Online bullying kills another

[Gina]

This stuff here just is not making sense to me.  If I had been tormented online by people I would just tell them to shut the **** up, ignore, or delete my account.  But kill yourself over some nameless losers?  Something deeper here than namecalling.

http://www.dailydot.com/society/askfm-suicide-laney-gallagher-pugsley-bullying/

In late October, 13-year-old Erin Gallagher committed suicide after encountering “vicious online bullying,” the Independent reported. A day earlier, she had told her tormenters she would kill herself.

“In a post on Friday, the day before she died, she responded to a comment [on Ask.fm] which appears to refer to her being the victim of a physical attack in which she'd had her hair pulled,” the Independent reported. “She wrote back to her anonymous tormentors: ‘Do u think ur funny bulling me over ask.fm yeah u prob think it was funny when a f**in put a rope round my neck cause of yous, yous are that sad!’”

[CG6468]

Uhhh, turn off the computer, suicide idiot.

[Airwolf]

To be fair that doesn't say much about what was said and how long it went on. Also why don't these kids say something to their parents or do what was suggested. Ignore or delete the account or at least contact the admins off the site. Most web sites have polices about conduct carried on by their members and  they would have taken action to see that it stopped if for no other reason then to keep some kids parents from filing a lawsuit.

[Gina]

To be fair that doesn't say much about what was said and how long it went on. Also why don't these kids say something to their parents or do what was suggested. Ignore or delete the account or at least contact the admins off the site. Most web sites have polices about conduct carried on by their members and  they would have taken action to see that it stopped if for no other reason then to keep some kids parents from filing a lawsuit.

Right but why do we have all these kids that are afraid to stand up for themselves and say "**** off"?  Is it because America has become pussified with everyone getting a trophy just for competing?  or everyone is equal in everything? 

[Airwolf]

Right but why do we have all these kids that are afraid to stand up for themselves and say "**** off"?  Is it because America has become pussified with everyone getting a trophy just for competing?  or everyone is equal in everything? 

That's probably a good part of it. The rest might be because parents are not involved enough in the kids life to care or know whats going on. Also there are still plenty of people that have no idea of what to do with a computer besides turn it on and type on a message board like most of DU.

[Gina]

That's probably a good part of it. The rest might be because parents are not involved enough in the kids life to care or know whats going on. Also there are still plenty of people that have no idea of what to do with a computer besides turn it on and type on a message board like most of DU.

I bought my mom and dad a new laptop to replace their ancient system.  He loves it and I was trying to get him to go FB and he said "I don't need that shit".   

I found a bunch of photos they took with the camera in the laptop.  They are hilarious because they don't know they are right in front of the camera and there are pics of nostrils and teeth and an ear 

[Jasonw560]

What ever happened to "sticks and stones may break my bones...."?

[Gina]

What ever happened to "sticks and stones may break my bones...."?

GUNS!

[/du mode]

[CG6468]

Is it because America has become pussified with everyone getting a trophy just for competing?  or everyone is equal in everything? 

You just described government schools. No winners, no losers, no scores.

[Jasonw560]

GUNS!

[/du mode]

[DefiantSix]

Ya know: I was "bullied" as a kid.  Being a Navy brat, with a new home/school every 2 years or so, meant I never had the opportunity to build friendships with classmates who weren't the kids of my dad's shipmates.

So I think I have a little authority on the subject, when I say: Life is a *******ed contact sport, Sweet Cheeks.  Either learn to suck it up and get over it, or DO SOMETHING about it.  The ones who "bully" in person can be dealt with; usually with a single rapid interface with the deck, or foot to the naughty bits.  The ones who cower behind the anonymity of a computer screen are so far beneath your notice as to be unworthy of a second thought. But all this hand wringing and navel gazing over how they "tease you unmercifully" is bullshit and it's all on you, Sweet Cheeks.

Man up, or keep your "goodbye cruel world" shit to yourself.  I'm tired of hearing about it. 

[IassaFTots]

Ya know: I was "bullied" as a kid.  Being a Navy brat, with a new home/school every 2 years or so, meant I never had the opportunity to build friendships with classmates who weren't the kids of my dad's shipmates.

So I think I have a little authority on the subject, when I say: Life is a *******ed contact sport, Sweet Cheeks.  Either learn to suck it up and get over it, or DO SOMETHING about it.  The ones who "bully" in person can be dealt with; usually with a single rapid interface with the deck, or foot to the naughty bits.  The ones who cower behind the anonymity of a computer screen are so far beneath your notice as to be unworthy of a second thought. But all this hand wringing and navel gazing over how they "tease you unmercifully" is bullshit and it's all on you, Sweet Cheeks.

Man up, or keep your "goodbye cruel world" shit to yourself.  I'm tired of hearing about it. 

All of that, and even worse?  I was an AF brat!!!   

[Gina]

Ya know: I was "bullied" as a kid.  Being a Navy brat, with a new home/school every 2 years or so, meant I never had the opportunity to build friendships with classmates who weren't the kids of my dad's shipmates.

