Do you believe in Cyber-Bullying?

[Reality]

This seems to be a growing issue, and getting a lot of recognition lately - or at least so it seems to me, and I'm wondering if there's anyone here that believes in it (or not) or believes whether or not it's really a big deal.

I'm sure you all know what it is. It's basically bullying over the internet, text, mobile phone, or whatever electronic method. The bullies are either people you know in real-life, or ones over the internet - which can also be cyber-stalkers, too.

I, personally, don't think it's mostly that big of a deal. This is coming from someone who whole-heartedly detests bullying. The reason is, is because cyber-bullying is very, very easy to prevent mostly.

If someone's harrassing you over email or MSN, you can block/delete/ignore them. Same with texting and calling and all that kind of stuff.

But then again, there are more cruel methods of cyber-bullying. Including setting up websites about people to mock them, or sending around their pictures, or even going as far as to Photoshop their pictures in an obscene way to piss them off. < - These kinds of bullying aren't direct, but they can have a huge mental impact on the victim, and I personally think it should be a criminal offense if you're caught doing this.

But harassment via MSN or whatever, no. It's way too easy to prevent.

So what's your thoughts, guys?

[theOperaGhost]

Yes, I do think it is real. I've been a victim of it in the past. What happened in my instance was a group, mostly consisting of classmates made a forum. The forum was not all a bad place, but in one section there was a thread title "who pisses you off and why?" From what I hear (the majority was deleted by the time I found the site, joined and tried to view it) I was one of the main topics of that thread.

The reason they got caught was because someone found it on a school computer and reported it. They received a small school punishment. I didn't get terribly hurt by what was said (even though I don't know the full extent of what was said), the only thing that hurt me is the backstabbing by what I thought were friends. Since that time, I still consider a few of them to be friends. I lost a lot of respect for some of them, one was even the salutatorian of my class (I was the valedictorian).

The cause of this bullying and hate was jealousy. I was valedictorian and the salutatorian was not especially happy about that. I can understand why. The other main person in this was another musical person. It mainly started after I was accepted to sing in the all-state choir and she wasn't. There really isn't much of a reason to be jealous of me, but they found some, I guess.

[Underground_Network]

I've been on both sides of it, and as someone who's not bad (but not incredible) with computers, with the simple knowledge I have I COULD continually harass someone no matter what they attempted to do unless they themselves are really good with computers... So cyber bullying honestly isn't as easy as you think it is to prevent.

And as you pointed out there are multiple ways to bully someone online. That and as has been pointed out in multiple teen magazines, news articles, etc. our generation is a lot more open when it comes to revealing personal information online... Thus when certain information falls into the wrong hands, bad "stuffz" can happen.

Cyber bullying, if anything, is growing, whereas bullying in real life is staying stagnant, if not deteriorating. The reason simply being that people feel more powerful online. They feel like they can remain anonymous when threatening/bullying certain people; they feel like they can do things to them that won't physically hurt them and holds with it less of a chance of getting in trouble and still effectively "bully" them and make them feel "inferior" or "distress" them.

[INFERNO]

The main reason why I find it to not be a big problem is you can easily block whoever the person is or go onto another website or forum. I believe it does exist, however, I find it rather ridiculous when someone says they were cyber-bullied and whine about it being so harsh. Simply block the person or go onto another website. That's the benefit of cyberspace: don't want them, then block them or go elsewhere. Something harder to do to a person face-to-face.

[theOperaGhost]

That's not necessarily true. In my case, it wasn't direct. I didn't even see what was written about me, I just heard about it, in real life. It occurred online, but carried over into real life. I'm not really whining though...it didn't affect me too much. I was extremely pissed for about 3 hours when I initially found out, but I got cooled down.

[INFERNO]

That's not necessarily true. In my case, it wasn't direct. I didn't even see what was written about me, I just heard about it, in real life. It occurred online, but carried over into real life. I'm not really whining though...it didn't affect me too much. I was extremely pissed for about 3 hours when I initially found out, but I got cooled down.

