Cyber Bullying: What are we doing to end it?

 So I know this comes from a short notice, and since school is over there is nothing much to do before the wheels turn on the days to come. But a recent issue has come across me and a majority of pre-teens and teens. Cyber Bullying. What's better than to spend some days on the computer over break? But problems may arise, how do you stop it? Do you keep going? I am no expert but I can give you advice from experience, and data. Students are using Instant Messaging, e-mails, chat rooms, facebook, myspace and websites to make peers feel unwanted and hurt. By affecting them emotionally and targeting weaknesses in the victim. This sure may not be physical warning, but this destroys the mental aspect of the person. The human brain is complex, from hold up to 5 times more the the encyclopedia britannica in each cell. But think of being consecutively bullied and having that thought in your head. The information we keep can determine how we feel, what we like, what we avoid. Living in fear because of threats is horrifying and needs to be stopped. The data shown here by i-safe INC states :

•

• 42% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once.

• 35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly 1 in 5 have had it happen more than once.

• 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other messages.

• 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more than once.

• 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online. More than 1 in 3 have done it more than once.

• 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

What is the biggest shock is the worst possible things written on this list are the ones with the highest percentage. Victims feel that telling will make them a snitch, and a wimp, but protecting yourself is much more important than the awful names at the stick. But the bully has been able to convert the simple words of everyday in t a powerful, painful script into the mind. 

Words bully's use are simply just words to us sometimes. Sometimes they can be vulgar and towards some ones sexuality, but still they are  just words. The bully can change the meaning to something more harmful. Like "your gay", but instead of face to face, out loud and in front of peers. The laughs of humility from other students are just as bad as the words and the bully himself. If you think about it, the way   cyber bullying works is by control of the other peer. It's all mental control. For example, if you have a dog who can't behave right you take it back to base 1 and treat it like a puppy. You make sure it pee's in it's area and you make sure it isn't house broken. But you realize YOU are in charge of the dog, not the dog in charge of you. Same with the bully. He is the bad dog. You train him step by step. Now I'm not saying grab your bullies and get them all leashes and take them on walks. That might end quite badly. Try to let them not over take your mind. Remember this is MENTAL attack, in your head. Words are nothing till they are not nothing but something. To victims and bully's these words mean something. But to victims, low self esteem, hurt and pain, helpful words cannot stop them. Some even consider suicide. Let me remind you all, suicide is a form of crime. Why on earth would someone do that? And if your obnoxiously thinking "what a wimp", I ask YOU to wear there shoes and be the victim for a day. 

The internet has become a weapon, not a resources. Well depends  on how you use it. Obviously in this era of the 2000's internet has become the social killer. More statics say that "Bullying is increasingly viewed as an important contributor to youth violence, including homicide and suicide." (NICHD).

Bullying is one of the 4 reasons why teens kill themselves. And if 8% of those kids don't come to school, the bully only gets more power.

So now the question is how do we prevent the bully from harming the students, but for the students to come to school and to face the words and block from unwanted messages. 

Unfortunately phones are the most common medium used in cyber bullying. Frankly, recalling that phones are on of the hardest(in my experience) to block from messages. One your number has been telephoned from ear to ear, the calls and messages and voice mails are periodic. The famous *67 is the link way into not being caught. But modern technology makes the modern criminal obsolete. By a bully dialing *67 you have been the stronger ratio of the fight. He/she needs to hide themselves, but their in fear of you telling! Use the weakness of the bully against them! What can we really do to stop bullies contact with victims? Victims first need to tell an adult. As childish as it sounds, unless you want to be the 8% of the teens that commit suicide each year this could be your way out. This actually might be the last step for most people. But if it gets worse, victims can change settings on facebook, myspace and all of the savvy suicide controls the media has to offer. Know that what you post on the internet stays forever, so be able to take screen shots and print what they write and hold documents. By reporting websites harassing you and imitating to be you, the cyber police and local law enforcement can help take those hurtful sites down. Also, take things like numbers, addresses and things that bullies can use against you down. This may decrease the chance of an in person attack.  What a parent can do is talk  to the child about how they feel. Watch for mood changes and agitation maybe even loneliness. Make sure the computer is within sight of an adult. And manage the account of the cellphone. By tracing data you can open some files of messages students send, which can help not only the parent but the life of the child as well. One last thing like I kept  reenforcing, this is a mental battle. There is more than one field and more than one soldier. Keep your head up, use no weapons and block all violent words. You are the better person for telling and you won't regret asking for help. Help save your life and the life of other. One step at  a time.

