States seek laws to curb online bullying

NF Reporter · 02-21-2007, 10:34 AM

AP - Ryan Patrick Halligan was bullied for months online. Classmates sent the 13-year-old Essex Junction, Vt., boy instant messages calling him gay. He was threatened, taunted and insulted incessantly by so-called cyberbullies.

Full Story...

waltky · 02-07-2008, 01:43 AM

Effect of bullying on children...

Bullying harms kids' mental health
Wed., Feb. 6, 2008 - In identical twin study, targeted kids more likely to develop depression

Quote:

A new study provides strong evidence that being bullied can cause children to develop depression and anxiety. Among identical twin pairs in which one experienced bullying between the ages of 7 and 9 and the other did not, the bullied twin was significantly more likely to have symptoms of internalizing problems at age 10, Dr. Louise Arsenault of King’s College, London, and her colleagues found.

Internalizing problems are psychological problems in which negativity is directed inward toward the self, such as depression, as opposed to outwardly, such as conduct disorder. This research “really supports the assumption or the belief that being bullied is bad for children’s health,” Arsenault told Reuters Health. And the fact that children were having these symptoms, which include frequent crying, fear of being alone, and stomach aches — at such a young age strongly suggests that they need help, she added.

Bullied children are known to be more likely to have anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide, as well as to experience social isolation, Arsenault and her team note in their report. But the question of whether bullying itself is the cause of these mental health problems remains open. It’s possible, the researchers explain, that bullying and mental health problems stem from the same risk factors, such as living in a poor neighborhood or parental neglect, or even that a child with mental health problems is more likely to draw bullies’ attention.

To investigate, Arsenault and her team looked at 1,116 twin pairs from a nationally representative sample of twins born in England and Wales between 1994 and1995. By looking at twins, Arsenault explained, they were able to account for the effect of family situation and environment, which could contribute to both bullying risk and the likelihood of having internalizing problems, because the twins share the same family background and the same environment.

More Bullying harms kids' mental health - Kids and parenting - MSNBC.com

sunken · 02-07-2008, 04:18 PM

The original article is gone, but yes, bullying can have a significant impact on children. Not just getting shoved in a locker, but many don't realize that words can hurt just as bad as physical violence. I'm just glad that I am not a kid in this day and age. With the possibility of everything done in school or said can be broadcast instantly around the world.

Whether anything came of the cyberbullying law or not in 2007, I don't know, but it certainly gained momentum after the suicide death of the one girl a few months back. While I agree there should be consequences in cases such as that, I just hope the laws that they create don't go too far on the zealous side. It's one thing to be flamed (an internet tradition) by someone you don't know. In that case, you learn to ignore it. I hope lawmakers realize the difference between that and torturing someone.

Cookies · 03-07-2008, 03:22 PM

Although internet bullying may be frustrating for kids to overcome, but seriously.. Internet bullying? If someone is harassing you on IM, just block him.

waltky · 03-20-2008, 06:51 PM

When Suicide Clusters Shatter Communities...

Teen Suicides Shatter Nantucket Serenity
March 20, 2008 - Island Community Is Latest Town to Wrestle a Possible High School Suicide Cluster

Quote:

The year-round residents of Nantucket, the Massachusetts island best-known as an exclusive summer enclave for the wealthy, have been shocked out of a quiet existence by the deaths of three of the local high school's 400 students in less than a year. Two are confirmed suicides, and the most recent death remains under investigation. In nearby Needham, Mass., four young people committed suicide during an 18-month period from 2004 to 2006. And in neighboring Wellesley, Mass., three members of the class of 2007 committed suicide before last spring's graduation.

An ocean away, 16-year-old Jenna Parry recently became the 17th resident under the age of 28 to commit suicide in Bridgend, Wales, in the past 13 months. Like all of the other young victims from the Welsh town, Parry hanged herself. Nantucket is the latest of the communities to consider whether an epidemic may be under way — a phenomenon known as a "suicide cluster."

Also known as "suicide contagion," a cluster is defined as multiple suicides in a specific area during a certain time period, and experts say teens and their follow-the-leader tendencies are particularly susceptible. Determining the root causes of such an outbreak is tricky even for those who have studied the trends, and planning prevention is perhaps even more difficult. In the midst of tragedy, Nantucket islanders are learning that the way they respond as a community, or don't respond, may be critical to stemming the tide.

Teen Suicides Rock Nantucket

waltky · 04-01-2008, 12:50 AM

Granny says, "Fire the bullies!"...

