Cyber Bullying is Unethical posted by Glory Jane G. Raquidan

I just read an article owned by a blogger named quietlyalmost from wordpress site dated Octber 17, 2011. http://digitalliteracy2.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/cyberbullying-is-unethical/. And obviously it tells that cyber bullying is unethical. I do believe in this because in today's generation we are being hooked by high technologies. Since it continuously diverse and becomes more accessible, people  somehow use this as their tool to commit bad acts and social networking sites are the most common used in committing unethical acts such as CYBER BULLYING. 

This is what the article tells about: 

While the internet has made a huge impact on the world in many positive ways, there is definitely a dark side of the web.  The nature of the internet and the level of anonymity provided in online forums can be a good thing, especially for those who do not feel comfortable with themselves in their lives outside of the internet, but anonymity and the ease of creating alternate personalities online can cause many problems.

Take the case of Megan Meier’s suicide in 2006 as an example.  Megan was the victim of an online scam in which a fake Myspace profile was created with the intention of gaining her trust, as well as information, in order to later humiliate her.  The profile was supposedly of a 16 year old boy who had just moved to the area and contacted the girl with intentions of befriending Megan, although in reality it was a former friend of Megan’s, the friend’s mother, and an employee of the mother.  It takes a special kind of bitch to target a 13-year-old girl when you are an adult, even if the girl in question did hypothetically spread rumors about your own daughter.  It is definitely unethical for any one to bully or deceive another person on the internet in such a way, and this case was heinous because it eventually caused Megan Meier to hang herself in her closet when the boy she thought she was talking to became hostile toward her.  Megan never did find out that the boy was actually a hoax, which makes the situation even more sad.

a smiling Megan Meier, not long before her suicide

While it is one thing for kids and teenagers to engage in cyberbullying against one another, it is quite another when adults get involved and attack a child.  Not only is this type of behavior unethical, but it is immoral and just plain malicious.  The identities of the perpetrators of the events leading to Megan Meier’s death were eventually revealed on the internet and they received some harassment as a result of their actions, such as vandalism of their property.  In my opinion, they are lucky that is all that happened after committing such unethical and maliced behavior.  If I was a mother and found out my daughter committed suicide over a “prank” played on her by not only a former friend, but adults as well, I would have tracked those people down and shanked every one of them.

When you’re on the internet, keep in mind that there are real people online, and they have real feelings even though they are interacting through computers.  The internet can give you anonymity and allow you to converse with people in ways you couldn’t do in person, but that doesn’t mean you should act like an asshole.  Just because you are interacting with others through a computer, and instead of a face, you look at a screen, it doesn’t mean you should treat others with disrespect.  The saying “treat others as you would like to be treated” still applies.  Seriously, if you engage in the type of cyberbullying that has lead to so many suicides, and so many parents losing their children over people who can’t just grow up and live without being mean to others, you are a piece of shit and should take a look at how you treat others.  Live and let live; there is no need to attack other people, online or not.

I feel so bad for all the families who have lost loved ones due to cyberbullying, and I often wish there was more that could be done for the victims.  We are put on this world to support one another and help each other, not to tear others down and make people feel bad about themselves.  While I truly believe the world should live in peace and harmony, I know this is highly unlikely to happen, and that cyberbullying will keep occuring.  Just know that you are never truly anonymous, even online.  There are always ways to track someone down and find them.  While you may think you are being funny with online bullying, and may even feel it’s not “real” because it’s online, the victim will probably feel differently.  Don’t be surprised if you engage in cyberbullying and your victim tracks you down and beats your face in, rather than hurting themselves.