Say No to Cyber Bullying

Recently, I have become victim to a serious case of cyber bullying. While there is evil in this world, it is important to remember our calling as Christians, that: "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16.

As an educator, I'd like to encourage youth and raise awareness on cyber bullying. What I have been experiencing can be used for good, to enlighten others. To give you an overview, we'll be looking at what cyber bullying is; what you can do to stop cyber bullying; how you can be a supportive bystander; where you can get help.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that is carried out through an internet service such as email, chat room, discussion group, online social networking, instant messaging or web pages. It can happen in school, or out of it, any hour of the day, from people you know, and sometimes people you don’t know. It can leave you feeling unsafe and alone. Being cyberbullied might include having any of the following happen to you:

• being sent threatening emails
• being teased or made fun of online
• having rumours spread about you online
• having unpleasant comments, pictures or videos about you sent or posted on websites (e.g. Twitter, Facebook)
• being sent unwanted message
• having someone use your screen name or password and pretending to be you to hurt someone else
• being deliberately ignored or left out of things on the internet.

Cyberbullying can happen to anyone. 

What can you do to stop cyberbullying?

If you are being cyberbullied, it is possible that you’re feeling powerless and isolated. But there are options and things you can do to stop the problem.

• Tell someone 
• Block the cyberbully  
• Report the problem 
• Keep the evidence 
• Change your contact details 
• Keep your username and passwords secret 
• If messages are threatening or serious, get in touch with legal authorities

How can you be a supportive bystander?

Bystanders can be either part of the bullying problem or an important part of the solution to stop bullying. Just as we have human rights we also have responsibilities to respect and protect the rights of others. A supportive bystander will take action to protect the rights of others. A supportive bystander will use words and/or actions that can help someone who is being bullied. 

There is no one size fits all approach to being a supportive bystander.  For supportive bystanders to take safe and effective action here are some suggestions: 

• Make it clear to your friends that you won’t be involved in bullying behaviour
• Never stand by and watch or encourage bullying behaviour
• Do not harass, tease or spread gossip about others, this includes on social networking sites like Facebook 
• Never forward on or respond to messages or photos that may be offensive or upsetting
• Support the person who is being bullied to ask for help e.g. go with them to a place they can get help or provide them with information about where to go for help
• Report it to someone in authority or someone you trust e.g. at school to a teacher, or a school counsellor; at work to a manager; if the bullying is serious, report it to the police; if the bullying occurs on Facebook, report it to Facebook.

Get Help

If you have been bullied or witnessed others been bullied and need help contact:

Kids Help Line (1800 55 1800) is a free and confidential, telephone counseling service for 5 to 25 year olds in Australia. http://www.kidshelp.com.au/

Lifeline (13 11 14) is a free and confidential service staffed by trained telephone counsellors. http://www.lifeline.org.au

The Australian Human Rights Commission (1300 656 419) has a complaint handling service that may investigate complaints of discrimination, harassment and bullying http://www.humanrights.gov.au/complaints_information/index.html

Reach Out is an online community for young people that can help with mental health and wellbeing related issues they also provide opportunities for connecting with young people. http://au.reachout.com

Getting legal advice

You can seek legal advice. Fixing the problem yourself is probably going to be quicker and make you feel better. But sometimes if nothing else seems to work the law can help. In many cases people engaging in cyber-bullying can be sued for defamation and can be sued for inflicting emotional distress. They may also be charged with various computer crimes. Receiving a letter from a solicitor or a query from police will often bring an end to the bullying and bring parents (and schools) into line by encouraging them to take complaints seriously and more closely supervise the activity of bullies.

Some good websites which deal with cyber bullying

• www.netalert.net.au also has a hotline you can call if you need help
• www.bullyingnoway.com.au can provide you with tactics that you can use to respond to bullying
• www.staysmartonline.gov.au
• www.cybersmartkids.com.au
• www.netsmartz.org
• www.thinkuknow.org.au/
• www.soso.org.au/

The Armour of God

To conclude, I'd like to encourage you with this last bit of verse from the book of Ephesians 6:10-18: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people."

Sources: 

• Youth Beyond Blue: http://www.youthbeyondblue.com/factsheets-and-info/fact-sheet-23-cyberbullying/
• Australian Human Rights Commission: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/what-you-can-do-stop-bullies-be-supportive-bystander-violence-harassment-and-bullying-fact-sheet
• Law Stuff-- Know Your Rights: http://www.lawstuff.org.au/qld_law/topics/bullying/cyber-bullying

Some videos to give further insight on the issue of cyberbullying:

World Teacher's Day

Today is World Teachers' Day. It was very inspiring stumbling across this Ted X talk. Imagine a country where girls must sneak out to go to school, with deadly consequences if they get caught learning. This was Afghanistan under the Taliban, and traces of that danger remain today. 22-year-old Shabana Basij-Rasikh runs a school for girls in Afghanistan. She celebrates the power of a family's decision to believe in their daughters -- and tells the story of one brave father who stood up to local threats. (Filmed at TEDxWomen)

Camping

Recently I went camping with some mates to Girraween National Park; a beautiful place with some unexpected, gorgeous scenery :) We spent two days in the quiet place, meditating upon what the Lord would have of us in the season to come. It was great reflection time, and also a time of walking, mountain climbing, creek swimming, "golf-soccer" (a game we invented where we used a soccer ball instead of a golf ball, and used one of our shirts as the target; and some 'ceremonial sticks' to stop the ball rolling, as we were playing on a sloped piece of land), stargazing, kangaroo and wildflower viewing, etc., good times :)

Such a pleasant time away with great company. Really loved the time to spend meditating upon the Bible and being encouraged and challenged by mates in faith. I have some precious memories from the trip that I will keep in my heart for a long time. The clear starlit sky; the calm winds; clear air; God revealing himself in so many beautiful ways.


Scribbled pieces in my journal at bedtime too, or rather, 'tent-time':

Camping Meditation (1)

God, like two towering oak trees,

You reveal yourself to me—

underneath the tent, but still

visible in prayer—

You whisper the calmest of all psalms

it is the whisper and hushing of leaves

past my senses—You like two oak trees—

shaped like a love-heart meadow,

committed to the sky.

Camping Meditation (2)

A water well lapses and speaks of its own purity. Yet the crescent moon can even carve the mossiest edges of your form. You God are the protector—I have been searching endlessly for You. When all You were was the wind in the trees, the darting of the words that penetrate me from your holy books—your scripture Lord, exalt! Praise! It is You who has known me before I was born in the womb of generations past that will continue through the generations to come; effervescent—as the countless stars at night, you are there always. When I say it is dark, You command the night away—the carved bones of the mountain has poured its many established boulders over the years—but you evolve into something greater—a fossil of my testimony for You that any forbearers will go onto the generations time upon time, that when the Earth changes its many lapping currents through my intermittent veins, those churning estuaries will still speak of transparency, that I may join You in the many inclinations of salt and light.