http://www.blogwithintegrity.com/
I have added this link to my list of sites and blogs on Bullied No More. Things like avoiding flaming, not 'over sharing' (I was recently told not to do that when I wrote about someone close to me and I shouldn't have), attacking the 'idea', not the 'person' etc.
Alot of people blog because they can find people who have similar interests. One example is the latest 'trend' of 'Mommy blogging' - where women with children can link up with other mothers and share with each other what is going on with their lives.
However, there is going to be some disagreement regarding what to do with one's children, husband, being a 'stay at home' Mum instead of a working mother (or career girl). And there is a dark side to this 'mommy blogging', where some women will resort to attacking other mothers who hold very different opinions to their own.
Because of this, 'mommy blogging' has gotten alot of bad press, so one 'mommy blogger' set up her own website called Blog With Integrity. On this link is a video clip c/o msnbc.com under 'Today's Mums'. I put up another video c/o YouTube showing this woman, and why she has put up this site, to show people why criticizing other women on their 'parenting styles' is not acceptable.
I am not a parent myself but I tend to agree wholeheartedly with what she says. And I see nothing wrong with 'mommy bloggers' either: my sister is now a mother of two herself, and has started up a blog on home schooling and what it is like to be a 'home school' Mum.
Some other women may have different opinions as to whether or not homeschooling is appropriate for children, particularly when they are 'gifted' and want to get ahead in the school system, or know things that other kids (or even the teachers) might not know about.
For instance, while children may be protected from being bullied at school, or might get out of home schooling what they don't get out of in the formal educational system; there is also the risk that a child might not be socialized properly, not learn to get on with kids their own age, not learn to handle 'hard knocks' (including bullying) and worst of all, the parent (usually a mother) and the child(ren) become 'enmeshed' with each other as they become 'inseperable'.
However, as I have not been home schooled, nor do I know what it is like to be a teacher nor a mother; it is not my place to criticise others for their decisions. This is a different time and place - not alot was known about issues like 'giftedness' in children, the autism 'spectrum' or the effects of school bullying (and what should be done about it).
All I know was that as a child, I wished these same 'options' were available to me back then as they are now. Back then, I was told that I was better off going to school, that I should learn to get along with others, to ignore whoever it is that is hassling me, take things with a grain of salt, 'turn the other cheek' and (this is a real doozy) that if I don't finish school, I will be 'condemned' to unemployment (or slaving away in a factory) for the rest of my life.
And yet, even though I did finish school, I still experienced unemployment (for roughly 2 and a 1/2 years) and the best job I could get was the one I have now. I wasn't even considered 'good enough' to hold down an office job or obtain employment in a large organization like the Public Service, or one of the major banks that many of my friends were getting at the time. And even obtaining many 'post-school' qualifications didn't guarantee me a better job. But enough of me and back to the topic at hand - blogging.
I am also one of those people who blogs out of interest - in Heavy Metal, in daily matters, on Multiculturalism and so forth. Alot of people are not going to agree on my opinions. In fact, on many discussion forums where I was a member, my opinions have attracted more than their fair share of criticism, and the more you publish, the more you have to learn to take it on the chin and 'develop a thick skin'.
This is easier said than done, especially if you have recieved a comment which you may not agree upon (and some other people have no qualms about not only letting you know how you've 'hurt' them, but also resorting to insults, name calling and the like).
But it's important to consider that your own ideas or comments (which can be very strong) don't cross the line into 'flaming', 'trolling' or cyberbullying; and to report it if you do feel 'abused' or, even if you're not (but find the comment offensive) to report it anyway. And to be careful of saying too much about yourself or others (even though I can do that sometimes and have had to take down things that I wrote about others that I regretted later on).
And even though not everyone likes what everyone else has to say (because the internet is not a mutual admiration society), you wouldn't like it to happen to you (I know I wouldn't).
Like I say, the internet is pretty much what you make of it. Sure, cyberbullying is unpleasant, but whoever has been on the recieving end of it at least has the right (and the freedom) to cut off whoever is doing it, as well as the right (and responsibility) to be on your own guard when online. Sometimes, these 'freedoms' aren't always available when you happen to meet up with that person in a dark alley, in a smoky pub or (especially) the school playground.
However, I have been luckier on my blogging networks (Yahoo 360, MySpace and now Blogger) than I have with other online activities, including discussion forums (like in Yahoo groups, for instance). Even Facebook has particular privacy settings, so it is much easier to adjust them according to who you are friends with or what you put out there (for instance, you wouldn't tell your work colleagues things you would tell your family or old school friends, so why put it on the 'net for everyone to see). And you can ignore some very pesky people on Facebook, more easily than you can if you were to communicate with them via email (or in person).
