tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8464891876209775592024-03-13T13:48:58.302-04:00Florida Victims RightsRobin L. Allweiss Esq.,
School Bullying and CyberBullying AttorneyRobin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-84888879177949321162018-04-12T11:29:00.001-04:002018-04-12T11:29:26.759-04:00New Blog Florida Victims Rights<br />
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I am in the process of starting a new blog called "Florida Victims Rights". The focus will be on School bullying, Cyberbullying, Sexting, Dating Apps, Sexual Assault, Social Media and other issues. I am expanding to college age students. Times have changed since my last post which was in 2015. And social media has grown. Parents cannot rely on law enforcement and the schools to protect their child's interest. Parents must learn how to advocate in the best interest of their child which was evident of the Parkland shootings. Even though the law states, that the schools act in loco parentis, which means they are to act in place of the parents when your child is in in school, the schools in Florida fail. Time after time they fail. And they failed in Parkland and in many other schools across Florida. <br />
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There is also a huge problem with drugs in school and the schools are allowing it. Now let me make the clear. There are also imperfect parents too. So parents need to take responsibility for their children's behavior too. You as a parent need to be aware of the activities your children are participating in. Juul in the classroom, Vaping in the hallways, on the bus, dabbing the wax marijuana and getting high which by the way is Felony in the third degree is just some of the behavior that is going on and parents need to be aware. All of this contributes to bullying and other criminal behavior. I will be discussing all of this on my new blog. In the meantime. I will keep everyone posted and updated as to when it goes live. Thanks and hope to see you all soon.Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-3335687318773600652015-09-12T17:09:00.001-04:002015-09-12T17:09:10.359-04:00EDM Helps Bullied Teens<br />
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EDM [Electronic Dance Music] has been around for decades, however the genre is most known for it's 90's underground raves, which at the beginning, was more about kids getting together, dancing to the most outrageous beats, produced by some of the best DJ's of its time. But sadly towards the later part of the 90's the genre became associated with drugs, promiscuity and death. However, years later until the present time EDM has been a booming industry, especially its festival scene. Many DJ's are paid more then some of the top well know music artists. Festivals draw massive crowds especially among the 18-24 year olds. I have talked to quite a few young people and there are a surprising amount that say they turn to electronic music for their respective social anxieties and troublesome past of being bullied.<a name='more'></a> They say it gives them a way to be themselves without being judged. EDM has been associated with the term PLUR, Peace Love Unity Respect. Although PLUR has been a mixed bag of late, young adults who have been traumatized by bullying find peace, solace and many times friendship. The bombastic beats, drops and segueing tracks created by these infamous DJ's create a feeling of belonging, Something that many of these adults missed growing up.<br />Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-33574595431097511532015-06-09T10:56:00.000-04:002015-06-09T10:56:00.674-04:00Tinder and the Dangers of Use by the Teenage Population<br />
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It has been reported that 7 percent of users on Tinder are between the ages of 13 and 17 according to Tinder co-founder Justin Mateen who disclosed this information during a conversation with The Guardian. According to Samantha Escobar, a lifestyle blogger for YourTango.com, the rise among teenager use has been astonishing and distressing. In the beginning over 90% of Tinder users were between 18 and 24, today that number is about 51%, 25-32 year olds, 32% and 35-44% is about 6.5%. The one thing the articles did not point out is the relation of these statistics to the geographical areas represented. Tinder is an app that is used globally. Many of the articles posted on the internet are authored by bloggers in the UK. So how many teen users are from the United States? <a name='more'></a><br />
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As discussed Tinder has the reputation as a hookup app or an app used for sex. But interesting enough through my discussions with various internet daters, dating sites including Match.com and Ok Cupid as well as Plenty of Fish also have been known to be used for hook ups or sex. Bottom line, if someone wants sex they will utilize as many dating applications possible to achieve their end result--Sex. But Tinder has more of an appeal. There are no long form profile forms to be filled out. Tinder is solely used through smart phones although notepads are sometimes used. But the benefit of the smartphone, is that is accessible anywhere and many say they use Tinder more for the game of how many matches they receive. Many do not even follow through and use it primarily for texting and passing time. If you are waiting in a doctors office with boring fishing magazines, swiping left and right can be a way to rid of boredom. <br />
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But the true concerning issue at hand is the use by teens. Tinder boasts that it is a safe application because only people with Facebook profiles can access the site. Through my investigation and speaking to many Tinder users, I have learned that many create fake Facebook profiles in order to utilize the application. I spoke to an individual who stated he used Tinder for laughs. He stated he had no intention to meet women but used it as a shock value. The Tinder user told me that his goal is to get his female match to give him her cell phone number. Once he gets the cell phone number he sends inappropriate pictures in order to create shock value. This my friends is the truest form of cyber bullying. Some use Snap Chat to send pictures or videos. What becomes concerning is when these photos and videos are sent to teens under the age of 18. Free dating applications can be dangerous. But they also can be a positive for the responsible people who use them. It is parents responsibility to monitor their child's phone and be aware of sites such as Tinder.Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-11162300053666816192015-06-01T12:52:00.004-04:002015-06-01T12:52:34.162-04:00Tinder and the Loss of Self Esteem. " Warning this post comes with adult content only suitable for those over 18 years of age."<br />
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Warning Adult Content<br />
