What is cyberbullying? [ABW2013]

I think "cyber-bullying" is not really an issue. Yes, people get themselves worked up over things people say to them on the Internet, but it's their choice if they want to block said person. On the Web, you can just close the browser, or log out, or block someone.

I'm a big believer in free speech and feel that you should be able to write whatever you want on the Internet, and if someone takes great offense then it is their problem, not yours.

I think "cyber-bullying" is not really an issue. Yes, people get themselves worked up over things people say to them on the Internet, but it's their choice if they want to block said person. On the Web, you can just close the browser, or log out, or block someone.

I'm a big believer in free speech and feel that you should be able to write whatever you want on the Internet, and if someone takes great offense then it is their problem, not yours.

I think "cyber-bullying" is not really an issue. Yes, people get themselves worked up over things people say to them on the Internet, but it's their choice if they want to block said person. On the Web, you can just close the browser, or log out, or block someone.

I'm a big believer in free speech and feel that you should be able to write whatever you want on the Internet, and if someone takes great offense then it is their problem, not yours.

You can't block people making fake profiles of yourself, or stop them posting horrible comments or images publicly. You can report things like this, but there's lots that you can do within the rules to make someone's life hell, and it's a bit naive of you to think turning off your computer will solve that. Actually, stupid, not naive.

Okay, I tried direct and slightly offensive and it got me modded, so I'll try reasonable and less offensive. (because on this thread, much like real life everybody is nice to each other and everyone is reasonable all the time)

What does it matter if people are posting unkind comments? Does it physically injure you? No. Do you have to take them to heart? No. Do you even have to read them or acknowledge their existence? No. Being offended is a choice, no one can force anyone to be upset, it's their choice to be bothered by things. Personally I've always found attempts to upset me online to be humorous and I relish the opportunity to illustrate how little the people "cyberbullying" me mean to me by continuing with my life with only the briefest time spent to appreciate how funny it is that people think they can upset me with words on a screen.

While I admit not everyone can take everything in their stride as I do, the ability to simply ignore "abuse" online leaves no excuse for being a "victim" of cyberbullying.

The comments aren't just unkind though. It's not nice to be told to go and kill / harm yourself. Been there, unfortunately.

Cyber bullying might seem a minor form of bullying as compared to physical, however this type of bullying is just as major as physical. It affects one's thoughts, It's a mental form of bullying which can also give same results just like physical. The person feels alienated online and does not feel like they can be themselves, this type of bullying should be eliminated.
This is a proven fact when young teenagers using websites e.g. Ask.fm or other social networking websites feel like they are being targeted or discouraged or even told to take their own lives by a stranger etc. This may at first trigger discomfort, unsafety or depression, but in long term it can contribute to one's major factors such as death e.g. suicide at a young age or even possibly later on in life as well.

Then they shouldn't be on those websites. People can be cruel, if you surround yourself with cruel people some of that cruelty will be targeted at you and if you don't think you can handle it, don't put yourself in the situation where it can happen.

Okay, I tried direct and slightly offensive and it got me modded, so I'll try reasonable and less offensive. (because on this thread, much like real life everybody is nice to each other and everyone is reasonable all the time)

What does it matter if people are posting unkind comments? Does it physically injure you? No. Do you have to take them to heart? No. Do you even have to read them or acknowledge their existence? No. Being offended is a choice, no one can force anyone to be upset, it's their choice to be bothered by things. Personally I've always found attempts to upset me online to be humorous and I relish the opportunity to illustrate how little the people "cyberbullying" me mean to me by continuing with my life with only the briefest time spent to appreciate how funny it is that people think they can upset me with words on a screen.

While I admit not everyone can take everything in their stride as I do, the ability to simply ignore "abuse" online leaves no excuse for being a "victim" of cyberbullying.

Wow, is ''cyberbullying'' really even a big issue? Well if it is it has a fairly straightforward solution: block the users who are bothering you or better still don't sign up to any social networks in the first place and also begin to cut down the amount of time you spend on non-productive activities on the internet.

Some forums don't allow you to block people.

I really don't think some of you understand. Some of us have joined social networking sites to keep in contact with friends. You also really can't stop people following you around online, etc. Regardless of whether you use a different username on each forum. (as I do)

Lol. It seems you can't understand. It's not restricted solely to being online, they'll bully you at school and then they'll bully you later online. You'll have no friends, no one to talk to about it; you'll be miserable. On top of that, these people are most likely going to be young. Lots of youngsters are allowed on the internet these days. You're going to tell a what, 10, 11, 12 year old to man up? Really? You're only seeing this from your point of view, you're not appreciating that people are individuals and affected by things in different ways for many different reasons. I bet if your little boy told you people had been posting horrible pictures of him on the internet, you wouldn't tell him to man up. That's laughable, but that attitude is also part of the problem.

This thread is strictly about ''cyberbullying'', physical real life bullying is a completely different ball game altogether.
Like that other poster said, it is completely your own choice as to whether you even sign up to these social network sites in the first place and read peoples comments about you etc. If you don't have any friends, then why the hell would even be be on such sites. In the case of cyber-bullying, the victim has the ability to take full responsibility for their own well-being and by joining these websites they are voluntarily providing the medium through which they are subsequently being bullied.
They also have the option of ignoring and blocking users, logging out etc.