cyber bullies

As I was nearing the end in my hurried page flipping while reading my Seventeen mag; I noticed an article on Cyber bullying. This is the use of the Internet and related technology to harm other people, in a deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner. I maintain - this a serious issue amongst young people and should be addressed  extensively. So many have taken their dear lives to escape the hurt.

I have been a victim myself, but I rose above the hate. In retrospect; it wasn't really serious but at that time - I locked myself in the bathroom and cried my eyes out. It really hurt to think someone who doesn't know me would pull something like that. My then friend "Em" posted something on Facebook which brought out my inner child. I commented in a non- offensive way and one girl; her friend "Cee" then started harassing me - attacking me on that post.

For a minute I felt like Justin Beiber - always being bullied by haters

My so-called friend Em did not seem to be concerned about these attacks as she did not respond; yet it's quite obvious she had seen all these comments. My facebook is highly protected. If we are not friends you cannot know anything about me. My profile picture is usually a cartoon character and I remove myself from tagged pictures.

The girl; a complete stranger up until this day sent me messages such as : "Vanhu vakashata vanoonekwa nekuisa privacy yakawandisa" loosely translated : It's only the ugly people who put extra privacy on their Facebook pages. She labelled me all the names in the book from hussie to heffer and it really got to me - Why would a stranger attack me so much?

After bawling my eyes out; i realized a few things:-

1) I had just been cyber bullied
2) this girl wanted to stalk me and compare her life to mine - A complete stranger imagine
3)She wanted to make me feel less of a person to boost her self esteem (bully mentality)

Had I given in today might have been different. I might have been a statistic if I allowed this girl to get to my head. I just removed my "friend" Em from my contact list and blocked her and her stupid friend. She was also to blame for allowing her bully friend to post such snide things on her post.

I only appeal to you all : Lets stop cyber bullies.