But cyber-bullying is bullying only online, via text and such, is it not? At least that's the definition the OP gave:

It's basically bullying over the internet, text, mobile phone, or whatever electronic method. The bullies are either people you know in real-life, or ones over the internet

In your case, I'm not sure what it'd be called. Probably would be debatable depending on your definition of bullying and cyber-bullying. Probably closer to cyber-bullying though.

[theOperaGhost]

Actually, I guess it was more a form of defamation than anything. Kind of considered bullying, but not really...I don't know...it's debatable. The main purpose of what they were writing in the forum was for defamatory purposes though, I guess.

[Sapphire]

The main reason why I find it to not be a big problem is you can easily block whoever the person is or go onto another website or forum. I believe it does exist
I agree with this ^.
It is a lot easier to stop than real life bullying because of the ability to block people. When people have tried to do it to me, I have blocked them and that has been the end of it.
I don't understand why some people don't do that though.

[Hyper]

I think it is completly ridicilous.

Sure.. Its bad, but its ridicilious. If somebody harasses you online, you block them.

If somebody talks crap in a forum or makes a website, its the same as gossip in RL.

People just need to deal with it, and it pisses me off whenever I hear about it since theres a big *beeping* difference between being called names over the internet and being physically tortured in RL every day for example..

[Camazotz]

Of course it's real. I forget which story it was, but this girl was bullied, told her mom, and the mom harassed the bully until she (the bully) killed herself.

[Cloud Spinner]

on the internet.. nobody knows you're a DOG

[INFERNO]

on the internet.. nobody knows you're a DOG

Well... if only one person lives in a house and is using the computer, chances are it's not a dog typing on forums unless you have one amazing dog.

[Oblivion]

The main reason why I find it to not be a big problem is you can easily block whoever the person is or go onto another website or forum. I believe it does exist, however, I find it rather ridiculous when someone says they were cyber-bullied and whine about it being so harsh. Simply block the person or go onto another website. That's the benefit of cyberspace: don't want them, then block them or go elsewhere. Something harder to do to a person face-to-face.

That's true except:

It's very easy for them to post embarrassing pictures, or make embarrassing public comments. Those are ones that you can't delete, and even if the owner of the site can, it would be too late.

[Reality]

Of course it's real. I forget which story it was, but this girl was bullied, told her mom, and the mom harassed the bully until she (the bully) killed herself.
I remember something like that. It was a girl dating a guy, his mom got pissed and logged on his MySpace or whatever and said mean crap to her; with her believing it was this boy she was dating, and she killed herself over it.

When I first heard about it, I thought the girl must've been over-sensitive or weak-willed, but I read into it. She actually had loads of problems in life, and really loved and trusted this guy she e-dated. Sad really.

Speaking of cyber-bullying. I remember a girl on YouTube who posted videos of herself, and because she's "fat and ugly" she got harrassed on the YouTube comments. They're kind of sickly to read. I'm pretty sure someone posted it on some website where people took fun of it, I'm not sure, but here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIePiYEFxPY&feature=related

[Sugaree]

Of course, I believe in cyber-bullying. If I can remember correctly, there was a girl, in her teens, about 2 years ago that killed herself because of comments left to her on MySpace. A good example of cyber-bullying.

Personally, I think anyone who thinks that they're invincible on the internet, is a loony. Sure, you're invincible on the internet, warranting nasty comments and starting flame wars, but you're probably just some asshole in real life that can talk the talk, but can't walk the walk.

If someone ever sends you an unkind e-mail or IM, then just block them. It's that easy. But, people take it all the hard way, and just ignore it and pretend that it isn't happening. This is something that needs to be dealt with. Now, I say that if someone is sending you some type of bully-like e-mail or IM, then any type of law enforcement shouldn't be involved. If they start to issue death threats (i.e "I'm gonna kill you at school/work/whatever tomorrow" etc..) then law enforcement needs to be put in action.