Websites for bullying and additional information:

http://www.stopbullying.gov/

http://www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/

http://www.StompOutBullying.org/

 

Final: Wrap up the write up ▁▂▃▆▅█▇█▅▂▃▅▂▁ I've got bars!

        Writing. What to make of it. Most consider writing an art, expression of feeling and thoughts.  For me it was a mandatory job for a class; but that changed over time. This year I can see the  differences in my writing. One, my writing has improved by a long shot. Before I would slack and write some rubbish to just get it over with and done. For it was JUST homework right? Yeah, that didn’t turn out so well. Plus another thing was the fact that I wrote about my personal opinions and people just turned the tables on me because of my opinion. Funny thing is when those people spoke there opinion couldn’t be argued against. Weird.  My writing example here written by me, in my own personal view: 


“So this year I've realized a HUGE amount of people calling themselves "scene" or "emo". Well to be honest scene and emo their related. Scene is a form of emo.”


I didn’t think my opinion would stir so much controversy. But my wording  was not well written, and it stirred uprising. I can’t possible imagine what I was thinking when I wrote that. It was in a very informative structure and not very specific. Nevertheless it was a lesson learned and not forgotten. But the writing that I am most proud of is my vignettes. This type of poetical, transitional, intensely illustrative writing is the easiest and most entertaining for me. From childhood I was completed drowned in the fact that poetry was so vast. Clearly my writing about my friends here is here :

    “The warm sun refracts light on our skin as we walk down the street.  Kasia, Meriam, Kathy, & I strolling down the grey pavement under our nimble feet. As we escorted our bodies forward, I thought of the simple fact we were all alike yet so mismatched, like the socks I wore”.


This here about my friends Kasia, Meriam and Kathy is a master piece, just like our friendship. I really wanted to write an ode to these amazing people, but a vignette that was the longest in this project and most descriptive was for them and them only. Cherish ones you love, was my mind set when writing this. Without these three peanuts, I couldn’t of faced ASTI and how rigorous it is. Okay, done with the emotional talk, time to speak about what I improved on!

           Death is quick. Death is slick. Elsewhere, is the story of a young girl who’s taken out of life’s hands. This book I wrote about compared to all the rest was so much better for my book finals. My word choice was broad, my mind was open and plus I had read the book a time before. I wish I could copy and paste everything I wrote to show you, but that would just drive you crazy wouldn’t it? Enough with the chit chat lets see what wrote!:
“I think the  author in the book Elsewhere, the writer  Gabrielle Zevin chose to write about this topic because of the fact she wanted to entertain her readers. Yes that is common for all books, but hers is more of a twist. It is about a 15 year old girl named Liz who gets hit by a car and realizes that she has died. The character, Liz, does NOT seem to care very much after the emotional few minutes of apprehending that she is in fact "alive" in the after life. How can I say this? Because in the back of the book, it explains why the author choose this story, and if she really even cares about the after life, which she sates that she could careless.”Following this further, you can see the better and more clearly I write. I took time and effort to get to this stage of course. I realized writing from the heart really captivates the audience better. Otherwise people would probably be drooling on their desktops because of the sheer boredom I created. On the other hand, there is some really crappy writing I have done, especially during the beginning of the year. Some work I was not able to finish and follow up with. This was because of the fact I was slow and lagging behind. For example:


“What is fasion? Most people say its a career. But to me, it's a way of expressing yourself, with color, design, innovation, self style, and your inner person." 


   Do you see it? It’s a pretty dumb mistake in the writing. I was too dumb to even notice it. My 6 year old cousin could probably make it out. Mmmhmmmm. Thats correct, this fool over here ↵(*hint*me) can’t even spell fashion, geez! Where was my mind! Even more hysterical, I can’t even spell is. These are words kindergartners know and I fail. Look here
“My style ish crazy.”       
Wait for  it......
“ From all of this, All I can say is, what you wear, shows the people around you, in one context who you are.”


