So you think it's okay to call me fat? It's okay to make fun of me because I have health issues in real life? It's okay to make fun of me because I'm skinnier than most people? It's okay to take my Whyville avatar and put it on a website called a "burn book" and trash me with horrible profanity? It's okay to make fun of me because I talk differently than other people since I was born in a different region? These are some of the many things I see going on in Whyville today. People are constantly lashing out at each other and finding something to make a huge ordeal about.
Look at you guys. What do you have to say about yourselves? Better yet, let me ask you this: do you guys even have a heart anymore? Is the mere fact that we are separated by a screen the sole reason for ruthlessly tearing your beloved peers apart?
You know, sure, you probably don't think about each other like that. It's completely understandable for everyone to just assume that we are all little avatars simply floating a computer screen or posting on the BBS, but the truth behind the situation is that we are real people. We all have feelings, and we all have hearts (despite how we have all been acting). Would you seriously look at your overweight friend in real life and announce to the world that she's fat, hideous, disgusting, and horrible? I think not. So why do it to your Whyville friends? We value the friendships we have in person, and that face-to-face contact somehow solidifies a different kind of trust. In Whyville . . . trust is something that seriously needs to be worked on because you're all so quick to throw it down the drain just to trash each other.
Just because somebody crosses a line by refusing to sell you a face part, or says something in chat to piss you off does not imply that you have the right to hurt him or her with public bullying and ostracizing. It's low, it's cruel, and it's honestly unacceptable.
This behavior has been escalating for years on Whyville. I see it happening all around me, and it's sick. You're all sick. You make me sick for the way you treat each other. You're like a herd of seething animals that are waiting for your moment to pounce and claw the next victim who has to deal with this horrendous process of humiliation and hurt. It's like you get joy out of watching people break, and right before they can pick up the pieces and put them back together - you turn around and do it again.
Honestly, I am addressing this situation because it's not just petty Whyville drama. There are kids and teenagers in this world who live a different life that what is displayed on this website. You don't know what your friends are dealing with. Do you remember the old saying, "You don't know what goes on behind closed doors?" Well . . . you also don't know what goes on behind that computer screen. Many teenagers lack a high self esteem, and this Whyville trashing needs to stop before someone takes it a little too seriously.
I'm not sure if you guys have ever heard of the story about Megan Meier, but she committed suicide due to cyber bullying over MySpace back in 2006. Sure, MySpace is a social networking website (and a little outdated) and she probably knew those people in real life, but we all know that many Whyvillians communicate outside of Whyville nowadays -- which is where most of the bullying takes place. It needs to stop right now.
Let's remember the purpose of Whyville, shall we? This is a website that primarily has a focus on education and entertainment. I don't think cyber bullying was the learning experience that Whyville wanted to educate people about. In fact, I know it's not. They don't want kids coming on this site only to have to put up with being bullied day by day. So let's not allow the bullying to get out of hand. I wouldn't want to see one of Whyville's citizens seriously inflict damage to himself over Whyville cyber bullying. Wouldn't you feel horrible of one of your friends went off the deep end for something like that? Don't make it happen. There have been countless cases on the news over cyber bullying and publicly exposing people . . . which unfortunately has led to a lot of suicides. Stop it now, because I don't want to see this happen on Whyville.
And sun roofers, I am directing this toward you guys the most (although it happens elsewhere QUITE frequently as well). I will not say names, but you're so quick to talk behind each other's backs. You're so quick to find another mean thing to hurt each other with . . . whether it's a burn book, remaking to hurt someone's feelings, hacking each other, and simply making fun of each other's real life appearances (because you all seem to know what each other looks like nowadays). It disgusts me. And this is probably something taboo to even talk about at this point, and I'm not trying to rat you out, but I do think you all deserve a good reality check.
Stop taking this farther than it needs to go. If you need to cut chords with toxic friends, please do so and avoid them for the sake of this. The entire past year on Whyville has been so incredibly vicious. Heck, this is the worst I've ever seen bullying on Whyville - ever. And trust me, I've been around for a couple of years, so I'd know.
I understand that it makes you feel better to bash people when you're upset, but these trivial things that spark the horrendous exposure of real life photos and Whyville burn books is far worse. It's absolutely uncalled for. It's an abomination, and you should all be ashamed with your behavior lately. There's a reason Whyville makes it against the rules to give out phone numbers, AIM screen names, and more. It's not just because there are pedophiles online, but it's to prevent cyber bullying too. Perhaps you should all go take your chat license test again, but actually think about why each rule is there . . . they're all good rules for a good cause.
I know this article is probably going to stir a lot of conflict, but sometimes things need to be said, and sometimes the truth can sting. But believe me, this kind of truth doesn't hurt nearly as bad as the horrible disgusting remarks you're all throwing out at each other. So take one for the team and be open minded before you leave your comments.
Author's Note: Source on Megan Meier: http://www.meganmeierfoundation.org/
