With today’s technology, teen bullying seems like an epidemic. You hear about it on television, you read about it in the newspaper.
But then when it occurs in your own life, when your child is hurt by someone, it enrages you.
So where does childish fun end and bullying begin?
Facebook and Twitter are the most advanced platforms for cyberbullying, and it’s not just kids. Look at all these out-of-control “housewives” taking to Twitter to try and ruin people’s lives—as if the damage they do on their TV shows wasn't already enough. Now we have tweens and teenagers on the cyberbullying bandwagon.
Why would they feel it's okay to call someone fat online? Or a slut?
How could someone think they have the right to video tape their gay roommate making love, then broadcast it over the internet driving the roommate to end his life?
Bullying may seem harmless and most parents think it’s normal kid stuff—but my dear parent, times have changed since you were a kid. We now have Wi-Fi and cellphones, it’s not the same as when we were kids with pay phones and later beepers.
Now our children can take a picture or make a statement in seconds for ALL the world to see. Another child's life can forever be ruined in mere seconds. Bullying isn't in anyway "normal" kid stuff. It is illegal and it should be. A child should pay the consequences for their actions, and so should their parents. It’s no joke anymore.
Bullying can cause that fat kid to overeat and drown their embarrassment in more food, or it may cause them to go to the other extreme and become bulimic or anorexic. When your child calls someone a faggot, that kid will forever be changed and his life will be over shadowed by the label.
Is my child a crack head? A fat pig? Is my child is a slut? A faggot? When did my child become a psychopath? Why is my child a loser?
Hey! My child is none of these things, but thanks to your child, my precious child will forever have one of these labels attached to their name. You as the parent need to step up and control your child. Instead of ignoring the madness or supporting the madness.
Stop the madness!
We need to realize that calling someone vicious names or defaming them with private pictures sent to everyone they know is not a joke—it can lead to suicide. We never want to bury our children. Your child may be the bully today and the victim tomorrow.
Take away the iPhone and iPad until they are mature enough to understand the damage they can do with their “jokes”.
But now that people are starting to get that bullying, and cyberbullying in particular, are real problems that do real damage, don’t just accept it as “kids will be kids”.
It’s not OK.
Call the school, call the cops, call the other parents, call your local newspaper. This has to stop.
Please listen to the song I attached I saw Chaka Khan sing this for the first time to her granddaughter who was at the point of breaking. Chaka cried through the whole song and said that was the last time she will ever sing that song. The words are so POWERFUL.
Editor's Note: 14-year-old Eira Maghuyop of Yonkers committed suicide earlier this week. A YouTube video put together by her friends said she took her own life because she was bullied.
According to wsbt.com, Maghuyop attended Ursline School in New Rochelle, and school officials "tried to make it clear that she was not bullied in school and those who bullied her did not attend Ursuline."
Click above to watch the YouTube video, and here for the Facebook page dedicated to her.
Amazingly, The Journal News does not have anything about this story. And there is no Yonkers Patch website. The only local background story I can find on this is from WPIX: http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-westchester-girl-suicide-020212,0,23149.story
Google these names for starters: Phoebe Prince Megan Meier - targeted by a friend's =mother= Hope Witsell - she was only 13 Jessie Logan Alexa Berman Do I really have to go on? These teenage girls all were victims of cyberbullying and all committed suicide. And this list is the tip of the iceberg. This has nothing to do with gay activism - except insofar as gay activists have helped to bring this terrible problem to light, and society owes them a thank you for doing so. This is not propaganda, it is truth Why don't you educate yourself, instead of spewing your hate-filled, unacceptable vitriol here. And by the way, what about Eira Maghuyop? Do you have nothing to say about her tragic death? Have you no decency?
"... there is ONE reason the Rutgers student got the most attention and that's been true of the whole anti-bullying movement ..." Try as I might, I am unable, in your post, to find the "ONE reason". Would you please respond with it here?
Unfortunately, our grief has been compounded by the erroneous reports on the Internet and among some news organizations that Eira’s death was in part the result of bullying at Ursuline. We are reassured by the Yonkers Police Department statement that their investigation “has not revealed any evidence to support that bullying was a factor in this incident.” While the bullying conversation is an important one to have, it's also important that we don't all jump to conclusions based on internet postings by people who actually don't know anything about the situation. News stories based on the modern day rumor mill -- the internet -- aren't really news at all. The conjecture and speculation that Eira was bullied at school just served to make a grieving community of young women feel even more heartbroken.
The Journal News generally does not identify the victims of suicides that occur in private locations or report in detail on such incidents.
I would definitely not delete something saying people should or shouldn't put hot dogs up their nose, that's just hilarious. Jill, you lost me on your train of thought, but if you have any questions about me, my background or how Patch works I would be more than happy to speak or meet with you. My email address is dina.sciortino@patch.com and my phone number is 914.610.8525
Bullying! has always been a problem, especially for children and teens. Realistically, it always will. My suggestion is always the same: if you see something; SAY something. I equate it to hiring a professional to get a specific job done right; bring it [Bullying!] to the attention of the proper authorities (an adult, parent, teacher and in some cases the police). I will not comment on suicide, except to say, that I sincerely hope people do not glamorize and/or romanticize it in any way, shape, or form.
October is National Anti-Bullying Month. We just posted a great article on our www.boomersRI.com site to raise awareness about bullying practices. We invite you to visit our site, read our tips and leave some of your own. Together we can make a difference!
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