Quote From: violetmayAdults engage in this kind of behaviour as well. Please do not minimize the damage that can be done to a person's self-esteem...even a well-balanced person...when he is the victim of a cyberbully. Being attacked so often that you don't want to open your email for fear of another bash, having people who used to be your on-line friends turn against you because of lies, being held up for ridicule (or worse) can eat away at the emotional well being of the strongest person.
There was a case of a neighbour who posted pictures and telephone number of a little girl on kiddie porn sites and escalated to posting her address and a statement that she wanted to get rid of her virginity, It turned out to be vengeance on the part of the neighbour who didn't want the child, who had written "hello" on his driveway in chalk, on his property. The child and her parents were traumatized by the attention they got as a result of his postings!
It doesn't matter how strong you are, if someone takes it upon himself to destroy your reputation...on line or otherwise...if it goes on long enough, it begins to hurt. For kids who are still searching for their identities and feeling their way towards knowing themselves, this can be devastating. Remember when you were 14 and things that you now know are minor and will blow over, were just the end of the world to you.
Not only should legislation be implemented to prosecute these bullies, websites that allow this kind of abuse (by ignoring or refusing to take action on reports of cyberassaults) should be held liable as well. Right now, many of these places are like the Old West...completely lawless, without consequences, and ruled by the rudest, most aggressive and offensive users. That has to stop!
I've been dealing with a cyber-bully myself for almost two years now. I have filed four local police reports along with filing one report with the fed.'s. The cyber-bully I've dealt with has cyber-stalked, harassed and threatened me.
I've gone so far as to hire lawyers about this issue and as far as legal action is concerned, all you can do is go about it on a civil manner, which will cost a lot of money, you may not win and it doesn't necessarily stop the attcks of a cyber-bully. On a criminal level, (I know from experience) absolutely nothing can be done. I have been given the freedom of speech and freedom of expression lecture, even by the fed.'s. The laws that have supposedly been passed to prevent this sort of harmful behavior, have not been enforced in any way, shape or form.
How many more lives needs to be ruined or lost, before this sort of behavior is taken seriously? As long as it isn't taken seriously, cyber-bullies, such as the one I am dealing with, will continue their immature, "e-venge" and harm until something is done. I also wonder how far will the cyber-bullies go, as in, they know they're getting away with their actions online, what's to stop them from doing any harm in real life?
