We live in a 21st century world, right? no really we are in the 21st century, I think. I've only been around for 23 years and can't say I've seen to many centuries. Sorry lost track, not my fault! Get a calendar. All thats to say the face of bullying has evolved, while truthfully we as human being are kind of the same stupid species we have been since the dawn of time. I'm not an evolutionist ( That is a story for another day folks) but I promise I will share it in the future.
The thing with cyber bullying is, it's constant. Unlike playground and school bullies this follows you home. You should never let one bad apple spoil the bunch and thats exactly what cyber bullying is a bad apple, you can't let it spoil you daily internet romps. You really have sit back and laugh at cyber bullies. As far as bullies go, cyber bullies have no balls because they can't do it to your face. Do you know what that means? You are stronger than they are and they know it. So they are cowering behind the iron curtain of the internet to make fun of you and thinking it makes them a tough guy. It's a lot like a guy who spends all his time playing snowboard video games, thinking that makes him pro on all things snowboarding while being to scared to actually you know, snowboard. Kinda silly isn't it?
There are a lot of things you can do to deal with cyber bullying. I have to admit, I've cyber bullied some of my own cyber bullies back when I was young. It's not something I'm proud of. I was probably far more cruel back than they ever were to me. Don't Bully them back, that isn't standing up for yourself. That is called being a bully. Here are some positive things.
1. If your being cyber bullied over email block the person. When it comes to emails share your email with your friends and don't bother reading emails from people who are not in your contact list. This effectively eliminates school bullies from messing with you at home. It's also a very good practice in general.
2. Having trouble in an online community, find a new one or if your feeling ambitious create your own. Than you can moderate who is in the community and who isn't. This really helped me back in the days of MSN groups. ( MSN groups are for old guys like me. It was Facebook's great great grandfather and Dinosaurs walked the earth). I learned a lot about networking, marketing and promotion. Skills to last a life time.
3. Make them look stupid, this really rattles their cages and it's kind of fun to watch them scramble. read everything they say. If they call you stupid find something they said that was stupid. Your paying attention to important details, retaining information, following your sources these are some things that will carry you a long way in school.
Always remember just how stupid Cyber Bullying and Cyber Bullies are and you'll be fine.
-H
This blog is an excellent idea. As,I read your blog, increasingly formulated the idea in my brain. You have to create a "Support Center" where you as a consultant can help the terrorized children.Maybe you have to find some foundation or school, in this case.Your experiences and advice so directly reach to the vulnerable children, and immediately, you can personally handle the problem. The rapid response the real help. It would be advisable that you develop a program. You are able to do so. I hope many children will benefit from your experiences. Good luck Hutch.
ReplyDeleteThere a several support centers for bullied youth to call. I won't be manning a support center. I'm offering what I can and am able to provide. Maybe in a few years I might develop a program but for now. This is what it is.
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