If parents could reach out to their kids and tell them not to respond to any type of bad e-mail or IM and tell them about the dangers of cyber-bullying, then maybe some good could come out of it. But that won't happen.

I've been cyber-bullied a few times. I've recieved cyber-bully e-mail before. They were people I knew in real life. One of them was a teacher's own son. I don't know how he got my e-mail address, but he got it and used it to his advantage. I ignored him, and reported him to the principle and he was dealt with properly.

[INFERNO]

Of course, I believe in cyber-bullying. If I can remember correctly, there was a girl, in her teens, about 2 years ago that killed herself because of comments left to her on MySpace. A good example of cyber-bullying.

Personally, I think anyone who thinks that they're invincible on the internet, is a loony. Sure, you're invincible on the internet, warranting nasty comments and starting flame wars, but you're probably just some asshole in real life that can talk the talk, but can't walk the walk.

If someone ever sends you an unkind e-mail or IM, then just block them. It's that easy. But, people take it all the hard way, and just ignore it and pretend that it isn't happening. This is something that needs to be dealt with. Now, I say that if someone is sending you some type of bully-like e-mail or IM, then any type of law enforcement shouldn't be involved. If they start to issue death threats (i.e "I'm gonna kill you at school/work/whatever tomorrow" etc..) then law enforcement needs to be put in action.

If parents could reach out to their kids and tell them not to respond to any type of bad e-mail or IM and tell them about the dangers of cyber-bullying, then maybe some good could come out of it. But that won't happen.

I've been cyber-bullied a few times. I've recieved cyber-bully e-mail before. They were people I knew in real life. One of them was a teacher's own son. I don't know how he got my e-mail address, but he got it and used it to his advantage. I ignored him, and reported him to the principle and he was dealt with properly.

I agree with this. Cyber-bullying has an obvious advantage over regular bullying: block the bully and no longer have to see or read whatever they're writing. The problem with getting in law enforcement involved is that since text has no vocal intonation by the author, a sarcastic or funny remark can be taken in the wrong way. For example, if two people are in a conversation online and humourosly because they were joking, one says "i'm going to kill you" but implied it not in a threatening way, if someone else reads that line, how are they to know? As much as I like the idea of getting law enforcement involved, you'd need the person to write something very unambiguous and unlikely to be a joke or sarcastic.

The other problem, the one I think is rather easy to solve, is to have the receiver not intise the bully by responding in the same fashion. Take for example, on the VT forums, someone calls someone else a derogatory name, and the receiver responds in the same way. It's only going to make things escalate, instead of being mature and blocking the person.

Lastly, because it's the internet and not face-to-face, some people can joke around or intentionally make someone angry yet tell them it's only the internet and to calm down. However, that person may not and things may escalate.

Ideally, you're right, have parents or teachers educate students how to approach such situations maturely. This can be carried over to real-life situations, where you act with your brain and not with your fists or mouth.

[Sugaree]

Ideally, you're right, have parents or teachers educate students how to approach such situations maturely. This can be carried over to real-life situations, where you act with your brain and not with your fists or mouth.

The problem is, is that it's easier to act with your fists and mouth other than use your brain and think it out first. I've seen many fights on here where it's just one person picking on another and it starts to escalate from there. They can just as easily block eachother, but they have to make sure their reputation on the internet is held up properly.

[INFERNO]

The problem is, is that it's easier to act with your fists and mouth other than use your brain and think it out first. I've seen many fights on here where it's just one person picking on another and it starts to escalate from there. They can just as easily block eachother, but they have to make sure their reputation on the internet is held up properly.

I agree completely. Person A starts up with Person B, and Person B, just a click away, just moving a few fingers and wrist can end it but they go to e-fighting back. With real-life, I think holding up one's reputation is also a big issue. I see nothing respectable in fighting someone else in order to show you're a big, tough guy maintaining their reputation. To me, if anything it's lowering it, it's showing complete immaturity. Unfortunately, it takes less mental effort to throw a punch or begin insulting rather than stop, think and not engage. Those people who do that are more respectable.