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As a follow up to my Tinder investigative report, I have been getting emails questioning why this dating application can in anyway be associated with bullying or cyberbullying. As stated earlier the application is used to find a love connection by swiping right for like and left for dislike. Studies have shown women use the site for self validation. By posting pictures women set themselves up for rejection from a variety of men. Let's say a woman sifts through male profiles, clicks on like and subsequent to that like swipe the woman never receives a match. A woman may take this as a rejection. The rejection as studies have shown are mainly based on the women's appearance. <a name='more'></a> Profiles are rarely read so it is conceivable that the rejection was more based on the physicality of a woman's appearance. Even though the rejection is truly not bullying, the issue of self esteem plays a big role in the outcome of bullying instances. Many state laws specifically state that in order for someone to experience bullying they must have endured either physical harm or emotional and psychological harm. Even though the male does not intend to hurt the female by swiping left, the rejection can cause the female to suffer great emotional hurt due to lowering of her self esteem. Having low self esteem can be harmful to the person and in turn cause trouble in both social and work aspects of the person's life. Men also get rejected too. Articles posted on the Internet, written by men and regarding their experience on Tinder have shown that men are just as capable of low self esteem issues from rejection. <br />
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The other aspect is, if there is match. For example if there is a match and one party engages in conversation with no response from the responding party that rejection can also cause self doubt while withering away their self esteem. Or let's say there is a response and conversation engages, the other party may be abusive or condescending. These factors can create emotional hurt and cause current emotional problems to escalate. <br />
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Our world has changed due to social media. While it is a great way to connect with others the downfall is so many people get caught up in the game for acceptance and appreciation. Many base their self worth on how many likes they get on a facebook posts or how many matches they get on Tinder. Education is the key. I believe these application should come with disclaimers or at least a warning for both the participants and depending on the age of the participant, their parent or guardian. I believe more studies need to be done regarding these applications and the harm they can cause participants. Although as we know with cigarettes and alcohol, it took many years of mental health issues as well as severe physical disease before warnings were posted on the packaging of these products. There really is no regulation on the Internet. People can post anything, they can be mean and cruel and all by doing it anonymously. I hope with my investigative reports regarding the various applications, I can educate the public and the world of social media can be a better place.<br />
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Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-84393955406116706232015-05-27T12:48:00.000-04:002015-05-27T12:48:46.846-04:00Tinder Part Two: The Basics<br />
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So yesterday I wrote an introduction piece to one of the biggest free dating applications available for smartphones, Tinder. Today I am going to outline how Tinder works so you the readers are educated before you decide to download this app.<br />
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Tinder is an application specifically used for dating. The key demographic is 18-24 however there are other more older age groups that use Tinder. Tinder is a mobile version of Hot or Not. Viewing photos of single people and rating them based on their appearance. But Tinder is more of a system where parties seek to date the other party based on whether they find that person attractive. Some even put a brief profile of their likes and dislikes, quips or sayings that catch the person's attention and other types of descriptions, many using emoticons.<br />
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While viewing the photos you decide whether you "like" or "dislike". Swiping right is for like, swiping left is for dislike. If the person you liked sees you photo and likes then there is a match. If the person you like doesn't like then there is no match and you and that person end up in that great internet land in the sky never to be seen again. When there is a match both parties are notified and according to statistics it is usually the man who starts the conversation. Usually it is nothing more then a "Hey" or "How is your day going?". Sometimes it is emoticons with smiley faces and hearts. There is a definite creativity that goes along with Tinder. <br />
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When a person creates their profile they can set a distance from 1 mile to 100 miles. They can also set age limits from 18 to 50 plus. When you click on a person's profile you can see when the last time they used Tinder and where they are located. Tinder uses a GPS system that tracks smart phone or Notepads. The GPS can be a frightening part of Tinder. I will discuss those issues in the nextRobin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-47482822906401750462015-05-27T12:38:00.001-04:002015-05-27T12:44:03.163-04:00Tinder: How To Use Tinder<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HEe1lbOUZ-k" width="480"></iframe><br />
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This blog does not endorse Tinder however our goal is to educate readers how Tinder is used. Please be aware that people do create fake Facebook Profiles. Please ensure when swiping for matches that you view the photos carefully as some may be photos used from other websites such as Google images, Flicker, Facebook, Bing etc.,<br />
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Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-85573269731366680802015-05-26T13:56:00.003-04:002015-05-26T14:01:15.089-04:00Tinder Explained: Introduction<br />
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Social Media has destroyed the dating world. Some may say that social media has helped those seeking to connect and find mates, but what social media has done, is create an environment to foster indiscretions or instantaneous hook ups. One such site we will discuss today is Tinder. Tinder is a free dating application that can be downloaded onto your personal devices such as smartphones and various notepads. Is Tinder a legitimate way of finding a relationship:<br />
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The procedure is, you download the app and sign in through your Facebook account. There is no other way you can use Tinder, you must have a Facebook account. This mandate, though, can be falsified by creating fake Facebook accounts and uploading a few pictures and liking a few pages gives the user a false sense of security. Some may say, well if they are on Facebook, they must be legit and real. Not so fast, one of the biggest complaints male users have is that a large percentage of the "women" on the site are not real, in fact when the men swipe right {which we will get into in just a second} and a match is created, the female match leads the unsuspecting men through links, to various pornographic sites. Men and women look through various profiles and either swipe left if they like the person or left for dislike. If both swipe right then there is a match. {We will talk about the process later}<br />
