aren't just talking about someone who gets picked on whilst at school..it's something that continues once they go home, through social media, phone texts, etc. I can see how that would psychologically effect a child that is already being bullied by the same people while at school.
I could see how the inability to escape from the people that are abusing you would make the situation even worse.
There is a difference in choices between the two, and I'm surprised you don't think regular bullying is "relentless". If you are being cyber-bullied, you can literally just walk away. You have the choice of leaving Facebook, turning off your phone, etc. If someone is bullying you at school, you are required to return the next day and there is little to nothing you can do about it.
And there is absolutely no difference in psychological effect. Getting punched in the face and laughed at by other kids on a school bus (where I can't move), was not less psychologically damaging than if I got a hundred texts calling me names. Cyber-bullying can caused kids to kill themselves. Physical bullying can cause kids to shoot up schools.
Again, cyber-bullying becomes an issue when the kid feels he can't leave, which is similar to regular bullying. But the only reason they think they can't is because their lives revolve around it.
On a side note, I was told that the main reason for public schooling was so I could develop good social skills. I guess now it's just to get more Contacts.
I think the idea that it's"inescapable" is more to do with physically present bullying (verbal or physical in its nature) is able to be "escaped" when the victim goes home. Whereas cyber bullying is an extension of that and the child is now also harrassed in their hone. There is no "safe place" other than isolation - which is what telling them to just "turn the computer/phone/whatever" off.
And yes, both types of bullying are psychologically damaging. That's why it's a problem. To say one or the other is more damaging is ridiculous. There is no absolute.
The kids still go to school, so I would hesitate to equate turning a device off with "isolation". Turning off Facebook isn't the same as turning off your friends, and blacklisting is a better alternative to constantly reading everything everyone says about you until you get clinical depression.
And that idea of there being no options in the cyber-bullying situation is exactly where this problem comes from. There IS a safe place, it's just that no one goes there.
The only reason I'm not saying one or the other is more damaging is because I'm censoring myself.
People who think cyberbullying is actually serious.
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Extremely serious among adolescents. They are at the age where we, as humans, need acceptance and a sense of belonging. It being reason for suicide seems futile for the ones who have outgrown it.
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charli.m
9 years ago
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Anonnet
9 years ago
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This.
Being an arsehole and victimising people, in person or online, it's just as real. The emotional and mental effects are just as valid and people who are affected by it shouldnt be treated like they're weak or pathetic.
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kelili
9 years ago
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I agree with this one. Bullying online or IRL are both offensive and can cause damages, especially in teenagers.
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charli.m
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Yup. "Sticks and stones can break your bones, and words are hurtful, too" is far more accurate.
I don't agree with this. The problem here isn't with people being mean on the internet, it's with adolescents seeking their acceptance and belonging on the internet in the first place.
Being one who was actually bullied in school and had very little friends, I will admit I have very little sympathy for these people. I can see, as the OP said, if there are threats and attacks involved, but the cyber-bullying phenomenon as a whole has gotten way out of hand. It almost seems to be treated more seriously than actual bullying by some people.
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CountessDouche
9 years ago
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I'm wondering if there is something to be said about the way cyber bullying works though. It's different from regular bullying just because it's relentless. I mean, we aren't just talking about someone who gets picked on whilst at school..it's something that continues once they go home, through social media, phone texts, etc. I can see how that would psychologically effect a child that is already being bullied by the same people while at school.
I could see how the inability to escape from the people that are abusing you would make the situation even worse.
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[Old Memory]
9 years ago
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Anonnet
9 years ago
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Yes.
Also, when people hide behind a keyboard, it's easy for them to lash out more harshly than one who was looking you in the eye.
There is a difference in choices between the two, and I'm surprised you don't think regular bullying is "relentless". If you are being cyber-bullied, you can literally just walk away. You have the choice of leaving Facebook, turning off your phone, etc. If someone is bullying you at school, you are required to return the next day and there is little to nothing you can do about it.
And there is absolutely no difference in psychological effect. Getting punched in the face and laughed at by other kids on a school bus (where I can't move), was not less psychologically damaging than if I got a hundred texts calling me names. Cyber-bullying can caused kids to kill themselves. Physical bullying can cause kids to shoot up schools.
Again, cyber-bullying becomes an issue when the kid feels he can't leave, which is similar to regular bullying. But the only reason they think they can't is because their lives revolve around it.
On a side note, I was told that the main reason for public schooling was so I could develop good social skills. I guess now it's just to get more Contacts.
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charli.m
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I think the idea that it's"inescapable" is more to do with physically present bullying (verbal or physical in its nature) is able to be "escaped" when the victim goes home. Whereas cyber bullying is an extension of that and the child is now also harrassed in their hone. There is no "safe place" other than isolation - which is what telling them to just "turn the computer/phone/whatever" off.
And yes, both types of bullying are psychologically damaging. That's why it's a problem. To say one or the other is more damaging is ridiculous. There is no absolute.
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Anonnet
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The kids still go to school, so I would hesitate to equate turning a device off with "isolation". Turning off Facebook isn't the same as turning off your friends, and blacklisting is a better alternative to constantly reading everything everyone says about you until you get clinical depression.
And that idea of there being no options in the cyber-bullying situation is exactly where this problem comes from. There IS a safe place, it's just that no one goes there.
The only reason I'm not saying one or the other is more damaging is because I'm censoring myself.
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charli.m
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Yes, they still go to school. Where they are bullied. And isolated. Did you forget that minor detail?