Comments on: STFU Newb

STFU Newb

gsb — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:02:13 -0800

Cyberbullying Report. It's a Microsoft sponsored report talking about intimidation and bullying online. Here's a digested version of the survey [PDF]. And don't forget your dose of Cyber Wellness, too.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:13:30 -0800

Does anyone else belive this just isn't happening? I mean back when I was a kid we tried to pwn eachothers IRC channels, but that was about it.

By: raedyn

raedyn — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:24:00 -0800

I absolutely believe this happens. Kids are mean. Girls are viscious to each other. I would be more surprised if kids weren't using technology to expand those behaviours than if they are.

By: Olli

Olli — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:26:10 -0800

If you're thinking of Flaming: Make sure you that the Flame is relevant to others and the discussion/ bulletin board or community you're using. Only begin in Flaming in communities or forums where users are known to each other and don't mind joining in Flaming debates. Make sure Flaming doesn't get out of hand! If Flaming becomes too personal or intense between users and begins to take over the board/community/ or forum, you start a Flame War. Flame wars may annoy others users and leave them out so there isn't space for other people to talk about their interests.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:41:53 -0800

Hmm, I hadn't thought about girls. I remember my little sister getting bent out of shape in elementary school over some ridiculous B.S. Like she was in a club with some other "popular" girls because their initials made a word or something, then she got dumped so another girl could join and they couldn't think of a good word. She was devastated. Still, I just don't see online communication ever carrying the same weight as real life taunting, and certainly not real life physical abuse.

By: mephron

mephron — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:45:24 -0800

Cripes, this crap goes on all the time, all over the Internet. A friend of mine nearly quit World of Warcraft over someone sending her tells and in-game mails about how her character setup sucks. She would set them on ignore, and they'd make a new sockpuppet to abuse her. Finally she reported the guy to the GMs, at which point some of his friends started the abuse about her being a whiner. She hasn't quit, yet, but she rolled a new character just to get away from the crap. There's always someone looking for someone else to take advantage of. (And I really had to stop myself from snarking at raedyn.)

By: NailsTheCat

NailsTheCat — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:53:22 -0800

BBC covered this too. My first thoughts were to dismiss it but I guess this really could take bullying to whole new depths. Whereas previously kids might have only been bullied at school -- recovering from it at home. If they're getting nailed at home too... it's 24/7. That's gotta be hard. Then again... can't you just choose a decent password so your account isn't cracked and ban users you don't like from connecting? Or is it a chat room thing? Darn technology.

By: raedyn

raedyn — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 09:32:54 -0800

(And I really had to stop myself from snarking at raedyn.) - mephron Why?

By: Doorstop

Doorstop — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 09:43:17 -0800

isn't the major flaw to bullying online that.... you can just turn the damned thing off?

By: Pontius Pilate

Pontius Pilate — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 10:21:32 -0800

Doorstop - being online and participating in MySpace, LiveJournal, and their ilk is apparerntly (and sadly) a crucial part of today's teenagehood. So, no, it is rather difficult to "just turn the damned thing off."

By: transona5

transona5 — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 11:14:46 -0800

I have to wonder if the real problem a lot of people have with bullying online is that the nerds can actually fight back on something closer to an equal footing.

By: mephron

mephron — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 11:41:58 -0800

Raedyn: Girls are viscious to each other. I was going to ask how many people liked their females in a thick liquid consistency, but held back. That was the entirety of my snarking.

By: raedyn

raedyn — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 11:45:56 -0800

Whoops. Funny slip.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 11:47:35 -0800

I have to wonder if the real problem a lot of people have with bullying online is that the nerds can actually fight back on something closer to an equal footing. I'd say that's a stretch. Being an ass is being an ass, and from my experience, people are more inclined to be asses if they feel like a comfortable majority who will be backed up by others. Groups who have histories of bad treatment from others are not immune to this rule of human nature. As a matter of fact, the sense of victimhood often makes people feel 'justified' in being asses.