The government has a dedicated site to stop bullying, The definition of bullying, per the website, is:
In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Department of Education released the first federal uniform definition of bullying for research and surveillance.1 The core elements of the definition include: unwanted aggressive behavior; observed or perceived power imbalance; and repetition of behaviors or high likelihood of repetition. There are many different modes and types of bullying.
Per the site, there are three types: Verbal, Social, and Physical. (Types of Bullying)
Let's focus on social:
Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes:
- Leaving someone out on purpose
- Telling other children not to be friends with someone
- Spreading rumors about someone
- Embarrassing someone in public
Sound familiar? Forget about politics for a minute, you can do it, I know it is hard, but try. Let’s take a bipartisan moment to consider the effects of Trump’s trash tweeting. Recently, as we’ve seen him do so many times in the past, Trump got personal and nasty with the hosts of an MSNBC news show. Anyone who acted surprised at the nature of this attack is either delusional or faking it. Trump’s modus operandi has been to personally strike out when he perceives that he is being attacked, or painted in a less than admirable light. He mocked a disabled reporter, was recorded talking about how he could walk right up to women and kiss or grab ‘em because he is a star, called his Republican and Democratic opponents alike names during the campaign, and after the election. I will not give all the offensive names or comments power by relaying them in this post. The list is too long for a blog, but you know what he’s said or tweeted.
I want to point out that the media’s culpability is on display, too. Let’s not omit the fact that MSNBC’s Morning Joe show has been just as malicious in their coverage and comments regarding Trump. On the Thursday show that preceded his tweet heard round the country, Mika Brzezinski made several comments such as, “Nothing makes a man feel better than making a fake cover of a magazine about himself, lying every day and destroying the country.” She referenced his staff being “lobotomized.” I’m not saying that I don’t find the fact that Trump has a fake Time magazine cover proudly displayed hypocritical. I am saying that constantly baiting the President with his known weak spots is perpetuating the problem. Hold him accountable. Talk about his health care bill. Talk about why he has done nothing about Russia’s interference in the election. Hey, ask him why he went off on Obama not doing anything regarding the hack, but neither has he, so what is his point? But, do not continue to get into a malicious war of words, where there is no winner, other than ratings.
Trump says his tweets are ‘modern day presidential.’ The message inferring that bullying (all kinds) is acceptable in the modern-day times we live in? Putting ‘modern day’ in front of presidential makes anything he says appropriate? Trump’s politics and manner of ‘ruling’ this country piss me off more than I could ever verbalize, but why does a difference in political views make it okay to ridicule, attack, or degrade a person? It always comes back to ‘We, the people.’ Is this the more perfect union that our ancestors literally gave their life blood to achieve? It is sickening to think about our children growing up in a country that allows leaders to cyberbully someone in the public’s eye without repercussions.
Melania Trump said before her husband was elected that she would be launching an anti-cyberbullying campaign. The skeptic voices exploded, calling foul on a cause against an activity that her own spouse wields as easily as the pen he uses to sign his many lawsuits. Where is she on this? Her staff say she is being thoughtful about the approach. I’ve heard that if she just focuses on children, then POTUS’ actions won’t be that impactful. Seriously? If this is the ‘modern day presidential,' then I’d like to hop in a DeLorean and take a ride back to a future that has standards, morals, and sets positive role model examples.
I do hope the FLOTUS follows through on an anti-cyberbullying campaign. There is no easy solution to combat bullying of any type, especially when it comes to the proverbial schoolyard. Kids have passed this action down through the generations. Unfortunately, with social media as an integral part of their lives, it has taken on a new depth of pain and suffering for its victims. In the old days, your front door signaled the opening of an escape hatch, allowing a brief respite. Now, it follows you via your smart phone, no getting away from the cruelty of the written word today.
The fact that the 45th POTUS defaults to this behavior is disturbing. His perceived admiration of Vladimir Putin, the ultimate of bullies, is disconcerting, to say the least. Many things occurring in the White House these days concern me, but the blatant disregard for ethics is a bipartisan tragedy. Cyberbullying is not going away. We can’t eliminate it, but the commander in chief should not be encouraging the act with obvious relish at each cut he inflicts. The art of bullying has always been part of Trump’s negotiation tactics. He sees it as a triumph when he can humiliate his adversary. How do you see it? The Republicans pretend not to see it. Democrats see it but play into the rhetoric. Twitter sees it but does not shut it down, per their own policy. Last but certainly not least, the children see it. Our children are sponges soaking up their surroundings at an alarming rate. Bullies are made, not born.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders says that Trump is a fighter, and when he is attacked that he will fight fire with fire. Does he plan to fight every negative thing said about him with a fiery tweet? Is that really fighting the fire, or is it fanning the flames? If Trump’s goal is to become a Twitter arsonist—job well done. When does he acknowledge that he is the 45th President of the United States, and his previous antics of slamming the opposition with whatever hurtful or embarrassing tidbit he makes up is not acceptable behavior? (Let’s not forget the video depicting CNN literally being slammed to the ground by Trump. Tweeted by Trump.) Will the next generation of bullies look to his example and ramp up ridiculing their victims?