   Really? I can’t spell or use correct grammar for almost ever sentence. Sigh this is when I get a slap in the face. Writing takes a vivid imagination, knowing your audience, and determination that writers block won’t stop you. Writers block was a big tradgety for me and I bet for a lot of you. But practice after practice I was able to write so much better and faster than before. Writers block was something that drove me bonkers when it hit. Thankfully, having Mr. Sutherland as a sensational teacher, helped me write so much faster. I would have horrible freeze moments when I would stare open to the world, mind shut. It was if my gears weren’t oiled, and I was immobilized like the tin man in The Wizard Of Oz.  It gets annoying when I can't write very much, and gets me stressed too. Stress for me was the acid on the wound, and kept me from writing. Besides writers block this was just as bad.


   Topics to choose from were insanely fun. The marvelous thing about blogging is that my opinion stays open and that I can. Watching movies, reading books or hearing the radio. Mostly Dr.Oz was the one I think I owe thanks to who helped me realize issues I could blog about. A little puzzle piece which fell in place. Like my blog about drugs, which was originally for Mrs. Corbally’s class. Even though it wasn't read by her I realized I really did like that piece because after an episode of his show realization hit me about drug use in America. Good times, good times.I guess this is the end of my school writing blogging, unless I do more which is what I plan. 

Organization for my blog was horrible and really didn't go so well in the beginning of the year because I didn't take advantage of what I was supposed to do. But later I realized my computer had helpful apps for me to use for writing. So I got me in shape to write so much quicker, better and faster. 

Overall writing for me wasn’t a challenge till I made my mind assume it was. But now I can think free, write free (with shipping and handling), but wait there’s more! I can write with confidence, for it breaks down walls of my own security. Stinky poo poo ♨

Lugging Long Term Effects

Lhadze Bosiljevac

Period 6

Corbally

Writing 1       

4/25/11

                   Lugging Long Term Effects of Legal and Illegal Drugs

                                

                 Modern day society has many issues with drugs for all drugs have  harmful effects, but some are less serious than others. The effects can be classified as causing  minimum, moderate or detrimental effects on the body. Drug abuse & alcoholism are the most dangerous and even more they are now easier to reach and should be avoided at all costs. 

    Minimum effect drugs than the addiction of these drugs.  But the risks extend more than the addiction of these drugs. ADHD drugs have been used for recreational use by younger students. Studies below show that the medication for ADHD is extremely easy to get and usage is not monitored as explained by mental health matters “One recent study found that up to a quarter of undergraduate students are thought to be using stimulants meant for those with ADHD. Another study found that even school pupils in their teenage years are using it to get high or get through exams.” Other side effects include as shown by Help Guide “ Inability to fall or stay asleep, nervousness, headaches, depression and anxiety. In children, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, weight loss during long-term therapy”. Possible dangers like these have gone out of hand. What’s more disturbing is the fact that kids begin to depend on this addicting medicine. And these substances are dangerously leading to intense health effects. Vivarin, like many of the other over the counter drugs and caffeine pills have a limit. But things like over the counter drugs are on the users reliability, not much of the stores. The effects are much more light at first, but the tolerance of the drug causes health problems that are harder and unbreakable than before. This drug does not lead to immediate death and is not fatal, but it still can harm the younger generation. Another factor and misuse of drugs which leads to bad long-term effects is caffeine, as explained “Caffeine mildly stimulates the heart and respiratory system, increases muscular tremor, and produces more stomach acid. Higher doses may cause nervousness, anxiety, irritability, headache, disturbed sleep, and stomach upset or peptic ulcers. (goaskalice.columbia.edu). Caffeine pills are used commonly for people to wake up. But crashing, blood spikes and a numerous amount of issues fall in this place. Risking a long term health effect over a few hours of staying awake does not seem worthy at all, in fact sounds in a way ignorant. On top of that, a controversial topic in America right now is the legalization of marijuana, and even drugabuse.gov states “Scientists have learned a great deal about how THC acts in the brain to produce its many…which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body.” To ask and hear over time from the younger generation is that that this drug is not harmful and is easy going, so why should society not legalize it? The government does not legalize this drug for many reasons to agree with in many ways. 

