Because we will not stand by.
mittekemuis
Hello there, Are you part of the eRepublik community that spends a lot of time on IRC? Do you read forums and ingame shouts? Are you willing to speak up? If so I would like you to read this article and stop to think.
After seeing this advertising video on YouTube today and also reading about how it is stirring up quite the commotion amongst Twitter, Facebook and other social media, I am ready to set my maybes aside. This has given me a push to speak up in our little eWorld that we have created. It is my hope and belief that many with me are willing to step up. There is only one way that we can beat the bullies, and that is by taking a stand and not being afraid to speak up, to stand between the bullies and the victims.
Cyber-bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies such as e-mail, cell phone and pager text messages, instant messaging (IM), defamatory personal Web sites, and defamatory online personal polling Web sites, to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others.
In all honesty I must say that the erepublik community isn’t the worst place for this sort of cyber-bullying. Most of it is politics anyway. Still it happens and one time is one time too many.
Nicknames are mostly chosen to fit our own profiles. Enough times we have asked the question, “What does your nickname stand for?” Nicknames give us clues about the people behind them. To know this is the first step toward acknowledging that there is a living, feeling person behind the nick. It is not a robot without feelings that is typing on a computer screen. These nicknames are just the replacement of the masks we wear when dealing with people face to face. Although bullying is done on the work floor, in school, in all places where we put people together, it is more visible and condemned than cyber bullying.
Let’s face it people, most of us are geeks. Some are more geeky than others but we all play this online sandbox game and many of us are gaming freaks. Some of us make trolling an art form; others think they are smart enough to be a troll but aren’t. Those people, ladies and gents, are the worst kind of wannabee trolls, the ones that set out to pester people because maybe they are not as smart as their victims, or maybe they are just a little more geeky.
Imagine yourself to be lonely. On the work floor, people don’t talk with you during lunch break. At best, they ignore you. You come home, open IRC, and search for someone to talk to. Instead of a nice conversation you get laughed at because your ideas are not mainstream. Again, you feel you are alone. Nobody cares to be your friend, and after some time you will really believe you are worthless. Why should you walk the earth when nobody cares? Here we are talking grownups but amongst young adults and kids this sort of thing is even more frequent. School yard placements, status is everything. I know this as I have two kids, ages 14 and 13. They talk about which groups there are: The cool kids, the almost cool kids, the kids who are tolerated, and then the outcasts. This last group of kids is highly active on the internet as they have little to no social life going on. Do me a favour and search in Google under ‘suicide after cyberbullying”.
Not so long ago a dear eFriend of mine was the subject of a hate campaign against him.
I asked Konrad to say a few words about it:
“I play eRepublik for the community. As a gay person with no support from my family, eRep is one great resource for me as it is one of the few places I really can be myself and with others who are like me. There are a lot of allies online as well which is a great resource. Sadly, not all people are nice and supportive.
In eBelgium for example, it is being PTOed by the HOPE and PANDA party. I am a strong voice against their actions and movement. Instead of dealing with ingame stuff, they went personal and attack my gender. I received PMs like “For 50 Euros, you can suck my cock homo” to comments like “Be a man for once.” This PTO group made many pictures referring to me calling me the Anal Rocket to other extremely inappropriate themes. These comments and pictures were both in the media and in the eBE forums.
At first, I thought I can just ignore it. It is just some stupid kids that is making some comments here or there. However, it did not stop. They got more and more abusive. A lot of the comments starts to hurt and I really got depressed. The comments stuck with me and while it is stupid, it really did hurt. It was really demoralizing they really make me feel pathetic. They really made me feel subhuman. I was angry at the community as well. It was really lame that while they agree the comments are hurtful etc, they did not do too much about it. Even with the case, it took a really long time for there to be a verdict. (see below) I really need my closest friends for support.
