(no subject)

[dreamer_easy]

The whole bullying video thing has become a media circus, but here's a sharp response from a SMH columnist: Bullying should not be a spectator sport. YouTube, of course, turns us all into spectators - or rather, bystanders, whom the columnist correctly argues have a responsibility to intervene. Online, intervention might not take more than a quietly disapproving or dissenting remark - expressing discomfort, casting doubt on a rumour.

(So much heartache in the comments to that column. So much.)

ETA: Further commentary from an anti-bullying educator. "Nobody stood up for me, someone needed the strength and courage. Bystanders have a lot of fear and think - what if they come after me? They can be scared to speak up."

ETA:

Chifley College cleared of condoning a bullying culture. (I confess I am sceptical.)

The Internet's latest chew toy, thirteen year old Rebecca Black, has received death threats amongst all the other mockery and abuse. The news item includes interesting insights on social media, young people, and fame, wanted and unwanted. "Kids Helpline staff had seen a rise in calls from kids who were anxious about their privacy being eroded by online and other media. 'They walk down a path, they find themselves in the media, whether it's online or it's on the television or newspapers, and suddenly everybody knows something about them - the problem is it may not be a true story about them. What happens then is people believe that media portrayal whether it's good or it's bad and the young people start to believe that about themselves as well.'"

ETA: A columnist takes the piss out of the "hissing sack of snakes that has attached itself to Rebecca Black". "The fact that someone who is unable to spell the word 'shit' feels entitled to hand out songwriting advice to a fellow citizen may be one of the chief marvels of our age."

Comments

[kelemvor.livejournal.com]

There were times at school when I wanted to take that kind of action. To throw someone down and declare, "ENOUGH!" Three things stopped me - I've never been the kind to fight, I was (and am) petrified of the thought of hurting someone, and I didn't want to end up in trouble.

Although this little story from Way Back When might appeal... For about a year, my parents paid to get me a place on the bus that ran through our town and took pupils to our school in the next town. There were a few criteria that you had to meet in order to get a free ticket - ironically, the only person I knew who qualified was from one of the most well-off families on the bus. Anyway, one of my tormentors also used the bus. One day, he decided that it would be fun to smash a tomato against my head. Being the good little victim, I did nothing about this. My friend sitting next to me (the recipient of the free ticket) also got showered in tomato bits, and his mother complained. The following week, the LEA audited passengers on the bus, and found out that the bully in question did not have a ticket at all. He was summarily banned from the bus, for which he later blamed me...

[dreamer-easy.livejournal.com]

Ha! A rotten tomato for him. XD