[Linki]

If someone is reading mean comments on the internet about them from some random poster, is that really bullying? Let's say someone posts a photo of themselves and gets hate messages from Facebook users. I would say that enters the realm of bullying, since it involves real life to an extent, but I would not say it is bullying on its own because of that. Bullying needs to involve real life to be bullying.

One of the main problems I have with people who say they have been bullied on the internet is the apparently non-existent reason why they didn't avoid it.
The internet is something you enter by choice, and is something you can leave whenever you want. Let's say you HAD to be on Facebook or whatever. Now if someone sent hateful comments to you on there, why can't you block/ignore them? OK, let's say EVERYONE sends hateful comments to you. If everyone is indeed hating on you, what's the point of being on Facebook anymore? No friends means no Facebook, since connecting with friends is the entire point of Facebook. Just click off the site. The end.

I understand some people are incompetent when it comes to the net and might miss simple things like blocking and... clicking close? I'm sorry, but that really is no excuse. That's not the internet's fault, that's your own. If you want, you could even turn off the computer if it is so stressful. Maybe it's doing more harm than good and isn't worth it. But no no no. It seems some people just can't help themselves. They just have to stick around and absorb the hate. They can't ignore the insults. They can't be the better man and just walk away. They need this attention, good or bad. Well you know what? These sorts of people have personal issues that are not the cause of the internet. It's like when people blame violent games and movies for serial killers. These people were already screwed.

Now you could say that just knowing that someone called you something is bad enough, and ignoring it won't stop the fact that it happened in the first place. Well here's a saying for you: "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me". Even saying someone is a 'insert name here' isn't bullying; it's just a meaningless insult. I seriously, seriously doubt a healthy individual would get cut up over insults.

Bullying really only happens when someone cannot escape an abusive environment for a fairly long time, like school. Traumatic and inescapable torment from people who put you in severe harms way, mentally and physically. Now, if you try to avoid school, you get sh*t for absences and potentially legal trouble. If you try to avoid the internet and stop going on the computer, what happens? You save money on the electricity and broadband bills.

[zoo3891]

bully (n) - A swaggering, quarrelsome person that terrorizes weaker people.

No, I guess it's not exactly bullying (according to Funk & Wagnalls), but it's still unpleasant. Why'd you even make this topic, couldn't you just have posted in the rant topic? Sorry, I didn't think that through.

This post has been edited by zoo3891 on Friday, Jun 29 2012, 12:06

[Linki]

QUOTE (zoo3891 @ Friday, Jun 29 2012, 10:28)

bully (n) - A swaggering, quarrelsome person that terrorizes weaker people. No, I guess it's not exactly bullying (according to Funk & Wagnalls), but it's still unpleasant. Why'd you even make this topic, couldn't you just have posted in the rant topic?

Rant topic? Didn't know of it.

I created this topic to express my (strong) opinion on the subject and to see what others think. Straight away I got some guy questioning it's existence in the first place. Suppose I should move this?

[Warlord.]

I'd say it depends on how attached you are to your handle on the net.

[Xcommunicated]

QUOTE (zoo3891 @ Friday, Jun 29 2012, 05:28)

Why'd you even make this topic, couldn't you just have posted in the rant topic?

It's a fairly thoroughly written topic, so it's fine on its own.

I don't understand why anyone would get a sandy vag over some internet tough guy talking sh*t anonymously. It seems like anymore these days too many people are fostering the little bitch mentality and are desperately in need of a heavy dose of man the f*ck up. And that goes for the internet "tough" guys as well, because the way I see it, they have the sandiest vags of all, otherwise they wouldn't feel the need to interact with others at a subhuman level.

[GTA_stu]

I disagree with most of what you said. First of all bullying can happen anywhere, and just because you can potentially avoid the place/situation where it occurs doesn't mitigate the fact that it's still bullying. If you get bullied by people down your street when you go out to play, well you can avoid going out. You're not forced to play on the street, it's your choice after all. That logic doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And also why should the person that's receiving the abuse have to be the one who has to miss out? They haven't done anything wrong, so why should they have to leave facebook? It should be the cowards who write these messages and hateful words who should have to adjust their lives, not the victim.

[Linki]

QUOTE (Xcommunicated @ Friday, Jun 29 2012, 11:17)

QUOTE (zoo3891 @ Friday, Jun 29 2012, 05:28) Why'd you even make this topic, couldn't you just have posted in the rant topic? It's a fairly thoroughly written topic, so it's fine on its own. I don't understand why anyone would get a sandy vag over some internet tough guy talking sh*t anonymously. It seems like anymore these days too many people are fostering the little bitch mentality and are desperately in need of a heavy dose of man the f*ck up. And that goes for the internet "tough" guys as well, because the way I see it, they have the sandiest vags of all, otherwise they wouldn't feel the need to interact with others at a subhuman level.

