Put an end to bullying online and off
There is a huge anti-bullying campaign going on through social media right now.
It is a great campaign, even if it is not a campaign I am participating in.
It also could not come at a better time. Honestly, lately, I have found that online or cyberbullying has reached a new peak of vileness.
Over the past couple of months, various health organizations have put out calls for improved vaccinations. This in and of itself is not a bad thing. I am a strong believer in making sure everyone has all the information to make informed decisions and I support the attempts of both sides of any discussion to put their sides forward.
The problem with their calls is what happens during the “improve vaccinations” campaigns. Without question, at least one (or more) of the campaign participants start to trend towards hatred of those who do not completely agree with the participant’s line of thinking. As it progresses along others join on board and quite quickly you start to see serious online pressure and outright attacks against those who do not agree with their particular opinion.
There are real life reprecussions to online bullying
Let’s be serious it is not the only case where it happens. A person makes a bad tweet and gets torn apart on Twitter, loses their job sometimes their marriage or even their life as well.
People commit suicide from online bullying, jobs are lost, lives are ruined. In most cases those who are directly responsible revel in the carnage they cause. A few of the holier-than-thou types really truly are sick and arrogant enough to think that only their side can possibly have the option of being right. Some of them call for major punishments and even child removal for those who do not fall into their line of thinking (I have seen this call from those on both sides of the vaccination discussion)
No matter how you call it, if you are demeaning or attacking someone then you are being a bully. In all honesty that is something that should not bring pride or joy to you. It definitely would not make your parents happy. It is by no means a message you should be teaching your children.
Remember as you go about spreading your message. Information is power and it helps people make intelligent decisions. Bullying someone for any reason is not something that can continue to be tolerated simply because it pressures people into making decisions that they might not otherwise make. Every person has a right to make their own decision or their own mistakes without fear of bullying.
Before you pick up your keyboard and take off on an attack remember… The person on the other end of the screen is a real person and the damage you do is real.
Also one major important detail.
Always remember Karma. Next time the one on the receiving end of the attack just might be you.
cyber bullying is such a big issue but its just as big in schools
I was bullied in school 40 years ago but at least we didn’t have the internet
I am so glad bullying has become a topic in the spotlight. It is a cruelty few people escape experiencing in life. I think talking about it will help heal wounds and prevent some of the bullying from ever happen as more people willnbe shamed for bullying instead of encouraged.
Bullying is such a scary topic. especially when you have kids. Thankfully my kids seem well liked and haven’t been bullied yet. But they are still young (oldest is in kindergarten) I don’t know what I would do if either of them had a bully or were one either.
A very important topic to bring awareness to. Cyber bullying is serious and can have very long lasting negative ramifications on children and teens.
As my children get older this worries me quite a bit. We talk about cyber safety often and that includes bullying. Even adults have to deal with this sadly.
Bullying is getting so bad, I feel like it’s only getting worse, I think a lot has to do with how the kids are treated at home as well, these days sure are not like the good ole days
Karma is always a good thing to keep in mind Bullying is a very serious issue
My son was bullied in school 25+ years ago, back then it wasn’t as bad as it is today.
Kindness is so important! Cyber bullying is so harmful and wrong!
The biggest problem with bullying today is there is no escaping it. I was bullied at school but at least at home, the kids couldn’t pick on me. Now, it’s 24/7. It’s very sad.
The schools are teaching children from an early age that bullying is not acceptable, but sadly it’s still happening.