[theOperaGhost]

I agree completely. Person A starts up with Person B, and Person B, just a click away, just moving a few fingers and wrist can end it but they go to e-fighting back. With real-life, I think holding up one's reputation is also a big issue. I see nothing respectable in fighting someone else in order to show you're a big, tough guy maintaining their reputation. To me, if anything it's lowering it, it's showing complete immaturity. Unfortunately, it takes less mental effort to throw a punch or begin insulting rather than stop, think and not engage. Those people who do that are more respectable.

Let me ask you this...if someone hits you, are you going to fight back? Now I'm not saying physical violence is a good thing, but if someone hits me, I'm fighting back. I can't respect someone who doesn't stand up for themselves.

[INFERNO]

Let me ask you this...if someone hits you, are you going to fight back? Now I'm not saying physical violence is a good thing, but if someone hits me, I'm fighting back. I can't respect someone who doesn't stand up for themselves.

I meant for verbal attacks. But for this, yes, I will fight back. Me acting like a punching bag does no good for me. That being said, I'm not likely to turn the attacker into a punching bag, but rather a quick hit or flip to stop them from attacking.

[left footed mofo]

Ah, another bullying debate with my old friends INFERNO, semp, Sapphire, camazotz and theOperaGhost.

Yes i belive in it.
I also belive that blocking people online is cowardly, no matter the reason.

About you thinking it should be illegal, hate sites ARE illegal, i don't know what the punishment is though. My opinion, anybody who you go to the effort and expense of making a website just to bully someone who they probably see everyday in school, needs a life.

[INFERNO]

Ah, my good old friend left_footed_mofo.

Why is it cowardly to block the cyber-bullying? To me, cyber-bullying itself is rather cowardly, and so blocking it, although it can be perceived as cowardly, saves much time and effort without having to debate and get angry over some pixels. Also, there's a chance that if you do not block and do engage, then if things get heated up, some of it can be used against you, in which case the answer that you may get in the end is "should've blocked them".

[Reality]

Ah, another bullying debate with my old friends INFERNO, semp, Sapphire, camazotz and theOperaGhost.

Yes i belive in it.
I also belive that blocking people online is cowardly, no matter the reason.
Why? A simple "fuck off" and a block always does the trick.

Like INFERNO said, the person that bullies online is actually the cowardly one who needs to hide behind a computer or phone to bully someone.

Mind you. The time's I've been "cyber-bullied", I've always actually fought back. I actually got into a bit of an e-argument the other day with some idiot in my school on Facebook and MSN.

He's now threatening to smash my face in some time. Lmao. I doubt it, he's smaller than me.

About you thinking it should be illegal, hate sites ARE illegal, i don't know what the punishment is though. My opinion, anybody who you go to the effort and expense of making a website just to bully someone who they probably see everyday in school, needs a life.
It's another one of those things where the law can't be enforced because of lack of proof, probably.

I agree, though.

[Oblivion]

Ah, my good old friend left_footed_mofo.

Why is it cowardly to block the cyber-bullying? To me, cyber-bullying itself is rather cowardly, and so blocking it, although it can be perceived as cowardly, saves much time and effort without having to debate and get angry over some pixels. Also, there's a chance that if you do not block and do engage, then if things get heated up, some of it can be used against you, in which case the answer that you may get in the end is "should've blocked them".

Exactly.
If anyone is cowardly, it's the cyber-bully that doesn't even have the guts to bully in real life and have the person even be able to stand up for themselves.

Also, about blocking, I think I mentioned before that on many sites there are public comments, that you can't delete, and that you can't block from other people seeing. Even if the site owner is willing to delete it, it'll be too late; everyone will have seen it.

Finally, cyber bullying allows everyone to watch the kid suffer. You know how people ring around fights at school? Well that makes me sick, really. On the internet though, it's like a very spacey hallway, where the whole school (with internet access) can watch, and ring around, which is even more sickening in my opinion.