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But why Tinder? Tinder is known through the dating world of applications as a hook up site, you know a one nighter type of thing. You meet the person have sex and then, well nothing. Some say it is the equivalent to Grindr which is a gay male hook up site specifically for discreet sexual encounters. Although, there are some members of Tinder who are truly looking for love and have found love, the majority are looking for nothing more then an encounter. Thus, why the average user of Tinder is male 18-24. The men in this age range are looking for nothing more then a hook up. The women, I believe are looking for love unless of course they are a bot. <br />
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You have to remember men in the 18-24 range are not ready to settle down. They want their fun. Women, especially in their 20's want to find love and marriage. Tinder is the easiest way of finding instantaneous connections for free.<br />
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But how does this all work? I will explore this question in my next blog post. I will also have interviews with various men on the reasons they use Tinder and their experiences.Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-68147416507744410522015-05-26T12:50:00.001-04:002015-05-26T12:51:29.647-04:00Social Media Applications and the Hidden Dangers Introduction<br />
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It has been quite some time since I have contributed to my blog. The reason is, I felt that I had exhausted my contributions to the world of bullying including cyberbullying to my readers; with close to a million page views on my blog I did not want to bore my readers with repetitive information just to stay relevant. So in order to keep my readers interested I have decided to devote my blog to the various applications that children and young adults and even older adults use in order to connect with others. Social media is a must in order to stay connected.<a name='more'></a> So many of us would rather delete our Facebook to enjoy a more private life. But if we disconnect, we lost contact with others. It is funny, we carry our phone everywhere. Even in the dating world we would much rather be looking at our phones then connect in person. We would rather have texting relationships through Snapchat and other forms of texting apps then to actually sit down and have normal conversations.<br />
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I believe we have truly lost our sense of self. We can become anything behind the glass house of a cell phone and the applications that come with them. From this point on I will educate parents, teenagers, young adults, older adults on the various forms of social media. I will not educate based solely on what I have read but what I have experienced. I have taken this year to research my experiences on these various social media outlets and will continue in order to keep the information fresh and relevant. <br />
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I hope you will join me and feel free to email questions.<br />
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Thank you,<br />
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Robin L. Allweiss Esq.,Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-23892078081129620592014-06-11T13:00:00.004-04:002014-06-11T13:00:57.576-04:00ACLU Protects Perpetrator of Facebook Cyberbullying<i></i><br />
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<i>This article looks at a case were a student posted on a social media site various sexually explicit information regarding children 13-16. The perpetrator was a teen himself who attended high school with the named children. However with an interesting turn of twists the ACLU is representing the perpetrator of the crime who is charged with violating the districts anti cyber bullying law by stating the students First Amendment Right5s are being violated. I say interesting because the ACLU has represented children who have been bullied because they have been both emotionally and physically harassed because of being gay. In this instance the perpetrator calls various students gay among other things. Should the ACLU make up it's mind who and what legal entities it supports? </i><br />
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<i>Courtesy Of Times Union: Highest Court Looks at Cyber Bullying Case: Albany</i><br />
To police, the jaw-dropping remarks of Cohoes High School student Marquan Mackey-Meggs on Facebook in 2010 were grounds for his arrest under a new Albany County cyber-bullying law.<br />
To civil libertarians, the remarks were jaw-dropping but perfectly legal.<a name='more'></a><br />
On Thursday, his case and the future of the anti-bullying statute will be tested at the highest court in New York state. The ultimate decision by the Court of Appeals will set a precedent governing the limits of online expression and whether certain language is simply offensive or illegal. <br />
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Associate Judge Victoria Graffeo granted Mackey-Meggs permission to bring the case to the Court of Appeals.<br />
Corey Stoughton, an attorney for the New York Civil Liberties Union Foundation arguing on behalf of Mackey-Meggs, wants the court to toss his conviction on the charge. She contends the county law violates the First Amendment, which protects speech, and the 14th Amendment, which addresses equal protection of the laws.<br />
"Because Albany County has made no effort to demonstrate that this broad criminalization of speech is necessary to protect minors from harm, the court should strike the cyber-bullying law down on its face," she stated in court papers.<br />
In December 2010, Mackey-Meggs created an anonymous Facebook page called the "Cohoes Flame." His expletive-laced posts identified multiple students by name and claimed they had several sexual partners and that, in some cases, were gay. The students were between the ages of 13 and 16.<br />
The vast majority of his comments cannot be printed in a newspaper. He claimed one female student had 14 sexual partners and listed the names.<br />
Among the remarks that can be printed included Mackey-Meggs suggestion that one female student "will make out with any boy in history if drunk."<br />
Cohoes police arrested Mackey-Meggs on June 14, 2011. He was charged with eight counts of violating the county's cyber-bullying law, which was enacted amid increased efforts across the country to eliminate student bullying, much of which has been seen online.<br />
In court papers, Albany County Attorney Thomas Marcelle said Mackey-Meggs inflicted vicious, life-altering attacks on fellow students for the express purpose of humiliating them.<br />
"Freedom of speech is not the issue," he stated in a court brief. "It was his desire to inflict harm on his victims that got him convicted of a crime, not his desire to enter into the marketplace of ideas."<br />
Marcelle said the law was tailored to include acts of bullying involving the electronic dissemination of sexually explicit photos, private or personal sexual information, false sexual information with no legitimate purpose and "with the specific intent to inflict emotional harm on a minor." <br />
Marcelle said the First Amendment does not protect false statements designed to inflict harm on another person.<br />
"The Cyber-Bullying Law is precisely targeted at speech in the narrow circumstances where the communication has no purpose other than to inflict emotional harm upon a child — that is, in situations where the speaker has no intent to communicate ideas and is without the protections offered by the First Amendment," the attorney stated.<br />
