Internet Bullies?

[Lodee]

Here's my question. What does someone get from being an online bully? Is there something missing from their lives? Are they cowards who need to hide behind their computer screen? What?? On another forum where I post a lot of the regulars have just quietly left or quit posting because of one person who is just MEAN. Grrrr..............

[ZeldaGilroy]

I think online bullies are people who are weak and feel they have no control in their real lives. I think they get a sense of satisfaction out of making others suffer as miserably as they do, but enjoy the comfort and anonymity of hiding behind their computer screen. It's sad really.

I have also seen bullies run people off of message boards. My philosophy is that I don't really care if someone I don't know and will never meet gets satisfaction out of treating me badly online. I treat people with respect and expect the same. If I don't get it, then it just shows the other person's true colors.

What is more concerning to me right now is the amount of cyber-bullying occuring among teens and preteens who DO know each other. It is scary to me that kids are so cruel and apparently think saying something on a computer is not as bad as doing it in person. I can't believe some of the things I have seen kids posting online about their classmates, family, etc. It is sickening.

[MickeyMac]

Not just kids


I have seen adults (some even in their 50's) behaving like a bully by arguing with other posters, and just causing trouble in general.

Its real easy to hide behind a computer.

[MrCleveland]

Trust me...I go to DeviantArt, and there's some bullies who call themselves the "Butt-Hurt Patrol".

I haven't been there in awhile, but when spring comes and I see another Butt-Hurt Spam...I'm killing my account...and making a new one!

[Lodee]

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Not just kids


I have seen adults (some even in their 50's) behaving like a bully by arguing with other posters, and just causing trouble in general.

Its real easy to hide behind a computer.

Yeah, this person is in their 50's.

I think they get a sense of satisfaction out of making others suffer as miserably as they do, but enjoy the comfort and anonymity of hiding behind their computer screen. It's sad really.

I think you're right.

[Riley Martin]

I have discovered Facebook is full of them. Never been involved with one, thankfully.

[waichingliu81]

i encountered one on twitter 2 days ago- obnoxious person he was. he then used profanity towards me. so i blocked him.

it's easier for them to do what they do on the computer, as they wouldn't have the guts to say it to your face in person. cowards that they are.

[ZeldaGilroy]

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Not just kids


I have seen adults (some even in their 50's) behaving like a bully by arguing with other posters, and just causing trouble in general.

Its real easy to hide behind a computer.

I completely agree that it is not just kids. I've seen my share of grown up bullies as well. I just see more kids bullying people online that they also know in real life...ruining kids reputations and starting rumors, etc. that spill over into school or the community. Most adult bullies I've run into are people I do not really know. People who think because they are anonymous or using a screen name that they can say or do whatever they like.

Both ways are wrong though, and it just seems like technology has given people yet another way to be cruel to one another.

[Crimson and Clover]

Im part of a mommy forum, I swear sometimes its like high school. Soo much drama, its crazy.

[70s show watcher]

im almost 40 and i left a saturday night live message board because people half my age were cussing me out and calling me names and the day i exploded on that board and found myself stooping to there level by doing the same thing was the day that i left there

[Lee]

Unfortunately, we have had a few bullies of our own on here, most notably Fonzarelli, the self appointed Police Officer of Sitcoms Online.

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by ZeldaGilroy

I think online bullies are people who are weak and feel they have no control in their real lives. I think they get a sense of satisfaction out of making others suffer as miserably as they do, but enjoy the comfort and anonymity of hiding behind their computer screen. It's sad really.

I have also seen bullies run people off of message boards. My philosophy is that I don't really care if someone I don't know and will never meet gets satisfaction out of treating me badly online. I treat people with respect and expect the same. If I don't get it, then it just shows the other person's true colors.

What is more concerning to me right now is the amount of cyber-bullying occuring among teens and preteens who DO know each other. It is scary to me that kids are so cruel and apparently think saying something on a computer is not as bad as doing it in person. I can't believe some of the things I have seen kids posting online about their classmates, family, etc. It is sickening.

The amount of cyber bullying among teenagers is truly scary. It makes me glad I grew up before the cyber age. SO is the only place I post. No facebook. No Twitter. I lived many yrs without those forums and I see no reason to have them now.