Cyberbullying Public Service Announcement

[Lene]

I found this in my inbox just now and it caught my eye because it was so unexpected:

Call for Entries
Cyberbullying is a growing problem among children and teenagers on the Internet. The anonymity and ease of communication the Internet provides can create a vehicle for bullying, harassment and defamation, making the Internet a hostile and dangerous place. Cyberbullying is a problem that you, as a filmmaker, can help address and solve.

Help end cyberbullying by creating a Public Service Announcement on the issue. Sony Creative Software, the National Crime Prevention Council and the Ad Council are seeking entries from independent producers and academic institutions (K - 12). The top submissions may be eligible for national broadcast, and their producer or sponsoring academic institution will receive a complete multimedia editing suite for their facility or school valued at over $18,000. Prize sponsors include Sony Creative Software, Sony Electronics, and Sony VAIO.

More info here

Just wondering what people thought about something like this. Personally, yes there are some asses on the internet who don't realize that there are actually people behind the screen names. But it's tricky isn't it? Because the common response to someone getting hurt would be: "OMG teh internetz r seriouz buziness! lol" or "lol @ butthurt lemme call the WAAAMBULANCE".

And I do think that one needs to disconnect themselves from what people say if they really want to hang around the internet because of stupid people who get off on being total assholes because they think they're so "edgy" and "badass". It's not worth getting angry over someone who is trying way too hard to piss you off.

Honestly, while I don't believe that the internet is some magical place where nothing is really important and things like feelings and decency don't matter, I wonder how effective a campaign like this would be?

I don't fault them for trying I guess.

 

[Andy6000]

lol butthurt, let's call the WAAAAMBULANCE

Now, I'm an asshole. I do think that due to it being anonymous, and a true insult being directed at a PERSON rather than what you present on the internet, that it should not hurt your feelings. I do not know you. If I do, I don't insult you based on your real self. I make random assumptions and insult you based on shit that may or may not actually be true, I don't even know. How can an insult like that have any depth, and how can a person that gets so offended by something like that go anywhere?

Anyways more when I get back from class.

 

[holloway]

Essentially same as Andy. I'm harsh with people, I have typed "lol" in response to that suicide thread but the fact is, if people are seriously getting offended and feel "bullied" online, they are complete retards. If you get bullied on .org, what can you do? Duh, go on another page? Delete your account and get a new one?

Fact is, anyone who reckons that anonymous comments made between them and someone, likely 3000 miles away, are bullying, needs to grow up and spend time away from a PC.

Real bullying is a serious, dangerous business. Cyberbullying is fucking weak.

 

[Lene]

Mind you while I guess talking about actual cyberbullying is still on topic, when I asked what people thought about "this", I mean the apparently plans to have a "National Ad Campaign" addressing Cyberbuling.

 

[holloway]

Oh, well I doubt it'll do anything. Not to be harsh, but you have ad campaigns for eating healthy and well....:-/

 

[sixtyandaquarter]

Didn't they do a national campaign to stop guns in school, drop outs, beatniks, and janitors raping cheerleaders?
Yay, let's blow more money "trying" to stop something... what's next? The war against bad humor?

 

[Venetia]

I don't much approve of cyberbullying. Being harsh is one thing when it's due, but being an asshole all the time isn't really necessary and it can and does get to people. I try to maintain a level of courtesy even when shooting someone down. Sometimes it's hard.

But there are assholes IRL and there are assholes on forums, and kids gotta get used to it. I'm talking about people who are always negative here-- I don't approve of constant assholedom but I respect their right to be so. And I don't personally consider Andy an asshole (even though he himself thinks so), he just doesn't take any flak. Like I said, it doesn't bother me when it's due, I just don't like to do it, myself.

But "cracking down" on cyberbullying is a lost cause and a retarded way to waste money. Nobody's going to pay attention to the "campaign" and if it really bothers people on a personal level, they'll report flagrant cases of assery to admins or w/e. People have the right to be assholes if they want to be, as long as it doesn't physically harm someone. They just might die alone :'P.

People should be courteous to one another, that I assert. But wasting money to tell them to be courteous is a waste of time. If they don't learn it on their own, if their parents never instilled it in them, or if they just don't give a s#!t, the real assholes'll never change by looking at an ad, and they shouldn't have to.

 

[lunarea]

We're not talking about reading some comment a random person made here, though. I mean, how many of us get seriously offended - to the point of needing therapy - by a comment we overheard a stranger make?