Workplace Bullies: Bad for the Victim and the Bottom Line
March 31, 2008 - Workplace Bullying Can Leave Companies Struggling With Absenteeism and Turnover

Quote:

Chances are if you work with others, you'll be bullied at some point in your career. In the U.S., where the practice is being studied, an estimated 37 percent of workers, or about 54 million people, have been bullied at the office, or repeatedly mistreated in a health-harming way, according to a 2007 Zogby International survey. The percentage balloons to 49 percent of workers, 71.5 million people, when witnesses are included.

The problem is, however, unless you're at the receiving end of severe abuse, you're unlikely to realize it. Experts say there's a general lack of awareness about the bullying and the types of behaviors the term encompasses. This often prevents people from realizing that a boss or co-worker is a bully. There's also an element of personal shame involved.

"They're sinking into a really bad state emotionally, finding it harder to go to work and it might even affect their job performance," says David Yamada, a professor at Suffolk University Law School and president of the New Workplace Institute, a nonprofit that promotes healthy, productive and socially responsible workplaces. "Oftentimes people don't put the pieces together until it's too late."

MORE

h1dro · 04-07-2008, 05:13 AM

Police the internet? Why would anyone want to? The internet is the last great frontier, where people are free to express themselves. I wouldn't want people policing the internet unless it's highly illegal, but then again that's a slippery slope.

Icorigin · 04-07-2008, 10:33 PM

About Bullying:

Unless specifically NON-WARRANTED death threats, most any message sent to anyone else on the internet is to be assumed free speech and should not be censored.

However, if the person receiving the message indicates to a particular sender that he or she does not want any more and/or reasonably-similar messages sent to them again by that sender, the sender should seriously consider not re-sending that same message to avoid harassment.

About concubines:

In Texas it has been said that it is not legal for a teenaged woman (i.e. non-adult woman, but not "minor") to register as a State-certified bride if she is under 16 years old.

That does not include a girl of ANY past-puberty age who voluntary consents to be a COMMON-LAW concubine in a PRIVATE, MUTUALLY-CONSENTUAL,
PERMANENT MARITAL relationship with any-aged man who is then considered her husband in the Biblical sense (and also in the "legal" sense).

Indeed, it is better to be a common-law concubine not registered with the State as a non-certified non-licensed wife than to be a non-registered harlot, prostitute, escort, hooker, or streetwalker engaging in
non-State-registered non-State-licensed fornication or homosexual sodomy. Of course, familial incest is never a Scripturally-legitimate option.

LEVITICUS 20:13 =

13 (RSV) If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them.
13 (AVRLE) If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
13 (BBE) And if a man has sex relations with a man, the two of them have done a disgusting thing: let them be put to death; their blood will be on them.
13 (Darby) And if a man lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall certainly be put to death; their blood is upon them.
13 (Douay) If any one lie with a man as with a woman, both have committed an abomination: let them be put to death. Their blood be upon them.
13 (ERV) And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
13 (ESV) If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
13 (GWV) When a man has sexual intercourse with another man as with a woman, both men are doing something disgusting and must be put to death. They deserve to die.
13 (JB2000) If a man shall join himself with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
13 (JPS) And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Romans 1:27 =

27 (RSV) and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error.
27 (AVRLE) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
27 (BBE) And in the same way the men gave up the natural use of the woman and were burning in their desire for one another, men doing shame with men, and getting in their bodies the right reward of their evil-doing.
27 (Darby) and in like manner the males also, leaving the natural use of the female, were inflamed in their lust towards one another; males with males working shame, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was fit.
27 (Douay) And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts, one towards another: men with men, working that which is filthy and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error.
27 (ERV) and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.
27 (ESV) and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
27 (GWV) Likewise, their men have given up natural sexual relations with women and burn with lust for each other. Men commit indecent acts with men, so they experience among themselves the punishment they deserve for their perversion.
27 (JB2000) and likewise also the males, leaving the natural use of the females, burned in their lust one toward another, males with males committing nefarious works and receiving in themselves the recompense that proceeded from their error.

And First Corinthians 6:9-10......

9 (RSV) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts,
9 (AVRLE) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
9 (Darby) Do ye not know that unrighteous persons shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who make women of themselves, nor who abuse themselves with men,
9 (ERV) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,
9 (JB2000) Know ye not that the unjust shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor homosexuals,
9 (KJ21) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived: Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
9 (NKJV) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
9 (Noyes) Know ye not, that wrongdoers shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
9 (Rotherham) Or know ye not that, wrong–doers, shall not inherit, God’s kingdom? Be not deceiving yourselves:––neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomites,
9 (Webster) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
9 (YLT) have ye not known that the unrighteous the reign of God shall not inherit? be not led astray; neither whoremongers, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomites,

10 (RSV) nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.
10 (AVRLE) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
10 (ERV) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
10 (ESV) nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
10 (JB2000) nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.
10 (KJ21) nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God.
10 (NKJV) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
10 (Noyes) nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
10 (Rotherham) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners––shall inherit, God’s kingdom.
10 (Webster) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
10 (YLT) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, the reign of God shall inherit.

