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Lead by Example
Where we discuss how Malta’s younger generation are being fed the wonderful example of adult cyber-bullying – cyber-terrorism.
We missed out on yesterday night’s discussion on J’accuse. It seems to have turned out rather well notwithstanding the early temptation to fall into the usual trap of discussing on the basis of “where you are coming from” and not “what you are saying”. I admit that J’accuse does have a nauseating tendency to preach about this matter but ever since our venture into the art of opinion-columnistry we have constantly warned about the dangers of the national mindset when it comes to the so-called “dialogue”. The anti-personal weaponry of those in whose interests it is to bring down the levels of argumentation to red vs blue, taste vs ham, (perceived) good vs evil has now been boosted with the coming of age of the media tools provided by the internet. Plategate has given us a clear demonstration of a shift from the arena of judgement under rule of law to bullying by altering perception. While we are made to waste time in this exercise of distinguishing between the latter and the former, the potential rots and ills of society will continue to propagate.
There will be many more J’accuse posts this week focusing on the Bondiplus flop and end of investigative journalism (Gurnalizmu fuq kollox – if you please) but let us point out one of the inherent dangers posed by the hopeless examples being given by some quarters of the media when it comes to the use of the tools for character assassination. A study published this week shows that 1 in 10 teenagers suffer from cyber-bullying.
“This type of bullying can be more serious than conventional bullying. At least with conventional bullying the victim is left alone on evenings and weekends,” said Ann Frisén, Professor of Psychology at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
What has happened recently in Malta does not fall within the definition of cyber-bullying because, first of all, cyber-bullying is limited to activity between children and teenagers. Contrary to all indications, the persons involved in bullying by internet in Malta are not children. That does not mean however that their example is not being followed. In case you are not following me with your prejudice mask set on off I am not only referring to Plategate. Facebook groups of the “I hate …” kind are also examples of bullying. So is the spreading of information about other people that can be humiliating (even though with the limits of legal). Cyber-bullying graduates to the school of cyber-terrorism at a later stage – and it is important to note that in order to bully you need to be in possession of information that you actively searched on the net. The mens rea (or the intention to commit the “crime” – not the motive) begins at that stage – when a person combs the internet for information to be used later to bully someone into a corner through humiliation.
Our kids today are already being taught the hopeless method of argumentation that veers so desperately away from logic. The latest addition to the unofficial national curriculum (apart from the sudden demonisation and complete misunderstanding of blogs and blogging) is the sensationalisation of cyber-bullying and cyber-terrorism.
More info on Cyberbullying at www.cyberbullying.org
Well tall Agrippa foamed with rage
Just look at him on this very page
He seizes Arthur seizes Ned
He smashes all their tiny heads
Then they don’t scream and they don’t call
They are corpses one and all
Three little corpses one two three
Theyâ’re all as dead as can be
Well those silly bully boys
They lost more than their toys
Well those silly bully boys
Because Agrippa they annoyed
Well those silly bully boys
They lost more than their toys
Silly bully boys
Because Agrippa they annoyed
(from Bully Boys by the Tiger Lillies)
Prosit. Blog bis-sens.
Naf li jien antipatiku imma dan POST. Bhalissa qed niffissa fin-nomenklatura… ghiduli “geek” kemm tridu imma hemm differenzi bejn
BLOG: is-sit internet personali bhal J’accuse (www.akkuza.com)
POST: “artiklu” wiehed fuq Blog (bhal “Lead by Example”)
u
COMMENT: dak li halla Sully per ezempju.
tant biex naghrfu “nedukaw”
U bilhaqq. Grazzi. (where are my manners?)
and jacques pls explain the meaning of blogger while you’re at it, as opposed to people who comment online..:)
oops I was meant to use this button wasn’t I?
Funny anna.
Just in case your question is not in jest a blogger is someone who owns a blog. I am a blogger. Anna is not because she does not own a blog or put up posts. She is a reader of the blog. When she posts a comment she does not become a blogger. There is no word for someone posting comments (unless you like the term “commentator” – which is also another word for “cheap potato” – bad joke warning).
You can be a temporary blogger by sending in a short piece to someone like me who would put it up on a blog as a post. In which case the Guest Post would make you a Guest Blogger for a while :)
Which reminds me. Don’t forget the Austin Sammut Post. Guys can still send in their pieces for posting on j’accuse. Tiffullawx.
well actually, I was being serious because people who post on timesonline seem to have this weird impression that they are “bloggers”….
of course, if you want we can always discuss the difference between “blogger” and “blogger” (eg. there are bloggers, and then there are…well…you know):0
ps. loved the potato joke, corny, but cute
… and there I was, thinking I was pedantic :P :P
Plategate has given us a clear demonstration of a shift from the arena of judgment under rule of law to bullying by altering perception.
Beautifully put. But is not the altering of perception an age-long strategy used, say, by nations at war, people in business, political parties and schoolgirls envious of the achievements of their class ‘mates’ that supplements envy with a terrible feeling of underachievement and inadequacy?
Cyber-Bullying is therefore an issue that needs to be addressed and not only when it hits institutions who have laws to protect them. Values need to be identified, It is perhaps a part of the beauty of growing up.