I want to talk about something serious for a moment. It’s something that many kids, teenagers and even adults need to face each day. It goes on in schools, at the workplace and even online. Let’s talk about bullying.

Technology has brought a lot of really cool things to our lives: We use e-mail, Instant Messaging, message boards and blogs to stay in touch with friends, keep up with what’s going on in the world, and to have fun. However, being connected all the time leaves us open to a special kind of bully: The Cyber Bully

More and more kids, teenagers and adults alike, have become susceptible to this type of bullying. Let’s all take a minute to understand what bullying feels like:

How Bullying Feels:

Its dark blue
Almost black
Words are spoken
Behind your back
In a bubble
You feel you’re trapped
That’s how bullying feels.

It’s a friend who lies
Or someone who tries
To persuade you to believe
That they do not deceive
Who’ ll turn around
And run you to the ground
Sticks and stones;
To break your bones
That’s how bullying feels.

The pain from the fall is great
But not as painful as the hate
Not as hurtful as words said
Enough to make you
Want to stay in bed
Enough to make you want to cry
Or make you feel you need to hide
That’s how bullying feels.

It’s like a glass of sour milk
Or a rotten fruit
It will make you sick,
It will make you sad,
It will make you hurt
And it will make you mad.
That’s how bullying feels.

For all of those who suffer in silence―
It is time to end the plight.
It is time to stand together,
It’s time to do what’s right.
Help others to feel loved
And to feel respected.
Do not bring others down,
To make them feel rejected.

Do not be afraid
To talk about the pain.
Together we can lift the clouds
That hold all the rain;
And allow for the sun
To shine down once again….

WHAT TO DO if you are being bullied ONLINE:

1) DON’T RETALIATE. If someone is mean to you online, don’t hit back. It might seem natural to give them a taste of his or her own cruelty, but this will just keep the war going.

2) IGNORE IT. Face to face, it can be very hard to “walk away” from an insult. Online, it’s actually much easier. Turn off your computer and walk away. Do not go back to Web sites or chat rooms where you’ve been bullied.

3) TELL AN ADULT. Let a parent or guardian know that someone is bullying you online. Block the bully. If someone bullies you through e-mail, block that person’s e-mail address or ISP address. If you don’t know how to do this, ask an adult for help.

You can read more about the different types of bullying and what to do at PBS kids: http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/bullies/

The most important thing to remember about bullying is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Even cool cats like me get bullied. Let’s all work together to end bullying and help make the web a better place for all of us. This has been an internet safety message from The Oreo Cat.