Cyberbullying Still An Issue... But Now It's Teachers Who Are Complaining
from the so-what-do-you-do? dept
For years and years we keep hearing stories about the rise of "cyberbullying" which allows kids to taunt other kids beyond school walls through the internet and mobile phones. It's really just an extension of traditional bullying, but it has all sorts of people freaked out insisting that something must be done... and quickly. The problem is that no one knows how to actually stop bullying, cyber- or otherwise, so anything "done" to stop it may feel good, but is likely to be ineffective. Even the brilliant idea of having some guy dressed in a Spiderman suit tell kids to stop cyberbullying wasn't very effective (who would've thought?). With a slight twist on this, teachers in the UK are complaining again that "something must be done," but they're not complaining about kids cyberbullying other kids... but kids cyberbullying teachers. Of course, again, it's a situation where nothing really can be done, despite claims from the government that something will be done. Meanwhile, in a similar case, Keele University has simply ordered its students not to make fun of professors on Facebook or other social networks. It seems unlikely that this will work. In fact, as with "trolling" behavior, it seems likely that this will just make the bullies even more persistent, since they know their attacks are having an impact. Obviously, being the target of bullies is no fun, but there really isn't a magic bullet to stop such activities no matter how much people wish it were so.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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This has been happening all along
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Re: This has been happening all along
But why should Teachers care what others think? I’m sorry to burst their bubble but quite frankly, I won't allow anyone to have that kind of power over me. Offended? Hah! Where does it say I am guaranteed a life without feeling offended? It's not in the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights. I'm tired of judges and congress thinking they can legislate this "feeling offended". People need to grow a backbone and quit looking through the rose-colored glasses.
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Re: Re: This has been happening all along
The need to address online behavior is going to result in more laws that ultimately restrict what we do online.
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Here is a brilliant idea!!
what ever happened to 'if you have nothing nice to say don't say it at all'????????
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Re: Here is a brilliant idea!!
so ... if I am a horrible teacher (yes, there are those) then no-one should say anything about my teaching because there is nothing nice to say????
what a simplistic idea of the world you have .... how old are you? 3?
IronChef's second paragraph summarizes my thoughts better than I could .... thanks ...
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Bullies are a public service
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Re: Bullies are a public service
thank you cixelsid
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Re: Bullies are a public service
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Bullies - Cyber or live - should suffer
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Wahhhhhbulance
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Re: Wahhhhhbulance
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anti-bullying laws
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R E S P E C T
The problem is that a LOT of Parents believe it's the schools responsibility to teach their children morals; IT'S NOT! Parents are the only people that can teach their children to respect others, not only in what we tell our children, but also in how we treat others! Children don't learn just because we SAY something to them, they learn by hearing what we say and watching US put it in practice.
As for you that argue, "Shouldn't a teacher be called on the carpet if they are a bad teacher?", the answer is YES, but you can "call someone on the carpet" without becoming derogatory or abusive. This isn't about "calling people onto the carpet", this is about HOW we treat others when we do "call them on the carpet".
Parents, it's time to understand YOU have to teach your children the morals you want them to have. It's not for the school, the teacher, the adiministration, the summer camp, etc., it's YOUR JOB.
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Re: R E S P E C T
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Student Voice
The students have found a voice and are using it. All though often in an ill-informed manner.
Now if we could only channel the feedback back into the schools we might actually find a positive outcome from these situations.
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I guess that technologically inclined are so lacking in social skills they can't see where bullying is a problem. For the rest of us out there, it is something that needs to be dealt with -- not everyone wants to sit in their parent's basement all day hiding from the world.
Interestingly too, most 'cyberbullies' that I've actually seen in person are the sort that if they dared say such things out in the open, they'd get their ass handed to them. Possibly by my five year old. Yes, that weak.
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Bullying Persists
I was going to suggest that the people that would spend time on sites like these were of a somewhat higher intelligence that already knew better until I read post #13 who says that the technologically inclined are lacking in social skills and hide in their parents basements.
The point is, No matter what happens there will always be bullies, for many of you that remember high school someone was always picking on someone else, and because those people were getting picked on they began picking on other people, it's a vicious circle that continues on and on.
