National Bullying Week

19/11/2009 — efan78
www.areyoubeingbullied.com

www.areyoubeingbullied.com

So, a little Birdie tells me that this week (16-20 November) is National Anti-Bullying Week.  This little birdie is called Percy the Pigeon and he supports the fantastic BullyingUK in their hard work to help people who are affected by bullying.  Now there has been a lot of discussion in the media about cyber-bullying over the past couple of days and I’m no expert, but I just wanted to say.  If you read this (I know there’s not many people that do, but if you fall on this post by accident!) and you’re being bullied then know that you’re not alone.

There are a load of resources available online and offline for you.  If you’re a member of a social networking site and feel intimidated or bullied then remember that most sites have a safety policy or some way to deal with harassment.  Bebo’s report button has been quite widely publicised but, while Bebo’s big, it hasn’t got the same coverage as the big three.  So, if you want to know what Facebook, MySpace and twitter do about this sort of thing then the links above will take you straight to their safety pages.

But we know that bullying often doesn’t just take place online.  It’s not uncommon for bullies to bully a target in person and then carry this on through new technology.  This can be through your mobile phone, and BullyingUK has a great article about what to do if you’re being bullied by phone.  The thing to remember though is this:

It’s not your fault.  You don’t deserve to be bullied and have every right to feel safe.

If you, or anyone you know is being bullied then speak to an adult who you trust.  This can be a parent, teacher, another family member, school counsellor, police officer, anyone that is there for you.  If you feel unsure then remember that Childline is available throughout the UK.  If you call from a landline then the calls are free.  The number is 0800 1111.  Remember though, you are never alone.  There are lots of people out there who’ve been bullied at some point in their lives.  I talked about my experiences a few months ago.  But do you know what?  We got through it and made a success of our lives – and so can you!

But bullying doesn’t only happen to young people.  Adults can experience it too, at work, at home, out with friends.  And it can sometimes feel even more difficult.  But there are resources available for adults too. BullyOnLine have some great resources for adults so, if you’re being bullied have a look.  And if you don’t know whether you’re being bullied then have a look at this list.

To sum up I have to quote my little feathered friend because: Percy Says “Stay Safe in Cyberspace”

Download the widget stay safe in cyberspace – National anti-bullying week 2009
more widgets at Widgadget at widgets community!

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#twibbon Competition – how many can you fit?

02/08/2009 — efan78

twibbon comp OK, some of you may be wondering what the hell I’m playing at with these #twibbons on my picture, well – it’s all @karmadillo’s fault – honest!  She started it!

Basically, we’re seeing how many #twibbons we can fit onto one image – This was where I stood  this morning, 5-4 to me.  However I’ve just spotted that she’s upped the ante – I need to get another three!  Three bloody #twibbons goddamit!! Aw, let’s just say bye-bye to my ugly behatted mug and be done with it!

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Update:

twibbon comp 2

twibbon comp karmadilloOkie dokie, that’s currently 8-7 to me (although what the heck we look like I have no idea!?!) but there is a serious point to this post.  I found the twibbon site via @BullyingUK and, if you only get one twibbon to raise awareness make sure it’s theirs.

Bullying is an insiduous and awful way to treat another person and the work that BullyingUK does through outreach and their website bullying.co.uk is vital.  If you can just grab one of their #twibbons, either the big one you can see over my image (just!) or the little one in the corner of Sas’s then I’d be very grateful, truly!

Of course if you can pop them a little donation too that’d be swell!  Or, if you’re planning to do some online shopping head over to buy.at.bullying and they’ll get a donation from your favourite store!

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Update 2:

OK, ceasefire was called last night at 8 #twibbons each, but I’d just like to finish by saying, support @BullyingUK!!!!

(please!?)
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#Sunday7 – A different way of recommending!

19/07/2009 — efan78

Sunday7

#FollowFriday can be a fantastic thing, it’s nice to be able to suggest that people who’re interested in what you have to say might be interested in others. This is how our twitter networks grow. But it can feel like information overload.

Well, I’ve decided that, on Friday, I’ll stick with my followfriday page but I’m going to have my #Sunday7, seven tweeps who’ve informed, entertained or educated in the week before. Or maybe they’ve just lightened my twitterstream and made me smile…

Seven days in the week, seven tweeps to be suggested, choose carefully!

So, here’s my first #Sunday7:

  1. @PembTeaCo – The nicest tea I’ve had is grown in Pembrokeshire, in Wales! By these guys. #Sunday7
  2. @Qikipedia – The QI elves drop a quite interesting tidbit into your twitterstream every day. #Sunday7
  3. @BullyingUK – Did you know that up to 4 suicidal pupils contact them every day?  Show your support! #Sunday7
  4. @9Swords – I’m always amazed by the stuff he finds, fun, educational and just generally random! #Sunday7
  5. @TechnologyGeek – Want the latest tech tweets but can’t be bothered following all the big names? TG does it for you! #Sunday7
  6. @SapphyNo1 – Saph is a friendly, welcoming and lovely tweep. If I had a sister, she’d be her! #Sunday7
  7. @FizzyDuck – twitter’s punniest rubber bath accessory, witty, friendly and generally gorgeous! #Sunday7
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@BullyingUK – #CharityTuesday

02/06/2009 — efan78

I know a lot of the people I follow on twitter are also following @BullyingUK, and there’s a good reason for this.  Many of us have been bullied at some point in our lives and know just how awful it can be.  Being scared to go to school, or to leave the house, because the bully will be there.

