Anti-bullying Laws Don't Work Offline; Why Do Politicians Think They'll Work Online?
from the bullying-is-bad,-m'kay? dept
There's no denying that school bullying can be a terrible thing for those who are being bullied. But, in the last few years, the urge to overprotect has gone to ridiculous lengths, including various "anti-bullying" laws (not to mention the silly idea that if Spiderman told kids to stop bullying, they would). Yet, as Eric Goldman points out, a new report notes that there's no evidence that anti-bullying laws actually do anything at all to prevent or stop bullying. It's one of those laws that people want because it sounds good, rather than actually doing anything good. Politicians pass them because who could possibly be in favor of bullying? But the problem is that these laws don't actually do anything, and now there are all sorts of attempts to expand them online where they still won't do anything to solve the problem, but will be used to go after people that prosecutors don't like.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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Filed Under: bullying, cyberbullying, regulations
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Hell
Ah, delicious irony!
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Re: Hell
It should read:
I suspect hell for litigators and law-makers is a place where all laws are fully enforced all the time...
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PFPW
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There's a shocker! What proponents of such legislation are looking for, and will use to defend their proposals, is preventing "Columbine's" or another Myspace 'fraud' suicide. Some kids are small, some are nerds, some are poor, some are gay, some are retarded. They will be bullied. These laws are nothing but words written on paper that no kid or most adults would ever read. In my state they past a similar law. It basically said who was protected but left it up to school administrators on how/when to implement it. Purely a 'for the children' vote grab.
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Okay, Uncle Sam, here's the deal
Until then, piss off.
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Re:
When can we expect to apply 'for the children' anti-bullying laws to them?
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Vote for Anonomous Coward
>>because who could possibly
>>be in favor of bullying?
Okay, I've just decided to run for Congress. In the middle of a major debate, I promise to one-up Joe Wilson and drop my pants or something.
Naah, I'm not really going to run for Congress. First of all, I'm too dumb, second of all, they're all too dumb, thirdly, I'm planning on leaving the country very soon- when I make enough money, I'm going to buy back my island from Marlon Brando's family.
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Decriminalize self-defense.
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Re: Vote for Anonomous Coward
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Re: Re: Vote for Anonomous Coward
Your're hurting my feelings!
Bahaha!
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Re:
While laws don't stop every act of violence or criminal behavior, there most certainly would be much more happening if those laws were reversed.
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Re: Okay, Uncle Sam, here's the deal
There's only man who would dare give you raspberry....
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There you go!
Anti-bullying laws allow prosecutors to become bigger bullies! It doesn't stop bullying in schools, but allows the government agents to bully more people around.
Just like anti-drug laws make it easier for kids in middle schools to get illegal drugs than alcohol.
Just like red light cameras highly increase rear-end collisions at the expense of a slight decrease in t-bone collisions.
Just like social welfare programs create a class of citizens dependent on hand-outs instead of helping them get back on their own feet.
It's like some sort of bizarro Midas-touch, where instead of everything turning to gold, it turns into a Uwe Boll movie.
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Just more gums flapping.
Bullying is simply a manifestation of prejudice and the testing of authority. Those in the majority will always do it and most people will always look away when it happens.
It's when critical mass is reached when bullying is no longer about maladjusted kids and becomes part of political activism. In this case, you see bullying but it's the lawyers and the professional victims who are engaging in bullying. The chest-beating jocks got the gal and diploma of entitlement back in high school/college and are now content with the status-quo.
If you're just poking fun at the issue, you've probably found your own niche on the gravy train too.
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Re: PFPW
might want to let parents around the country know that they're supposed to be raising their kids, not letting various government-funded agencies do it for them.
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Re:
The problem is the punishment!!!!
The only punishment for most committing crimes is to be forced to have three square gourmet meals a day, free cable TV, lots of exercise, and very little actual responsibility. Golly that sounds an awful lot like being a well-off kid; why would you NOT be a criminal!!!!
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This is just a guess, but I'm going to go ahead and cast my vote for anal rape, Alex....
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Stop saying...
Please say that they make the problem worse because they don't stop bullying, but instead have unintended consequences. Depending on how they're written they could:
- stop anonymous speech (and make it harder for those being bullied to speak out against the bully without fear of repercussion)
- hurt freedom of speech/expression in other ways, such as political protest or consumer rights
- open innocent people up to ridiculous lawsuits because they called someone a name online
- further dilute the rule of law by making everyone criminals when they do perfectly reasonable things
or more.
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well...
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bullying...
we are currently studying social work and are researching cyber bullying within Australia and the government policies that exist (or dont exist) in relation to this. We have done a fair bit of research on the topic and are wanting to chat with other people around what if anything should be put in place to decrease the statisitics, and promote a safe environment on the internet etc.
Should schools have individual polices in dealing with bullying through technology, or should there be a government intervention that all schools must be accountable too?
If bullying is happening outside of school hours, does the school have an obligation to respond to it, or is this up to the parents of the young person?
Should cyber bullying be a criminal offence?
Im sure there are many other things we could ask, but this is enough to start us off.
thanks.
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Re: bullying...
No, both are addressed in current bullying laws and/or rules within government and schools. There is no reason that the introduction of the internet factor should require anything new.
"If bullying is happening outside of school hours, does the school have an obligation to respond to it, or is this up to the parents of the young person?"
Absolutely not. Schools are responsible for what happens within the school, not outside of it, save for a criminal action that physically endangers a student. Schools should be discouraged and perhaps punished for intruding on the lives of students off of school property.
"Should cyber bullying be a criminal offence?"
Yes, but only in so far as it should be a criminal offense to place the word "cyber" in front of other offenses we already have rules and laws for and then demand new legislation. Nothing new needs to be created.
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anti-bully laws
I tried to pull up the article you mention about proof that anti-bully laws are not working, but the article is no longer available. Would you possibly have a copy you can send me?
Thanks,
Izzy Kalman
Director, Bullies to Buddies, Inc.
www.Bullies2Buddies.com
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Re: anti-bully laws
You dare try to brainwash us into accepting bullies and think that you know everything? You don't know what you're typing.
I don't know know what planet you were living on. People like you make me sick.
People can be anti-bully all they want. If you so much as support bullying, then drop dead! You're nothin' but an ass who's full of shit!
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Re: Re: anti-bully laws
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Re: Re: Re: anti-bully laws
If you ask me, Izzy claims to be mean well. But his methods in teaching people on how to deal with bullies encourages them to let those antagonists walk all over them.
I'm guessing that you suck up to Izzy, whose true colors in can sense. Beneath his professor-like exterior beats the heart of a devious and cowardly sycophant.
If people can't defend themselves, then they should at least as the government to help them.
Speaking of the government, it sounds to me that you want it to punish me for what I posted to him yet you claim that it shouldn't have anything to do with people who are victimized. Paranoid much?
You're just as much of a hypocrite as Izzy is. One way is that you speak out of both sides of your mouth just as Izzy does with his.
It's you and Izzy who are ignorant because you and him don't understand how bullied victims feel. Hell, Izzy should try his methods on hardcore bullies and see if they work. But if they don't, then he shouldn't be surprised to find himself in a hospital. After all, extreme bullies could use niceness as an excuse to take advantage of people.
I'm proud to be one of those people are against bullies and their supporters like that damn Kalman. But if you insist on supporting and using his methods, then don't blame any bullies for sending you to a hospital.
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Re: Just more gums flapping.
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