- CYBORNOGRAPHY
- PLETHORIUM

waltky · 05-16-2008, 05:33 AM

An adult should have better sense...

US 'cyber-bully' mother indicted
Friday, 16 May 2008 - A US woman whose daughter's friend committed suicide after she allegedly bullied her on MySpace is indicted by a Grand Jury.

Quote:

Lori Drew, 49, allegedly posed as a boy on the website to befriend Megan Meier, 13, who hanged herself after he broke off the virtual relationship. Ms Drew denies creating the profile on the social networking website and sending messages to Meier. She faces four charges, each carrying a maximum 5-year prison term.

Meier, a neighbour of Ms Drew in St Louis, Missouri, took her own life in October 2006. It is alleged that she killed herself after receiving several cruel messages, including one purporting to be from the fictitious 16-year-old boy - named Josh Evans saying the world would be better off without her.

Ms Drew faces charges of conspiracy and accessing protected computers without authorisation to inflict emotional distress. "Any adult who uses the internet or a social gathering website to bully or harass another person, particularly a young teenage girl, needs to realise that their actions can have serious consequences," said Los Angeles federal prosecutor Thomas O'Brien, who brought the charges.

Dean Steward, a lawyer representing Drew in the federal case, told the Associated Press a legal challenge to the charges was planned. "We thought when prosecutors in St Louis looked at the case and all the facts, it was clear no criminal acts occurred," he said. MySpace issued a statement saying it "does not tolerate cyberbullying" and was cooperating fully with the US attorney.

BBC NEWS | Americas | US 'cyber-bully' mother indicted

waltky · 05-17-2008, 01:51 AM

Internet freedom doesn't include the right to harass and bully...

Mo. lawmakers vote to bar cyber harassment
Fri., May. 16, 2008 - Bill, a response to teenager's suicide, now goes to the governor

Quote:

Responding to the suicide of a Missouri teenager who was teased over the Internet, state lawmakers Friday gave final approval to a bill making cyber harassment illegal. The bill updates state laws against harassment to keep pace with technology by removing the requirement that the communication be written or over the telephone. Supporters say the bill will now cover harassment from computers, text messages and other electronic devices.

It was approved 106-23 in the House and 34-0 in the Senate and now goes to the governor. Many of the bill's provisions came from a special gubernatorial task force that studied Internet harassment after the media last fall reported on the details of Megan Meier's suicide. Police say the 13-year-old St. Charles County girl hanged herself in 2006 after being teased on a social networking Web site.

A neighborhood mother, her 18-year-old employee and 13-year-old daughter are accused of creating a fake profile of an attractive teenage boy to determine what Meier was saying about the daughter online. The mother, Lori Drew, 49, was indicted in California on Thursday on federal counts of conspiracy and accessing protected computers without authorization to get information used to inflict emotional distress on the teen. An attorney for Drew said a legal challenge is being planned.

More Lawmakers vote to bar cyber harassment - Internet - MSNBC.com

See also:

Sex offenders hit with Internet law...

Sex offenders accused of social networking use
May. 16, 2008 - New Jersey suspects arrested after allegedly surfing MySpace, Facebook

Quote:

Three convicted sex offenders have been arrested in New Jersey after allegedly surfing social networking Web sites. They are believed to be the first charged under a new law restricting their use of the Internet, authorities said Friday. State police set up accounts on MySpace and Facebook, posing as teenagers to monitor the sex offenders, Lt. Joseph Furlong said, but he wouldn't elaborate. The suspects did not seem to be behaving improperly online, "but they are not allowed to be on there doing anything," he said.

The law adopted in January restricts Internet use for convicted sex offenders who used a computer to help commit their original sex crime, such as trying to lure a potential victim with electronic correspondence. The law also may be applied to paroled sex offenders under lifetime supervision, but exempts computer work done as part of a job or search for employment. Violators can face up to 18 months in prison. Last year, the state Parole Board also adopted a rule prohibiting sex offenders under supervision them from using the Internet to socialize or use social networking sites.

All three of the men charged — Pietro Parisi, 24, of Westville; Felice Black, 24, of Paterson; and Stanton Ulmer, 32, of Neptune — had underage victims in their original crimes and all are listed as moderate-risk sex offenders. Of the three, a judge had required only Parisi to be listed on the publicly available database of sex offenders.

Computers, Web camera seized

Eagle One · 07-11-2008, 07:50 AM

Chances are if you work with others, you'll be bullied at some point in your career. In the U.S., where the practice is being studied, an estimated 37 percent of workers, or about 54 million people, have been bullied at the office, or repeatedly mistreated in a health-harming way, according to a 2007 Zogby International survey. The percentage balloons to 49 percent of workers, 71.5 million people, when witnesses are included.

