RIP Amanda Todd may be trending but it's sad that all this love wasn't shown to the teenager before she decided to end her life.
Amanda, a 15-year-old from Canada, hung herself after being relentlessly abused by bullies both online and in school. Despite changing schools, the bullying continued until Amanda could take no more. The only thing left of her young life is a YouTube video detailing the troubles she dealt with on a daily basis.
Since news of her death took the world by storm, Canadian Mounties have announced they will be investigating and talking to anyone who knew the teen.
"We will be looking into any past events that had occurred in this young girl's life, any individuals she may have been in contact with through social media, face-to-face," he said. "Anything and everything around her life, really, and what components of that may have played a role in her making this decision," said Sergeant Peter Thiessen.
While Amanda's death may hang heavy over the head's of some, it also goes to show just how much bullying has become inescapable in the digital age.
Even after Amanda's death there are numerous images emerging that say horrible things about her and even some images of her nude (which is what started the whole problem).
Years ago, if kids were bullied in school they could switch schools and the problem would get better. Now, even switching schools doesn't matter since much of the bullying takes place online and kids can be found easily via Facebook or Twitter.
It makes you wonder if Amanda Todd would be alive if she had stayed away from social networking after switching schools. Wouldn't that have made things easier if much of her bullying came from these sources?
Sadly, no one will ever know what could have helped her, but hopefully her suicide is a wake up call for those who think bullying is all fun and games.
What's really striking about this case is that Amanda was being bullied for flashing a random guy on a web came years ago while thousands of young girls (18-19) try out to be Playboy models and take their clothes off for photo shoots. Why is Amanda being bullied for doing something that has become so acceptable in modern culture? Playboy models, the girls in Britain's Page 3 spreads...all of them take their tops off and yet they don't get bullied like Amanda did. Maybe it's because she did it online or because she wasn't being paid to do it. Either way, there is definitely a difference with how she was treated compared to girls a few years older than her who willingly do the same thing for fame.
Do you think the bullying of Amanda Todd will ever stop? If the images popping up online are anything to go by, it doesn't look like the bullies plan on stopping. They don't even seem to care that Amanda killed herself. They are just getting some sort of satisfaction from making someone else feel like they're worthless enough to die.
It's a sad, sad world when teens and young adults don't know when enough is enough.
Photo courtesy of Global Grind
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Comments: 9
Instead of placing all the blame on "bullying" try discussing;
Promiscuity is not gong to fill in the gaps and will most likely end with more problems - sleeping with someones boyfriend may get your butt whipped especially if the guy is a trouble maker.
Drugs - that is a no brained.
We are often taught to forgive others and forgive that we need to forgive ourselves at times also.
This little girls troubles began way before the bullying as she was her own worst enemy and she could have been her own best friend if only she was taught to respect herself....
1. she did not admit to promiscuity. she admitted that had an intimate encounter with another teen. that does not meet the definition of promiscuity.
2. Assault is not in this case, or in any case justified. Just because someone has a reason to assault another individual doesn't mean she are entitled to do so.
3. You're right. We are taught to forgive others and ourselves. The kids who beat her up and constantly, even after her death, bullied her did not forgive her. They didn't forgive her when she essentially gave up and physically moved. People, like yourself, who blame her certainly haven't forgiven her. To you, she's a promiscuous drug user whose choices ultimately led to her death. Which leads me to...
4. Your blame-the-victim sentiment is common but completely illogical. She used drugs. She drank. She engaged in risky online behavior. None of those are justifications for bullying. None of those are justifications for her public humiliations.
5. She made poor choices online. She certainly wasn't wise in turning to drugs. You're right. However, she was an adolescent. Her brain isn't physiologically mature enough. It was still developing. It was still maturing. Asking an adolescent to make completely logical decisions all the time is like asking a paraplegic to square dance. Again, she certainly didn't deserve the abuse she received simply because she made poor choices.
6. She was physically and emotionally abused by the bullies. They created a situation where she could not escape her past. Instead of allowing her to move on, they publicly reminded Amanda of her transgressions. They encouraged and propagated Amanda's social isolation. They openly encouraged her death. I think the bullying had plenty to do with her death.
7. Drug use. not a great choice. It could be argued that she was self medicating for a host of psychological ailments she was suffering from. It isn't uncommon for people suffering from depression or anxiety to self-medicate with illicit drugs or alcohol instead of seeking help or prescription meds.
No one is blaming Todd BUT she was not saintly. To pass the buck and blame everyone around her was not helpful for her nor anyone else contemplating suicide in a similar situation. Get one thing straight SHE KILLED HERSELF. She made a conscious decision to end her own life.
NOW how would you talk to someone in a similar situation.... tell them the cry all blame everyone around them OR forgive themselves and and start respecting themselves?
Huy as long as you play the victim you will be the victim...
you people are so dam pathetic... no wonder your kids kill themselves ...
In my opinion. Note I say opinion. So while opinions can change, this is mine at the moment. All arguments here are both correct and incorrect. However, lashing out at each other isn't getting anywhere. As you might realise.
I'm just saying.
http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2012/10/canadian-student-amanda-michelle-todd-commits-suicide-after-relentless-bullying/