Cyber-bullying lasts longer, has more ability to harm, and allows a larger audience than regular bullying, which is why it is so hard to deal with, and what makes it so wrong.

[INFERNO]

It's another one of those things where the law can't be enforced because of lack of proof, probably.


Well, for the legal part, various charges can happen. One main one that may happen is slander, however, if what is said is not true, then it's harder to get a slander case.

However, the issue regardless of the charge gets complicated because you have to prove that the bully wrote it. Naturally, you could trace the IP address or contact their Internet service provider, however, all that does is show that the computer was used but does not prove that the bully actually wrote it. Outside the computer world, this issue does not occur, however, in cyberspace, it does.

[left footed mofo]

Ah, my good old friend left_footed_mofo.

Why is it cowardly to block the cyber-bullying? To me, cyber-bullying itself is rather cowardly, and so blocking it, although it can be perceived as cowardly, saves much time and effort without having to debate and get angry over some pixels. Also, there's a chance that if you do not block and do engage, then if things get heated up, some of it can be used against you, in which case the answer that you may get in the end is "should've blocked them".

Yeah... i should have chosen a better name.

It's not cowardly to block cyber-bullying SPECIFICALLY, but rather using any online block, it's just ignoring your problems.

[Sugaree]

I also belive that blocking people online is cowardly, no matter the reason.

How is blocking someone on MSN or on a forum cowardly? What's the problem? It's not like their feelings are going to get hurt. If they do get hurt, then they have serious issues. It's cowardly however, to bully someone only by means of the internet, MSN, e-mail or texting. Bullying someone behind a computer or phone is probably the most cowardly thing I can think of.

Besides, you can block a person if you want. It's the internet. You can do whatever you want. If a person is annoying you, then put them on the ignore list and that's that. If you think it's cowardly, then fine. I won't change your mind.

[theOperaGhost]

I find it cowardly in one way...you are avoiding your problems. I don't like people who avoid problems. You need to face your problems and overcome them.

Now, I'm probably going to get bitched at for saying this, but I don't care. I compare it to suicide itself. No offense to ANYONE, but I find suicide to be an extremely cowardly act. By committing suicide, you block out your problems instead of facing them. Suicide in no way faces the problem and it is no way to overcome a problem. The same thing with blocking a cyber bully. Face the problem...confront them (rationally, might I add) and finally, overcome the problem. Again...I know I went out on a rather risky limb by saying this. I don't mean it to hurt anyone.

[Reality]

Yeah... i should have chosen a better name.

It's not cowardly to block cyber-bullying SPECIFICALLY, but rather using any online block, it's just ignoring your problems.
What are you proposing they should be doing instead then, though, Mr. Devils Advocate?
I wouldn't really look at a cyber-bully as a problem, more of a nuisance, and if I can get rid of this nuisance by blocking it, so be it.

Although, being honest, I generally fight back over the internet. But just saying.

I find it cowardly in one way...you are avoiding your problems. I don't like people who avoid problems. You need to face your problems and overcome them.

Now, I'm probably going to get bitched at for saying this, but I don't care. I compare it to suicide itself. No offense to ANYONE, but I find suicide to be an extremely cowardly act. By committing suicide, you block out your problems instead of facing them. Suicide in no way faces the problem and it is no way to overcome a problem. The same thing with blocking a cyber bully. Face the problem...confront them (rationally, might I add) and finally, overcome the problem. Again...I know I went out on a rather risky limb by saying this. I don't mean it to hurt anyone.
Again. What do you propose people should be doing to annoying idiots online?
What if you don't know who the cyber-bully is?

I appreciate your opinion, but I have to definitely disagree with you on the suicide part. Some people commit suicide in the heat of the moment, and aren't thinking straight when they go to kill themselves, their problems have basically suffocated them, and when they have no support or anything, they feel there's no other way out. Yes, I know what you're saying, but I'm just saying at those moments in time, they feel stuck.

It's more of a psychological void than anything.

[INFERNO]

Yeah... i should have chosen a better name.

