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cyberbully
September 2008 
Thank Gaia
Thea
It's been a while since I was reminded of my good fortune, stumbling onto Zaadz/Gaia when I did. I was recently emailed to re-establish my ambassador status for Gaia and I am so happy that I was given the opportunity in the first place because this is really the best site for bloggers that I've ever been on.
In recent headlines today, I read about a young girl who commit suicide after being victimized by a "cyber bully", a woman who friended this young, impressionable girl, masquerading as a 16 year old boy, only to reject her.
I shudder to think what her parents must be feeling right now. I wish she had been here instead of myspace. I cannot imagine that happening here on Gaia, ever. This is the only place online where I don't feel hassled to buy, spammed to death, where I think my kids will be safe and enjoy the comraderie, etc.
I recently heard a similar, but not as drastic, story from my 19 year old ward - (yes, I actually have a ward, isn't that wierd?) She has a myspace account too. She was friends with someone she met at a job. My friend and this girl had some sort of fight and eventually it degenerated into this other person writing false accusations on her myspace account and posting my ward's picture and giving personal information about her with a link to HER page. Isn't that terrible? I can't imagine doing that to someone, embarrasing them, making them feel so victimized. It's a harsh cyber-reality, I suppose, I am just happy that it's not reality here.
I wanted to thank EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS for being such great people and making this place, this small community online, where we can discuss, explore and be the change. I implore you - Invite more people of like mind. Make more friends. Bring in young people, because they will learn from our example of comraderie and friendship and will not be victimized out there in cyberspace.
My thoughts and emotions go out to the girl's family and to the woman who victimized her.
Namaste
Thea
Access: Public
Yes i too have learned allot here…
I have been blessed to know more women on the Gaia community then in REAL life… you have all taught me well; i have experienced what love can feel like, that of being as innocent as that of a child with her mother, that of a sister to her brother…
I've even felt strong ties of lovers of my past (life) being rekindled here… amazing how technology can transform…
Suicide is never the solution !
What a touching blog,
It's unfortunate that some people don't find that opportunity to connect with positive people or receive praise (in the real world or cyberspace) or become victimised due to other people's insecurities
Your story is an unfortunate common one happening all over the world.
Like crudebliss, I'm really grateful for the generosity people have here on Gaia with sharing their own insights and stories here.
Sometimes we don't know the impact that our stories or words have on other people. A few positive words may be life changing for some people.
Thanks for the blog. It is important to let people know what to watch out for on the web. With the “freedom of speech” there are those that treat the web as if it were some sort of video shooting match. The younger minds need to know how to ignore this and not antagonize those that try to influence. Thank god we are making a safe community here. The Gaia Team is amazing if things get out of line immediately.