STFU Newb
March 14, 2006 8:02 AM   Subscribe

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.
posted by gsb (13 comments total)
 
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.
posted by delmoi at 8:13 AM on March 14, 2006


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.
posted by raedyn at 8:24 AM on March 14, 2006


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.

posted by Olli at 8:26 AM on March 14, 2006


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.
posted by delmoi at 8:41 AM on March 14, 2006 [1 favorite]


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.)
posted by mephron at 8:45 AM on March 14, 2006


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.
posted by NailsTheCat at 8:53 AM on March 14, 2006


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

Why?
posted by raedyn at 9:32 AM on March 14, 2006


isn't the major flaw to bullying online that.... you can just turn the damned thing off?
posted by Doorstop at 9:43 AM on March 14, 2006


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."
posted by Pontius Pilate at 10:21 AM on March 14, 2006


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.
posted by transona5 at 11:14 AM on March 14, 2006


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.
posted by mephron at 11:41 AM on March 14, 2006


Whoops. Funny slip.
posted by raedyn at 11:45 AM on March 14, 2006


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.
posted by jonmc at 11:47 AM on March 14, 2006


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