So I think I have a little authority on the subject, when I say: Life is a *******ed contact sport, Sweet Cheeks.  Either learn to suck it up and get over it, or DO SOMETHING about it.  The ones who "bully" in person can be dealt with; usually with a single rapid interface with the deck, or foot to the naughty bits.  The ones who cower behind the anonymity of a computer screen are so far beneath your notice as to be unworthy of a second thought. But all this hand wringing and navel gazing over how they "tease you unmercifully" is bullshit and it's all on you, Sweet Cheeks.

Man up, or keep your "goodbye cruel world" shit to yourself.  I'm tired of hearing about it. 

AMEN!  I had this black chick in band bully me because I was fat/red headed/coke glasses/gapped teeth etc and one day I had enough and I got in her face and told her if she said one more thing to me I would kick her scrawny ass.  She was my best friend after that.  For realz.  Tonya was her name

[Jasonw560]

Last bully I had, I slammed against a locker between classes, looked all crazy eyed, and said (probably from a movie) " You wanna dance? Let's dance"

His eyes got wide and he ran.


No one bullied me after that.

[Ptarmigan]

A bully is likely to be a target of abuse at the hands of parents, guardian, etc. Not surprisingly most grow up to be criminals or worse (child molester, terrorist, etc.).

http://www.bullyonline.org/related/abuse.htm
http://extension.unh.edu/Family/Parent/teenpubs/bully.pdf

[Splashdown]

I'm the dad of young girls.

Stories like this tear me up.

[Ptarmigan]

I'm the dad of young girls.

Stories like this tear me up.

It is really sickening.

[DefiantSix]

A bully is likely to be a target of abuse at the hands of parents, guardian, etc. Not surprisingly most grow up to be criminals or worse (child molester, terrorist, etc.).

http://www.bullyonline.org/related/abuse.htm
http://extension.unh.edu/Family/Parent/teenpubs/bully.pdf

My sympathy for the bully's circumstances end the moment they lay a glove on me or mine. If their cycle of abuse has to end with a bloody nose and an ego deflating on the ground beside them, then I'm their huckleberry.

[Gina]

A bully is likely to be a target of abuse at the hands of parents, guardian, etc. Not surprisingly most grow up to be criminals or worse (child molester, terrorist, etc.).

http://www.bullyonline.org/related/abuse.htm
http://extension.unh.edu/Family/Parent/teenpubs/bully.pdf

Guess that is what happened to Jovan Belcher.

I hear he was a huge bully and I guess I really don't give a shit about bullies.  I don't care why they got to where they are, they are responsible for themselves only.  I care about the victims more.   

[DefiantSix]

I care about the victims more.   

I care about the victims only insofar as they're willing to do what it takes to stop being a victim.  When my son started having problems with bullies, I taught him how to defend himself; I didn't waste a bunch of precious time assuaging his hurt feelings or teaching him to "consider everybody's opinion", no matter how stupid.

[Gina]

I care about the victims only insofar as they're willing to do what it takes to stop being a victim.  When my son started having problems with bullies, I taught him how to defend himself; I didn't waste a bunch of precious time assuaging his hurt feelings or teaching him to "consider everybody's opinion", no matter how stupid.

Of course!

[vesta111]

Ya know: I was "bullied" as a kid.  Being a Navy brat, with a new home/school every 2 years or so, meant I never had the opportunity to build friendships with classmates who weren't the kids of my dad's shipmates.

So I think I have a little authority on the subject, when I say: Life is a *******ed contact sport, Sweet Cheeks.  Either learn to suck it up and get over it, or DO SOMETHING about it.  The ones who "bully" in person can be dealt with; usually with a single rapid interface with the deck, or foot to the naughty bits.  The ones who cower behind the anonymity of a computer screen are so far beneath your notice as to be unworthy of a second thought. But all this hand wringing and navel gazing over how they "tease you unmercifully" is bullshit and it's all on you, Sweet Cheeks.

Man up, or keep your "goodbye cruel world" shit to yourself.  I'm tired of hearing about it. 

Navy Brat here, only child, mother of 4 Navy brats.

Much depends on the parents of a bullied child, some parents are afraid to speak up for the child due to the fear of in the way of the husbands carear, or that if they pitch a bitch their child will be bullied even more.

Then there are the parents that ask, " Well what did YOU do to make people hate you"?

Complex question here.

[Splashdown]

I care about the victims only insofar as they're willing to do what it takes to stop being a victim.  When my son started having problems with bullies, I taught him how to defend himself; I didn't waste a bunch of precious time assuaging his hurt feelings or teaching him to "consider everybody's opinion", no matter how stupid.

D-6, I agree with you to a point, and I always enjoy your posts. But I have to take issue with a point here. We have no idea what the girl was going through IRL. Also, a kid fighting back against a physical bully in school now can get punished for assault.

Girls are much more cruel than boys when it comes to bullying, and many young girls already have esteem issues. Hell, even well balanced, grown-up women are susceptible to the criticism of their peers.

Again, maybe these stories just get to me because I'm the dad of little girls.

[Ptarmigan]

My sympathy for the bully's circumstances end the moment they lay a glove on me or mine. If their cycle of abuse has to end with a bloody nose and an ego deflating on the ground beside them, then I'm their huckleberry.

The bully chooses to be a slave of their circumstances as they bottle up their rage at the world. Stopping bullying is crime control. A bully is a future criminal.

[A7X_foREVer]

It should not matter if it was online or in person a family has lost their child prayers are going up here for their loss