It's not cowardly to block cyber-bullying SPECIFICALLY, but rather using any online block, it's just ignoring your problems.

To me, blocking is avoiding starting bigger problems. Yes it can be seen as cowardly in the sense that you do one click and presto, you've stopped the bullying online.

I find it cowardly in one way...you are avoiding your problems. I don't like people who avoid problems. You need to face your problems and overcome them.

Now, I'm probably going to get bitched at for saying this, but I don't care. I compare it to suicide itself. No offense to ANYONE, but I find suicide to be an extremely cowardly act. By committing suicide, you block out your problems instead of facing them. Suicide in no way faces the problem and it is no way to overcome a problem. The same thing with blocking a cyber bully. Face the problem...confront them (rationally, might I add) and finally, overcome the problem. Again...I know I went out on a rather risky limb by saying this. I don't mean it to hurt anyone.

In a sense, blocking is overcoming the problems. After all, what good will come out of petty name-calling or threats or slander or whatever else online? Nothing, the problems will only be escalated and it could then increase bullying in schools. This is how I view it: I call you a name and you get angry, so you call me a name. Both of us are online, and cannot do anything physical so I start more name-calling, you start more, etc.... . I don't see how engaging the cyber-bully is infact an intelligent way to deal with it. The problem is with you and the bully, so face-to-face, asssuming it's a school bully or someone you know, is the appropriate way to face the problem.

I agree, I find suicide to be rather cowardly, however, unlike cyber-bullying, suicide is a permanent, end-all solution, whereas ignoring the cyber-bully is a temporary solution that yields the chance to face the bully face-to-face at a later date, place and time.

But I fail to see how you can confront the bully online. I'll admit, face-to-face with the bully could also escalate things just as easily as with cyber-bullying, however, when it is face-to-face, then you truly are facing the problem, you can deal with it right there and then in either a verbal or physical (or both) manner.

[Sugaree]

I find it cowardly in one way...you are avoiding your problems. I don't like people who avoid problems. You need to face your problems and overcome them.

True, very true. But why go through all the hassle of fighting someone over the internet? If someone is bullying you via e-mail, MSN, or a forum, why fight and try to convince them to stop? It won't work. I've dealt with some trolls, and you can't convince them to do anything. They hate you, and that's that. I find it easier to block them if they don't want to be civil.

I don't find it cowardly. I find it a useful tool to block out someone who is fighting or bullying you over the net. I can see your view as it being way to avoid problems and how you have to face them. I just don't find it cowardly to ignore them and go your own way.

[Sapphire]

I don't find it cowardly. I find it a useful tool to block out someone who is fighting or bullying you over the net.
Same here.

[left footed mofo]

What are you proposing they should be doing instead then, though, Mr. Devils Advocate?
I wouldn't really look at a cyber-bully as a problem, more of a nuisance, and if I can get rid of this nuisance by blocking it, so be it.

Although, being honest, I generally fight back over the internet. But just saying.

Mr. Devil's Advocate? What?

To be honest, the way i deal with it is i just ignore them, let them keep sending me their shit, it's their time and effort.

[Sapphire]

To be honest, the way i deal with it is i just ignore them, let them keep sending me their shit, it's their time and effort.
How is that any different from blocking them?

[Sugaree]

I have to agree with Sapphire on this one. How is ignoring a cyber-bully any different then using a blocking feature?

[Reality]

Mr. Devil's Advocate? What?

To be honest, the way i deal with it is i just ignore them, let them keep sending me their shit, it's their time and effort.
If someone on MSN, say, keeps nudging and spamming it, which will obviously get annoying, you're as well just to block.

[INFERNO]

To be honest, the way i deal with it is i just ignore them, let them keep sending me their shit, it's their time and effort.

Didn't you say before that blocking them or ignoring them is a cowardly act, yet you then admit to blocking or ignoring them anyways?

[left footed mofo]

Didn't you say before that blocking them or ignoring them is a cowardly act, yet you then admit to blocking or ignoring them anyways?

