imagefeatures [nine]
lafayette high school [feb. 22, 2008]
Scars of bullying felt even online nicolecastellano It has left its something to violate their rules. Service providers are aware of [features editor] mark on the adamharris [staff reporter]
playgrounds, and has come into the homes of children
worldwide. Bullying in person has become a thing of the past, and it now occurs through cyberspace. Cyberbullying is when a child harasses someone through the internet, by interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. There are two types of cyberbullying: direct and by proxy. Direct attacks are by instant/text messaging, stealing passwords, sending pictures through e-mail and cell phones, internet polling, interactive gaming, sending malicious code and impersonation. Cyberbullying by proxy is when a cyberbully gets someone else to do their dirty work, with out them having knowledge of what they are actually doing. “Warning” or “Notify wars” are examples of cyberbullying by proxy. Kids can click on their warning or notify buttons on their e-mails or chat screens and alert the service provider that the victim has done
this abuse, and check to see of the warning is justified. After so many warnings, the victim can lose his or her Internet Service Provider (ISP) account. All a cyberbully has to do is make the victim say one rude thing, and then they warn them, making them look like the victim started it. “It is one of the most cowardly and destructive forms of bullying because the person who is the bully never has to look the victim in the eye,” Rockwood’s Director of Guidance Services Shari Sevier said. Students don’t see cyberbullying as a problem, but admit it happens. Sophomore Emily Duncan said, “It’s really bad and it needs to be stopped immediately.” “Since August 2006-April 2007 freshmen have had 10 cases, sophomores five to six, juniors seven to eight, and seniors two,” Counselor Deborah Parker said. Still, although Parker said cyberbullying does occur here, but it is not a “huge problem.” Joe Laramie, director of Missouri’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC), said, “Don’t respond
to it, if you do it will just escalate. By not responding you are not giving that other person that satisfaction they want.” “Do not take to heart what is being said, it is just someone who is jealous or insecure,” Sevier said. Laramie said victims should not keep quiet about being bullied. Tell any authority figure, including parents, friends, principals, a pastor or coach. Laramie suggests using abuse lines available. With more kids being educated about the internet, they must now take a stand against cyberbullying; whether it’s helping a friend who has become a victim or reporting a cyberbully before its gets bad. In October of 2006, there was a local case of cyberbullying that has got national attention and led several municipalities to change or create laws about cyber bullying. Her parents believe that 13-yearold Megan Meier’s suicide was the result of a cruel cyber hoax involving the website MySpace.com. Megan had been talking to a fake internet friend ‘Josh’, created by a former friend’s mother. The artificial account was created to see if Megan would gossip about her friend, but
things took a turn for the worst. In the past Megan had suffered from depression, so the compliments from Josh were flattering. After several weeks the messages became abusive. A day later she received another brutal message. Her mother came home to find Megan had attempted to hang herself in her closet. She died the next day. “I think it was totally wrong and sick that someone would do that to a teen, especially when they knew that she was insecure,” freshman Dominic Manno said. Although not as severe, occurrences similar to this are not uncommon, which is why it is important to be aware of the internet. “I hope to see it brought to the light, and letting kids know it is not tolerated. Neither is passive acceptance-being a bystander in the situation,” Laramie said. “Kids should stand up with their friends, but don’t because they are afraid they will become a victim as well,” Laramie added. Junior Sean Siebert said, “Words can go a long way and even the littlest things can hurt anyone. That is why cyberbullying should be stopped immediately.”
Although cyberbullying is not common at Lafayette, students Jennifer* and Brittney* were involved in a cyberbullying incident on Facebook this year. They give their personal account about what occurred between these former
: er the The Bullyne an argument ov y*, and I got into she
the past My friend, Britt school drama. In h g hi ” id sa he -s er a typical “he said , were arguing ov y* se nd Li , nd ie fr best e to decide and her recent hen it came tim W . k* ar M , nd ie nsidering Lindsey’s boyfr ndsey’s side, co Li ok to I e, d si se d I had already who was on who iend. Brittney an fr oy b r he as w one huge the fact Mark hts turned into fig e th ut b s, ht osts, fig ging and wall p gotten into little sa es m e th h ug ook. Thro wn out fight over Faceb erything was blo ev d an nd ou ar wn rollably, words were thro k raged uncont oo b ce Fa er ov ur fight threatening of proportion. O , ending in very nd ha of t ou ly te everyone to and was comple one another for d ar w to ts en m ature, and and rude com rassing and imm ar b em as w It . een et any better betw see on the intern rs te at m e ak m t t it didn’ r differences without a doub to put aside ou le ab n ee b ve the I ha e both decided us. Brittney and W r. he ot an e on forgive d a role in and were able to d we both playe an , ts ul fa r ou of ts and fight was neither realized our faul h ot b I d an y . Brittne id. the internet fight ve never been sa ha ld ou sh at th s g deleted the thin
The Victim:
I started off th is year on go od terms wit the drama st h everyone, u arted. I mana ntil g e d to find myself tom of an ext at the botremely deep hole that I ha I sacrificed a d dug myself lot of my rela into. ti onships with in order to da my good frie te a guy who n ds I thought wa ended up losi s just perfect. ng the majori I ty of my frien drama. It start ds through th ed with dirty e looks, then b the lunch tab eing shunne le and finally d from cyberbullyin a period of ti g. I went thro me where I ju u gh st wanted to The shame w give up and as unbearable d ie. , and I just w back to the w anted things ay they used to go to be. I got to I would refuse the point wh to sit in at lun ere ch. My depre bad that I ha ssion got so ted the world . As the days slowly got be passed every tter, and the thing a ttention that my fight was was focused now being fo on cused on the end, Jennifer* new drama. In and I were ab the le to put asid and try to ma e our differen ke things wo ce s rk in the sake o Even though f our friendsh you might be ip. angry at som and cyberbu eone threate lling them so ning lves absolute ly nothing. *Names have
cyberbully There are different forms of cyberbullying, and sometimes victims is not even aware that what is happening to them is considered by experts to be cyberbullying. The following are the most common forms: Flaming: Online fights using electronic messaging with angry and vulgar language. Harassment: Repeatedly sending nasty, hateful and insulting messages. Denigration: “Dissing” someone online. Sending or posting gossip or rumors damaging one’s reputation and ruining friendships. Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else and sending or posting material to get that person in trouble. Outing: Sharing someone’s secrets, pictures or embarrassing information online. Trickery: Talking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information online.
Helpful Resources: • www. stopcyberbullying.org • www.mcgruff.org • Cyber Tipline: 1-(800)-843-5678 • Missouri School Violence Hotline: 1- (866)-748-7047 • National Hopeline Network: 1-(800)- SUICIDE
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