It comes from ABC Radio National and so you'll get to practice deciphering the Australian accent this week! Just to warn you that there are derogatory and offensive comments as teenagers share the destructive words their peers wield as weapons in the battle that is bullying.Street Stories, 18 February: We’re Watching You
1. “When conflicts _______ young people are likely to use their ______ with ________ as their weapon”
2. What did Natasha receive in the form of a text message?
3. Why is text messaging so bad?
4. “Girls ________ ____ cyber bullying more than boys”
5. What are teens mostly being victimized for, aside from looks?
6. What is said about stereotypes?
7. What was Natasha’s dad’s first reaction to the text message?
8. “Two’s _______, three’s __ _______”
9. What was the mother of the bully’s reaction when Natasha’s mum called her?
10. “Maybe it was a bit ______ out of _______”. What does that mean?
11. “Teachers have a bit more _______ about what is going on”. What does that mean?
12. What did bullying used to be before technology?
13. What word was used to mean not knowing that bullying is happening but it’s harmful all the same?
14. What type of young person opts for cyber bullying?
15. What is said to be the worst type of bullying?
Article: Cyber Bullies are Wrecking Lives
1. How does cyber bullying differ from “conventional” bullying?
2. How is Avalon described to mean she doesn’t want to talk to others?
3. What adjective is used to mean that messages can be critical and disrespectful?
4. The adjective to describe students having technological skills?
5. What aspect of cyber bullying makes it more accessible to students?
6. Cyber bullying is illegal in Australia, true or false.
7-10. Write a comment below to compare what you’ve heard/read here to what you know about cyber bullying in your school (either now or when you were in high school). Include your ideas of what a parent’s role is.
4 comments:
I can't think of the word "bully" without bad memories and, more recently, Larry Clark's film, coming to mind...
Anyway, I'm still officially in "Fantas" mode - like many others, believe you me - so I might skip this one until Sunday or Monday.
[If you haven't seen the 2001 film "Bully" and think you have what it takes to bear (I'll never forget that one) the film, in which a bully is killed by those who he bullied, the final sentences of Roger Ebert's brilliant review stayed in my mind and might arouse your curiosity:
"I believe "Bully" is a masterpiece on its own terms, a frightening indictment of a society that offers absolutely nothing to some of its children--and an indictment of the children, who lack the imagination and courage to try to escape. Bobby and his killers deserve one another."]
From M:
I did not witness cyber bullying when I was in school - it was more physical and "in your face", to use a videogame term, and less one-on-one, like it is portrayed there. Obviously, this has to do with the fact cell phones and the Internet were present but not as widespread as they are now.
I couldn't say I was surprised - since every new knife can cut, if you know what I mean - but quite honestly I had never heard of it before as "cyber-bullying", though was aware of cyber stalking (hence the www.cyberangles.com comment). None of my nephews for example, that use computers and cell phones on a regular basis - but aren't what I would consider "savvy" - ever told me about any such message. Perhaps they haven't reached that age - one can hope.
The parents' role in all of this, assuming it is part of their role, is quite a difficult one: press too much and they will "withdraw", to quote the text; don't press at all and he or she will feel even more desperate and isolated. The key here, and pardon me for making the mistake of using a negative example to make a point, is not pretend to be a "friend". Parenting is nowhere as easy or difficult as one might think. I think being there, be available and interested without being overwhelming, and try to keep the memory of our own experiences and transmit them only when they're relevant is half the "task", to link to the word "role". The other half is for each of them to find with their sons and daughters.
from Cláudia:
Honestly, I'm astonished with the information I gathered from this quiz. I never thought things were so bad in school nowadays. It's ridiculous the way kids treat each other, and I can't see the cause for this behaviour unless they do it because they're really mean or they have mental problems. This also makes me wonder if i was really blessed since I was never a victim of cyber bulliyng (or any kind of bullying in fact), nor were any of my friends, or if I was so innocent and unaware of the world that I never saw it happening around me.
Although this new generation has access to all kinds of technologies, they still don't have the intellectual capacities to use them properly and for the right reasons. And that's where parents come in and instead of just giving them computers and cellphones and letting their sons do whatever they want to, they should create rules and control the way these devices are being used.
But there's still one thing that is bugging me. Because I can understand some kids may comment about the way others dress, the way they look like or even pick on somebody for their unusual choices, that's how it always was. But why get to the point of making death threats and stalk other colleagues, even if in a virtual way? This goes farther than parental control or incorrect access to technologies...
When I came across this podcast, I was appalled! I share your sentiments of shock and am glad to hear that you aren't familiar with this type of bullying. Hopefully it doesn't become widespread because the insidiousness of it is poisonous.
I think young people have enough trouble figuring out who they are, feeling okay with being themselves, and just coping in general with all the hormonal changes that take over their bodies and minds. This added torture is surely only even more destructive.
I think often teens are merely emulating what they see in the adults around them and in society in general. We glorify physical beauty, popularity, wealth and mainstreamism while ridiculing what doesn't align with these "standards." Can we begin to quantify the amount of emotional damage our collective behavior has wreaked?
We need to change mentalities, not just internet/mobile phone usage rules.
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