In the cyber world, the "strength" of the person is measured by the amount of information, knowledge and resources they could get. So, that huge kid that beats up smaller kids (i.e. bully) in the real world would become the hacker in the virtual world. Cyberbullying would be if someone went to every single forum you visited and made post after post about what a terrible person you are. Another example is if a school friend got ahold of your personal e-mails and threatened to mass-send them to everyone in your school.

Sure, they might not be a big deal if you've got thick skin or just don't care. But they're still a nuisance and make the time you spend online stressful or not enjoyable.

I think an ad about this is a good idea. People need to be reminded (if not informed) that the cyber world is still a place where there will be interactions with others, and that those interactions can end up being hurtful or unpleasant. And I would hope that the info would include ways to protect one's self on the internet.

As a side note, I always assumed these kinds of ads are meant to educate rather than prevent. I mean there's no force in the world that will make someone change their mind if they're really set on doing something (be it to be a jerk on the internet, or do drugs, or bring weapons to school). But these ads put a spotlight on the fact that these things are happening - which is especially useful for busy parents, who usually got their mind busy with other important things such as worrying about food, health, bills etc, but who still want to know what affects their kids.

 

[Anglachel]

I agree with lunarea but I think many people here are misinterpreting cyber bullying. The most hurtfull inetnet bullying would have to come from people that actually know the victim. You know school 'friends', immature brats and people who simply have nothing better to do.

I've heard of nasty pics posted on myspace. People ganging up on one person and all sorts of other stuff. All of this from people they know. This would be the main form of cyber bullying.

On the other hand I don't think insults from strangers are too drastic although some people are sensative like that.

Reminds me of these terrible 'internet awareness' ads we have running in Australia right now. Cue ad:

*sound of typing* "This is the sound of talking online." *sounds of typing continuing* "This is the sound of stalking online"

The ad came on while I was on the computer and I yelled out to my dad "OMG I'm being stalked!"

Haha gold.

 

[hima]

I think I saw some ad that's kinda like this campaign once. It's about not to post your picture on the internet without thinking about it thoroughly because you can't take it back anymore once you posted it.

And yeah, I think that cyberbullying can come in many forms. Flaming is probably one of them, but the light one. The more serious one would be when your personal information is spread around on the internet.

Personally, I think it interesting to see a movie with this message
about cyberbullying. I mean, I don't think I've ever seen any movie with that theme before - at least I don't. Oh wait, I have! It's a parody trailer of faceoff called Facebookoff. Pretty hilarious, but kinda scary if you think that happen to you.
But will it help? I'm not sure. May be, since movie is one of the easiest media to access. At least the message will come in an entertaining form, or so I hope.

 

[Minkoff]

ahaha this is so fucking hilarious.

i find it funny and am able to find it funny because i wouldn't get offended myself. people say to "put yourselves in the victim's shoes" and I'll do it sure- and I don't give a shit. make fun of me all you want on the internet and I don't care, it's just the fucking internet.

so sure i'll "cyberbully" (ahaha what a horrible word who comes up with this shit)

 

[Ellie]

I think you're missing a vital point.

There's a difference between "Heh lol, your graphics r teh suxxor" and "I know where you live gayboy, does your mom know your gay? No cus your hiding on the internet like a loser, go get a life".

The first is just a harsh but indirect comment. The latter is more your e-bullying. (Sounds like a branch of eBay...)

It's not simply the fact it's harsh. It's that you don't want to go online/to school/to work because you know you'll be bullied again. Eventually you get into the mindset that it's you're fault you are being bullied - maybe the things they're saying are true? Maybe you should go home and hang yourself like they said? Maybe you are gay and don't know it? There's a tie, there's a ceiling.

 

[holloway]

Not wanting to go to school or work because the supposed bullies are there isn't cyber bullying, but regular bullying. Cyber bullying generally involves the internet and electronic devices alone.

 

[sixtyandaquarter]

So in other words, bullying by your school bully is not cyber bullying, rather it's an extension of bullying... it's the same as being across the street and yelling insults at the kid threw the window.

This is just another insult. It is. It's insulting to think that people are so upset over something as foolish as a troll on a forum, or even a random IMer. There's always blocks, there's all this crap, you can use it and never have to deal with most of these cyber bullies - god I feel like I'm talking about a cheap Terminator. Some fat kid with an ego problem and a cybernetic arm, the Wedgienator.