Great point. The people who actually believe talking sh*t means something in the first place are definitely the worst ones of all.

Also, I want to stress to everyone I'm not dismissing cases of abuse, in case I came off sounding insensitive or mean spirited. I don't support blind hate at all - there is a lot of that on the internet.

@GTA_stu: Of course the victim shouldn't have to miss out, but sometimes there is nothing else you can do unless you are prepared for more harassment.

This post has been edited by Linki on Friday, Jun 29 2012, 12:19

[finn4life]

I agree mostly, if you called me a f*ckhead on here, i would probably debate that, but it is not going to affect me emotionally, you know little about me and you are some stranger over the internet, i don't have that much reason to care.

Facebook, well it's a little different, it can be a bit more personal, if someone is sending you insulting messages, block them, easy as that.

If someone is starting rumours on Facebook and turning people against you and such, that is a little different, especially if it is persistent.
Let us imagine we are women, because they are usually the ones involved in this E-bullying crap.
I have first hand seen these things, girls making statuses about other girls telling the world who they have had sex with and calling them sluts, or making things up "You got pancake tits" (Yes that actually happened) or "She f*cked this guy, she did anal with that guy the dirty slut" and when everyone else can see it, and some people believe it, that is reasons to get upset and take action, they are basically publicly shaming you (You being a girl for this example).

Like i said, just some hatemail and stuff is no really biggie, but when it becomes humiliating and very personal is when something needs to be done, often it results in cat-fights, which are entertaining to watch, but it's not really a good thing, or police action comes in.

EDIT: They don't look at E-Bullying kindly here, people are getting suspended at schools all the time for sending insulting messages and such over mobile and the web.
About two months ago, two guys i know got the number of a 15 year old girl that they knew of and started sending them threatening messages and such, the principle of the school called them up and asked them about it, then they were charged by the police.

This post has been edited by finn4life on Friday, Jun 29 2012, 12:26

[Linki]

QUOTE (finn4life @ Friday, Jun 29 2012, 12:23)

I agree mostly, if you called me a f*ckhead on here, i would probably debate that, but it is not going to affect me emotionally, you know little about me and you are some stranger over the internet, i don't have that much reason to care. Facebook, well it's a little different, it can be a bit more personal, if someone is sending you insulting messages, block them, easy as that. If someone is starting rumours on Facebook and turning people against you and such, that is a little different, especially if it is persistent. Let us imagine we are women, because they are usually the ones involved in this E-bullying crap. I have first hand seen these things, girls making statuses about other girls telling the world who they have had sex with and calling them sluts, or making things up "You got pancake tits" (Yes that actually happened) or "She f*cked this guy, she did anal with that guy the dirty slut" and when everyone else can see it, and some people believe it, that is reasons to get upset and take action, they are basically publicly shaming you (You  being a girl for this example). Like i said, just some hatemail and stuff is no really biggie, but when it becomes humiliating and very personal is when something needs to be done, often it results in cat-fights, which are entertaining to watch, but it's not really a good thing.

In the first paragraph of the OP: "Let's say someone posts a photo of themselves and gets hate messages from Facebook users. I would say that enters the realm of bullying, since it involves real life to an extent, but I would not say it is bullying on its own because of that. Bullying needs to involve real life to be bullying."

I'm not saying you didn't read it, just wanted to clarify. And yeah, that sort of bickering is much harder to shy away from, especially if you're female. Girls and gossip go together like flies and dog sh*t.

Edited response to your added comment: This sort of sh*t is getting more prevalent. I'm in Australia too, and you hear it about it all the time. At my school some faggot (actual homosex, and made sure everyone knew) got nudes on the new girl in our year level and literally walked up to people and showed it saying stuff like "Isn't she a slut? lol". The police got involved and he got suspended.

This post has been edited by Linki on Friday, Jun 29 2012, 12:31

[finn4life]

QUOTE (Linki @ Friday, Jun 29 2012, 23:28)

to shy away from, especially if you're female. Girls and gossip go together like flies and dog sh*t. Edited response to your added comment: This sort of sh*t is getting more prevalent. I'm in Australia too, and you hear it about it all the time. At my school some faggot (actual homosex, and made sure everyone knew) got nudes on the new girl in our year level and literally walked up to people and showed it saying stuff like "Isn't she a slut? lol". The police got involved and he got suspended.

Girls are so horrible to each other it's stupid.
Yeah i am familiar with the whole nudes things, a few of those were going around at school, interestingly enough, the girl in our year who got busted for sending her own photos to someone (it eventually spread) got in trouble from the police for distributing child pornography, that's some backward ass laws right there.

The guys weren't too bad about it, we would just check out the photo and move on, the girls however have to keep it going don't they?

