Cut off communication

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 571.

You should not have to put up with online bullying or harassment of any kind. No one should be made to feel bad about themselves or unsafe when they're sitting at their computer. That applies whether you are in a chat room, on a web forum, or just exchanging emails.

What should I do if someone is bullying me online?

Sometimes it's hard to tell if someone is really having a go. Are you just not on the same wavelength, humour-wise? That's always a difficult one. The simple test is to stop interacting with them. Tell them, politely and firmly that their communications are making you feel bad about yourself – and then see what happens. If they stop, if they tone down, it was probably accidental.

If they carry on as before, they are either having a go or not listening to you when you explain how they are making you feel.

Block them. Many interactive packages have a simple facility that will enable you to ignore an individual completely. Check the help menu and ask someone else using the same space for advice. The first and simplest way to cut yourself off from abuse is to put up a wall between you and the perpetrator.

Your email package should include the ability to block specific addresses as well. Use it.

Of course, the really determined bully won't stop there. They will come back through other media, using other names. Where you are sure it is the same person, you should report them. On a chat site, that usually means sending a message to the admin for that site. Check for buttons that allow you to report abuse.