And with all those rights and freedoms we have on the internet, we need to use them wisely and not publish things that might attract negative attention from others. Again, it is what we make of it.
cheers,
Night Owl
I have added this link to my list of sites and blogs on Bullied No More. Things like avoiding flaming, not 'over sharing' (I was recently told not to do that when I wrote about someone close to me and I shouldn't have), attacking the 'idea', not the 'person' etc.
Alot of people blog because they can find people who have similar interests. One example is the latest 'trend' of 'Mommy blogging' - where women with children can link up with other mothers and share with each other what is going on with their lives.
However, there is going to be some disagreement regarding what to do with one's children, husband, being a 'stay at home' Mum instead of a working mother (or career girl). And there is a dark side to this 'mommy blogging', where some women will resort to attacking other mothers who hold very different opinions to their own.
Because of this, 'mommy blogging' has gotten alot of bad press, so one 'mommy blogger' set up her own website called Blog With Integrity. On this link is a video clip c/o msnbc.com under 'Today's Mums'. I put up another video c/o YouTube showing this woman, and why she has put up this site, to show people why criticizing other women on their 'parenting styles' is not acceptable.
I am not a parent myself but I tend to agree wholeheartedly with what she says. And I see nothing wrong with 'mommy bloggers' either: my sister is now a mother of two herself, and has started up a blog on home schooling and what it is like to be a 'home school' Mum.
Some other women may have different opinions as to whether or not homeschooling is appropriate for children, particularly when they are 'gifted' and want to get ahead in the school system, or know things that other kids (or even the teachers) might not know about.
For instance, while children may be protected from being bullied at school, or might get out of home schooling what they don't get out of in the formal educational system; there is also the risk that a child might not be socialized properly, not learn to get on with kids their own age, not learn to handle 'hard knocks' (including bullying) and worst of all, the parent (usually a mother) and the child(ren) become 'enmeshed' with each other as they become 'inseperable'.
However, as I have not been home schooled, nor do I know what it is like to be a teacher nor a mother; it is not my place to criticise others for their decisions. This is a different time and place - not alot was known about issues like 'giftedness' in children, the autism 'spectrum' or the effects of school bullying (and what should be done about it).
All I know was that as a child, I wished these same 'options' were available to me back then as they are now. Back then, I was told that I was better off going to school, that I should learn to get along with others, to ignore whoever it is that is hassling me, take things with a grain of salt, 'turn the other cheek' and (this is a real doozy) that if I don't finish school, I will be 'condemned' to unemployment (or slaving away in a factory) for the rest of my life.
And yet, even though I did finish school, I still experienced unemployment (for roughly 2 and a 1/2 years) and the best job I could get was the one I have now. I wasn't even considered 'good enough' to hold down an office job or obtain employment in a large organization like the Public Service, or one of the major banks that many of my friends were getting at the time. And even obtaining many 'post-school' qualifications didn't guarantee me a better job. But enough of me and back to the topic at hand - blogging.
I am also one of those people who blogs out of interest - in Heavy Metal, in daily matters, on Multiculturalism and so forth. Alot of people are not going to agree on my opinions. In fact, on many discussion forums where I was a member, my opinions have attracted more than their fair share of criticism, and the more you publish, the more you have to learn to take it on the chin and 'develop a thick skin'.
This is easier said than done, especially if you have recieved a comment which you may not agree upon (and some other people have no qualms about not only letting you know how you've 'hurt' them, but also resorting to insults, name calling and the like).
But it's important to consider that your own ideas or comments (which can be very strong) don't cross the line into 'flaming', 'trolling' or cyberbullying; and to report it if you do feel 'abused' or, even if you're not (but find the comment offensive) to report it anyway. And to be careful of saying too much about yourself or others (even though I can do that sometimes and have had to take down things that I wrote about others that I regretted later on).
And even though not everyone likes what everyone else has to say (because the internet is not a mutual admiration society), you wouldn't like it to happen to you (I know I wouldn't).
Like I say, the internet is pretty much what you make of it. Sure, cyberbullying is unpleasant, but whoever has been on the recieving end of it at least has the right (and the freedom) to cut off whoever is doing it, as well as the right (and responsibility) to be on your own guard when online. Sometimes, these 'freedoms' aren't always available when you happen to meet up with that person in a dark alley, in a smoky pub or (especially) the school playground.
However, I have been luckier on my blogging networks (Yahoo 360, MySpace and now Blogger) than I have with other online activities, including discussion forums (like in Yahoo groups, for instance). Even Facebook has particular privacy settings, so it is much easier to adjust them according to who you are friends with or what you put out there (for instance, you wouldn't tell your work colleagues things you would tell your family or old school friends, so why put it on the 'net for everyone to see). And you can ignore some very pesky people on Facebook, more easily than you can if you were to communicate with them via email (or in person).
And with all those rights and freedoms we have on the internet, we need to use them wisely and not publish things that might attract negative attention from others. Again, it is what we make of it.
cheers,
Night Owl
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What is your own take on this situation? How do you rise above the rot?