Off-Topic, don't need to reply: You ever noticed how girls complain about the double standard that guys get a pat on the back for nailing chicks and girls get called sluts for being with guys? Well it's funny because girls start it, guys don't really care that much and don't spread that sh*t, girls are the ones who start it, first word that someone had sex with someone else "She's a slut".

Sorry to sound cliche' but i will never understand womens logic.

[UberChargedCJ]

cyberbullies are putos IMO

[EscoLehGo]

I felt the same way you did up until recently when I really thought about it. There seems to be some kind of "bully-mania" going on with all the cool and awesome celebrities coming out of the wood works to eradicate bullying, South Park even had a pretty funny episode mocking the entire ridiculous campaign. I thought to myself at first "Why are these kids such pussies these days? Everyone got f*cked with when I was growing up and there was never a nationalized movement to stop it back then, it was just a part of growing up." But then I placed myself into the shoes of these kids and I think that because of social media and all the new modes of communication we have these days, I can actually see how bullying is probably loads more difficult to deal with then it was when I was a kid and there were no cellphones, skype, facebook or whatever else the f*ck these kids get into.

Back when I was a kid if you got bullied at school you could at least find sanction at home, or there was somewhere you could go to get a breather from all the bullsh*t and collect your thoughts. Now these kids have cellphones that can be texted and maliciously called and they also have online profiles that can be stalked and filled with hate speech and we all know how f*cked up kids can get when they enter that mob mentality. Now you might say, well why doesn't the kids just ditch the cellphone and stay off the net? Well that's a very grown up approach to the situation but we're not talking about grown ups, we're talking about young impressionable children who for the most part have a strong desire to fit in and be accepted. When you're a kid you think bad times will be there forever, you have no concept that in a few years a lot of this sh*t you're going through will mean very little in the long run no matter how many times your parents, siblings or mentors try to assure you it gets better. So I have to say, although the anti-bully movement is futile and stupid, I can understand why children might have it a little rougher these days than I did with bullying.

[guib]

I think that you are only a real cyber bully, if you bully someone you have met in real life.

[*MURDOC*]

QUOTE (UberChargedCJ @ Friday, Jun 29 2012, 08:07)

cyberbullies are putos IMO

That's only because you're a little bitch.








(see what I did there?)

[UberChargedCJ]

cyberbullying shall be outlawed in every website


@murdoc no insulting please

This post has been edited by UberChargedCJ on Friday, Jun 29 2012, 17:28

[trip]

It goes deeper than cyber bullying. It all has to do with the pussification of society. The world no longer breeds boys to become 'men'. We now have a bunch of young people that don't know how to stand up for themselves. Easy targets for assholes that might like to bully.

Since the world has become so internet'atized I think people are taking 'words' too seriously. Before the internet, the old saying "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" actually meant something and worked.

Everybody - throw away your hand sanitizers, and man the f*ck up. Don't be such pussies, and if you need to work on some comeback lines to squelch something negative someone might say about you on the internet, then do so.

[Chunkyman]

Males have become pussificated over the last few decades. The poor little babies can't handle being called names on the internet.

I think it's because of a cultural push to be completely gender blind and this whole "men and women are really the same" bullsh*t. Women haven't become a whole lot more manly (thank. f*cking. god.), but I see guys wearing what should be their sister's clothing all the time.

[GTA_stu]

I'm pretty sure bullying isn't something that's just developed over the past 20 years. And you don't have to physically touch someone for it to be bullying either. Words can hurt a person just as much as actual physical violence. Now obviously some guy you don't know saying something to you online isn't really much of an issue, but that's not really what cyber bullying is. It's about the same people who bully you at school doing it online via mediums such as facebook. There's really not that much difference between a person calling someone a name to them in real life, and calling them something online. In fact online it can be worse because more people see it and so it can be more humiliating and affect you worse.

[HydraulicWaRiOr]

These children have turned into a bunch of pussies.

Way back before I was even born, people didn't cry over stupid sh*t like this, it's virtual insults. It's a bunch of malarky, the sh*t people cause controversy about these days. The media and the schools are trying to hard to justify the stupidest sh*t. No, of course we don't make people aware of the deficits to teenage pregnancy or AIDS and other diseases anymore, let's talk about other peoples feelings about stupid rumors they shouldn't even fuss over in the first place.

[Supreme]

[Mockage]

I'm pretty sure some people can't say in their heads "Someone talking sh*t about me? Great. Continue on with life and ignore it". It's ridiculous. They choose to resort to the bad side and start talking sh*t back because they know that if they don't fight back somehow they'll be ridiculed by their peers and/or in a case of "cyber bullying" it'll be completely anonymous people who you'll probably never even take a glance at during a stroll in the park.

Pathetic.