As you probably saw I made my first ever YouTube video the other day and while most of you wrote fantastic and positive comments one particular remark really knocked me back. The comment, I received was very nasty, it mainly targeted my appearance and was just generally horrid, I didn't reply and just deleted the comment, trying my best to rise above it.
The person responsible had no blog or youtube channel so really I understand that she was just a cowardly person with nothing better to do than be nasty. As I'm quite a strong person it didn't upset me much, but it really made me think about bullying via social media and how it can really affect some peoples mental stability and well being, especially my younger audience.
When I was at school there was no such thing as social media so I could leave my bullies at school and come home to peace, but nowadays young people are forced to quite often take their bullies home with them, because of social media. My advice if you're being bullied online is to hit that block button, get rid of them, don't even stress yourself out reading comments. If you are receiving nasty texts or phone calls, either call yourself or get a parent to call your service provider and have your number changed. If you have an iphone and have done the update you can now block any number, just tap the 'i' (info) button next to the callers number or name, scroll down the page and right at the bottom tap 'Block this Caller'.
I really hope that many of you have heard of Lizzie Velásquez, Author, Motivational Speaker and Anti Bullying activist, who was also labeled via social media as 'the worlds ugliest woman'. Lizzie has a rare genetic condition that amongst other things gives her an appearance that is considered 'ugly' by society. As a teenager Lizzie was faced with death threats via Youtube and was told by many, via social media, 'to do the world a favour and kill herself'. Now I know this is an extreme case, but I just wanted to highlight Lizzie's story, because like many of you, she's been through all the crap and come out the other side as an absolutely amazing and inspirational human being.
If you're being bullied at school, at work, via social media, then please please please, TELL SOMEONE. A parent, a teacher, a member of your family or a friend that you trust, even me! Just please don't go through it alone. People often bully, because there is something very wrong in their own lives, bullies are cowards and they have absolutely no right to make your life a living hell! I was bullied at school, the girl that bullied me once followed me around all lunch time with a group of horrid girls and then found a quiet spot to push me down some stairs. I now know (because of facebook) that those girls all have several illegitimate children, all fathered by different people and all three live on benefits and are constantly bitching about how they're going to court for this and that...my message is that bullies never win, if you don't let them.
If you need to talk please drop me an email.
Stay strong my loves
Welcome to the world of trolls! If anyone watches your videos, you are bound to get them. It is a shame to be honest and really does highlight the scum of humanity! Just focus on all the lovely comments you receive and ignore the haterzzz ;) I'm sure they're just jealous of you to be honest! I'm going to pop along and watch your video now! xx
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Hi Becca! Thank you for your comment! It just saddens me that we live in a world where this is considered to be a fun past time. I always take it as jealousy, im very comfortable in my own skin nowadays, but when I was younger this would have really gotten to me. I'm just concerned for more vulnerable people. Thank you, i hope you enjoyed it, I know its a bit fuzzy, the camera confuses me! haha! Thanks for your comment! xx
DeleteI can't actually believe this! Disgusting. You did the right thing by deleting and rising above!
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Hi Dasiy, thankyou for your comment hun! I know its appalling, but whatever, haters gonna hate ;) haha xx
DeleteSocial network bullies are the worst kinds. Bullying in the first place is cowardly and shows nothing but one's insecurities. But the effects are really bad. Counseling should be done for people on both ends if possible.
ReplyDeleteLove this post!
Ayesha
Defining Me
Bloglovin|Google+|facebook|pinterest|Twitter
Hi Ayesha, I completely agree, hiding behind a computer screen makes this all the more cowardly! xx
Deleteugh, some people are the worst. i honestly don't understand what joy it brings to them to put someone down?
ReplyDeletei absolutely hate bullying and it is such a big deal and becoming even bigger, unfortunately.
