To the editor:
This is in response to Sydney Morton乌鸦传媒檚 article 乌鸦传媒�Digital citizenship is a new hot topic.乌鸦传媒�
Children and adolescents need to be taught by their parents that age-old proverb, 乌鸦传媒渟ticks and stones may break my bones乌鸦传媒ut words will never hurt me.乌鸦传媒� The police have the means to find online child predators, so the argument made in the article comparing cyber-bullying to luring children online is far-fetched to say the least.
Since the invention of the internet, billions of people around the world from all races, creeds, colours and religions have used this amazing tool bestowed upon mankind in one form or another. The idea that each and every one of these 乌鸦传媒渄igital citizens乌鸦传媒� should be mandated to require an online profile, complete with their location and identity is, quite frankly乌鸦传媒errifying.
Part of the reason the internet has become the phenomenon that it is, is because of the anonymity. People speak out online against oppression, violence, dictatorships and war crimes because of that anonymity. Removing anonymity has put some people乌鸦传媒檚 reputations, careers and very lives at risk. Anti-cyberbullying proponents fail to realize this factor when they complain about people commenting on someone乌鸦传媒檚 appearance. How shallow and shortsighted. In the article, Ruby Roxx says 乌鸦传媒渕y weight does not define me,乌鸦传媒� but as a self-proclaimed plus-sized model, it most certainly does. If you can乌鸦传媒檛 handle the negative comments as well as the positive, then this is not the arena in life for you.
What about people乌鸦传媒檚 differing political views? In the age of censorship, many of us already pay the price for having a difference of opinion. Where is the line and more importantly who is drawing it? What happens if I, as an online participant, make an offensive statement about a certain regime practising war crimes and also happen to be a citizen of that nation?
With this proposed program, I would be exposed and they would know who I am and where I can be found.
It乌鸦传媒檚 a slippery slope for Carlos Figueiredo from Fair Play Alliance to say 乌鸦传媒渢here should be consequences for those that take part in bad behaviour online.乌鸦传媒� There are no laws against hurting someone乌鸦传媒檚 feelings. Who are you to decide the 乌鸦传媒渂ad behaviour乌鸦传媒� or the consequences of such inconsequential action as name calling? What乌鸦传媒檚 next, a fine for making an offensive statement? A driver乌鸦传媒檚 license for logging onto a social media platform such as Facebook and the threat of denying that license for not paying the fine?
Daniel Janus
Kelowna