     Weed, as it is commonly called has a very serious impact in which the THC levels effect coordination and thinking. Marijuana as the people who use it call it “safe”, can actually cause schizophrenia, and other physiological disorders. Overall these substances have bad enough long term effects that damage the human body to a staggering extent that most people do not realize. Therefore these drugs have a minimum effect to the human body, and can still do long term damage.

  Another group of drugs known as Hallucinogens are commonly used among peers and the younger generation. Drugs like Ecstasy, PCP, and LSD are common in raves, clubs and even on our streets. “People who use PCP for long periods report memory loss, difficulties with speech and thinking, depression, and weight loss. These symptoms can persist up to a year after cessation of PCP use.”(drugfree.org).  The risks of this drug are not worth the benefits of being high. And others even divert to LSD, which has some gruesome effects such as “Some LSD users experience flashbacks, recurrence of certain aspects of a person’s experience…more than a year after LSD use”(drugfree.org). PCP and LSD are both dangerous drugs. Although LSD users do not show the compulsive drug seeking issues like cocaine and heroin users, both are still lethal. These types seem more and more common in younger generations. I have had close friends who have used these substances and they seem more confused about who they are than anyone I’ve known. And if someone falls in this category, they are not in deep trouble, but enough to hospitalize them.

     Last, but the most detrimental of all drugs are cocaine, heroin, and alcohol. Heroin: also known as Dope or skag is  probably the most lethal and addictive drug I’ve heard, and researched about, “Long-term effects of heroin appear after repeated use for some period of time…do not really dissolve and result in clogging...vital organs.”(drugfree.org). Sadly, one of my close friends has been addicted to heroin and has been in and out of rehab because of its powerful addiction. These drugs are extremely deadly and addictive and seem to trap the user on the inside. To add to the chaos, alcohol is common everywhere. Not a big deal to most people because it’s so easy to get, and has become part of some peoples lives. But it’s long term effects outweigh the effects of another other substance listed here. Even explained here as “Long-term effects of consuming large…abnormalities.” (drugfree.org). Wherever you are, in a super market or corner store, shelves are lined with different varieties of alcohol. And it’s so common you see it in house holds. But as frequent as alcohol might be to some people’s lives, it can be devastating to families, and the user itself. My uncle has been drinking for over so many years, and my mom has tried to help him and talk him in to rehab, which was helpful for the time being, but nothing turned out great. The problem with alcohol is that it is legal and people over 21 can consume it. The issue there is after it has left the safety of the store; this can get in to the hands of the young. Problem with alcohol is since it’s not illegal; and under the table people can get large boxes of it like Miller, Budweiser, Sky Vodka, etc. The heavy consumption of this is that people actually become alcoholics, which believe it or not is a disease.  And people have used alcohol to replace thing in their lives, just as any other drug user has. Heroine, and Alcohol can flip any ones lives upside down. Whether conscious about it or not. They all are proven to be more deadly than any drug listed in this essay. 

    The drugs with the most minimum effects are Weed, Caffeine Pills and ADHD medication. Even though they are addictive, the habit is less intensive to break. Unlike moderately effective drugs like PCP and LSD  which all in a sense are bad and can be just as high risk as the detrimental drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Even alcohol is deadly enough to kill. People should stop the distribution of unneeded medicinal drugs that really don’t need to be prescribed, and teach drug abuse awareness every year starting from the 5^th grade to 10th grade  at school’s because the earlier we teach, the less of an effect the drugs will take on the people. Therefore guiding our health will cut down and save people from the long term side effects of drugs.

Sources:

Pittman, Genevra. "ADHD Drugs Have No Long-term Growth Effects: Study | Reuters." Business & Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com. 18 June 2010. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.

"Drugs of Abuse Information Available in Research Report." ARCHIVES - National Institute on Drug Abuse - The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction. NIDA, May 2001. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.