I'd like to see these "surveys" show a lot more details, like in what context were the survey questions asked, what questions were asked, and how do they define (in this case) "bullying." I've seen surveys used to support oddball agendas. For example; 100 people attend a seminar about "Abuse In The Workplace." They receive a long lecture declaring that anything that makes you physically or emotionally uncomfortable at work is abuse in the workplace. SURVEY: Have you ever been abused in your workplace? Now the seminar company can site "statistics indicate abuse in the workplace is a HUGE problem."

I question this bullying survey in particular because I was never bullied at work, nor did I see anyone else bullied, unless the usual ribbing, razzing and banter is bullying. Wait, wait, I think maybe I was bullied by a Drill Instructor at MCRD ; - )

waltky · 10-16-2008, 08:25 PM

Why it happens to the same kids all the time...

Schoolyard Bullying: Which Kids Are Most Vulnerable?
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008 - Playground gibes are a rite of passage for most school-age kids, but for some children, teasing at school can turn into outright violence and abuse.

Quote:

Researchers say that as many as 1 in 10 children suffer physical attacks, name-calling and other social aggression at school, and a new study suggests that a child's risk of becoming a chronic victim of bullying may depend on factors that appear very early in life. "Studies also show that peer victimization becomes increasingly stable over time, with the same children enduring such negative experiences throughout childhood and adolescence," write the authors of a study on victimization, published in the current issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. "The consequences associated with high and chronic victimization are manifold and include depression, loneliness, low self-esteem, physical health problems, social withdrawal, alcohol and/or drug use, school absence and avoidance, decrease in school performance, self-harm and suicidal ideation."

Given the overwhelming slate of potential harm, the aim of the study was to identify early predictors of victimization, along with behavioral interventions that may prevent it. The bulk of past research on the matter involved primary-school-age children, says Michel Boivin, a psychologist at Université Laval in Québec, Canada, and a co-author of the study; the new research tracks behavior in very young kids — as early as those in pre-preschool, when children first begin interacting with one another socially.

The research team studied data on 1,970 children — about half boys, half girls — and their families, all participants in the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. The children were born between October 1997 and July 1998 and represented a socio-economic cross-section of Quebec society. Mothers were surveyed about their children during their earliest school years — every six months up to age 6 — in order to determine how often children complained of suffering physical violence at school, being called names or being teased by their peers. Subsequently, the study asked the same questions of teachers and the children themselves.

More Schoolyard Bullying: Which Kids Are Most Vulnerable? - TIME

Cat · 10-16-2008, 09:59 PM

Every time the left comes up with a 'victim' to champion a cause...you can bet that PC is the intent.

The Fairness Doctrine would no doubt find it's way in to any legislation that poses as a protection for sensitive kids.
Which leads me to wonder at the parenting and sense of family that must be lacking whenever a 'bully' is able to destroy a childs self esteem.

I think people like the following are the ones who will benefit from internet controls crafted in the interest of protecting 'feelings.'

The Secret Army of Digg Trolls

For all the talk of openness and truth of social media, Web 2.0 and user tagged ad voted bookmarking, there’s a dark dirty little secret that no one wants to talk talk about, the dark army of digg trolls.

Who are these people and what do they do, well nothing short of manipulating the popular news stories, so the only stories that get exposure are those that agree with their view. So what is this manipulation I talk about … it’s abuse of bury feature. If you go to any story you can use the different tabs to see who voted for any story

waltky · 11-09-2008, 03:54 AM

Bullies are twisted...

Bullies may get kick out of seeing others in pain
Fri., Nov. 7, 2008 - Aggressive teens' brains light up at the sight of distress, experts say

Quote:

Brain scans of teens with a history of aggressive bullying behavior suggest that they may actually get pleasure out of seeing someone else in pain, U.S. researchers said on Friday. While this may come as little surprise to those who have been victimized by bullies, it is not what the researchers expected, Benjamin Lahey of the University of Chicago, who worked on the study, said in a telephone interview. "The reason we were surprised is the prevailing view is these kids are cold and unemotional in their aggression," said Lahey, whose study appears in the journal Biological Psychology.

"This is looking like maybe they care very much," said Lahey, who worked on the study with Jean Decety, also of the University of Chicago. The researchers compared eight boys ages 16 to 18 with aggressive conduct disorder to a group of eight adolescent boys with no unusual signs of aggression.

The boys with the conduct disorder had exhibited disruptive behavior such as starting a fight, using a weapon and stealing after confronting a victim. They showed both groups video clips of someone inflicting pain on another person and tracked brain activity with a type of imaging called functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI.

Brain reward centers light up