This Side of the Creek

I will and apparently Facebook will as well.

Today, the social network will announce it’s new anti-bullying tools in the White House conference for bullying prevention and I am pleased with this news. An article can be found here.

Bullying has been around as long as humans have existed. It’s not a new phenomenon. However, the awareness that is now being raised surrounding bullying is something that should have been done decades ago.

As a counselor trainee, I have learned many things about the effects of bullying. My sister, Candice, is an intermediate school counselor at one of our local schools and I’m certain she can attest to the bullying that takes place in the schools on a daily basis. My professor, Dr. Butch Losey, has done much work regarding the issue and his most recent book, “Bullying, Suicide and Homicide,” will be available in April. He has shared stories with us about how bullying has led children, teens and even adults to end their own lives. He’s also shared stories of how he himself was bullied as an adolescent. His knowledge is endless and his work has included the development of assessment scales, implementation of school-based anti-bullying programs and more.

But this isn’t to re-write Dr. Losey’s resume. Instead, I want to speak to the heart of the matter: Those who bully are those who are unhappy with themselves or their lives, think the waters must part for them because they have narcissistic personality traits, and/or they are seeking some sort of attention from people around them — after all, negative attention is better than no attention.

When we project our own personal issues onto others by way of bullying, rarely do we stop to consider the long-term consequences of what we may say or do. Humans are humans. We are ALL the same at the core and we all deserve equal opportunity. Your love life is not more important than mine. Your job is not more important than mine. Your opinions are not more important than mine. Your life as a whole is not more important than mine.

Trying to inadvertently solve problems through bullying, violence or another inhumane act only creates more problems. It certainly changes others’ perceptions of the person doing the acts. I’m just trying to get us to see that bullying doesn’t need to happen. Yes, it will continue in the schools because childhood and adolescence are times of uncertainty, peer-pressure and figuring out our place in the world.

I ask you, what if we strip away all of the unnecessary material things in life, take away the ability to see (literally) and just accepted everyone for who they are? What do you think would happen then?

According to the Facebook article on Mashable, the social network takes down content that violates its policies. Individuals have the right and ability to report instances of cyberbullying, as well as content posted that is offensive, demeaning, sexual, etc. The article says Facebook users will now have the ability to privately message the person who posted the inappropriate content and can have an authority figure included in the reporting process.

Furthermore, the article states that Facebook will bring educational tools such as videos and materials to be downloaded.

Let us all join in the cause and do our part.