The law defined cyber-bullying to include "sending hate mail, with no legitimate private, personal, or public purpose, with the intent to harass, annoy, threaten, abuse, taunt, intimidate, torment, humiliate, or otherwise inflict significant emotional harm on another person."<br />
In turn, Stoughton argued: "These terms encompass countless emails, text messages, and postings on social networking and other websites, putting thousands of people in Albany County in jeopardy of criminal prosecution for expressing anger, criticism, intimacy, parody, gossip, and opinion."<br />
Mackey-Meggs tried to get his case tossed on grounds that his speech was protected by the First Amendment, which specifically prohibits any law prohibiting freedom of speech.<br />
Cohoes City Court Judge Richard Maguire upheld the law. In turn, Mackey-Meggs pleaded guilty to a single count of cyber-bullying, admitting he electronically disseminated false sexual information to inflict emotional harm on a minor. <br />
But he did so under the grounds that the plea deal would not prevent him from appealing the conviction on its constitutionality. <br />
He then appealed the case to Albany County Judge Stephen Herrick, who upheld the conviction but determined the law should only apply to victims who are minors.<br />
<i><a href="mailto:rgavin@timesunion.com">rgavin@timesunion.com</a> • 518-434-2403 • @RobertGavinTU</i>Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-75271074037031536522014-06-11T12:40:00.000-04:002014-06-11T12:40:26.980-04:00Work Place Bullying and Social Isolation Equals Suffering<br />
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We all know that bullying happens in the workplace more often then not. If you look at the various statutes concerning school bullying you will notice that one of the ways kids bully is through isolation. Ignoring the student, not including the student in school events or even classroom events. It is not always about being teased, physically abused or a smack on the head. <br />
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Let's now look at the work environment. Studies show that leaving someone out of social interactions at work, even if it small gossip at the water cooler can cause more stress to that isolated worker then actual verbal bullying from a boss.<br />
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According to research conducted at the University of British Columbia where a publication known as Organization Science stated that isolating co-w0rkers and keeping them from social connections can be a form of silent bullying. They were quoted as saying, "Most of us probably would think it would be better to be invisible than to be bullied or harassed at work," researchers Sandra Robinson states. "yet when you talk to the people having experienced it, that not the case our dates shows that." <br />
According to the various workplace bullying institutes it is well known that bullying in the workplace causes a variety of health problems which in turn leaves no choice but for the worker to quit. <br />
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The researchers believed through their studies and interviews that people viewed ostracism worse then outward negative treatment and harassment,. It seemed almost preferable to be picked on rather then being ignored. And the health problems were worse especially mental health issues. If given a choice between being treated with negativity and harassing behavior or ignored, workers would much rather be treated, well plainly stated, "like crap." Welcome to the world we live in.<br />
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<br />Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-88230920170369427092014-01-13T14:09:00.002-05:002014-01-13T14:09:16.947-05:00Snapchat is not as Ghostly as you may Think! Beware<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FFwbfSGfWnM/UtQ5qjTzqRI/AAAAAAAAAaM/biaRg5HpD1w/s1600/snapchat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FFwbfSGfWnM/UtQ5qjTzqRI/AAAAAAAAAaM/biaRg5HpD1w/s1600/snapchat.png" /></a></div>
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Snapchat is an app used to send photos to friends and whoever else may be lurking on the site. But is the site or application safe? According to news reports and various websites, Snapchat comes with a daunting warning by parents, that it may breed danger for teens. The application is used to send pics to friends. But what makes this application like a scene out of a futuristic Syfy movie is that once the pictures are viewed by the receiving party it self destructs within up to 10 seconds. Evidence of any pornographic, predatory pics are poofed into thin air without a trace. With this false sense of security teens are more apt to take risks of exposing their body to a world full of predators. Teens believe that once they send sexually explicit photos of themselves to a friend it is gone. <a name='more'></a> However, not exactly. If you recall the photo destructs in 10 seconds, which gives plenty of time to the receiver to take a one second screenshot. So that selfie becomes a permanent fixture which can be texted, shared and posted on websites including pornographic sites. Sex traffickers in child pornography now have a way to obtain photos and share or sell with other predators. It can become a vicious cycle that possibly leads to danger and a life of hell for the sender. Snapchat does offer a privacy setting from everyone to friends. However sometimes if not may times teens don't think about privacy settings. If that is the case the picture can be seen by everyone who has the application. But that privacy setting still does not guarantee that the pic will not be shared. We all know that in the teen world, bullying is prevalent. one day he or she is your boyfriend and or best friend and then next day they are not. This all can be a recipe for disaster. <br />
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Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-7142675363829055732014-01-13T12:36:00.001-05:002014-01-13T12:36:35.459-05:00Cellphone Applications May Be Deadly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KcQLiAA5r6A/UtQkEB5KbPI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/zERiPFQ6-og/s1600/chat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KcQLiAA5r6A/UtQkEB5KbPI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/zERiPFQ6-og/s320/chat.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am going to be doing a series of reviews regarding cellphone and computer applications. Reports from 2013 state that the use of Facebook among children/teens have gone done dramatically. The reason being is kids are turning to cellphone applications as well as internet chat sites including ASKfm.com. Parents are now conditioned to check Facebook through having access to their child's password. Cellphone applications are used by kids as to hide their activities from concerned parents. And parents do have a right to be concerned. Please take a moment each day to review my postings. Once you review, check your kids phone and computer to see if any of the following are installed. Many of them incite sexting, violence, bullying and predatory behaviors including exploitation. Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-8164279712360184452014-01-11T00:12:00.002-05:002014-01-11T00:13:04.819-05:00KE$HA was not Bullied. Again the media outlets and celebrity magazines are using the bully word to garner an audience. Below I have posted an article found on MTV.COM about the singer KE$HA being bullied. The online article states she was bullied by her producer about her weight which caused KESHA to succumb to the illness of anorexia and enter a treatment program. Celebrities get to their status by making all kinds of sacrifices, whether it involves losing or gaining weight for movie or TV roles, plastic surgery, filming movies for months at a time away from loved ones, changing hair color etc., But all of that is part of the gig. <a name='more'></a> They say if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. But truly the issue is the overuse of the word, "Bullying". Because these articles are about famous people posted on famous websites they are read by millions. Thus in this case desensitizing people to real acts of bullying. There are so many children who are really bullied under their respective state's anti- bullying law. Once again let me make it clear, bullying is defined as Public School Students K-12 that are repeatedly and systematically emotionally, psychologically or physically attacked which in turn causes emotional or physical hurt. <br />
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Here is the article:<br />
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<h1 id="articleTitle">
Ke$ha's Mom's Bullying Allegations Get Sharp Response From Dr. Luke </h1>
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'These statements and allegations concerning Dr. Luke are completely false,' reads a statement from the producer.</h2>
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By Gil Kaufman</div>
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Did <a href="http://www.mtv.com/artists/kesha/">Ke$ha</a> put pressure on herself to be thin for the cameras, or was she shamed into it by her outside advisors? That's the question that has emerged in the wake of the singer's decision to go public with her <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1719874/kesha-rehab-eating-disorder.jhtml">eating disorder</a> battle and her mother's recent statements suggesting that Ke$ha was bullied into a dangerous cycle of anorexia and bulimia.<br />
"Dr. Luke had been telling her how she had to get in shape and lose weight and all this stuff. She was exercising and dieting and ultimately doing everything she could, but not getting thin fast enough," mom Pebe Sebert told <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20773799,00.html" target="_blank"><i>People</i></a> magazine about the singer's longtime producer Lukasz Gottwald. "And that's when she first became bulimic."<br />
The singer recently shared with fans that she would be seeking help at the Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center near Chicago for 30 days after revealing that she's struggling with an eating disorder. Experts told MTV News that the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1720102/kesha-rehab-recovery.jhtml">in-patient treatment</a> is a great first step to deal with a disorder that strikes a number of women in the spotlight who feel pressure to be thin.<br />
"Dr. Luke told a friend of ours he thought she looked like a refrigerator on her latest video, and could she please try to control her weight," Sebert claimed. "After she went on a 14-day juice cleanse, he said, 'Thank God you finally got rid of the weight! We've all been talking about it!' So she felt like she couldn't trust anyone."<br />
The famed producer, however, denied the allegations though a statement from his spokesperson. "These statements and allegations concerning Dr. Luke are completely false," read the statement. "It is unfortunate that at a time Ke$ha is suffering immensely and trying to heal at a treatment center, her mother is taking this approach with the media. I give Ke$ha my utmost support and well wishes for a quick return to health."<br />
Sebert said the tipping point for her daughter came just before the holidays, when Ke$ha couldn't stand the pressure anymore. "Right before Christmas she had a breakdown," Sebert said. "And called me from the gas station after she'd thrown up everything, and admitted how much she'd been doing it."</div>
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Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-19523385807160496692013-12-15T22:11:00.002-05:002013-12-15T22:11:54.513-05:00Bullying Declines in New Jersey<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UCoy4CDGXG4/Uq5vXWlRXJI/AAAAAAAAAZo/wYw5Z9P-LWk/s1600/Bullying+Christe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UCoy4CDGXG4/Uq5vXWlRXJI/AAAAAAAAAZo/wYw5Z9P-LWk/s1600/Bullying+Christe.jpg" /></a></div>
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In the State of New Jersey there has been a sharp decline in bullying thanks to the Anti Bullying Bill of Rights that was passed in 2011. The article that was posted on New Jersey dot come, sic, NJ.com states that administrators site the hundreds of anti bullying seminars, programs and initiatives that took every bullying report seriously even if the facts and circumstances were minimal. The administrators also site the strong initiative to teach empathy, which is a big problem among children, teens and college students. <a name='more'></a> Empathy is defined in Psychology Today as "the experience of understanding another person's condition from their perspective. You place yourself in their shoes and feel what they are feeling." So many of us are taught to be individualistic that we forget the importance of really understanding what others go through. We tend to focus so much on our needs and not those of others. If children are surrounded by messages that encourage selfishness then the empathy part of their being becomes lost. <br />
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Here is an excerpt from the article posted on NJ.COM: <br />
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Last year, investigations of harassment, intimidation and bullying dropped 40 percent to 21,934, according to the Department of Education’s Violence, Vandalism and Substance Abuse in the Schools Report for 2012-13. Confirmed incidents dropped 36 percent, from 12,024 to 7,740.<br />
The decline comes in the second year of separate reporting for bullying, following the passage of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act in 2011. The law, which amends the Public School Safety Law of 1982, allows students to anonymously report bullying incidents, and it requires districts to document and investigate every claim.<br />
The annual report shows across-the-board declines in violence, vandalism, weapons and substance abuse. Incidents totaled, 21,170, a 20 percent drop.Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-81143662652921512272013-10-19T19:20:00.000-04:002013-10-19T19:20:04.492-04:00Bullied Student Attempts Suicide-Lawsuit Filed<h1 class="story-title">
<em><span style="font-size: small;">Article Courtesy: The Post and Courier</span></em></h1>
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<!-- comments --> A lawsuit against the Charleston County School District alleges that a high school teacher bullied a male student by repeatedly telling the class that the student was gay.<br />
