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It Gets Better: Atheists for a Bully-free World

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Atheists for a Bully-free World

Location: USA
Members: 40
Latest Activity: Apr 13

Welcome to It Gets Better

Bullying and teen suicide are nothing new, but in recent years we have become increasingly aware of the damage bullying does ― to both children and adults alike ― with what seems to be a sudden spike in teen suicides related to being bulled.

The death of a child, particularly at his or her own hands, is never acceptable. It is a blight on human society that schools do not do more to prevent this, that parents can raise their children to be mean and spiteful to others, and that bullied kids don't have a support system on which they can rely when they are faced with feelings of despair and isolation.

The content of this group will undoubtedly be difficult to deal with. It is painful to see children ostracized from their peers, and made to feel as if they don't matter or don't belong. Of course, bullying is not confined to schools, either. Many adults experience bullying at home or in the workplace as well. All these issues will be explored in this group.

ONGOING THREADS
In Memoriam: Remembering the Victims of Bullying
Coping with Bullying: Videos, News, and PSAs

EXTERNAL LINKS
StopBullying.gov
It Gets Better Project
It Gets Better Project - Official YouTube Channel
The Trevor Project
Jared Story.com
Bullying Education.org
Bullycide in America
Respect U
The Price of Hate
Kindness Above Malice
School Bullying Council
Parent's Guide to Preventing and Responding to Bullying

Discussion Forum

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Comment by Loren Miller on May 10, 2012 at 3:20pm: John Donne's philosophy seems to be lost on these people. Of course, many of them have never HEARD of John Donne, either.

Big surprise, eh?

Comment by Sentient Biped on May 10, 2012 at 3:16pm: One of the challenges for me, is the lack of outrage, and even lack of interest, makes these crimes see acceptable. "Look at this awful crime - these white supremist kids murdered an innocent black man as a random act of hate" "Oh wait, he's gay - never mind." or in Champion's case, "He was a black man killed by other black men - it can't be a hate crime. Must have been something wrong with him". The action, was beating and murder of an innocent person. That people don't seem interested makes that action seem acceptable in "polite" society. Normalization of violence, against people who are "them" makes simple bullying also seem normal and acceptable.

Comment by Steph S. on May 10, 2012 at 2:49pm: I agree with Joan ... Jonathan that was such a perfect comment. The churches are full of hateful people.

Comment by Joan Denoo on May 10, 2012 at 2:14pm: Jonathan, you wrote, "Too often churches are just another place to bring the like-minded hateful together."

PERFECTLY STATED!

Comment by Loren Miller on May 10, 2012 at 1:19pm: You know your god is man-made when he hates all the same people you do.
-- from Usenet

Comment by Jonathan Simeone on May 10, 2012 at 12:31pm: I remember reading about Craig Anderson's death and asking many of these same questions when his story all but vanished from the public. It has always amazed me how so many people can be quick to show outrage when something happens to someone who's just like them and then hide when the victim is someone they don't like. Too often churches are just another place to bring the like-minded hateful together. The sooner people realize that the better off our society will be. Of course that won't happen until so many no longer need to have an authority figure in their lives telling them what to think and how to behave.

Comment by Sentient Biped on May 9, 2012 at 7:29pm: A follow up on Robert Champion and the comments here by Loren and Jonathan. This from Ebony.com. “The story of Robert Champion continues to show how Black media is uncomfortable championing LGBT issues when they show up in our own community.” Given how NOM has tried to manipulate feelings of racism in the LGBT community - and it is there - and feelings of homophobia in the African American community - and that is there too - I don't want to fall into the notorious NOM trap. To be double-isolated from both communities seems especially harsh and cruel. The article goes into more detail and brings up the murder of Craig Anderson, the 48-year-old Black man who was murdered a group of racist, white Mississippi teenagers in June 2011 but more or less forgotten once it was revealed he was gay.

Comment by Sentient Biped on May 9, 2012 at 8:43am: Loren, Jonathan, I think you both have points. I don't think it's simple, The successful, well funded, catholic connected antigay group notoriously has tried to, or has played African American christians against LGBT people. I think it's a matter of degree, and not absolute. Also I probably miss some things because I don't watch TV either.

Comment by Loren Miller on May 9, 2012 at 5:27am: I suppose it depends on where you're listening. I am fairly certain that this story was covered in the major media, by CBS and (I think) NBC news, because I saw at least one if not both of them deliver stories on it during their evening news broadcasts. I have also seen it on CNN.com.

So here's a poser for you: is the lack of outrage coming from the fact that the Afro-American community is notoriously homophobic?

Comment by Steph S. on May 8, 2012 at 11:53pm: Sentient I hadn't heard the story about Champion either. It's really sad that this kind of hate is out there. I appreciate you informing us about the news story.