I'm writing this from an emotional gut-wrenching, wanting to
break into sobs, reaction. No more deaths, I don't care who says I'm ranting.
In case you missed it Charlotte Dawson was a New
Zealand/Australian t.v. personality and model. She committed suicide on Friday,
hours after people hounded her on Twitter, sending vile tweets to harass her.
People using social media to bully people that are already
hard on themselves is beyond horrific. I want to rage. I want to hunt them
down, and seek vengeance. But then I calm down a bit, and I start to think.
Does it affect them at all? Are they gleeful? Does it make
them feel bigger, better, powerful? Can't they feel the symbolic blood on their
hands? How do they look in the mirror? Or sleep at night?
I speak from a place of guilt. I wasn't a bully, but I
wasn't kind or compassionate. I was a dumb, unthinking teenager. My friend was dating this guy and we all hung
out in a big group in high school.
My friend decided she didn't want to date him anymore,
and I was talked into being the messenger. It has been many
years since. I don't remember what I said, but it probably wasn't kind.
He left and hours later his friends found us. He had hung himself in his parents' garage.
I've carried the guilt of being the messenger around for years. I think that is
part of why I am so anti-bullying, and why kindness is my greatest strength.
I'm not sharing this story for sympathy, I'm trying to raise
awareness. People please stop the hurting. Stop the meanness. Please don't let
thoughtless actions and or cruelty be your worst crime.
For those bullied, speak out, keep yelling until someone
will listen. Don't give up, don't give in. Contact me, I'll listen. I'll do
what I can to help, but please no more deaths...
Please share this far and wide, and share your stories.
Light, dark, whatever they may be. Let's get the discussion going. Let's not
let another person be bullied to death.
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