Strain, Bigelow, Liebson, and Stitzer. "Director's Report 5/99 - Basic Research." ARCHIVES - National Institute on Drug Abuse - The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction. NIDA, May 1999. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.

NDIA. "NIDA - The Sixth Triennial Report to Congress." ARCHIVES - National Institute on Drug Abuse - The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction. 2002. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.

NDIA. "NIDA - Research Report Series - Methamphetamine Abuse and Addiction." Research Report Series - Methamphetamine Abuse and Addiction. NDIA. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.

Nora D.Volkow. "Research Report." Drugabuse.org. NIDA, 1998. Web. 2010.

"Cocaine/Crack | The Partnership at Drugfree.org." The Partnership at Drugfree.org | Support and Resources for Parents Dealing with Teen Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2011. Web. 25

"PCP | The Partnership at Drugfree.org." The Partnership at Drugfree.org | Support and Resources for Parents Dealing with Teen Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. 

"Heroin | The Partnership at Drugfree.org." The Partnership at Drugfree.org | Support and Resources for Parents Dealing with Teen Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. 

"Heroin | The Partnership at Drugfree.org." The Partnership at Drugfree.org | Support and Resources for Parents Dealing with Teen Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. 

Elsewhere: The Final Birth of Death

    Death is always stalking you if you think about it. But what if your only 15? You’ve never been to prom, kissed a boy, experienced. In this book you will see how far a girl your age will travel will wait and struggle to get home. And pick up friends, a lost relative, and a lover. The straight little path back to home is only a river and oceans journey away.

  I think the  author in the book Elsewhere, the writer  Gabrielle Zevin chose to write about this topic because of the fact she wanted to entertain her readers. Yes that is common for all books, but hers is more of a twist. It is about a 15 year old girl named Liz who gets hit by a car and realizes that she has died. The character, Liz, does NOT seem to care very much after the emotional few minutes of apprehending that she is in fact "alive" in the after life. How can I say this? Because in the back of the book, it explains why the author choose this story, and if she really even cares about the after life, which she sates that she could careless.

  As Gabrielle(Gaby for short) explains in her story about Liz. The writer herself seems to show no regard what so ever about being dead or moving on. Unlike the character, who seems to not care at first , then worry, and then have no emotion. It shows that the writer must of tried to see death in a new way, or lets just say experience. In the story at one part Liz explains once she finds out she is dead

" Liz sits down and gasps for air." How can you be so happy when we're....?""(pg39)

At first she has a hysterical scene but then she is calm enough to know in brief that she will NOT at all return to earth. I would suspect a writer to make the task of being dead seem unbearable and hopeless. Not at all in the case she has written the book. The writers laid back feelings show through the pages.

But it seems as if the writer was using creative ideas such as this too hook the reader as to seeing what it feels like to know your 15 and dead. As the story progresses you see a huge change in Liz's emotions and assessment of being deceased.  On top of that, she seems to be upset more about her prom and what her friends are thinking than about what she needs to do.

   Even in the beginning of the book, Liz's pug Lucy seems to just lounge around and be carefree. And in the back of the book. the writer explains in comparison to a character

 " In this book, I'd say Lucy the pug. Like me she does not really care about the afterlife, so long as it has things to eat, nap and the people she loves"(page 284)

She, like the dig does not stress very much. Therefore she has a much easier take on things and does not stress out and over a lot. In the end the book seems more for recreational fun and some fun way of  viewing the after life. Not in  positive or negative way. 

The ending tore  me apart though, even for someone who does NOT care about dying or the afterlife, Gabriella Zevin really gets to the heart.  I cried the first time reading it, and the second time I held tears back. After all it's just  book. But her story really changed my perspective on death. And honestly if it wasn't for this book, I would not be here. I read it for the first time in 8th grade when I was suicidal. To read and hear about life and death, I realized dying at a young age would make me and my family more depressed. Therefore leaving me with more regrets. I don't think this book really is recommended for anyone under the age of 15 because it does involve some sexual content and is a bit descriptive.

Overall I recommend this book to anyone who has the soul to read about heartbreak, death, and loss. Life comes back in many ways, are you lucky enough to make it back?