(http://www.erepbelgium.com/t9218-2013-04harassment-case#184801)
This is why cyber-bullying is really lame. It is hurtful and mean spirited. Even today, they do make mean comments here or there. It is not right and it is totally unjust. While they admit it makes them feel “macho,” it is nothing macho about bullying people. In the end, it makes them much smaller than they really are. So I hope there are a lot of big people in this game. For it takes big people to debate issues and policies and not attack and bully people into submission.”
Cyber Bullying Statistics
One in Ten Children Worldwide Experiences Cyber Bullying
Bullying Victims are 2 to 9 Times More Likely to Commit Suicide
25% of Kids Don't Tell Anyone About Bullies
Cyber Bullying Has Actually Gone Down (indicates the importance of campaigning)
56% Report That Cyber Bullying Has Real-World Consequences
39% of Social Network Users Experience Cyber Bullying
I talk with a lot with people on IRC. I have my own reasons for being online so much. Others have reasons, too. Amongst one of the biggest reasons people spend time on internet chat rooms is to seek company. Often they feel they do not fit in well with the real world. They seek freedom. They try to be themselves and open up in chat rooms, as it is deemed safe. We see again the misconception of hiding behind a nickname. As much as the bullies feel protected by the anonymous nature of nicknames, the ones who are setting themselves up for it make the same mistake.
Yes you read this right although the people who get singled out are victims, they too have a responsibility. They have the responsibility to fight back, to speak out loud about what they go through.
Bullying and cyberbullying will likely always exist in some form or another. Verbal abuse is the most common form of bullying done around the world. Without the threat of physical violence, it is important for caring people to be supportive of all the community members so the victims know where to turn if they are bullied. Often, having someone at hand simply to talk about bullying concerns is enough to help, ignore and overcome it.
Never respond to harassing responses
Don't send your picture or personal information to individuals you don't know on the Internet
Remember- the Internet isn't a private place. Anything you say, or pictures that you share, can be sent all over the Internet to anyone, everywhere.
Save any suspected emails or text messages- you may need them as evidence later if the situation escalates
If you are a victim of cyber or a computer bully you have several options to get help. First, go to a trusted friend for help before the situation escalates. A channel moderator is your first line of defense to end harassment. Don't give up until someone agrees to help you. If you are being bullied through your Instant Messaging system ingame notify erepublik administrators, ask for a block on the ID of the person or persons harassing you. If it is happening in a chat room, notify the moderator of that channel.
For eRepublik players, and mainly for IRC users, we have set a channel where you can find people who are trusted and is also just a place to chill out. Everybody is welcome for some laughs and conversations.
You can join #echillroom on Rizon.
Players who are willing to step up in rough situations and who can be trusted will have ops in the channel so they can easily be spotted. Hanging around in the channel will make it possible for you to learn to know them and trust these people.
Finally, I want to thank all people who have helped to make this project possible. MaryamQ for the grammar and spelling checks, Salvatore3 as advisor and the different people who have translated and published it in other countries. A special thanks to MaartenW for supporting this and Konrad for his courage.
Last but not least the two most awesome graphics guys in the UK, Acroc & Rory.