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<hardreturn>The student later attempted suicide, the suit states.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>The legal action was filed in Charleston County Circuit Court on Aug. 30, court records show. The unidentified student, referred to in documents as John Doe, was a student at West Ashley High School, according to the complaint.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>The student's mother filed the suit on her son's behalf, said plaintiff's attorney Philip Hammond. He would not say why the suit wasn't filed against the teacher. Due to the sensitive nature of the suit, Hammond said he could not comment further.</hardreturn><a name='more'></a><br class="hardreturn" /><br />
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<hardreturn>The teacher is alleged to have bullied the student starting in early April. The student's mother alleges that the teacher repeatedly belittled her son in front of his peers, calling him “gay,” “gay boy,” and other names. The teacher repeatedly told the student's classmates that the student was in a homosexual relationship with another classmate, the suit states.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>The mother alleges that the teacher encouraged and asked other students to pick on her son during class. She alleges that her son was made to feel that he could not report the bullying to school administration. The student was also made to feel he could not appeal to any of his classmates because of the resulting alienation and isolation that the situation created, the complaint states.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>If the allegations are true, they are really disturbing, said Warren Redman-Gress, executive director of the Alliance for Full Acceptance.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>AFFA is a social justice organization dedicated to achieving equality and acceptance for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>“We just all presume that a teacher would never do such a thing. No one should be belittled that way,” Redman-Gress said.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>He hopes the school district will act quickly to get to the bottom of the situation.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>Experts have linked school bullying to an increased risk for mental health problems, substance abuse and suicide. Students who are victims of bullying are also at risk for poor academic achievement on standardized tests. They are more likely to feel isolated, to participate less in school activities and to miss, skip or drop out of school, according to stopbullying.gov, a website that provides information on the issue from various government agencies.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) youth and those perceived as LGBT are at an increased risk of being bullied, the website says.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>On the West Ashley High School web site, the teacher identified in the suit is listed as a member of the math faculty.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>The suit against the school district says that the emotional stress created by the teacher's conduct caused the student to become physically ill. The student attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself as a result of the bullying, according to the complaint.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>The student has allegedly suffered severe emotional and psychological damages and has been forced to withdraw from school. He is being home-schooled. He is also receiving mental health counseling, according to the suit.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>Jason Sakran, a spokesman for the school district, said he could not comment on pending litigation.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>The suit alleges that the school district failed to properly hire, train and/or supervise the teacher.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>According to the complaint, the school district's negligence entitles the defendant to an award of past, present and future damages sufficient to properly compensate him for the pain and suffering, the mental anguish, the permanency of his injury, the loss of enjoyment of life, the alienation of his lifestyle and his past and future medical bills.</hardreturn></div>
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<hardreturn>The suit seeks a trial by jury.</hardreturn></div>
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Reach Natalie Caula at 937-5594 or Twitter.com/ncaula.</div>
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By <a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=173"><strong>Natalie Caula</strong></a> and <a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=32"><strong>Prentiss Findlay</strong></a> </div>
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</section>Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-78413973562656733442013-10-16T09:32:00.002-04:002013-10-16T09:41:31.546-04:00Children who are cyberbullied in Florida: Consider a Stalking Injunction.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-scsyhAGJi_A/Ul6XfjguU3I/AAAAAAAAAY4/7tNsy8GqiFw/s1600/injunction.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-scsyhAGJi_A/Ul6XfjguU3I/AAAAAAAAAY4/7tNsy8GqiFw/s1600/injunction.bmp" /></a></div>
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In Florida there are options for victims of Domestic Violence, Repeat Violence, Sexual Violence and Stalking. Just recently the Florida legislature passed a law where a person who is stalked under the law can file a stalking injunction. If the victim is a minor then the parent will fill out the forms on behalf of the child. If the perpetrator is a minor then the minor's name must be put in the complaint and served on the parent or guardian. The Judge may grant a temporary Order and set a date for a permanent injunction hearing where both the Plaintiff and Respondent will appear before the judge to hear arguments. If the injunction is granted and the Respondent violates the order he or she can be charged with aggravated stalking<a name='more'></a>. This depends on the facts and circumstances. But it is imperative to get the injunction. If Rebecca Ann Sedwick had gone to court and asked for an injunction the possibilities were strong that the Judge would have granted it. The girls may or may not have continued their harassment and stalking but if they had, the chance of an aggravated stalking would have been easier to charge and file. And there is no need for a credible threat. <br />
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Here is the law:<br />
<span class="SectionNumber">784.048 </span><span class="Catchline"><span class="CatchlineText" xml:space="preserve">Stalking; definitions; penalties.</span><span class="EmDash">—</span></span><br />
