Is cyberbullying really a problem

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Is the solution just as easy as deleting messages, blocking people or setting oneself to be invisible on social networking websites and making pages and groups invisible to prevent trolling?

I think it may be a problem only because children ma not know how to deal with it and it is more discreet.

[DarkHorses]

It's just as much of a problem as regular bullying. To me cyberbullying and bullying in schools and such is the same thing, just in different forms. You try your best to avoid it in anyway that you can, but you can't always do so. I don't know if there will ever be an end to bullying, but I think that parents need to educate their kids on the dangers of it and how it can honestly hurt people. If kids are raised to be more compassionate and aware of others emotions then bullying wouldn't happen so often.

[Amnesiac]

I think it's intertwined with physical bullying, but it's not the biggest part of the problem, since it's so easily blocked out.

[Fact]

This whole 'cyber' issue makes me so annoyed...
Mainly because, people at first talk about being on the internet as not being "real life", then suddenly when their family members or children or whatever get harassed online, it's a huge issue that should be dealt with be the authorities or the person's school or whatever. It's so... two-faced.

Also, people choose to have social network sites, messengers, emails, be part of forums etc. it's not like going to school, which is compulsory, and getting bullied, because you still have to go to school. Yeah, okay, people have the right to go on the internet if they want to and not be upset by other people on there, but I think there are plenty of measures in place on all the major sites for people to customise their levels of privacy etc. to avoid getting shit they don't want.

When cases of cyberbullying do happen, however, I think they should be dealt with somewhat similarly to face to face bullying cases. I also think, though, that there should be a clearly distinguished difference between cyberbullying and just bullying. I think cyberbullying can be blown out of proportion very easily and that people can easily misinterpret things online when there was actually no malice in it at all.

What the OP said about it being discreet, I don't think it really is. It can be more general, but definitely not discreet. For example, on Facebook, if someone posts a status about a certian person (not mentioning their name) and then a load of people jump on the band wagon and like it or whatever, it's no more discreet than a bunch of people talking about someone at lunch or break in school but just not using their name.

Anyway, basically, people should be more aware of what they're doing online and take necessary precautions (which isn't all that hard to do) to make sure that they don't experience unwanted crap from people.

[Jess]

even if you do whatever you can to block the bully what if they still find a way to get to you?

[Fact]

even if you do whatever you can to block the bully what if they still find a way to get to you?

How would they though, if you block them off everything?

[ShyGuyInChicago]

How would they though, if you block them off everything?

They could create a new account.

[Fact]

They could create a new account.

If they do that, then you're obviously not going to know who they are if they add you, therefore you shouldn't add them and if they're by the same name, then you know who it is, so you won't accept.

[Quick_Sylver]

Cyber bullying can be worse in a way. Some of the time, you can block them. Some of the time, blocking doesnt work, because they can still Email you. There's laws against it for a reason.

[Amnesiac]

Cyber bullying can be worse in a way. Some of the time, you can block them. Some of the time, blocking doesnt work, because they can still Email you. There's laws against it for a reason.

E-mail clients have blocking services too. Besides, nobody uses e-mail anymore, unless you're in business.

The truth is that cyberbullying is the least effective form of bullying, because all the "pain" it inflicts can be deleted forever.

[Quick_Sylver]

E-mail clients have blocking services too. Besides, nobody uses e-mail anymore, unless you're in business.

The truth is that cyberbullying is the least effective form of bullying, because all the "pain" it inflicts can be deleted forever.

A lot of people use emailing all the time, actually. I can name 5 close friends who use it as is.

Its actually more effective, because it causes emotional damage. Emotional damage isnt just *deleted*. Its something that can, and has caused deaths in a lot of teens. The *pain* as you say it is, actually does hurt a lot, because if they're your "friend", then they do this, causes loss of trust.

[Amnesiac]

A lot of people use emailing all the time, actually. I can name 5 close friends who use it as is.

Its actually more effective, because it causes emotional damage. Emotional damage isnt just *deleted*. Its something that can, and has caused deaths in a lot of teens. The *pain* as you say it is, actually does hurt a lot, because if they're your "friend", then they do this, causes loss of trust.

Personally, I don't think emotional damage is worse than physical damage unless it's magnified by some sort of disorder (depression, for example). But anyway:

I think that laws against cyberbullying are unenforceable anyway. Considering the sheer size of the Internet, the trouble of having to track IP addresses, and the relatively mundane situations involved, it would just be a waste of time and money to find every person who's ever insulted or hurt someone.

Cyberbullying prevention should focus on counseling and rehabilitation. Any person who kills themselves over some altercation over the Internet probably needs that third-party assistance, and it should be provided by schools and parents. The Internet is a no-man's-land, the final frontier of human communication, and it will always be that way. Using it comes with risks, and it's up to the user to determine how locked down they should be.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Personally, I don't think emotional damage is worse than physical damage unless it's magnified by some sort of disorder (depression, for example). But anyway:

I think that laws against cyberbullying are unenforceable anyway. Considering the sheer size of the Internet, the trouble of having to track IP addresses, and the relatively mundane situations involved, it would just be a waste of time and money to find every person who's ever insulted or hurt someone.