Yours truly,
Published in
Pakistan : http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-re-post-because-we-will-not-stand-by--2323305/1/20
Colombia : http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/un-poco-de-apoyo-moral-no-hace-da-ntilde-o-a-bit-of-moralising-does-not-hurts-2323319/1/20
Austria: http://www.erepublik.com/es/article/-re-post-because-we-will-not-stand-by-2323346/1/20
Australia: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/because-we-will-not-stand-by-aus-repost--2323357/1/20
Japan: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-extra-repost-because-we-will-not-stand-by-2323386/1/20
Serbia: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/zbog-toga-scaron-to-ne-emo-stajati-po-strani-eng-sr--2323410/1/20
Hungary: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/nem-fogjuk-tetlenul-nezni--2323403/1/20
The Netherlands: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/repost-because-we-will-not-stand-by-2323440/1/20
USA: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/because-we-will-not-stand-by-repost--2323441/1/20
Switzerlan
😛http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-repost-we-will-not-stand-by-2323449/1/20
Greece: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/because-we-will-not-stand-by-gr-version--2323451/1/20
New Zealan
😛http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/because-we-will-not-stand-by-2323457/1/20
Turkey: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-re-post-because-we-will-not-stand-by-1-2323506/1/20
Portugal: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/n-o-ficaremos-quietos--2323543/1/20
Brazil: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/edi-ccedil-atilde-o-011-especial-we-will-not-stand-by-the-gentleman-rsquo-s-journal-2323580/1/20
Germany: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/because-we-will-not-stand-by-repost-1-2323537/1/20
Bolivia: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-es-en-porque-no-nos-quedaremos-a-la-espera-because-we-will-not-stand-by-2323629/1/20
Taiwan: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-1-2323712/1/20
Indonesia: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-id-because-we-will-not-stand-by--2323830/1/20
Romania: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/we-will-not-stand-by-repost--2324647/1/20
Belgium: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/why-i-will-not-stand-by-2324350/1/20
France: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/because-we-will-not-stand-by-fr--2324876/1/20
Comments
Spectacular! I am so glad you are dong this Mitte and I will do everything I can to support you 🙂
But the british bullied Karl Von Lautaro by his decision of don't allow Butjam to participate in the Beauty Contest and all the people were agreed with that. A "socially accepted" cyber-bullying.
Hypocrisy, they call...
lol.
the british? no, only some people.
Some are trolls, some are 'anti-cyber-bullying' some are 'who cares?'. every country has 'em and, not all eUKers are trolls.
OK, excuse me by the generalizaton, but the point remians the same: Bullying is wrong, whatever the victim.
Are you deliberately missing the point? A group of people collectively and openly voiced a their opposition to what was essentially a personal decision...that is protest, not bullying.
No man, they openly voiced their oppostion BECAUSE the victim in this case is gay. If the victim had been a straight (or other person) all of us were like SpongeBob meme: "Nobody cares"
Great article o7
Brilliantly written! It's a such a great and extremely relevant article!
It's our duty to stand up against this! 😁
Supported!
Mitte, you are awesome! 🙂
Hey Mitte, good job.
Thanks for taking the time to do this, very powerful and I hope it gets the recognition deserved. Job well done. Voted, subscribed and shouted.
o7
Awesome stuff. Voted hard.
nothing can't change the real life. Voted and supported
Voted and 100% supported. Let's stand up and stand together against bullying!
Fantastic to see this out here ! Great job.
Thumbs up Mittekemuis!
This is an amazing project !
I support this 100 % !
Good to see this happen.
Voted & shouted.
Listen...
Let me tell u something...
Let your gay friend feel free to contact our gay eComunity , leaded by Johnnnie, aco2108 or just mcmoox . These are awsome gu(a)ys that will help him to settle his problems with other violent comunities.
Also, I dont see point of artickle, couse , if someone is issued by trolling, and insults from another player , and he isnt enough smart and intelignet to answer to him, lol dude, u have serious problems and this article wont help u at all.
There are other gay communities in eRep. This really isn't the point. There are a lot of players who are bullied every day in this game. If you can stand by yourself against it, great! But that doesn't mean the rest of us should stand by and let you face it alone.
Ok so, if some1 is bullied, he needs me to tell him to resist?
Knock - knock? 😮
I really dont know how can some1 be bullied INGAME. U are here at your wish, leave it if u dont feel nice, or resist. If someone can resist INGAME to some insults, what should he do in RL?
Ok, I get it, a lot of children plays this too, but still ...
Mister you made no sense!
This is a game and everyone is here to 'ENJOY' it, no one is here to get pissed off. If you're troll then sure go compete with other trolls! n let the normal ones enjoy it their way.
Just commenting on someone who doesn't reply back n feeling good that you 'trolled' him is just cheap n stupid.
Compete with trolls if you think you are a good one.