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4. A person who, after an injunction for protection against repeat violence, sexual violence, or dating violence pursuant to s. <a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0784/Sections/0784.046.html"><span style="color: blue;">784.046</span></a>, or an injunction for protection against domestic violence pursuant to s. <a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0741/Sections/0741.30.html"><span style="color: blue;">741.30</span></a>, or after any other court-imposed prohibition of conduct toward the subject person or that person’s property, knowingly, willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks another person commits the offense of aggravated stalking, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. <a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0775/Sections/0775.082.html"><span style="color: blue;">775.082</span></a>, s. <a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0775/Sections/0775.083.html"><span style="color: blue;">775.083</span></a>, or s. <a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0775/Sections/0775.084.html"><span style="color: blue;">775.084</span></a>.Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-62269371302681659372013-10-15T17:26:00.001-04:002013-10-15T17:28:14.268-04:00Rebecca Ann Sedwick Suicide: Arrests made and charged with Aggravated Stalking<h3>
Arrest made in the Bullying Case and Suicide of Rebecca Ann Sedwick</h3>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PYZXoFVeOUU/Ul2zYVsDF4I/AAAAAAAAAYo/Pah0OiyQpTk/s1600/rebecca+sedwick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PYZXoFVeOUU/Ul2zYVsDF4I/AAAAAAAAAYo/Pah0OiyQpTk/s1600/rebecca+sedwick.jpg" /></a></div>
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Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County, Florida announced the arrest of two girls in the bullying case of Rebecca Ann Sedwick who jumped to her death in September. The two girls were charged with Aggravated Stalking telling Sedwick to drink bleach and die and that she was ugly and she should kill her self. One of the teens admitted that she was responsible for the death of Sedwick however she could give a f^*% damn. Please read on: WFLA News Channel 8 reports<br />
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Polk Sheriff Judd announces arrests in bullying case</h3>
<em class="wnDate">Posted:
Oct 15, 2013 9:09 AM EDT </em><noscript>&amp;lt;em class="wnDate"&amp;gt;Tuesday, October 15, 2013 9:09 AM EST&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;</noscript><!--END wnDate--><em class="wnDate">Updated:
Oct 15, 2013 2:31 PM EDT </em><noscript>&amp;lt;em class="wnDate"&amp;gt;Tuesday, October 15, 2013 2:31 PM EST&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;</noscript> <!--END wnDate--><br />
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By WFLA.com web staff</div>
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<span id="WNStoryDateline">POLK COUNTY, FL - </span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span id="fnWrapper" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced Tuesday the arrests of two girls in connection with the death investigation of the Polk teenager Rebecca Sedwick.<br /><br />Detectives said Rebecca Ann Sedwick took her own life after being bullied online.</span><i><b><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Related story: </span><a href="http://www.wfla.com/story/23436349/friends-and-family-raise-money-for-12-year-old-girls-funeral" target="_blank" title=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Polk cyberbullying victim to be laid to rest</span></a></b></i><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">According to PCSO, Katelyn Roman, 12, and Guadalupe Shaw, 14,</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span id="fnWrapper" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> were arrested and charged with felony aggravated stalking. <br /><br />Deputies said, all three girls went to Crystal Lake Middle School. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span id="fnWrapper" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span id="fnWrapper" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Guadalupe</span></span></span> dated a boy who had previously dated Rebecca. According to the PCSO, the girls threatened Rebecca through name-calling, intimidation, threats to beat her up and a fight. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span id="fnWrapper" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span id="fnWrapper" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Guadalupe</span></span></span> bullied others to stop them from being friends with Rebecca.<br /><br />According to PCSO, </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span id="fnWrapper" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span id="fnWrapper" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Guadalupe</span></span></span> Shaw sent messages to Rebecca telling her to drink bleach and die, that she was ugly and she should kill herself. <br /><br />Katelyn Roman said she was sorry for bullying Rebecca, according to PCSO. The two used to be friends before Guadalupe Shaw convinced Katelyn to stop.<br /><br />Authorities arrested the girls Monday. They were later released to their parents and are on home detention.</span><i><b><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Related story: </span><a href="http://www.wfla.com/story/23491060/online-bullies-target" target="_blank" title=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Online bullies create 'hateful' Facebook page</span></a></b></i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">A man who answered the phone at the 14-year-old's Lakeland home said he was her father and told The Associated Press "none of it's true."<!--?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /--><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 16px; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span id="fnWrapper" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">"My daughter's a good girl and I'm 100 percent sure that whatever they're saying about my daughter is not true," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">A message left at the 12-year-old girl's home was not immediately returned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The girls were arrested Monday night and released to their parents' custody. They remain on home detention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> NOTE: <a href="http://wfla.com/" title="http://wfla.com">wfla.com</a> has made the decision to name the girls arrested in this case. We generally don't name juveniles charged with crimes but in this case, WFLA management has decided to name them based on the nature of the crime and the fact that the juveniles were charged with a felony.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br /><br />Stay with </span><a href="http://wfla.com/" title="http://WFLA.com"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">WFLA.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> for more on this developing story.<br /><br /><strong><em>Related Content: </em></strong><a href="http://www.wfla.com/story/23502605/bullying-resources-experts" target="" title=""><strong><em>Bullying Resources and Experts</em></strong></a><br /> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
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Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-68014865704936588052013-10-13T10:45:00.002-04:002013-10-13T10:45:22.836-04:00School Bullying and the Law!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many states do have anti-bullying laws pertaining to public schools K-12. More recently state, including Florida have implemented laws addressing cyber-bullying. The acts of cyber-bullying contained in the law do not have to take place within the confines of the school. Please refer to your state laws.<br />
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Here is an overview of things to consider if you believe you have cause to take legal action.<a name='more'></a><br />
