Take a Stand Against Cyber-Bullying

by Allison Pardi

Imagine you were in a world where every day you were harassed, everywhere you went people made fun of you. You go to school and you get names screamed at you, go for a walk and people lean out the window to scream at you. Eventually you would just stop going to out places, possibly even school. If you were bullied, would probably feel lonely, depressed, and insecure. Now picture the only safe place you have is your home. You go to your bedroom, log on to the computer to do your homework. Awaiting you are hateful Facebook comments and harassing emails. Your cell phone buzzes, and it’s a hateful message from an unknown number. Do you still feel safe?

Everybody has gotten bullied at least once in their life, and it probably hurt their self-esteem. You would think as common sense people wouldn’t want other people to feel the way they did as they were bullied. However, it doesn’t really work that way. Unfortunately, the more people were bullied as a kid, the worse they bully other people. Now that most people have a computer, more people are being bullied over the internet, or cyber bullied. It’s not hard to make fun of someone over a computer, because you’re hidden behind a box. On the other hand, it is harassment and if they wanted to turn it in, there would be something they could do.

“I have been cyber-bullied; it doesn’t make me feel good about myself. In fact, it makes me feel pretty worthless, and as if nobody loves me. Nobody understands exactly how bad words really do hurt,” said a PCHS student.

“When I was cyber-bullied, it made me feel horrible. With all of the name calling it just felt like I didn’t have anybody there for me. I felt … alone,” states Kaylinn McGuinness.

Paris Cooperative High School, unfortunately, is not free from cyber bulling. An issue was recently brought to the administration’s attention in which cyber bulling was occurring on the school grounds on school laptops. Proper action and discipline was taken but that doesn’t always fix the hurt it caused to the victims. The stand against cyber bullying may be supported by administration and teachers, but the real change must begin with students. If you or anyone you know is being cyber bullied, tell an adult: a parent, a relative, a teacher, a counselor, or an administrator. They are here to help. And most importantly, every time you post something on Facebook, or send an email or text message, think about how your words might make someone else feel.