Online Terrorists aka CyberSpace Bullies
“If you bully someone face to face, and they get upset, you see them cry and be hurt. When it’s over the internet, you can’t see the emotional reaction and go along thinking it’s no big deal.” Prof. Robin Kowalski, Ph.D.
Cyberspace bullies are terrorists, hiding behind cyber walls, bombing the unsuspecting. Like all terrorists, they use trash talk to justify cowardice and lawlessness. So what? It’s just for fun, you say; it’s like, a joke, you know?
Megan Meier, 13, committed suicide after she was humiliated and emotionally abused by a group led by Lori Drew, 49, of Fallon, MO. Mrs. Drew was federally indicted for her part in the disastrous, vicious hoax.
Kylie Kenney, an eighth grade Vermont student’s classmates abused her for over four years by creating websites meant to harm her which included threatening and homophobic remarks about her. One website was named “Kill Kylie Incorporated.” Police charged the persons responsible with harassment.
Abraham Briggs, 19, of Florida, threatened suicide while streaming himself by webcam onto Justintv. Over 1500 viewers, instead of calling emergency services, derided and egged him on. After his body was discovered, they cowardly deleted their accounts to escape detection.
Who are we? What are we? How did exploding incivility morph into cyber terrorism?
Three social networking sites, MySpace, Facebook, and the newly budding Twitter are known to attract cyberbullies – cowards who anonymously publish slander about others on personal sites, others’ sites, or even create web sites for online terrorism.
Extreme cyber bullies use words and photos to damage their victims, “photo shopping” shots of their victims in compromising positions. Who, for instance, took the photo of swimmer Michael Phelps holding a marijuana pipe — and who released it into the world? Was that such a harmless deed? Was it meant to be harmless? Did the perpetrator care? If Mr. Phelps was prosecuted and imprisoned for decades for drug possession, would it have horrified or satisfied the perpetrator(s)?
Meditation for the Day
If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
Action for the Day
I will not take part in cyber terrorism and I will report it to parents or school officials when I learn of it. My report may save a life. That makes me, not a snitch, but a hero.
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