At 6/12/08 08:39 AM, Trambamboline wrote:
I understand the basis behind internet bullying, I just think that anyone who succumbs to it is a moron.
Imagine a kid who has grown up his entire life with out being able to connect socially with friends. Its a combination of emotional abuse by his parents, a feeling of dispair that no one in real life could ever like him, etc. Let's say that this kid has a tendency towards escapism. That is, he often reads to get away from the world or something similar. Now lets say that kid gets old enough to get on the internet, but is particularly unhappy with who he is and morbidly depressed. He begins to interact on the web, mainly because the dangers of normal social interaction are not as apparent. He gets instant attention of some variety from a multitude of sites and people and he's hooked.
Next thing you know, he posts a picture of himself or bitches about something. He's always been slightly obtuse because he's not had that real interaction that most kids need (probably having been picked on on a playground during elementry school), and because he doesn't quite get it he never fits in. You could then imagine the case where internet users would begin to harrass him as he opens up a bit and tries to defend himself, etc and why he might not be able to just walk away if he percieves he has nothing else.
The fact of the matter is that people like us could help to completely turn those kind of people around, but most of you are too self centered and trying to get your kicks and laughs, that you'd rather put down that person you percieve as a pathetic weekling than even take the chance to understand him, be his friend and encourage him into being a person he has the right to be.
Girls have an even more extreme case and are usually the target of sexual harrassment. You have no diea how much attention the average teen desires, and some of them just feel the only place to get it is on the internet. It makes them easy to take advantage of, and plenty do it, but most of you should know better.