The Bullying Debate Part 2

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SpeakFree Series

The Bullying Debate Part 2

May 2005

ASKJB

EDITORIAL NOTE:

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

(Modified from original by Producer)

Because you have stopped by here and presumably looked around, you grasp the concept of the SpeakFree website. (If you haven’t… look around here a bit.) But there seems to be some confusion. This is not PSA website for any particular organization. This is not an activism website. This is a commercial outlet for people to express opinions.

The furor was sparked by the WHO IS THE REAL BULLY? story. It appears that many people responded to the article because they saw the “B” word in the title but didn’t actually read the story. We are not crusading for any sort of new laws to be passed. This website is a forum to discuss current events, share opinions and thoughts. The direction of this site is clearly laid out and explained throughout the many pages online. This is not an anti-bullying website, not an anti-gun website, and not a political website.

The site is scheduled to be updated once a week and there needs to be patience to give enough time to sort through written submissions as they come in. Lots come through every day. The website has logged 14,000 hits in its first month. This is not a seven day a week operation so information sent in may take a couple of days to get to. JB has been very busy this week with stories appearing in newspapers so responses to SpeakFree e-mail may be delayed. We may be adding more bodies to the crew very soon. Also, the e-mail address for “Ads Info” is for inquiries about advertising on the SpeakFree site and other Sig company websites. Any submissions sent to this for FreeStylin’ Feedback will not reach the intended destination.

FEATURED STORY THIS WEEK:

Blame society, former bully says

When I was about 10, one of the neighborhood kids beat up my little brother. I beat up the bully & his mother pulled me off him & blamed me. I was a few months older, somewhat taller, one grade ahead of him, but skinny, about 20 pounds lighter, and a girl. I saw myself as a hero.

But I could also be a bully. I picked on a girl at school who was mentally kind of slow. I don't remember how long it went on, but I think I terrorized her. I still regret it. Probably the one thing I've done in my life that I regret the most. That says a lot, as I'm 64.

I think we're all to blame for bullies and for the climate in which bullies are often admired and praised. A climate that glorifies violence.

This is the society that tells boys they can't cry or play with dolls, and calls boys that do wimps, sissies, and words I no longer use.

This is the society where some professional athletes spend as much time fighting each other as they do playing their sport. And this is the society where a little kids' parents get so abusive to the players, coaches, and referees that some kids are afraid to 'play ball'.

This is the society that lets men get away with hitting their wives, girlfriends and daughters, saying they 'need it' to keep them in line.

This is the society that says a man is someone who uses his fists and has a right to defend what is his, even if it means keeping a gun in the house, and taking the chance that the gun will hurt or kill someone by accident or intention or in an act of desperation.

This is the society in which kids see more violence on TV and in their neighborhoods than my parents used to read about in the newspaper (pre-TV).

This is the society where it is almost impossible to have a conversation without a reference to violence, murder, or suicide. For example, "Don't kill yourself over it", "Go jump off a bridge", "Death by chocolate", "A dress to die for", and "I could just kill him." Those are just a few of the expressions I hear every day.

How can we expect our kids not to be violent when they grow up in a society that's permeated so by violence. The frontier mentality? Perhaps so. But we're no longer battling mountain lions and bears in the wilderness. And the jungle out there where it isn't safe for our kids is made up of our cities, our towns, and, sadly, our schools.

-Pat. Columbia, Maryland

Last week’s WebPoll

Do you own a gun? And, what country do you live in?

Yes- 25%

No- 75%

Undecided- 0%

RESPONSE:

U.S. – Yes 83%, No 17%

Canada – Yes 12%, No 88%

PART TWO INCLUDES

-a former bully speaks out

-reaction to Featured Story from Part 1

-another edition of “ASK JB”

-results of last week’s WebPoll

-readers continue to rant in another SpeakFree-for-all

The Bullying Debate continues. Take a look at some of what was sent in last week.

Lots and lots of responses were sent in to our series that debuted last week. Unfortunately it seems that many people were making up personal information that couldn’t be verified for posting. Lots of e-mails sent to the addresses submitted in Go FreeStylin’ bounced back saying they were invalid or we did not hear back to our confirmation message. Those responses cannot be posted. However, there is a significant representation of the submissions we received.

PART TWO CONTINUES