It has become far to easy for people to harass, bully, and downright threaten others while hiding behind social media. I am sure you have all heard news stories about teens who committed suicide over fake social media pages and harassing people who pose as other teens. But its happens to adults too. There are sites like GOMI that allow people to rant about bloggers and often harshly criticize without true facts. Its a forum for online bullying and threats. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram allow comments to be placed that are nothing more than bullying as well.
I agree that everyone is allowed to speak their mind, have their own opinion and disagree with one another, that is a right as Americans. However, no one has the right to tear down anyone else, to harass anyone else, or publish nothing more than petty childish taunts towards another person. So, I ask you as bloggers to help end this cycle.
Do not engage in online harassment. Do not indulge in online forums that tear each other down and make the blogging community look like nothing more than high school mean girls. While you may not agree with what one another say or do, please don't call names, write hate posts, or use photos as subtle innuendo to break others down.
We should be each other's biggest supporters not break each other down.
Well said, lady! It's awful what people write behind the 'safety' of a computer screen. I know that most wouldn't even dream of saying anything they write to a person's face. I try to make sure that anything I write online, is something I'm willing to say straight to someone. One because it's so easy to find and two I'm not a coward that talks a big game when no one can see me.
ReplyDeleteBullying and harassing is so wrong on any level. My heart breaks for the poor kids that think their life is over because of online bullying. It's so sad.
Your quote is awesome, definitely something I'll remember going forward!
<3 you!
Part of the problem with such an online and "connected" society is that people get REALLY brave when they don't have to see the other person face to face. I stay away from internet sites like GOMI, some blogs, and even comment feeds on videos and other online forums, because it actually makes me sick to see people trash others the way that they do.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to deal with people talking about you, and I challenge anyone who is talking crap to put themselves in the other person's shoes and think about how it must feel to be talked about for something they did, believe in, choices they've made, etc. I've had it happen to me, and it's not a fun feeling to know that there's someone out there saying things about you that aren't true, and are downright hurtful. I hate hearing the stories of teenagers (and even younger) who bully other kids and push them to limits no one should be pushed to. It's heart breaking and it makes me scared to have children in the society that we live in sometimes.
This post is a powerful one, and one that every single person needs to think about and consider before they post things out there. There's always someone on the other side, who is a person, and has feelings.