CYBER BULLYING - 2008/08/11 17:23 Okay, so I'm just working on my new article. There are so many angles, and I really only like to zoom in on a couple of any topic.
So, while I tidy this up, I thought I'd ask you guys if you have had (or know of) any experience of cyber-bullying? I know there are lots of mums and dads who come here, too, so some thoughts on that side would be welcome, too. Do you worry about it? Have you ever had to deal with your child being cyber-bullied? Do you feel you'd know what to do if they were?
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RedEye Platinum Boarder
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Re:CYBER BULLYING - 2008/08/11 21:26 I have a couple of friends who teach high school and apparently cyber bullying is a hot issue, not least because it is difficult to police.
On the other hand, another friend of mine that tutors at uni was bullied by a student. Unhappy with his final essay mark, this guy sent D (my friend) about 20 threatening and homophobic emails. D was unwilling to report the student and blocked his emails. Student then (somehow) found D's home phone number and began to leave answering machine messages threatening a "poofta bash". D was finally convinced to go to the police etc. Fortunately he'd kept all the emails and the student was so clueless he'd sent them using the university email system. All up a horrible and distressing experience for D.
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Catrianna Expert Boarder
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Re:CYBER BULLYING - 2008/08/12 01:58 I think cyber bullying is compounded by the mass public accessibility of networking sites like Myspace and Facebook. A work colleague just last week was chuckling away to an incredibly bitter and hurtful argument between one of her friends and their partner, played out via 'bulletin' messages on Myspace. 'Bulletins' work as priority messages, which are displayed on the login page of every 'friend' of the sender account. In a school situation where many students are networked it would be an easy way to send out mass messages about other students. Aside from blocking such websites and instant messaging programs from school computers, and attempting to teach anti-bullying policy, I imagine there is little schools can do. With the technological knowledge gap between parent(Y) and child(X) generations, I would suggest that some parents do not realise or understand the concept of 'cyber bullying', or how hurtful it could be to their children.
Without digital technology, bullying stopped when children left the playground. Now it can be carried home in a cellular phone, and sent around the world through the internet.
I once had a very bad relationship which ended in a very bad break up. My ex moved interstate, but virtually, he followed me. He knew my phone numbers, my e-mail addresses, my internet aliases, and where I hung out online. Blocking numbers and ISP addresses only works until the perpetrator changes phone or computer. Making networking profiles 'private' or 'friends only' does not avoid messages being sent to your friend's accounts, or block private contact. You may be wrapped up safe inside your nice house, but all of your connections to the world are exposed. And that, is the problem with the evolution of communication technologies, the internet and Web 2.0.
I would hate to be at highschool now.
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aaron Admin
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Re:CYBER BULLYING - 2008/08/12 20:06 Just a quick note to say (apart from thanks for those stimulating responses, Red and Cat) that this article will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I had a couple of emails asking me if it was shelved, since I had uploaded the story of Jeane Meiers. That's not the case! I know I start some things and then throw them out (I'm still unhappy with my Batman article!) but the Meiers article was just a quick news story that caught my eye and so I wrote a quick post about it. The cyber-bullying article will definitely be up, I've actually just got soooo much to say about it, the problem is making it fluid and focused. So stay tuned!
Now, back to these personal experiences...
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Dmarie Junior Boarder
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Re:CYBER BULLYING - 2008/08/12 23:20 I think, a lot of people are very computer-savvy these days, and often get revenge by hacking. More often though, they do it to give themselves status in online communities. For example, if I wanted someone hacked, I know a lot of people who could do that for me. (not that I would ) Honestly, it's the stupid people who fall prey to these things. It's not so hard to avoid it. *hopes I won't eat my words one day*Those who insult Big Brother without actually watching it, are silly people.. however, you are needed to further the controversy. Those who say it's boring.. you're shallow and can't see beyond the surface. Those who can see the manipulation, well done, and those who love it regardless, I love you.
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Catrianna Expert Boarder
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Re:CYBER BULLYING - 2008/08/13 12:21 I would like to think that there aren't too many school-aged kids 'hacking' eachother's accounts. I think it would happen more with password guessing or automated logins.
THE MIC 
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