Im not trolling, just share an opinion that I cant feel sorry to someone that feel bullied IN GAME. LOL
Game dude!!!
U cant just call some1 that doesnt think like u a troll.
Are u a bully?
Im going to cut mine hand of couse u call me a troll.
I don't think you are a troll, although I don't know you, but you are defending people who are using trolling as a weapon against people they perceive as weaker. I was recently trolled pretty hard by someone just because I was a friend of someone he didn't like. I can take it, and yes, I survived just fine. But I'm not some 15-year-old kid who just started the game and never did anything to harm anyone else. I've seen people bullied out of the game for no other reason than someone else thought it was fun. That's not the kind of game I think most of us want.
Dude , I didnt defend bullies , I just dont feel sorry for ppl that alow to be bullied.
I was also 15years old child, my dad is low educated manual worker in some factory, doesnt have sense to educate me what can I expect at internet. But still, he educated me trough life that world isnt like in fairtales , and that I must be strong and smart if I want to survive. That makes me to understund who am I , and to resist to ani1 that try to insult me. Not even in game, than in a RL...
So , u will not help that young bullied children if u feel sorry and try to protect than on this way. Make tham resist, give than courage.
Saying around "Pls stop internet bullies" will not help tham to grow up.
The UK has its own gay community that was organised by myself and Zaphod, the latter of which is not, in fact, gay. People who are involved in the UK community, such as Konrad (who is a member) are able to join. But that's not the point of the article, from what I can read. Konrad's story above was only an example of a wider issue that is affecting the game and that has been affecting the game likely since its creation. Homophobic bullying isn't the only problem. Racist, sexist and so on are also regular occurrences that should be dealt with more appropriately. Usually these kinds of articles don't work when directly wanting a response from the admins but it's a nice sentiment nonetheless.
Spot on, Thomas. It's not about homophobia, it's about treating other human beings like they are next to nothing, in the name of fun or in the hope of feeling superior. It's wrong, and it will only stop if right-thinking people stand together against it.
Gay Supreme Union (party in eSerbia) can offer you a great anal pleasure. Contact Johnnie, aco2108 or mcmoox. 🙂
Greetings from eSerbian gay community. 😃
Good read!
You're 100 % right! Bullies should be isolated! (Well hard but possible!)
Great article as usual ! Thank you for fighting and trying to improve this eworld princess !
a load of crap and lies the real ptoers are the elitarians NLSP and co, they are stealing GOLD 'proven fact' with help from MaryamQ who is stil holding on taxpayers gold
Did you actually read the article or did the name Konrad just raised a red flag?
You wrote "In eBelgium for example, it is being PTOed by the HOPE and PANDA party" so you are telling lies. And konrad is a known ptoer in sweden and the US he even betrayed hes own country 'he sold it to the polaks"
HOPE 4EVER!!!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX-r3N6eh6k
I didn't write that bit as you can see. It was part of what Konrad wrote in the testimony
you miss the point of the article bro...besides, I'd trust MaryamQ any day of the week.
For once I can't really support you, it was a testimony from Konrad, not mittekemuis's thoughts. A good journalist will listen and write what someone says without deforming it just to avoid hurting someone. The point of this article is about bullying, it has nothing to do with HOPE or PANDA :/
Great Article Mitte 😁
Not only do some people bully, but others make offensive jokes and don't think about who might be behind the nicks. They might be intending to just have a laugh, but they are just giving strength to people who truly believe the things they joke about.
This game is sadly full of racists, homophobes and misogynists and they're made all the more bolder by otherwise decent people who think that making a harsh joke at the expense of others is fine so long as it's a joke.
Mitte is a opportunistic lieing nobody
I love irony. (:
Voted! Great article Mitte!!
Supported, o7
Very well pointed, vote.
A good read. It needed to be written. Voted
A good read. It needed to be written. Voted
big vote!
Gay is NOT ok!!!
Obvious troll is obvious.