You misunderstand, i said blocking them is cowardly, simply not paying them attention is different.

[left footed mofo]

If someone on MSN, say, keeps nudging and spamming it, which will obviously get annoying, you're as well just to block.

That's why MSN won't let you nudge more then 5 times a minute.

Also, you didn't answer me, what did you mean by calling me "Mister Devil's Advocate"?

[Reality]

That's why MSN won't let you nudge more then 5 times a minute.

Also, you didn't answer me, what did you mean by calling me "Mister Devil's Advocate"?
There is a script on MSN Messenger+ that lets you sent an unlimited amount of nudges in one minute, and most people I know have it.
Trust me, there's various other ways to annoy someone on MSN.

Meh. I was simply using that, as you're the one that's against the majority. I.E. Most people are saying "just block them", you're the one that's claiming it's cowardly, and so on, so forth.

[Sapphire]

You misunderstand, i said blocking them is cowardly, simply not paying them attention is different.
You say that blocking someone is cowardly because you are just ignoring the problem and not actually dealing with it. But then go on to imply that it isn't cowardly to simply ignore them as it is different.
How is that so?

[left footed mofo]

There is a script on MSN Messenger+ that lets you sent an unlimited amount of nudges in one minute, and most people I know have it.
Trust me, there's various other ways to annoy someone on MSN.

Meh. I was simply using that, as you're the one that's against the majority. I.E. Most people are saying "just block them", you're the one that's claiming it's cowardly, and so on, so forth.

The devil's advocate is someone who plays the other side of an argument even though they don't agree with it.

[Sapphire]

Left footed mofo, are you purposely ignoring me or are you selectively blind?

[Reality]

The devil's advocate is someone who plays the other side of an argument even though they don't agree with it.
I know. I was sarcastic. But you did seem to be doing that at first.

[INFERNO]

You misunderstand, i said blocking them is cowardly, simply not paying them attention is different.

Regardless if it's blocking or ignoring, the same result happens: you don't deal with them. If you view not dealing with the problem to be an act of cowardice, then ignoring them is an act of cowardice, as is blocking them.

[Sugaree]

You misunderstand, i said blocking them is cowardly, simply not paying them attention is different.

No, I believe that YOU misunderstand. You just said that blocking a cyber-bully is cowardly, yet you come back and say that you don't pay them attention. That is the same as blocking someone on IM, e-mail, etc. I think you really need to make a better effort before joining in a debate. I think you have the ideas of "blocking" and "ignoring" completely screwed up.

"Blocking" someone and "ignoring" them is virtually the same thing. I don't see how one can be different from the other.

[antimonic]

Left footed mofo, are you purposely ignoring me or are you selectively blind?

I think he believes you are bullying him, and so is implementing his "ignore them" approach :D

as for cyber bullying, a barrage of text messages and prank calls can be enough to really push you over the edge, let alone messenger use.

[theOperaGhost]

If someone on MSN, say, keeps nudging and spamming it, which will obviously get annoying, you're as well just to block.

How is that bullying? I consider bullying doing saying or doing something that hurts another person, which is not the case when someone is simply annoying them. In the case of annoyance, I would most certainly block the person. Bullying, I would not block them. I'm a spiteful son of a bitch and if someone is bullying me, I'm going to make their life a living fucking hell.

[INFERNO]

as for cyber bullying, a barrage of text messages and prank calls can be enough to really push you over the edge, let alone messenger use.

How is prank calling a form of bullying? Generally, the prank calls are riddled with stupidity, so how does a random phone call with people babbling nonsense cause bullying? A barrage of texts can easily be blocked or just block the MSN contact. So, if one is smart enough to do that, then I fail to see how it would push them over the edge.

[antimonic]

You cant block text messages unless you have a samsung or are on contract. so if you are not on either one, its going to be pestering with no real way to block them as uk tarifs will only block numbers if you are on contract. So to get th messages to stop, youll have to buy a new phone (if you dont have a samsung) or go on contract, which should be done out of personal choice and not to avoid recieving abusive text messages from certain arseholes.

