I’ve been bullied. Several times. I have the type of personality that, as a child, made me the perfect target for ridicule and cruelty. I was bullied physically on the bus and the school did nothing about it. You develop a tolerance for it when you don’t bother fighting back.
I was bullied well into adulthood. I remember co-workers hiding supplies from me, trying to get me fired, just because I was different. Reporting bullying as an adult was the same as when I was a child; nothing was done about it. I had to wind up quitting that job because I was dealing with daily panic attacks. If I had stayed, I probably would have been hospitalized.
Nowadays, there are bigger problems to worry about when people are bullied. Bullying has now moved unto a bigger platform: the internet. The definition of cyber bullying is “when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones,” according to Stop Cyberbullying. When adults are bullied online, it is referred to as cyber harassment or cyberstalking. In my opinion, harassment is not a strong enough word. I was cyber bullied as an adult, not merely harassed.
A year ago, I wrote down my bullying story. I never did anything to these people. In fact, I went to them for help. In return for my trust, I was lied to, maliciously gossiped about, and basically threatened. There are many ways of bullying–they chose them all. Just thinking about the situation makes my pulse rate go up. And it has been six years. Next time you think of going off on someone online or sending off a nasty retort in an email, don’t. Just don’t.
Cyber bullying affects everyone. In the last few months, I have read about numerous bloggers who have been harassed, belittled, and blackmailed. A lot of the people doing these things are adults! Shouldn’t they know better? I’m appalled that anyone would treat another human being like this, whether they are adult or a child.
We have to stop this epidemic. Cyber bullying and harassment needs to end today. We need to stop bullying NOW! People young and old are affected by this and they need to feel loved, not loathed. So what can we do?
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I am so sorry you experienced that! Honestly, I have no idea what makes people do that, other than their own insecurities and, in some cases, parenting. Social media has made it easier, because now there is no face, which means no accountability. As parents, we need to make sure we teach our children kindness, respect, and responsible use of social media and the internet, in general.
I see kids online younger and younger–it worries me a lot. They get so immersed in it at such an early age. It’s hard for them to know how to react properly in general, much less online.
I agree with Liza. The anonymity of the internet has made it so much easier to harass people with little to no repercussions.
And it becomes a game to them. Because they are young, kids become addicted to the internet and the anonymous power they feel from it.
Cyberbullying is terrible.. as in any type of bullying. It makes me sick, and I too deal with it often. I’ve also had to quit a job back in January of 2011, because my boss literally made fun of me when I started crying because I was in a deep emotional state, coping with my grandpa’s diagnosis of terminal cancer.
I quit on the spot, and that day left a report with human resources. It didn’t seem they cared though, as even a year later she still has her job.
I really don’t understand how bullying can make anyone feel good.. and hopefully one day those people realize it, and they can sit on it for the rest of their lives knowing how mean they were.. And I also hope the ones that bullied me know that, they will never, ever be forgiven. Someone like that, in my book, does not deserve a second chance.
I am so sorry you’ve had to deal with bullying too. It just isn’t right, and if you are ever going through anything, I can more than likely relate, so if you need a shoulder to cry on, or someone to vent to, I am always here. ALWAYS! Only an email away!
I also wanted to let you know, I took a stand from bullying on the Stand Together website. It’s just a way to let people know you stand against bullying, and I personally am proud to have joined in to show my support against it.
I’m so glad you stopped by, Amanda. I was in a similar situation when I left my job. My mom had leukemia the time; I was stressed out enough about that already. And my supervisor didn’t care; she put me in the line of fire for retaliation.
Thanks for the website info. I hope you are feeling better soon!
Bullying is horrible. I have experienced it myself. Thank you for mentioning the stand together site. I need to go check that out!
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