Amanda Todd

I got bullied for being a poor, smart, and quiet kid. I was picked on for having old clothes, my grandparents having an old beat up car, not having a Southern accent, etc. Kids would punch or shove me for no reason.

My grandfather told me that I was being a baby and that I needed to man-up. Yeah, my grandparents were kind of old school and were terrible parents. One day, some guy punched me in the arm for some reason, and I beat the snot out of him. Some people, like bullies, only understand violence.

Interestingly enough, girls really started to like me after that. Research also shows that disagreeable men make about 20% more each year than their nice counterparts. I must be on to something here.

That said, I spent a lot of my early years as a sad and lonely young person, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

rotard wrote: One day, some guy punched me in the arm for some reason, and I beat the snot out of him. Some people, like bullies, only understand violence.

There is a lot of truth in this statement.

My middle son was having a bit of a problem, at the beginning of the school year, with a kid that gets off at his bus stop. My advice to him was don't lose his temper, don't start the fight, but if it comes to that, finish it and fight dirty. A punch was thrown causing a bloody nose and black eye, the other kid got the crap kicked out of his nuts, and the problem was solved. The two boys are friends now and after the story got around, nobody picks on my son. It's an important lesson. For all my kids it's the time they realize that Mom and Dad can't jump in a solve all their problems. Sometime they have to fight their own battles. It's life, they have to deal with it, and turn the other cheek only goes so far.

By the same token, he knows if he starts a fight or picks on someone, he has to deal with the Wrath of Dad. I won't abide by bullies in my house.

My dad once told me 'don't you ever let me hear that you started a fight. But if you are in one you damn well better finish it.'

Curmudgeon wrote: My dad once told me 'don't you ever let me hear that you started a fight. But if you are in one you damn well better finish it.'

I got that EXACT same quote, word for word, from my father. I intend on passing it to my child.

So you guys have a solution to bullying face to face.

what about when it is not? Say, via facespace or twitbook?

alfadriver wrote: what about when it is not? Say, via facespace or twitbook?

The simple solution is delete facebook/myspace and flush twitter down the E36 M3ter

alfadriver wrote: So you guys have a solution to bullying face to face. what about when it is not? Say, via facespace or twitbook?

I think the implication is that Amanda should have tracked down her stalker (stalk him?), meet with him face to face, and beat him up/kick him in the nuts. Then all her problems would have been solved

yamaha wrote:

alfadriver wrote: what about when it is not? Say, via facespace or twitbook?

The simple solution is delete facebook/myspace and flush twitter down the E36 M3ter

thankfully, I don't have kids to try that move on, but I suspect that it would not be all that easy to do.

Cone_Junky wrote:

alfadriver wrote: So you guys have a solution to bullying face to face. what about when it is not? Say, via facespace or twitbook?

I think the implication is that Amanda should have tracked down her stalker (stalk him?), meet with him face to face, and beat him up/kick him in the nuts. Then all her problems would have been solved

This is a rather simpleminded take on it.

alfadriver wrote: So you guys have a solution to bullying face to face. what about when it is not? Say, via facespace or twitbook?

Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.

One of the first lessons my kids learn.

That and for the most part I keep them off of faceplant and tweet-e-bird. If they want friends they can go outside and play.

alfadriver wrote: thankfully, I don't have kids to try that move on, but I suspect that it would not be all that easy to do.

No, not easy......IMHO though, they shouldn't even bother about any of those until they're older. I get on my second cousin for this all the time(she's 13) with things she posts on facebook. I can't help the fact that I think my actual cousin(her mom) is a bad parent, but I'll tease a bit to keep her in check without pissing everyone off. (Whats god parent for afterall).....

This is why I don't recommend putting any real information about yourself on social media that you don't want people to use....

Toyman01 wrote: That and for the most part I keep them off of faceplant and tweet-e-bird. If they want friends they can go outside and play.

this x 11tybillion

I got bullied for being one of the few white kids.
I tattoo'd myself black.

alfadriver wrote:

yamaha wrote:

alfadriver wrote: what about when it is not? Say, via facespace or twitbook?

The simple solution is delete facebook/myspace and flush twitter down the E36 M3ter

thankfully, I don't have kids to try that move on, but I suspect that it would not be all that easy to do.

Oh really? Turn of the electrons and go all luddite. We had to do this to my baby sister. Phones turned off, internet turned off, only allowed out of the house to school. Made her delete the damn profiles, too. E36 M3 was fixed in 3 weeks, which is forever on the internet.

Technology is a luxury, not a necessity. Unless you have achieved dork status. Then its a necessity.

Reminded me of the best video of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isfn4OxCPQs&feature=related

alfadriver wrote: So you guys have a solution to bullying face to face. what about when it is not? Say, via facespace or twitbook?

I'm not saying that's what she should have done. I do think she should have pulled the Facebook plug and tried making friends with people face to face.

For what it's worth, I will not allow my daughter to have a Facebook page or twitter account. She has Skype, I don't have a problem with that because it's much like talking on the phone. In fact, the other night I 'met' a guy from Canada via her Skype account. Nice kid. Even if he does say I talk like Hank Hill.

I keep hearing of schools that use Twitter and on line stuff. So what then?

Force the teachers to not use a valid tool?

You guys make it sound so easy... why does it seem to be oh so very not?

Punch a kid in the face, pull the plug, deny access.... Not really solving anything there, just attacking the symptoms.

Fighting back against bullies might not be the greatest idea these days. It can get a kid in more trouble than it's worth, and in a big school with a lot of wannabe tough guys, it can be seen as a challenge or an invitation more than a put-off.