How about prank calls where the caller begins insulting you, being recieved every hour, in the early hours of the morning for afew days a week. I'd call that cyber bullying, wouldnt you? put your phone on silent yes, but assuming you dont get the calls ONLY in the early hours of the morning, are you going to have to just keep your phone on silent just so you dont pick up a prank call? i see it as a orm of bullying because of the continuous harrassment that is not always avoidable. for some it may be avoidable (like if you are on contract or have a samsung) but for others, it isnt.

[INFERNO]

You cant block text messages unless you have a samsung or are on contract. so if you are not on either one, its going to be pestering with no real way to block them as uk tarifs will only block numbers if you are on contract. So to get th messages to stop, youll have to buy a new phone (if you dont have a samsung) or go on contract, which should be done out of personal choice and not to avoid recieving abusive text messages from certain arseholes.

How about prank calls where the caller begins insulting you, being recieved every hour, in the early hours of the morning for afew days a week. I'd call that cyber bullying, wouldnt you? put your phone on silent yes, but assuming you dont get the calls ONLY in the early hours of the morning, are you going to have to just keep your phone on silent just so you dont pick up a prank call? i see it as a orm of bullying because of the continuous harrassment that is not always avoidable. for some it may be avoidable (like if you are on contract or have a samsung) but for others, it isnt.

For the prank calls, you can easily block the person's number. Contact your service provider and they'll tell you how if you don't know already. So, that one is solved.

As for the text messaging, on a phone, once again, you can block their number. If the text messages are threatening or along those lines, then you can store them, don't threaten back and go to the police, then block their number.

If this means going on contract, then do so. It'll prevent the bully from annoying you as well as others from annoying you, so it's not only in avoiding the bully.

[Reality]

How is that bullying? I consider bullying doing saying or doing something that hurts another person, which is not the case when someone is simply annoying them. In the case of annoyance, I would most certainly block the person. Bullying, I would not block them. I'm a spiteful son of a bitch and if someone is bullying me, I'm going to make their life a living fucking hell.
Bullying has such a wide definition. I consider annoyance a form of bullying in some cases.

If someone wants to sit there calling me stupid shit, and insult me continuously and troll my MSN, ignoring it doesn't work as it will begin to annoy you as soon as you get bored of the alerts.

I usually fight back myself, but it really all arrives to one conclusion - [insert special olympics metaphor here] <_< >_>

[ErykaInspire.]

Cyber-bullying is 100% real.
I've been a victim of it for quite some time.

[antimonic]

If this means going on contract, then do so. It'll prevent the bully from annoying you as well as others from annoying you, so it's not only in avoiding the bully.

Why should anyone go on contract and start paying like 10 - 30 quid a week just to avoid being bullied. its like if you want to avoid being bullied in one school, just move. yeah it solves the problem, but its principle, a change of phone and/or contract shouldnt be done just so prank calls and texts will stop, it should be out of personal preference, not out of fear or annoyance.

And as for online, msn can be dealt with fine, but spamming of email addresses is harder. yeah change email to solve it but again, you shouldnt have to just because of afew people.

[INFERNO]

Why should anyone go on contract and start paying like 10 - 30 quid a week just to avoid being bullied. its like if you want to avoid being bullied in one school, just move. yeah it solves the problem, but its principle, a change of phone and/or contract shouldnt be done just so prank calls and texts will stop, it should be out of personal preference, not out of fear or annoyance.

And as for online, msn can be dealt with fine, but spamming of email addresses is harder. yeah change email to solve it but again, you shouldnt have to just because of afew people.

If the bullies sending pointless, garbage messages, then the simple solution is to block those e-mail addresses or just don't open the messages and delete them. I don't see how nonsense messages cause bullying, especially if you choose to not interact with them.

As for the phone, going on the contract can be beneficial for blocking numbers other than bullies. Yes it can block those bullying numbers but also numbers of telemarketers and telephone ads and such. Or, if blocking is too expensive, then get caller-id.