Up Close & Personal - Guest Entry

A few days ago I came across an article on the BBC News that caught my attention: "Blog death threats spark debate ".

While scanning through hundreds of supportive comments following Kathy Sierra's exit post I counted seventeen people who made reference to the fact they had been targets of either cyberbullies or cyberstalkers. The majority of the victims related how law enforcement advised them to stay off the Internet. That suggestion is not an acceptable solution to an escalating problem.

Internet activist, Andy Carvin, proposed that March 30, be declared "Stop Cyberbullying Day" in order to raise awareness about this intolerable conduct. Recognizing that the topic requires more than a day to brainstorm, Andy created an online social network called "Stop Cyberbullying". It’s a remarkable assembly of educators and professional people who exchange ideas on the subject. A member of the group authored the following guest entry.

And this above all

We may often feel, in an unfamiliar environment, that the reputation we hold amongst friends and colleagues doesn't travel with us and cyberspace is no exception. A stalker or bully, aware of this vulnerability takes advantage, yet in reality it is they that are at a disadvantage.

There's a host of them out there, and they may seem to have power and influence, forcing others to yield to their will, but one thing they will never do is reveal their identity. Some operate in the political sphere and in concert, others may be found in business related defamation.

In my own experience, some are so determined that even the might of Google can be intimidated, to side with the stalker against one's efforts to call out their identity.

It doesn't pay off in the end, no matter how many threats are made, if you are consistent and hold in mind that "to thine own self be true" is as valuable today as when Shakespeare first penned the words.

Thus, by always presenting as yourself, you are an identity with a principle, unafraid of speaking out against bullying. The detractor is anonymity demanding freedom of speech with no credibility, just an arrangement of letters on a screen, however intimidating they may seem.

There is real intimidation in this world, enforced by people with guns and corrupt social norms. If we fail to stand up and be counted, the values of our own societies codified in law are at risk and we head in the same direction.

Lift the rock and flush them out, they are guaranteed to scatter.

~Jeff Mowatt


(My sincere appreciation to Mr. Mowatt for allowing me to publish his comments.)

stopcyberbullying