Topic : 01/08 Cyber Bullies

 Yeah! You said it!!

  Often when Dr. Phil is talking to people who have done something wrong- even something terrible, he always says, "You're not a bad person- you're a good person. You've just done a bad thing."
  I think the opposite of that lady and her daughter who did that horrible thing to Megan. I think they truly are bad people. This episode was the first time that i actually cried for the family and especially for the victim on a show.
  This story touched me and made me want to do something to make sure a similar horrible death would never ever happen again. I believe those awful people should be punished and they should be sent out to talk publicly about their wrongdoings and be an example to show words can hurt.
   They do need to do that, but they will wake up every day and remember they have caused an INNOCENT CHILD's death. That should never leave them.

I'm a 50 year old man who enjoys playing the Xbox 360 online nearly every day.  Personally, i find it absurd that a grown man would take the threats and racial slurs as seriously as the guest on your show apparently does.  When playing on line you are never quite sure of the age of the other players.  Younger players often assume I'm in my teens.  I seldom disabuse them, since I dont want my age to alter the way they play.  It has been my experience that adult players seldom demonstrate rudeness of any kind.  The taunts and insults I've experienced have always come from kids. This is just a safe forum for nerdy kids to act tough.  I have no doubt that they would be delighted if they knew their childish playground insults were taken so seriously.  Fortunately, they will not get that satisfaction because they are unlikely to be in an age group that watches Dr. Phil.

     For the most part, I believe this is less an issue for law enforcement and more a parenting issue.  One thing that might be suggested to Microsoft would be for copies of any complaint be sent to the Email of the account holder.  Most young players have their access paid for with their parents credit card, so forwarding a copy of the complaint, with a warning, would notify parents ,if the player is underage and if an adult, warn them about being barred for inappropriate actions.

     I would also suggest that the adult act like one.  No where on the show did i hear how things developed and escalated to slurs and threats.  I sincerely doubt that it was immediately that serious.  I suspect it started with rudeness, then a retort, then more serious insults, and finally threats.  A responsible adult would have signed out of the game session early on when rudeness first reared its ugly head.  I suspect the guest i saw didn't do that, but instead, antagonized the kids and thats why they took the time to send text messages.

      We need to apply some common sense to this issue.  First, it's unlikely that adults would make such slurs and threats in a manner that could be easily traced back to their home, knowing the possible civil consequences.  Second, anyone with the intelligence to track a person down to make good on these threats, would not make a threat in a forum that would lead directly to their door after the fact.  In my opinion this is not a serious issue and did not merit being on the same show as the tragic internet bullying that lead to a teen suicide.

Hi my name is Cheryllynn. I experienced the on-line bully. I was playing a game of spades, and I played the wrong card and my partner started calling me monkey, putting kkk signs up calling me ******. I showed it to my husband and we were shocked at the way this person kept going on and on with the name calling. I ended up cutting the game off. Someone needs to look uot for people like that and band them from on-line games.

This is in reference to the show about cyber-bullies that aired on Tuesday 01/08/08.

 

In reference to the offensive joke posted on the internet by the City Council member; I feel that she was no more wrong than the other members of the City Council that post blond jokes, bald jokes, fat jokes, cowboy jokes, etc.

You cannot tell me that you have never told a joke that did not offend someone in some manor. I would guess that 90% of all jokes are targeting someone or some race, religion, ethnic origin, etc. How many blonde jokes are there out there and how many of them have you repeated either verbally or written?

How is it ok for a black person to tell a black joke but a white person cannot tell the same joke with out prosecution? You and I both know of situations documented where this has been the case. If you are unsure as to a reference for this statement all you need to do is rent any Eddie Murphy in concert DVD and watch the entire routine.

In summation; it is just a joke and meant to be taken in that context. I am a native Texan and by most standards a confirmed redneck. Jeff Foxworthy has a whole line of redneck jokes that he publicly performs and has written several books joking about the subject and no one harps on him about being offensive.

We know that it is a joke and let it go at that.

This is probably what stemmed the term “now, all joking aside”. 

There is a time to joke and a time to be serious. The lady on your show was a dedicated and good council member and posting the joke was on her own time on a web site that had no connection to the position that she held or the government for which she served.

 

This is just my 2 cents on the matter.

 

Aubrey Love (devoted watcher)

My prayer are with your family!!!

We need to stop this now ---thing are getting worse daily

 

My God bless you stay Strong-- read you bible daily 

All i know is that there's more to the story then what the destroyed mother is letting people know.  Seriously, who would blame there child for something stupid like that.  All it would have takin is some damb sympothy from the mom and not to blame her for that rediculousness.  I think the mother is to blame in the end, but i am sad for the loss.  It's unfortunate things like that happen, but I personally think it would have been avoided by having a parent who actually gave a damb till it was to late.  Also, sorry to say but according to the bible your daughter wont be going to heaven.  Your neighbor on the other hand still has a chance.

Interesing topic today, but I found my blood boiling when no one mentioned how Mom responded to her daughter when she went to her for help/advice.  Mom pretty much blamed her 13 year old for being online instead of helping her handle the situation with love and support. Mom admitted she reprimanded Megan and that's when she felt lost and desperate which led to her tragedy. I know this sounds terribly harsh but I think Mom was just as much at fault as that evil neighbor. Of course, she's paid the ultimate price.

Parents need to learn something from this.

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.

Barbh724

I do not think enough parents are watching what is going on with their children and myspace, I feel terrible for this family and do think this woman is responsible for this death, but I also believe that more parents should monitor my dtr has a myspace it is private I check it daily I know who her friends on the site are and she understands that for her to have the myspace I have to have access she is fine with this, I only allow 1 hr a day on the computer and it is in the living room, alot of kids have computers in their rooms and as much as you think your child wont do something that you dont allow they will, kids will try anything if given a little less monorting by parents. It is sad today that many mothers, and the one that caused this childs death is one, have become way to involved in their kids life wanting them to be popular at any cost wanting them to be the best at every sport and they do not mind how they achieve this rather than teaching a child that hard work and dedication and grades and the right morals are the keys to success. I am so sorry for the loss of this beautiful girl and I hope her mother does not give up even though you said you do not want money I agree that she should not be let off scott free file suit against her make her pay and if you win you could start a scholarship program in your dtr's memory or something to that effect.

In our town a Facebook site was set up to slander a teacher.  The school of course became involved and the student was moved to a different school and he had to remove the site.  Could the school become involved in your situation?  It is this sort of stuff that makes me hate the internet. I am sorry for your daughter having to go through this.  I hope it is resolved.