CyberBully

From the movie "CybeBully"

Why does it have to take someone dying to change the rules? Digital etiquette is knowing when to say something and when not too. If you know about something, like if someone suffers from self harm or depression, don’t spread it. No one needs to know about that. It’s none of their business, just don’t say anything. But then things happen, things change so fast that the only way to keep it under control is to keep going, to keep saying things. There are so many other ways you can leave the situation be; you can stay quiet or you can keep talking and saying mean things to them. I’ve learned from my teachers that you should say something, nothing mean, but show that person you care about what they are going through, even if you don’t know that person, sit with them at lunch, smile at them, help with a project. Anything, anything you say can and will hurt people. Its knowing how and what to say to make sure it doesn’t come out mean.

There is a big difference between offending vs. meanness. The difference is saying something mean that may seem funny, like “you’re stupid” that can be taken one of two ways; meanly or joking. It’s your job to make sure it doesn’t come out like that. How would you like it if your friend or a complete stranger said something to you like that?

If you wouldn’t say it to their face then don’t say it at all. Not many people know about what cyberbulying means, it’s the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature. What about the difference between a bystander and an upstander? A bystander is someone who witnesses bullying but doesn’t get involved. To be an upstander you can:

·         Don’t join in the bullying

·         Support the victim in private—show your concern and offer kindness

·         Stand with the victim and say something

·         Mobilize others to join in and stand up to the bully

·         Befriend the victim and reach out to him/her in friendship

·         Alert an adult

Take this story, a girl from Columbia who committed suicide because of bullying.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Amanda_Todd

Another story would be a case that happened in Connecticut, Jon a sophomore at the time was bullied for days thinking it would all go away he laughed at it. Those days turned into weeks, those weeks turned into months. Jon went to his parents for help thinking they might be able to help him cope with all the name calling and threats. Jon’s parents help him with the verbal and online hate; things happened on Facebook and his Twitter. The Twitter account was hacked from a boy in his class. He was devastated; it wasn’t going away like he planned. It kept going, it never stopped. After weeks for coming home and going to bed, Jon’s grades went downhill, his parents were concerned more than ever, there was something that needed to be done. Jon’s mom when to the board of Ed they couldn’t do anything, they refused because it wasn’t happening at school that they knew of. So, Jon’s mom went to the police and they refused to do anything because of the lack of proof. Long story short, no one wanted to help Jon, so Jon helped himself. He ignored it all; they all went away the name calling, threats and hacking. It all was gone in a blink of an eye. Jon’s story never made it out to anything. But I am putting it on my blog to show my friend I care.         Watch My Voki