Reader's Digest Article!

Reader's Digest Article: The Rise Of Cyber-bullying. (May 2008 issue)
Page 114-119

This article talks about the number of people who get bullied on the Internet. Many bullies now have much more resources available for them to bully people. For example, there are chat rooms and even social networking areas for them to attack their victims who are totally oblivious to the current situation. More importantly, the bullies need not reveal their true identity. So even if their victim wants to sue them or even take revenge, it is hopeless. Moreover, it is far worse than in the past, meaning that bullying is on the rise.

In the past, students could only have the chance to bully on the school ground if there were no teachers or when they were having their breaks. But now, they can bully their victims throughout the whole day because their victims are bound to have their computers on. This makes cyber bullying even more tempting and easier to accomplish. When the bullies do not put their names up, it is far worse for the victim. The reason being is that they do not know who is even attacking them. It could be their best friend or even their siblings. This may be too hard for them to take and they might just succumb to it and commit suicide.

The European researchers are currently trying to launch a new software known as "Fearnot!". It teaches students to empathise with a victim of bullying and to give words of advice on the computer. Countries all around the globe are also trying to curb the problem by reinforcing laws on severely punishing the bullies. However, it is not taken seriously by some of the courts.

In my opinion, the victims are always being bullied because they appear to others as being weak and frail. The bullies think that they are useless. I feel that the reason why bullies are attacking others is because they may not have the attention that they want, and they think that bullying someone will get them their needed attention. Some of them are actually weak and they try to bully others to convince themselves and others that they are not weak but instead, 'superior'.

I deeply feel sorry for those who had committed suicide because they could not carry on and fight the nightmare anymore. They are the ones who show us how important the need to stop cyber bullying is. The bullies should think about how they are harming not only the victims but themselves. If they found out that their victims died because of them, could they even have the nerve to go on living their life as if nothing had happened? Would their conscience allow them to live on properly. They have ruined their own lives. They should think about the consequences of bullying instead of jumping right into it like it is some game.

Prior to this situation, I think that the governments are trying very hard to curb the problem by giving talks at schools as well as designing beautiful posters that discourage people from bullying as well as to encourage victims of bullying to report the event to their elder and to not be afraid. I hope that the government's efforts will not go to waste and that the bullies will please realise what harm they are doing and change their ways while it is still early to do so.

Written by: *Karen*