If the professors don't like being bullied, then they should stick up for themselves, I must admit I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the concept of being bullied "online" where anonymity can play a key factor in escaping from the real world for a little bit.
It is a far different issue than in highschool, or other physically present sites where to solve the problem with bullies you just beat the crap out of the bully, or started a fight with the bully everyday and consequently got the crap beat out of you, but they eventually got bored with picking on you and stopped all together.
What exactly constitutes Cyber Bullying though? Someone writes on your facebook wall that you're a geek? Or that you're a shitty teacher? Delete the comment, block/ignore the user, and move on.
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Actual Bullying or Death Threats?
I know I try to teach my kids to evaluate what people say to and about them and make good decisions on whether we need to pay attention to those people or just ignore them.
Well, those are my two cents
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An anti-bullying policy for a school is simple: write down the procedure which they already follow for resolving bullying, and then re-phase it into the latest fashionable leftist crap adn stuff it full of euphemisms ("undergo a supported trasfer to anotehr school campus" for "expelled", for example)
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A Simple Solution for Parents
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Consider the source. These are children who need to be told to tie their shoes, put their hats on straight and pull their pants up so we don't have to see their underwear. These little humanoids opinions are not based on logic or a respectable amount of experience. They may have moments (some more than others) when they appear to be very mature, but overall, those responsible for publically & visciously slamming their instructors in a blog don't fall in this group. These deviant miscretes need time to grow up and outgrow their juvenile antics. It's these kiddo's who we need to monitor and regulate their activities closely so we can teach them how to act in public.
We need laws governing juvenile behavior on the internet in particular. Holding the parents liable for their childrens actions.
AOL does a decent job of suspending a user who violates their terms of use on the AOL blogs. Craigslist does a fairly good job of deleting posts that are reported to violate their terms of use. More mechanisms like this would help shut down trolls and other useless posts.
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Re:
I truly believe the bullying fed my desire to rise above my peers. I'm sad to see and learn how many of my old peers haven't really amounted to much, almost to the point where I wish someone picked on them! Anyone can settle for mediocrity, but to rise above, we need someone to compare against.
Understand, I'm under 30, and earlier this week offered a huge career opportunity, making 160k/yr at one of the top 10 companies in the US. I paid off college loans 2 years ago, and overall, really looking forward to my ten-year reunion.
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can't escape from cyberbullying
I read this on the NetSmartz411 site - "According to one victim, the difference between being bullied at school and being bullied on the Internet is that you cannot get away from it. Cyberbullying follows you, even after you get home from school." - That is so sad. Kids should not have to go through this!
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What's the problem again?
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Re: What's the problem again?
If you sue for libel or slander, you have to have a good reputation to begin with.
However,those that lack accomplishments and accolades, the artifacts that naturally come from a "good reputation" are generally the ones to sue.
Kind of an interesting concept...
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Re: Re: What's the problem again?
Have them make group social bonds. If they are so suseptable to "how others think about me" mentality, they need to get involved in something else.
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cry me a river
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Cyber Bullying is Still and Issue... now for teach
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Cyberbullying is NOT harmless
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HYPROCRITS
I've said this teacher at my school was a gold class pr*ck and that he was not intimidating at all on a friends bebo page. I attended a meeting with the teacher i offended, Computing studies coordinator, year coordinator, Deputy principal, and Principal.
I said i was sorry, admitted i was wrong, wrote THREE apologies pouring my heart and soul out because i did not want to see my mother cry anymore and i deleted all the comments, but even that was not enough for them to show me mercy.
They have taken legal action against me and i could be receiving another strike sending me to juvi. F**king pr*cks i hate teachers especially when they teach about Jesus and forgiveness at the school and they cannot even show any, and im the kind of student that always keeps his mouth shut in class, answers questions, never gives the teacher any sh*t in class and always does homework.
If your getting abuse then consider it a good thing and as feedback to improve your teaching habits you moron. PFT cyber bullying teachers ? if you think its a concern, when do you turn three years old ? build a bridge and get over it. Honestly, you b*tch go have a cry.
Oh and Nova Goldenseal, everything happens for a reason, maybe you should really wake the hell up.
using the word "offended" is like wearing a skirt. So teachers try and think of another way to be an a** hole, if you find that "offensive"..
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Re: HYPROCRITS
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