Ok, so we chatted yesterday about scenarios in online environments and we’ve been talking about what we value in our classroom. Do your responses match? Do you see your online interactions as you do your real life face to face interactions?
Compare yesterday’s scenarios to this one. How do you balance the two? Is there a difference?
What would you do?
I would tell them to stop right away! If you say nothing, you are just as bad as the person doing the bullying. We all have a voice and we all need to speak up when something we know is wrong.
Both of the scenarios, online and outside, take place in a public place. They’re both done right in front of you, whether that be across from the bench you’re sitting on, or the monitor you’re looking at. But the difference is, in my opinion, that in the Facebook example my group looked at, two people were arguing, and in the video above, one person is being beaten up. In an argument, there is no real victim, as both of the sides are fighting each other. But in this bullying experiment, one person is clearly defenseless against a brute force. Unlike on the internet, there is no way for the victim to run away from or ignore the person attacking. The victim can not simply log off, or turn off their computer. They’re currently in trouble, and unless you do something to stop the situation, they will get hurt. I feel like if you’re in the above situation, it is your duty to step in, unless there is a big possibility that you might get hurt. On the internet (like on Facebook), I don’t think that’s the case, and you can ignore it if you so desire. But that’s just my opinion, anyone have any other thoughts?
When you see someone being harassed online and outside the big thing thats the same about both those scenarios is that you have the power to stop the bullying the teasing and physical violence and show victims and other people to be aware of how bullying is an issue. Cyberbullying is a different issue though, with cyberbullying the victim has the power stand up for themselves without the fear of physical retribution because the worst thing that can do is call you a name online but that doesn’t mean you let it happen so if its bullying or cyberbullying don’t be a bystander because you are almost as bad as the bully
There is a difference online and in the real world. In online arguments, there might be two or a few people arguing and if it is on a social media network such as Facebook, only your friends will see it as opposed to in public where it is seen by everyone. However, if you choose not to act under these circumstances you may be seen as a bystander and afraid to take action against it. I believe that if there is an altercation in real life you should only act upon it if you will not get harmed in the process. Online, you can simply block the person that you’re arguing with or you can log off and choose not to have any relations with that person or choose to deal with it afterwards. I agree with Alex that you should try to get help to solve the issue whether that is dialing 911, getting security guards, and other methods. Finally, on the point that you can ignore it on social media sites because its pointless arguing something online because you’re talking to a screen; you can’t fully comprehend how the other person/people are feeling. Instead, it is always best to solve these types of problems in person.
I believe that online and offline interactions are two completely different things. Only when an online interaction turns into an outside interaction do they become the same. In online situations, you can easily block, delete, and mute people you don’t want to talk to. If things get too bad, you could delete your account and make a new one or, in some cases, change the name. When you do that, the person bothering you won’t be able to reach you anymore. Real life is completely different, however. When someone is getting physically harmed or constantly getting harassed in person, a lot of the time there is no escape. You can’t mute someone who is yelling directly in your ear, and you can’t delete someone who is abusing you. In online situations, people can take care of themselves; but in real life, not everyone can. So if I saw someone getting harassed verbally or physically in person, I would step in. If I heard or saw someone getting harassed online, if I didn’t know them, I wouldn’t do anything. If I did know them, I would stick up for them, but only if they weren’t already doing it themselves.
Personally I would be hesitant to intervene, but I would step in to break the dispute. Of course if there was a weapon involved I would stay back and call 9/11. I find there is a difference between this situation and those on a computer, like Alex said above the situation is much more immediate, and ending the dispute isn’t as simple as logging off, or leaving the site. So as I said I would step in if someone was be bullied right in front of me, but in a similar case online that person being harassed have a level head and time to decide a solution/get help.
There is a difference in online fights and real life fights and I agree with what @cdidoned3721 said, there are a lot of ways out of an online fight compare to a physical one. I think both scenarios are harmful to the person , but I think the physical fighting is a little more harmful . If I saw this fighting scenario in front of me , I would tell an adult near by, call crime-stoppers or even call the police because personally I wouldn’t feel comfortable enough to try and stop a fight in fear that they would start physically assaulting me as well. If however, I felt comfortable enough to the point where I didn’t fear my safety, such as they are two classmates that I know , I would step in.
i personally believe that there is a difference between online and in real life conflicts. In real life, you are at risk and it isnt as easy to get away from the problem while if youre online, you could also ignore it. I agree with alex about the situation being more immediate in person. There is more tension and emotion involved. Online you can hide behind a screen and no one knows what your emotions are like. If i saw a bullying in real life, of course i would step in. If it were online i would not take it as serious because there are much more solutions to the problem than in real life.
I think that in most situation the thought to intervene will only occur if there is an urgent need to do so, as if someone is being threatened or hurt (physically or otherwise). In the situation shown in the video above I would most likely intervene as there is a clear and present danger for the person being bullied.
when you see a problem online, it is easy to step in and try to solve it but it would be difficult to try to get the arguers to listen. Also, it is safe because they can not physically harm you so it is not a terrible threat to try to step in. On the other hand, a physical problem is easy to get the arguers to listen to you but it puts you at a greater risk of getting hurt because of the fact that the argument could easily get physical. Of course you should step in if you see a fight going on, and I would try to stop it myself before it escalated into something potentially dangerous.
i would stop the person no matter the repercusion its better to save someones life or help someone then nothing that the person you didnt help is either dead or traumatized for life all because of you
In any public space, violence and/or irrational arguments are unacceptable. In both circumstances I would do my best to get the participants attention and let them take a break. I would also ask them if they think that what they’re doing is right, and leave them to themselves to figure it out. After that, I wouldn’t want to intervene again as i may be dragged into the conflict.
I think that no matter what, you should ALWAYS speak up, but of coarse make sure that you are safe while doing so. Also, be sure to notify a teacher if at a school so they can take further precisions to stop the conflict from happening again. If it takes place on the street, I would break up the fight and also tell a near by police man if one is present.
Personally, I believe that there is a difference between online and real-life conflicts. After all, an online conflict does not require immediate action. A person has the choice of ignoring posts/comments or simply logging out. You can further wait before responding, take time to calm down and think with a clear head before acting. On the other hand, a real-life conflict poses immediate dangers. Issues can quickly escalate, causing emotional, as well as physical harm. I would be more inclined to intervene in a physical conflict because I would see the issue escalating. I would be aware that if I didn’t step in, I would be a bystander, a witness to the harm being caused. During an online conflict, though people may be mentally harmed, they are safe from physical aspects. It would be harder to stop in an online conflict because people would be able to easily ignore what I had to say. Furthermore, online, I wouldn’t be sure of the emotion or tension. For all I knew, people may be joking.