Topic : 01/08 Cyber Bullies

After watching this show I found the Mother of this child very cold and not very concerned about her daughter's problems with bullying.  When are the American people going to make parents responsible for what their children are watching and doing and stop depening on the government to step in a do what they are not doing by making lawsthat are so vague that they are not helpful to anyone.

I am angry that we continue to want to make laws to make people "be good". That isn't possible....I have the right as an American to dislike people and/or their behaviors. However as a parent and now a grandparent raising a grandchild, it is my responsibility to know when my child cannot handle the situations he/she finds themselves in and to be aware that they need help. Sadly a 13 year old is gone because of a mean-spirited adult.....but people with mean spirits will exist until the Lord returns to get us. What we have to do is be involved in our kids' lives and know when they are facing mean-spirited people and help them understand that, deal with it and be removed from them. We cannot legislate them into being good and we cannot legislate protection for our kids.....we need to attack this from the point of view that they were perpertrating fraud by claiming to be someone they weren't, but not that they were bullying someone. Hate crimes take away our freedom to like or dislike and most importantly, to voice our beliefs. I love people, but I hate actions of them sometimes. My faith as a Christian tells me homosexuality is an abomination, but I love the person and try to help them. If I am not allowed to say what I believe is wrong without being called someone who hates, we are in trouble here in America. We had better attack the problems we CAN fight and quit trying to make others bow to our likes. The parents should have gotten involved and not yelled at their daughter for being foolish and disobedient for being on the internet. Their guilt for that last remark is what is driving them for revenge. Revenge won't bring back their daughter.

I also think the joke that was posted is something that people need to "get over". It showed a lack of judgment, but can we legislate that? It's like trying to legislate taste! Just because an outfit is available in my size doesn't mean I should wear it! We are trying too hard to force our beliefs, our likes and dislikes and our opinions on others!

Please, Dr. Phil, don't help these people who are "all about me people" force their ways on us. They are the squeaky wheels and seeming to get all of the oil. If we quiet ones speak up, we are called on the carpet for hate crimes. I love people because God tells me to do that, and because I'm grateful He died for me......but do I have to agree with them and help them do whatever they want?

My heart goes out to Megan's family.  Her loss is definately a tragedy. 

 

My problem is that i wonder, where was the supervision for this thirteen year-old?  Personally, if my child was corresponding with someone on the internet and the conversations became unfriendly,abusive or even a little unsettling, my child would not be able to correspond with that certain person any longer. 

How can you claim from 5 minutes of watching someone on a show that she is cold?  Please keep in mind, this mother has lost her daughter!! She lost her daughter!! Have you ever grieved for someone? I have, and it isn't easy.  I would not want to be judged negatively for not appearing or behaving  a certain way while I was in mourning.

It blows my mind as to how this adult could be cruiel and absolutely immature to do this to a child because that was absolutely uncalled for. She had no right to put that chld into The bulliness world where people can ruin your life and cause you to take your own life and she had no right to put her parents through it either. I feel for her parents and I think their needs to be some legal action taken imediately and maybe the site should be terminated as well if that's what it takes. Now you can't even have a conversation with someone without them turning it against you and use your information against you or even playing video games is absolutely rediculous and out of control!

It blows my mind as to how this adult could be cruiel and absolutely immature to do this to a child because that was absolutely uncalled for. She had no right to put that chld into The bulliness world where people can ruin your life and cause you to take your own life and she had no right to put her parents through it either. I feel for her parents and I think their needs to be some legal action taken imediately and maybe the site should be terminated as well if that's what it takes. Now you can't even have a conversation with someone without them turning it against you and use your information against you or even playing video games is absolutely rediculous and out of control!

Dr.Phil i go to a high school and have been bullied and have been bullied on line and yes this is a coward est way of bullying but as long as there are people who don't like other people for what ever reason there will be bullying and unfortunately i don't think that there should be a law against bullying on line when it is so much more easy to get away from then a person in your face and saying these things to your face. turn off your phone, delete the e-mails, don't go on myspace or face book report them i mean give me a break its easy to give away from  

I don't understant what was going through Lori Drew's head, or her daughter's. I don't know what shocks me the most, the simple fact they did it, their "not my fault" lack of accountablity, or that no legal action can be taken. I'm frustrated, as a parent and an American. I'm a single parent of 2 beautiful daughters. I don't know what I'd do if it happened to me. I'd have to find a way to go on for the other child. I'll be keeping the Meier Family in my prayers. I know God never gives us more than what He knows we can't handle. God knows what it's like to loose a child, like do other parents. Ryan White's mother comes to mind. What is Lori Drew teaching her daughter? Was Lori a bully herself? Is she a Christian? Does she believe in God? Does she think He will not hold her accountable? I don't understand it. I know I'm not stupid. Why is she hiding? If she believes she hasn't done anything wrong, why will she not show her face in public? Why won't she defend herself, her daughter, and their actions on TV? I have always taught  my daughters to be accountable for their actions, admit whatever it is that they've done. Kids today are so eager to be grown up and being treated like adults. That is until their behavior has gotten them into trouble and then, and only then, do they want to be kids again. They need to learn at an early age, you will be held accountable for your actions, what you do to others, and who you are with. This is much more so when you become a legal adult. As parents, we are always unsure of if we did this right, handled that well, and so on. I know I question myself everyday. But overall, I know I am doing the best I can, using the tools my parents gave me, and taking inventory of the situation at hand. I wish Lori had enough courage to have done the same. It my have possibly had a better outcome & Megan would be able to graduate, go to college, get married, have kids, and enjoy her life. I hope everytime Lori watches her daughter achieve these goals, she sees Meagan.

Dear Dr Phil

I watched your show today and I agree 100 percent the internet is full of bullies.. it worries me to no end.  I wish there was a way to stop this, but I can't see it happening.  I do not participate in very much internet activity.  When I do find a site I enjoy, I sit and watch how the fun of the "games" are always destroyed by bullies.  I go online and play ISKETCH (which is a drawing game).  It never fails that someone always comes in to join the game then starts a cyber fight with someone in the room.  They pick on any tiny thing they can find, just to harass someone.  A lot of the blacks get singled out or they singled out someone just because of their age...which is why I have my profile set to be a 16 yr old.  I hate to say that, but I am 53 yrs old and I do this to avoid being harassed and told by the "juveiles" on the site to.. "go get a life you old person".  I've seen that happen before.  ISKETCH is for anyone who enjoys drawing (which I do) and it is so much fun until you get a smarta#@ person who has nothing better to do than pick on others.  I am so ashamed of the way our society uses profanity and sex like it is such everyday language.  I can not imagine the presidential speeches in the next couple of decades.  Can you just hear the president using the f word in his speeches?  Parents just don't seem to care what their kids say or do anymore.  They seem to be more interested in being friends with the kids rather than parenting them.  God help us all.

 

You can set your profile to "private" so no one but your friends can see it.  This eliminates bullying across the board and works well for my kids and myself.  Also, don't ADD people you don't know or without thoroughly reading their profile first, then make an informed decision as to whether you want to ADD them.  Lastly, report all bullies to Myspace so their accounts get canned.  I hope this helps!