Cyberbullying prevention should focus on counseling and rehabilitation. Any person who kills themselves over some altercation over the Internet probably needs that third-party assistance, and it should be provided by schools and parents. The Internet is a no-man's-land, the final frontier of human communication, and it will always be that way. Using it comes with risks, and it's up to the user to determine how locked down they should be.

By that logic we shouldn't investigate and prosecute adults who sexually target and solicit children and teens on the Internet. You say that it would be too much of a hassle.

But anyway, I think cyberbullying should be prosecuted if it crosses the line into harassment...that is, repeated behavior intended to annoy or insult someone even after being told to stop.

[Amnesiac]

By that logic we shouldn't investigate and prosecute adults who sexually target and solicit children and teens on the Internet. You say that it would be too much of a hassle.

No, that's not what I'm saying at all. Since when is calling someone names over Facebook equivalent to using a fake identity to lure a child into someone's home? One is just basic schoolyard fights converted into virtual form (which makes them easily blockable) while the other presents a real and present danger. Should we have authorities waste time on a bunch of asshole teenagers or a bunch of child molesters?

[Korashk]

You should solve cyberbullying the same way you solve regular bullying. Go up to the bully and physically harm them when witnesses are about. You may get yourself beat up, but the bullying will probably stop I seriously doubt the kind of cyberbullying that causes problems is done by people who don't know each other.

To solve the problem virtually the process is the same. Rip them apart with words and make sure that other people can see it.

[Quick_Sylver]

But anyway, I think cyberbullying should be prosecuted if it crosses the line into harassment...that is, repeated behavior intended to annoy or insult someone even after being told to stop.

That is exactly what cyber bullying is.

Austin; Solving that way works how? All it insights is a flame war which ends with both frustrated and annoyed.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

No, that's not what I'm saying at all. Since when is calling someone names over Facebook equivalent to using a fake identity to lure a child into someone's home? One is just basic schoolyard fights converted into virtual form (which makes them easily blockable) while the other presents a real and present danger. Should we have authorities waste time on a bunch of asshole teenagers or a bunch of child molesters?

Well I go the impression that you were saying that Internet crimes were hard to enforce.

[Amnesiac]

Well I go the impression that you were saying that Internet crimes were hard to enforce.

They are. That's why they should be reserved for more dangerous situations, not music piracy and petty teenagers.

[Mr. Awesome]

Cyber bulling is a bad problem, because if somone was getting bullied in school 10 years ago, they could get away from it at home, but now it can continue at home in their own bedroom, and that is where the feeling of isolation is born

[mranderson]

Absolutly its a problem, and there isnt much to do that can stop it in my opinion, there will always be someone bullying someone else in some way or another

[ShyGuyInChicago]

They are. That's why they should be reserved for more dangerous situations, not music piracy and petty teenagers.

One more thing: while internet crimes such as soliciting minors for sex are more dangerous and more important, I do not think that music piracy should be ignored because it is form of stealing, but of course it is at a lower priority. But anyway, this is off topic.

[Korashk]

Austin; Solving that way works how? All it insights is a flame war which ends with both frustrated and annoyed.
So? You have to make the bully see that you aren't just going to take their shit.

Also, please refer to me by my username. We aren't familiar.

[Quick_Sylver]

And making them see that by sending them down the same path you're going works HOW?

[Korashk]

And making them see that by sending them down the same path you're going works HOW?
Bullies prey on the weak. Make yourself seem strong and the bully moves on. It's basic psychology.

[Quick_Sylver]

No. You're using a predator analogy, and while it can work, its rarely the case. Most bullies act out of fear. Fear of someone making them the victim which is sometimes the case. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to pain. They hurt others to release some of that pain.

Some bullies do it to get a reaction. Those ones that do, if you dont give them a reaction, they'll move on. Beating a bully physically will rarely work. If anything, you'll get more torment.

[Sith Lord 13]

Bullies prey on the weak. Make yourself seem strong and the bully moves on. It's basic psychology.

Gotta love propaganda. That preached view is rarely if ever correct. Most bullies are either insecure or cocky and in both cases defiance causes the bully to lash out and take the daily torment to new heights.

[Jess]

How would they though, if you block them off everything?

they create more accounts to bully you...

this happened to me once, this person I didn't even know started bullying me (online) and she continued to create accounts

I didn't even know that person...some person randomly started to say she hates me >_> well it could've been worse

[Fact]

they create more accounts to bully you...

this happened to me once, this person I didn't even know started bullying me (online) and she continued to create accounts

I didn't even know that person...some person randomly started to say she hates me >_> well it could've been worse

Accounts on what exactly?
Surely if you knew there was someone who you didn't know who was bothering you, you wouldn't keep accepting strange requests you got?

[Silence]

Bullies prey on the weak. Make yourself seem strong and the bully moves on. It's basic psychology.

What you're taught in elementary school and what goes on in real life are two different things.

You piss someone off, they come after you harder.

[Korashk]

What you're taught in elementary school and what goes on in real life are two different things.

You piss someone off, they come after you harder.
Where in that post do I say piss the bully off?

[Sith Lord 13]

Where in that post do I say piss the bully off?

Make yourself seem strong

Any manner in which you make yourself seem strong is a threat to the bully. That pisses them off.