Cyberbullying

[agzg]

Originally Posted by als463

You could start a thread, though. It would be a good topic, if you were willing.

This particular topic is a little too politically and emotionally charged for a lot of posters on GC, and a little too little politically and emotionally charged for a lot of posters on GC.

It'd probably end up in closure.

[als463]

Originally Posted by agzg

This particular topic is a little too politically and emotionally charged for a lot of posters on GC, and a little too little politically and emotionally charged for a lot of posters on GC.

It'd probably end up in closure.

True. I feel like I derailed the thread when talking about victim-blaming but, I do think we need to consider how cyber-bullying affects people and how we shouldn't just say, "Well, they can get off that site." I'm mainly thinking about THAT SITE (you all probably know what site I am referring to) where you can post a thread about what a skank so-and-so is. It's pretty upsetting and I would be horrified if someone made a thread about me on that site. I can't even imagine.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by als463

True. I feel like I derailed the thread when talking about victim-blaming but, I do think we need to consider how cyber-bullying affects people and how we shouldn't just say, "Well, they can get off that site." I'm mainly thinking about THAT SITE (you all probably know what site I am referring to) where you can post a thread about what a skank so-and-so is. It's pretty upsetting and I would be horrified if someone made a thread about me on that site. I can't even imagine.

Is it still there? I thought it didn't exist anymore...

[als463]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

Is it still there? I thought it didn't exist anymore...

Oh, it is. In fact, it goes by a different name. If you want, I can pm you the site name. I just don't want to give it any recognition on this site.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

Is it still there? I thought it didn't exist anymore...

There are a multitude of sites based on the same premise.

On the cyberbullying thing - I do think there's a bit of a difference between types of cyberbullying. For example, starting a thread like "SALLY IS A WHORE!" is different than starting a thread like "SALLY IS A WHORE, CALL HER AND TELL HER, HER NUMBER IS 555.0812, HER EMAIL IS sallyisa@whore.edu, HER HOME ADDRESS IS 515 Hooker Ave" etc.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by agzg

There are a multitude of sites based on the same premise.

On the cyberbullying thing - I do think there's a bit of a difference between types of cyberbullying. For example, starting a thread like "SALLY IS A WHORE!" is different than starting a thread like "SALLY IS A WHORE, CALL HER AND TELL HER, HER NUMBER IS 555.0812, HER EMAIL IS sallyisa@whore.edu, HER HOME ADDRESS IS 515 Hooker Ave" etc.

Whore.edu? Grad school, here I come.

Tangent: Seriously, this type of thing baffles me. When I was an undergrad, but school was transitioning from "commuter school" to "traditional school," but we still had a great deal of non-traditional students. Sure, there were times that people would say "I can't stand Sally. I hear she's a slut" but it didn't seem to go any farther. It makes me sick that college students would go to those lengths in order to bully someone.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by agzg

There are a multitude of sites based on the same premise.

On the cyberbullying thing - I do think there's a bit of a difference between types of cyberbullying. For example, starting a thread like "SALLY IS A WHORE!" is different than starting a thread like "SALLY IS A WHORE, CALL HER AND TELL HER, HER NUMBER IS 555.0812, HER EMAIL IS sallyisa@whore.edu, HER HOME ADDRESS IS 515 Hooker Ave" etc.

If her name and some other identifying information (last name, residence, sorority...something that would make it clear who the girl in question is), that's no different than posting her phone number. It's still cyberbullying. She'll have that follow her, and her potential employers will see it, her family will see it...etc. The internet is a part of our lives whether we like it or not, and when it effects real life (like the job example), that's over the line. I think the problem is a combination of people not understanding the impact it will have (especially for teens and younger kids), not caring, and not facing repercussions. I do hope we get better protection legally from this sort of behavior soon. That might help deter the "I don't care" set from spreading their horribleness.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

If her name and some other identifying information (last name, residence, sorority...something that would make it clear who the girl in question is), that's no different than posting her phone number. It's still cyberbullying.

It's still cyberbullying, but it's like that blurry/fuzzy line between freedom of speech and hate speech. A defendant may be able to slip under the line of "freedom of speech" with your example. With mine, their first amendment defense isn't quite so strong (because it can be construed as inciting a particular course of action).

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

She'll have that follow her, and her potential employers will see it, her family will see it...etc. The internet is a part of our lives whether we like it or not, and when it effects real life (like the job example), that's over the line. I think the problem is a combination of people not understanding the impact it will have (especially for teens and younger kids), not caring, and not facing repercussions. I do hope we get better protection legally from this sort of behavior soon. That might help deter the "I don't care" set from spreading their horribleness.

Of course it's over the line if it affects real life. But, there is a difference between affecting someone's job prospects and giving people the tools and incentive to commit other various criminal activities.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by agzg

I don't like it when people bring this up. Obviously there's some false reporting going on with any crime. The problem is, the number of cases that are reported and have actually happened (and subsequently are dismissed for lack of evidence) far far outweigh the number of false reports.

Also, it should be pointed out that many many of the cases that get dismissed in rape are not dismissed because it was proven that it didn't happen - it's just really easy to blame the victim and not be able to prove that it did happen.

I'm a firm believer that all rape cases should be taken seriously, particularly due to the sheer number of rape cases that go unreported and how very hard it is to come forward (even when police do have strong evidence of rape many times the victim does not want to come forward for many different reasons).

There was a workshop on my campus one year while I was in undergrad that reported that 1 in 4 women has been raped - I'll need to look and see if I can find where they got that.

This doesn't even get into cases of the rape of men, which is an even more seriously under-reported crime.

Rape isn't about sex, it's about power (so is bullying and cyberbullying). By letting false reports outweigh (in our mind) actual legitimate cases of rape, we're giving rapists even more power.

I'm not disagreeing with any of this, just pointing out the issue. I don't know who would let false outweigh true. As someone who has been in a "situation", let's say, I understand it should be taken seriously.

Originally Posted by agzg

It's still cyberbullying, but it's like that blurry/fuzzy line between freedom of speech and hate speech. A defendant may be able to slip under the line of "freedom of speech" with your example. With mine, their first amendment defense isn't quite so strong (because it can be construed as inciting a particular course of action).



Of course it's over the line if it affects real life. But, there is a difference between affecting someone's job prospects and giving people the tools and incentive to commit other various criminal activities.

Not if it's libel, though the problem is that Suzy probably doesn't have the money or resources to bring a civil suit and have this crap removed. Affecting job prospects is stepping into real life, period. And the first amendment doesn't protect one from printing/saying untrue things to cause harm.