In any war, it is always the children who pay the ultimate price. Cyberbullying is real. Children learn from their elders. With a POTUS who is proud of his behavior, and sees nothing wrong with it, the chances of his changing are slim to none. I worry about the state of our union every day. I never dreamed that cyberbullying would be a routine part of the White House administration. A new standard is being set, and it goes by the name of ‘modern day presidential.’ He’s made it the norm to use social media as a weapon of mass destruction. The damage to our society may be irreparable.
I want to point out that the media’s culpability is on display, too. Let’s not omit the fact that MSNBC’s Morning Joe show has been just as malicious in their coverage and comments regarding Trump. On the Thursday show that preceded his tweet heard round the country, Mika Brzezinski made several comments such as, “Nothing makes a man feel better than making a fake cover of a magazine about himself, lying every day and destroying the country.” She referenced his staff being “lobotomized.” I’m not saying that I don’t find the fact that Trump has a fake Time magazine cover proudly displayed hypocritical. I am saying that constantly baiting the President with his known weak spots is perpetuating the problem. Hold him accountable. Talk about his health care bill. Talk about why he has done nothing about Russia’s interference in the election. Hey, ask him why he went off on Obama not doing anything regarding the hack, but neither has he, so what is his point? But, do not continue to get into a malicious war of words, where there is no winner, other than ratings.
Trump says his tweets are ‘modern day presidential.’ The message inferring that bullying (all kinds) is acceptable in the modern-day times we live in? Putting ‘modern day’ in front of presidential makes anything he says appropriate? Trump’s politics and manner of ‘ruling’ this country piss me off more than I could ever verbalize, but why does a difference in political views make it okay to ridicule, attack, or degrade a person? It always comes back to ‘We, the people.’ Is this the more perfect union that our ancestors literally gave their life blood to achieve? It is sickening to think about our children growing up in a country that allows leaders to cyberbully someone in the public’s eye without repercussions.Melania Trump said before her husband was elected that she would be launching an anti-cyberbullying campaign. The skeptic voices exploded, calling foul on a cause against an activity that her own spouse wields as easily as the pen he uses to sign his many lawsuits. Where is she on this? Her staff say she is being thoughtful about the approach. I’ve heard that if she just focuses on children, then POTUS’ actions won’t be that impactful. Seriously? If this is the ‘modern day presidential,' then I’d like to hop in a DeLorean and take a ride back to a future that has standards, morals, and sets positive role model examples.
I do hope the FLOTUS follows through on an anti-cyberbullying campaign. There is no easy solution to combat bullying of any type, especially when it comes to the proverbial schoolyard. Kids have passed this action down through the generations. Unfortunately, with social media as an integral part of their lives, it has taken on a new depth of pain and suffering for its victims. In the old days, your front door signaled the opening of an escape hatch, allowing a brief respite. Now, it follows you via your smart phone, no getting away from the cruelty of the written word today.The fact that the 45th POTUS defaults to this behavior is disturbing. His perceived admiration of Vladimir Putin, the ultimate of bullies, is disconcerting, to say the least. Many things occurring in the White House these days concern me, but the blatant disregard for ethics is a bipartisan tragedy. Cyberbullying is not going away. We can’t eliminate it, but the commander in chief should not be encouraging the act with obvious relish at each cut he inflicts. The art of bullying has always been part of Trump’s negotiation tactics. He sees it as a triumph when he can humiliate his adversary. How do you see it? The Republicans pretend not to see it. Democrats see it but play into the rhetoric. Twitter sees it but does not shut it down, per their own policy. Last but certainly not least, the children see it. Our children are sponges soaking up their surroundings at an alarming rate. Bullies are made, not born.
In any war, it is always the children who pay the ultimate price. Cyberbullying is real. Children learn from their elders. With a POTUS who is proud of his behavior, and sees nothing wrong with it, the chances of his changing are slim to none. I worry about the state of our union every day. I never dreamed that cyberbullying would be a routine part of the White House administration. A new standard is being set, and it goes by the name of ‘modern day presidential.’ He’s made it the norm to use social media as a weapon of mass destruction. The damage to our society may be irreparable.
Comments
Post a Comment