I'm actually one of those who believes that there's been an overreaction to bullying. Being subjected to insults, teasing, even some hazing, is part of normal development. I honestly believe that we're robbing our children of potential growth by trying to suppress these experiences. These are the things that make us stronger.
That being said, the internet has brought a whole new level to it. People sit behind their keyboards with a newfound sense of invulnerability, empowering them to lash out in extreme forms. They can pretend to be anyone. A competitive girl can claim to be a boy with a crush, someone can pretend to be a serious friend, then share deep secrets online. Hell, people can even pretend to be sailors.
When you're not forced to face your subject, you lose the human element. In the process, you hurt people. You hurt them in ways you don't realize...because you don't see them hurt.
So teach kids about internet safety. Check what they're doing, give them a support structure. Words can only do so much and the kids should be emotionally strong enough to handle it.
I know that sounds harsh, but a simple talk to the kids goes a long way in most of these cases. I would even say the internet didn't bring a new level to it, it just changed the playing field. Lies and rumors have existed forever, and cyber-bullying relies very heavily on gullibility.
I guess what I'm saying is that kids should be taught to take the internet LESS seriously. Most of these situations should result in blacklists. If they insult you, block them. Rude text? Block them. They claim to be a friend or love you but you've never seen them before? Block them!
Education is always the best tactic, but it doesn't account for the kids who have already been hurt by it.
And really, it just doesn't get to some people. Adult bullies in the workplace also exist. And even if the adult target can handle it initially, it's the continued harrassment that wears it down.
Giving the victims strategies to deal with bullying is a positive thing, but dealing with the behaviour of the aggressor is what needsto continually be addressed.
Nothing accounts for people already hurt. All you can do is try and prevent it from happening to others.
Changing aggressive behavior is a lot harder than changing the behavior of the victim, especially on the internet. How do you propose that even happens? If simply guilting them worked, regular bullying wouldn't exist.
So you think victims of bullying should just be swept aside?
Yes, it is harder. Most negative behaviours are best treated by educating at a young age. Encouraging empathy and understanding. It's not a perfect method, there will still be those that do end up as bullies, but simply saying the victims have to deal with it and move on is ridiculous. Why punish the victim instead of trying to help the aggressor to make positive choices in the first place?
No one is punishing the victim, I simply said that there isn't anything that can be done for them. What, do you think they should be sent to a psychiatrist over Facebook disputes? The people who were already hurt in the past have no choice but to grow up and deal with it. That was in response to "it doesn't account for the kids who have already been hurt by it".
Encouraging empathy and understanding also doesn't work as well because the internet has a dehumanizing effect. It would be an easier solution to teach kids how to defend themselves on the internet.
It disturbs me that you don't see how this is further empowering bullies and putting down those already harmed. And that you don't think addressing both sides is important.
How exactly to you propose these children just "deal with it"? They are CHILDREN, and telling them to just "grow up" is not a solution. That's compounding the previous actions of the bullies.
People who think cyberbullying is actually serious.
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I'm actually one of those who believes that there's been an overreaction to bullying. Being subjected to insults, teasing, even some hazing, is part of normal development. I honestly believe that we're robbing our children of potential growth by trying to suppress these experiences. These are the things that make us stronger.
That being said, the internet has brought a whole new level to it. People sit behind their keyboards with a newfound sense of invulnerability, empowering them to lash out in extreme forms. They can pretend to be anyone. A competitive girl can claim to be a boy with a crush, someone can pretend to be a serious friend, then share deep secrets online. Hell, people can even pretend to be sailors.
When you're not forced to face your subject, you lose the human element. In the process, you hurt people. You hurt them in ways you don't realize...because you don't see them hurt.
--
Anonnet
9 years ago
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So teach kids about internet safety. Check what they're doing, give them a support structure. Words can only do so much and the kids should be emotionally strong enough to handle it.
I know that sounds harsh, but a simple talk to the kids goes a long way in most of these cases. I would even say the internet didn't bring a new level to it, it just changed the playing field. Lies and rumors have existed forever, and cyber-bullying relies very heavily on gullibility.
I guess what I'm saying is that kids should be taught to take the internet LESS seriously. Most of these situations should result in blacklists. If they insult you, block them. Rude text? Block them. They claim to be a friend or love you but you've never seen them before? Block them!
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charli.m
9 years ago
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Education is always the best tactic, but it doesn't account for the kids who have already been hurt by it.
And really, it just doesn't get to some people. Adult bullies in the workplace also exist. And even if the adult target can handle it initially, it's the continued harrassment that wears it down.
Giving the victims strategies to deal with bullying is a positive thing, but dealing with the behaviour of the aggressor is what needsto continually be addressed.
--
Anonnet
9 years ago
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pl
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Nothing accounts for people already hurt. All you can do is try and prevent it from happening to others.
Changing aggressive behavior is a lot harder than changing the behavior of the victim, especially on the internet. How do you propose that even happens? If simply guilting them worked, regular bullying wouldn't exist.
--
charli.m
9 years ago
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So you think victims of bullying should just be swept aside?
Yes, it is harder. Most negative behaviours are best treated by educating at a young age. Encouraging empathy and understanding. It's not a perfect method, there will still be those that do end up as bullies, but simply saying the victims have to deal with it and move on is ridiculous. Why punish the victim instead of trying to help the aggressor to make positive choices in the first place?
--
Anonnet
9 years ago
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No one is punishing the victim, I simply said that there isn't anything that can be done for them. What, do you think they should be sent to a psychiatrist over Facebook disputes? The people who were already hurt in the past have no choice but to grow up and deal with it. That was in response to "it doesn't account for the kids who have already been hurt by it".
Encouraging empathy and understanding also doesn't work as well because the internet has a dehumanizing effect. It would be an easier solution to teach kids how to defend themselves on the internet.
--
charli.m
9 years ago
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It disturbs me that you don't see how this is further empowering bullies and putting down those already harmed. And that you don't think addressing both sides is important.
How exactly to you propose these children just "deal with it"? They are CHILDREN, and telling them to just "grow up" is not a solution. That's compounding the previous actions of the bullies.