The Forensics of Blogging and Cyberbullying

I love computers, except when they crash and burn and leave me burning the midnight oil to set them straight again. But, all in all, I love them. They've made my life easier, allowed me to do my doctoral dissertation work from anywhere I wanted, brought new friends my way, opened doors to creativity and have so much potential for good.

Unfortunately, with all that good must come the dark side and this is no Darth Vader reference. I'm talking about the opportunity for some people, in a cyberworld often riddled with gore and violence and the opportunity to remain anonymous, to let the really bad stuff come out. It reminds me of the film "American Psycho", only here the fantasies are not in the mind of the main character, but the world of cyberspace where they will live on in perpetuity.

I've worked with people who had committed crimes because they had a legitimate mental illness, but they didn't admit to it. Now, I see those same crimes being committed in cyberspace. If you stood on someone's porch or walked up to their car and said you were going to "*@!>**" them, you would be making a terrorist threat. You'd be arrested and booked and probably end up with a criminal record. Free speech does not allow you to go around threatening people without suffering the consequences of your actions. Your mother taught you that and so did all those hard-working teachers in grade school.

Cyberbullying is just another way for someone to hide their identity so they can engage in outrageous activities. Of course, it better not be aimed at an elected official or you will find out very shortly that there are many, many ways to backtrack a blog item. So, it seems, they pick the people who don't have the power of the FBI behind them and that's too bad because if you really want to be a tough guy, why not make it an even match? But even matches are not at all what it's about. The match can't be even because then the cyberbully might lose and that would be a blow to their ego.

The power that bullies savor, whether cyberbullies or those in the corporate school yard, is their ability to keep their victim in a state of constantly not knowing who they are or what is going to happen. It is the fear of the unknown that causes all of us the most stress and it is that fear on which bullies count for their pyrrhic victories. Take that away and they are like deflated monster balloons.

Wonder when Court TV will have its first case of cyberbullying on. I'm sure it'll be coming up soon.

Related Topics:

• Special Report: School Bullying
• Children May Learn Bullying By Example

Technorati Tags: stopcyberbullying

Editor's Note: PBS Teachers have declared Friday, March 30th "Stop Cyberbullying Day" - a day to take action by blogging, sharing video, resources and ideas about ways to take a stand against cyberbullying.

Pet Food Recall: 60 Million Cans and Counting

People love their pets. They love their dogs and cats, their birds, reptiles and other creatures great and small and, if you saw me recently on Good Morning America, you heard me say that, to some people, dogs are their surrogate children. So, what happened that all of these cats and dogs were left without the usual protections regarding food safety? It reminds me of the problem we had with cattle feed awhile back.

Although we now seem to know what happened and where the problem originated (in rat poison which somehow got into wheat products used in pet foods), the question that is troubling me isn't being asked.

I'm a bit anxious just thinking about it and I wonder how many other people share that feeling.

Where are all those 60 million and counting cans of killer pet food going? Who is going to dispose of it and where? Wouldn't you want to know that it had been done safely and that there were some assurances that it wouldn't somehow get into some other supply of pet food, ground water or whatever where it would hurt or kill something or someone? I know I want to know.

Related Topics:

• Pets and the New Baby
• Coping with Pet Loss

Technorati Tags: pets, pet food, menu foods, pet food recall

Men, Suicide and Depression

The recent suicide of comedian Richard Jeni (49), who his family has stated suffered with depression, should be a warning about the seriousness of suicide and depression in men. We are often told that women suffer more depression than men, but that may not be the entire case.

Statistics show that men over the age of 65 kill themselves at triple the rate for younger men and they are eight times more likely than women in the same group to commit suicide. Jeni wasn't in that age group and that leads to increased concern about younger men and their severe, untreated depression which leads them to think this is the only way out of their pain.

Brad Delp, the lead singer of the band, Boston, who was 55, committed suicide recently, too. In notes left for his fiancee, family and friends, he indicated he had lost the will to live. What happened to make him feel that way? No one will ever know.

Two of the most famous suicide cases were those of Kurt Cobain, a rock star musician, who at the age of 27 killed himself and Ernest Hemingway who committed suicide at age 61. For Hemingway, depression ran in his family and both his father and one granddaughter committed suicide.

The question for men may not be so much suicide, but depression and the inability to deal with it. Depression has often been seen as a form of "weakness" and male tradition holds that "real men" don't eat quiche or see mental health professionals. Instead, they engage in physical activities, use alcohol and drugs or a lifestyle that is near to suicidal in its excesses.

The National Institute of Health has an important, free publication on depression that can be downloaded from their website and additional information, aimed specifically at men is also available.

The risk of suicide can be great when depression goes without treatment. Seeking treatment is one of the surest signs of strength in the face of an awful enemy.

Related Topics:

• Older Men Resist Depression Treatment
• Negative Personality Can Hurt Heart

Technorati Tags: men's health, depression, suicide, mental health, Richard Jeni, Kurt Cobain, Brad Delp

Rosie, Thanks But...

Rosie O'Donnell has done a great service for everyone with depression, a psychiatric disorder that literally and figuratively kills people by taking away their will, their joy and, sometimes, their life. But I'm concerned that along with the wonderful information and encouragement she provided on "The View," she gave some misleading information too.

People watching the show are going to be influenced by Rosie's celebrity and that can be a very good thing, but not when she makes statements that, to my understanding, don't have any scientific basis.

I watched the clips of Rosie swinging upside down, which is part of her daily regime to maintain her mental health. As I watched, I heard her say that doing this would "release the serotonin," or words to that effect. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter (brain chemical in plain language) involved in depression. My concern is that the statement is without any scientific support and swinging upside down like that could provoke a stroke in people who never knew they were at risk for one. So, while it may have provoked a lot of much-needed talk about depression and its treatments, this one "treatment" I feel can be dangerous.

Rosie, please take note of my concern and thanks for your help with helping others realize how effective treatment can be for depression.

Related Topics:

• WebMD Video: How Exercise Can Help You Beat Depression
• WebMD Video: Natural Solution for Body Blues

Technorati Tags: depression, serotonin, Rosie O'Donnell, The View, health-and-wellness