Webupon

Anyone can suffer at the hands of cyber bullies. The problem
is not what they say to you, it is how they make you feel.

As a person who has been cyber bullied I’ve tried all the
permutations of “what to do”. What I find works the best
is to put the bullies on ignore.

When there is the option of “ignore” or “block” one takes
it. In this way, one doesn’t even see what the bully is
posting. Where such is not available, the best method is
not to be “run off” the site, but to log on, shrink the
window, (clicking the “-” at the top right hand corner of
the browser), open other windows and go about my business.

Bullies, seeing my nickname “on line” will begin their
attacks.

I have them under control for however long my nick is
on that site. But, I am not there.

Every so often, I’ll open that window, take a quick glance
to see if the fools are still posting, shrink the window
and go back to what I’m doing.

It becomes amusing when they keep going and going
without response. This is clear proof of how stupid
they are. Clear proof I have done nothing to provoke
them.

Anyone logging on will see screens of attacks against
my nick, with no response. In this way, the bullies
reveal themselves to all and sundry without me having
to make a keystroke.

Using this method of “corralling” proves they can not
‘run me’ off of the Internet.

This “freedom of reading” is the companion to “freedom of
posting”. Bully can post whatever Bully wants.
Absolute freedom.
I can read whatever I want. Again, absolute freedom. I don’t
read what Bully posts. Hence, we both exercise our freedom.

It depends on how stupid a bully is how long he or she will
go on without an answer. Some will go on for hours. Others
will stop after a few posts, realizing no one is reading what
they have typed.

By logging on you exercise your freedom. You prove they can
not “chase” you off of the site. By ignoring them, you again
prove your freedom of reading.

Although it might seem illogical you are not dealing in
logic. You are dealing in emotions. You need proof of
your “power”. Proof that Bullies can not “run you” off
the site. You will feel stronger.

Do this for yourself, and then you can help a child who
is being cyberbullied in doing the same thing.

Have the child Log on to the problem site, shrink the
window, open another and do something else. Stay with
the child. Participate in an educational activity.

Check back in about ten minutes to see the Bullies
posting, and laugh at them, then back to the educational
site. Check back again, laughing at the fools.

The child will begin to realise that s/he has the power to
ignore. This is something not easily taught in abstract.

A person who knows they don’t have to watch this show on
television and can change the channel, is exercising a
power. The same truth exists on the Internet.

There are thousands of sites you don’t ever have to visit.
Millions of posts you don’t have to read.

Once you have developed your ability to ignore the bullies,
and can transmit this to your child, cyberbulling becomes
no more than another television channel you don’t watch.