FACELESS FRANTIC FINGERS

By: Megene Herrick

We all know that when you are young, you get bullied. It happens to pretty much everyone in some shape or form, although obviously some get it considerably worse than others. However, its not just kids that get bullied. It takes merely seconds to comment on someone’s Tiktok or Instagram and now more than ever we have adult bullies. Full grown people that clearly have nothing better to do than try to make anyone’s life miserable that doesn’t fit into their ideals. The things being said are also getting more and more outrageous, because hiding behind a screen with a throw-away account means that these imbeciles don’t ever have to face the reality of their own consequences. They can spread their hate with no repercussions.

Now, I could sit here and say there is steps to take to stop this, and I will. The truth of the matter is that you can block them, and they can make a new account. It can feel inescapable, especially if these trolls have a target on your back. However, it doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do.

If you are being cyber bullied, or trolled or cancelled, try not to react. A lot of bullies thrive off the reaction that they get back, if you just don’t respond then chances are that they will get bored and leave you alone.

Now this is easier said than done. When someone is saying horrible things to you, it can be hard to walk away, and even harder for it not to affect you in anyway. Of course, you are going to feel hurt or angry if someone is trying their best to make you feel that way, but you don’t have to show it to them. Get someone you trust and talk about it or if you prefer to feel your feelings alone, do something that makes you happy. Whether that be making your favourite dinner or watching your favourite movie, try to not to let it get you down. You are not what haters on the internet say that you are.

What if its hate speech? Yeah, that happens a lot, especially within the community we are in. Ignorant people and their ignorant minds and fingers are going to use the facelessness of social media to tell you that the way you are is wrong. Spoiler alert, it isn’t. If you are new to this community, or even if you aren’t, it can still hurt. You can be out and proud for years and still feel the sting when someone uses your identity as an insult. Maybe it takes you back to the early days of your journey or maybe you are just exhausted because when is the fight going to be over? Saying ‘just don’t react’ is naive at best, whether that be inwardly or outwardly. Remember that you get more bees with honey. While the best course of action is to ignore it, move on, and not let their simple minds annoy you, if you feel the need to react, try to educate rather than retaliate.

If the situation is more aggressive and they have progressed into slurs or threats, this is no longer a matter of being the bigger person, and in some cases can be classed as an online hate crime. The laws are tricky on this in the UK, as they can’t seem to come to an agreement that makes online hate speech illegal, whilst also protecting freedom of speech. In England and Wales it can be an offense to spread hatred online on the grounds of race, religion or sexuality – but not gender or disability. However, depending on whether this hate threatens violence or not – it can be classed as illegal for all of the above. It gets tricker online, because UK law doesn’t cover comments or messages from other countries. All of this to say, it’s not right, and there is more fighting to do, but there is hope. Organisations such as Stop Hate UK are working against this and have a helpline of where to report it. They can also help you deem whether it is an illegal offense.

If you are in this situation, block or delete the person, but screenshot everything before and report it. Most platforms have policies against cyberbullying, so reporting it with evidence can get the account removed. Of course, the bully in question can just make a new account, and if that happens, a different course of action is needed. If this is coming from someone known to you in university, work or any other organisation you are part of, report it directly. It may stop the harassment, or get the person removed, fired or expelled. Many people don’t do this as they fear the repercussions may get worse on them, or even turn into physical acts of violence, but in most of these cases, the police have to get involved anyway, so you will have a level of protection. If the person isn’t known, the authorities or organisations such as above can help to get the content online removed, or point you in the right direction towards a solution for your specific situation.

Whilst we can talk about how to stop cyberbullying, and how to report it, that doesn’t necessarily make it any less hurtful in the moment, especially if it is recurrent. It can be overwhelming, isolating and generally just hurtful and horrible. You don’t have to do any of it alone, talk to someone supportive. While there is nothing embarrassing, some of us might be too proud to admit that it is affecting us so deeply, and in that case, you are still not alone, there are so many online platforms and helplines that can support you, even if you just need to vent for a while. Don’t suffer in silence, and don’t let them get away with it either, report it. If not for you, for the next person, who might not have as thick skin.