But bullying isn’t just physical.  As a young person I faced bullying, firstly I was from a different area.  Originally from Lancashire – when I first moved to the North East everyone thought I was a little backwards because “I talked right slow like” (try saying that in a Lancashire accent!) and so people thought I wasn’t so quick on the uptake.  Couple that with the fact that my parents were on benefits so I couldn’t have all the latest gear (oh how I would have loved a pair of British Knights trainers!), I wore glasses, was good at lessons but bad at sports and I had target written all over me.  And do you know what?  Myparents made it even worse – they named me Michael Jackson!  I’m not kidding!

I lived with that for years but then realised that the worst was yet to come.  I was gay.  There was nothing I could do about it, but my family weren’t the most accepting of people.  So at 16 I left home (not as voluntarily as I would have liked!)

It was only after I left home and stopped speaking to my family that I realised.  I was a nice person.  I was friendly, outgoing, intelligent and had a lot to offer to the world.  But years of being told I was slow, I was a four-eyes, a swot, Wacko Jacko, a child molester, a faggot, puff, homo and a million other things really hit me.  In fact – I didn’t realise how much until I typed this – I’m getting a bit emotional now and so I’m sorry if this is a bit disjointed, but I’m going to carry on.

I’m 30 years old now.  Sometimes people say something to me in the street about my sexuality.  I am a bit of a stereotype sometimes!  But do you know what?  It doesn’t hurt any more.  That’s because I have friends who care for me because of who I am, what I am and what I offer them.  I am a friend, a partner, a step-parent, work colleague, agony aunt and tweeter.  

I am more than the nothing my father said I would be, and I’m more than the joke that the school bullies once picked on.

I am Ethan Kristopher-Hartley.  I was bullied and came out of it the other side better, stronger and more aware of everything that made me.  And you can too.

128x128_bloggingforacause1 

This is why I support @BullyingUK – and why you should too.  Take a couple of seconds to vote to win them some advertising on the sides of buses from Up Everyone’s Street.  Visit their website at Bullying.co.uk and donate to them as well.  And if you’re a blogger you have 4 days left to help them in the Blogging for a Cause campaign. 

This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “Blogging For a Cause” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.
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#babyphotos

23/05/2009 — efan78

FizzyDuck OK, @FizzyDuck got me thinking with photos like this one.  How would people like to play the “Who’s child/baby photo is this?” game?

Of course I’d need to get a prize of some sort, so the question is – what would be a suitable prize, and – more importantly – would people be up for it?

If there’s enough support then I’ll be happy to run it but it depends entirely on you!  If @BullyingUK are OK with the idea I’d like to tie this in with raising awareness for the great work that they do in supporting children and young people (like we used to be!) through what can be a hugely difficult time.

So, if you’re interested in joining in, or would like to suggest a (sensible) prize please drop me a message on twitter (@efan78), leave a comment here on the blog, or email the special address: photo@efan78.com!

 

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#FixReplies

13/05/2009 — efan78

twitter LogoSo, this morning – like the rest of the twitterverse – I logged on and saw the announcement that there had been a “Small Settings Update” and that this affected @replies.

There seemed to be a bit of confusion as to HOW this affected us all, although we knew it would.  It didn’t take long though for the hashtag to arrive, and it was #FixReplies.  This was different to any of the myriad ‘bring back the old Facebook‘  petitions, unlike Facebook, twitter changed a fundamental part of the social networking side.  It would be like taking away the “People you may know” feature from Facebook.

Eventually, twitter realised that there was a problem and thanked the community for the feedback, and it seemed that the only thing that was getting through as being worrying was that people use the unshared @reply to find other new tweeps to follow.  Of course that was a concern, but I had a thought…

One of the big conversations about twitter around the net at the moment is whether it will replace Google.  To do this twitter HAS to allow information to flow freely around the twitterverse, and this new “feature” doesn’t allow it.

As an example, I follow @BullyingUK, an excellent support resource (and yes that was a shameless plug!).  Now imagine @BullyingVictim sends a message to @BullyingUK asking for a telephone number he could call for help.  

Using the old system, @BullyingUK could hit the reply button and say “@BullyingVictim Call your local helpline on 12345678.”  And anyone following @BullyingUK could see it.  Under the new system you would need to follow both @BullyingUK and @BullyingVictim to get the update.  

Now imagine you’re a worried, shy person who needs that number but daren’t ask and you don’t know @BullyingVictim.  You won’t see either tweet.  The new system doesn’t work.

As I was heading home from work earlier however I saw a link to a final post from @Biz that said it wasn’t a new feature, but something that the system couldn’t do any more.  But it’s a key part of what makes twitter work, and the team need to remember this.

They’ve said the way around it is to type your @reply instead of using the reply button.  Isn’t that great – especially after reports that show 60% of twitter users don’t get it and quit within a month – twitter decides to make the site even less user friendly!

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