 

[Anonymous]

why was "butthurt" used two times in this thread

I don't fault them for trying I guess.

they're not trying. they're throwing money at a problem and hoping it will go away, as if it's worked wonders in the past.

so sure i'll "cyberbully" (ahaha what a horrible word who comes up with this shit)

middle-aged upper-middle-class suburban mothers of pseudo-autistic children who have nothing else to do with their time but bitch about everything under the sun that so much as SNEEZES on their little kids and yuppies who live at starbucks and use words like "blogosphere" seriously.

There's a difference between "Heh lol, your graphics r teh suxxor" and "I know where you live gayboy, does your mom know your gay? No cus your hiding on the internet like a loser, go get a life".

no dude there really isn't. on the internet they carry the exact same weight: jack shit. anyone who takes "HEH FAGGOT I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT IMA KICK YOUR ASS" any more seriously than "HEH FAGGOT YOUR ART SUCKS HOPE YOU DIE IN A FIRE" really needs to get the fuck off the internet because they're quite obviously failing at it. also i like how you use both "your" and "you're" in your post but use them both wrong.

honestly why do people think AD CAMPAIGNS actually make a difference? anyone who has "cyberbullied" before who changes their ways after watching an overdramatic, stylized commercial is a horrible troll who should be caned publicly. kids who get PICKED ON on the internet need to realize that a) it is a text box or b) they are fully capable of BLOCKING OR IGNORING the "cyberbully".

here is some INSIDER INFORMATION for oversensitive people who cry about the internet: i am a fairly active troll but if someone IGNORES ME or something i am typically too lazy to continue past that point, usually deeming it a victory. in my experience, most other trolls do the same.

 

[Venetia]

I didn't think of cyberbullying on a more personal, threat-based level, mostly because when someone spends all their time trying to make your interweb experience crappy, it can be labeled Cyber-stalking, which is a crime, and restraining orders and jail time can be served based on it. I was thinking about the kind you can't really go after in court, which were the demeaning stabs and things from random folk on forums and chatrooms.

I knew a cyber stalker once, he was one hell of a creepy ass guy. Worked with him, actually. He'd stalk and flame this one chick on the internet everyday on his breaks after she didn't want to go out with him. She'd given him a restraining order but he went to jail eventually for being found outside her house in ladies' underwear. True story, pretty funny, actually. I don't work there anymore but I heard they still joke about it there from a friend.

Anyway I doubt the trollers here are creepy as all that. "Bullying" is just another silly way to waste your time-- it's when you cross that line into stalking that the law needs to get involved.

 

[Ellie]

Not wanting to go to school or work because the supposed bullies are there isn't cyber bullying, but regular bullying. Cyber bullying generally involves the internet and electronic devices alone.

I was merely linking bullying to cyber bullying, saying they're the same thing.

 

[Sketch]

It's a waste of money, honestly...because who's going to police the internet? Really, are we going to have the equivilant of hall monitors and that one cop who had a few 'misdiscretions' and is now working the high school beat (every school has one)? There's a fine line between genuine harassment, and school-yard bullying, and cyber bulling is no exception.

As one person said already, there IS a difference between 'lolz ur gay' and 'i know where you live'...but tracking these people down, and actually having something DONE about it is not only tricky, it's next to impossible. Who is more importent? The pedophile preying on children, or the guy who said you suck a big one and he knows where you live?

It's mostly a way for people to 'feel good' about making a difference without really -doing- anything to make a difference. Throwing money at it won't make it go away, as it's just a fact of life.

The only difference between real bullying and harassment is you can't turn those off with a switch.

holloway said something that I find I have to agree with (and probably the only thing he's ever said I will :P)

"Real bullying is a serious, dangerous business. Cyberbullying is fucking weak."

So I think this is a complete waste, honestly, and won't make a bit of difference. Way to go, lords of the internet, for making yet -another- waste of time.

Hugs for all.

 

[PeteD2S]

Waste of money, waste of time which equals even more waste of money. So basically, all they are doing is wasting money on senseless objectives that will never be accomplished. Why not dealing with the real life bullying that is far more worst than........"cyberbullying"? Because their IQ is limited.
Cyberbully: You suck I know where you live!!
Kid: Fuck off. *blocks*
Problem solved!
Sheesh...
If my mother/father wasted her time and money on this, I'd be truly ashamed of her/him.

 

[sixtyandaquarter]

Waste of money, waste of time which equals even more waste of money. So basically, all they are doing is wasting money on senseless objectives that will never be accomplished.

Welcome to politics kid.


Ain't it fun?