After reading Hayleys blog about cyber-bullying, I just had to write about it too. She says that a group of teenagers in Ohio followed a girl by the name of Alexis Xanders and her boyfriend, who were walking home after school one day, and were having an argument about what kind of music they like, all of this was caught on tape. The group and a nameless suspect were angry because Xanders doesn't like Insane Clown Posse. Xander prefers to listen to alternative and scream-o music.
Through out the video, the group egged on the suspect telling her to hit Alexis Xanders. They wanted to see a fight. Xanders and her boyfriend told the group to go away. At the end, the suspect punches Xanders in the face.
Alexis Xander was sent the video. After receiving the video, Xanders posted it on YouTube and CNN iReport, later a local news reporter alerted the police department.
The teenagers involved are being investigated for encouraging the punch, while the suspect, being charged as a juvenile, with individual counts of assault and menacing and unlawful restraint.
Hayley goes on to say that Cyber-Bullying is a new and improved version of bullying that involves posting embarrassing/harassing information on the Internet or sending it to people through text and instant messages. Cyber-Bullying is all about using technology to bully.
Hayley later says that Xanders never physically fought back, but did do something to fight against bullying. Her piece of advice to anyone in the same situation: "Tell somebody and do something about it. Don't just sit there and take it. You can use your words and not your hands."
I think that Xanders did the right thing by not fighting back. It would have just made the whole situation worse. As I read the article that Hayley blogged about, I found that the suspect had disliked Xanders since 5th grade and that earlier that week they had talked to the principal and an officer to try and figure out their problems. Well, as we found out, the session didn't help much.
What really irks me is that the group of teens who video taped the brawl decided to sent the video to Xanders. I personally think that that is very childish and a very idiotic idea. I was very surprised that Xanders, after receiving the video, decided to post the video online. I figured that she would have wanted the entire thing to not get out in the open. All Xanders wanted to do was make others aware that bullying and cyber-bullying is not cool and can really hurt people.
I hope that Xander is okay and that the group of teens and the suspect now realize that cyber-bullying and bullying are not okay. Also that anyone can listen to whatever kind of music they want to.
Article:
Hayley's Blog:
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