I hope anyone who is being bullied knows that they should only rise above them, just as you said, and to not face it alone but tell someone.
great post! and good for you =)
xo, Brikena
www.jarofjoy.blogspot.com
I hate it too and I really don't understand it, me too, I really hope my readers feel they can get in touch, now that I have a fairly large platform, I'd like to share my concerns about bullying! xx
DeleteI've been bullied for the past 6 months, not via social media, but at school. I couldn't leave it though, as I'm one of those people who seems to still be hanging onto the bad things, even 5 years later, when a lot more good things have happened.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, I spoke to a teacher, who literally just stopped the bullying (emotional and physical) the other day. Today has been my best day at school for a long time!! :)
I'm sorry to hear about that comment again. Yours is one of my favourite blogs, so you don't deserve nasty comments. At least you have the talent to write a blog, and film videos!!
Hello my little Tooty Fruity! Thats so vile and I'm so sorry that happened to you! You did the right thing by telling someone! I'm so happy that you had a great bully free day. Her comment didn't hurt me, infact I just had a good old laugh with my boyfriend about all the insults, we turned it around and just laughed at how sad she was. I love writing my blog and I'd never change anything I say or do in order to please the small mind of another petty individual. I hope the bullying stops now, for good! Just carry on being you and if you can, try not to retaliate, I always find that bullies get bored, if you just don't care and remember if all else fails, just imagine them on the loo trying to do a big poo! Pulling a funny constipation face! hahahaha! xxx
DeleteHaha, laughed so hard at the last line!!
DeleteBullying is stopping now, thank you for the support!
I'm glad you didn't take it seriously, she is pathetic and sad. People can be so stupid sometimes, and there's that phrase I keep seeing with picture backgrounds:
"Just check you'r perfect before you judge me!"
It makes me laugh sometimes that my bully once told me she was more mature than me.
Because you have to be pretty mature to tell someone they're a "lezzer".
What a great post!!! I have been myself a victim of online bullying, first through some "innocent" comments on my blog, from fake profiles telling me I was too old - I'm 41 - and fat to be blogging. I simply deleted those comments and never ever posted them - which I now believe I should have done. THen it escalated to emails from fake mail adresses, saying the same things, over and over again, that I was ridiculous and what not. Finally, one of those blogs whose mission in life is to steal - and yes, this is theft - pictures of other bloggers from their own blogs so they can post those on their blog and simply make fun of said blogger, and humiliate her and bully her took a special care to dedicate one of their posts and a facebook page to my person. With Facebook, I simply denounced the page, and a few people I told the story did the same. But not happy with this I then started receiving emails again, this time not only focusing on humiliating me but also involving my underage son. At that point I made a post about the situation - exposing the abuse that had been going on for a while - and replied to one of the emails informing them if it kept on I was just going to take my computer to the police and place charges. It stoped completely. SO yes, never ever silence these things. Never. Tell the world.
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That is absolutely terrible! and I'm so sorry this happened to you and to your family. Its absolutely disgusting. You were right in thinking about going to the police, thats exactly what I would have done. Im happy to hear it has stopped now and that you can carry on blogging in peace. Your story just proves that yes, you should ALWAYS tell someone what is going on, take action if it gets to the point where you cannot simply press that block button. Thank you for sharing your story. I think it comforts people to know that they are not alone, because when you are being bullied it can feel like you and your bullies are the only people on the planet. x
DeleteI used to have a YouTube channel and would occasionally receive comments attacking my appearance. The people who left those comments never had themselves as their profile picture which actually made it easier for me to not be affected by the comments. It just reminded me that they have their own insecurities and are probably trying to drag myself and others down on the internet to make themselves feel better.
ReplyDeleteI hope people realise that it's ok to block people online rather than trying to fight back. I've seen far too many people (particularly young girls) try to defend themselves and it just gets worse and worse. One day those pathetic people who think attacking people on the internet is the answer to their problems will eventually grow up (hopefully).
Hi Mel, thank you for your comment. After seeing the comment, I had a look around on youtube and you're so right about young girls trying to fight back, that's precisely why I wrote this piece. Theres a time and a place to fight back and thats exactly what these bullies want for entertainment. I really hope they grow up too! x
DeleteThis is such an inspiring post. If people don't have anything nice to say then they shouldn't say it at all.
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GreyWalls
Thanks doll, you're so right! I just wanted people to know that they are not alone :) x
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