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What is Bullying?</h3>
Bullying is generally defined as any intentional, aggressive behavior that is meant to threaten, frighten, or hurt another student. Bullying doesn’t simply mean “being mean” or picking on someone, but can include specific acts such as:<br />
<ul>
<li>Waiting for a classmate in a certain area in order to intimidate them</li>
<li>Using aggression to take money or belongings from another student</li>
<li>Forcing another student to do homework or provide test answers</li>
<li>Physically attacking another student</li>
</ul>
Many disregard bullying as a “natural” phase that young people go through. However, bullying in <a href="http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/education-and-schools.html">schools</a> has raised much concern due to recent cases where students have committed suicide after being bullied. As a result, many state and local laws have begun enforcing anti-bullying statutes, which are similar to <a href="http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/workplace-bullying-lawyers.html">workplace bullying laws</a>.<br />
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Who Can be Held Liable for Bullying in Schools?</h3>
School officials have a responsibility to maintain a safe atmosphere for students. If bullying occurs on school grounds, many different parties can potentially be held liable, including:<br />
<ul>
<li>The child</li>
<li>The child’s parents, especially if the parents approved of the conduct or encouraged it</li>
<li>The school or school staff/officials, especially where they knew about the bullying situation but did nothing to prevent it</li>
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In most cases, a victim of bullying needs to show that they suffered definite harm as a result of the bullying. For example, if they suffered physical injuries, or had valuable items of property stolen from them, they’ll usually have a workable claim in court. On the other hand, it’s more difficult to obtain a damages award for purely emotional “injuries”, as these are more difficult to prove.<br />
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Are There any Legal Consequences for Bullying in Schools?</h3>
Since 2007, over half of the 50 states have implemented some form of anti-bullying statute. Many other states are currently reviewing bullying laws through legislation. Anti-bullying laws may impose legal consequences for bullying, such as:<br />
<ul>
<li>Criminal consequences: These can include fines, and possible time in a juvenile facility for serious cases. Bullying often involves violations of criminal laws, such as theft or assault</li>
<li>Civil consequences: The “bully” may face a civil lawsuit as well, especially where the victim was seriously injured or had property taken from them. Some instances of bullying also involve parental liability as well</li>
</ul>
In most bullying cases, the parties involved are minors. In such cases, legal consequences may involve alternative options such as mandatory community service, counseling, or summer behavioral programs.<br />
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What is “Cyber-Bullying”?</h3>
Cyber-bullying involves the use of electronic or computer technology to harass, intimidate, or humiliate another student. For example, the “bully” may post hurtful information on a website, or may distribute mass texts about the victim to large groups of students.<br />
In order to be legally actionable, cyber-bullying usually needs to be so severe or persistent that it disrupts the victim’s ability to study or causes them to feel unsafe. These types of bullying cases are becoming more common as technology is introduced to younger portions of the population. <br />
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Do I Need a Lawyer if I Have Legal Issues Involving Bullying in School?</h3>
Bullying laws highlight the dangers and consequences involved in such conduct. If you have any disputes or legal concerns involving bullying in schools, you may wish to contact a lawyer in your area. An experienced attorney can help determine if you have a legal claim that you can file in court. Most bullying claims require proof that the victim suffered substantial harm, injury, or economic loss.<br />
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<em>Information provided by Legal Match Law Library</em>Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-28272313727665765332013-10-11T20:00:00.000-04:002013-10-11T20:00:04.773-04:00Bullying Prevention Programs train bullies to be better bullies!Anti Bullying programs implemented in schools may actually teach bullies how to be bullies and get away with it. Studies show that incidences of bullying actually goes up in schools that have anti bullying/prevention programs. Released in September by the University of Texas Arlington, the study found that, "Unintended consequences may result from campaigns designed to education students about the harms of physical and emotional harassment. Sound familiar? Talk to Domestic Violence advocates and they will tell you that court ordered batterer's intervention programs designed for men who are convicted of domestic violence crimes, actually learn techniques to continue their abuse while getting away with it. They learn the ins and outs on how to lie to police and blame the victim. Advocates say these court ordered programs are a recipe for disaster and are more like abuser training programs. So it makes sense that bullying prevention programs would cause the same end result. <a name='more'></a><br />
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According to this article found in the Huffington Post:<br />
According to researchers' findings, bullying prevention programs in schools generally increase incidences of physical and emotional attacks among students by teaching kids about the ins and outs of bulling. <br />
The study’s findings challenge commonly held beliefs about the benefits of bullying prevention programs.<br />
“The schools with interventions say, ‘You shouldn’t do this,’ or ‘you shouldn’t do that.’ <a href="http://www.uta.edu/news/releases/2013/09/jeong-bullying.php" target="_hplink">But through the programs, the students become highly exposed to what a bully is</a> and they know what to do or say when questioned by parents or teachers,” lead study author Dr. Seokjin Jeong said in a statement released by the university. <br />
Using data from an earlier national study that looked at the well-being of adolescents, researchers found that students in schools with anti-bullying programs are more likely to be victimized. Specifically, they found that male students were more likely to be victims of physical harassment, while girls were more likely to face emotional harassment.<br />
"<a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/10/08/are-anti-bullying-programs-having-an-opposite-effect/" target="_hplink">This study raises an alarm</a>," Jeong told CBS Dallas. "Usually people expect an anti-bullying program to have some impact -- some positive impact.”<br />
Instead, his study recommends that prevention efforts “move beyond individual risk factors and focus on systemic change within the schools.” His report also recommend that researchers “better identify the bully-victim dynamics in order to develop prevention strategies accordingly.” <br />
According to the National Educators Association, approximately half of teens have reported being cyberbullied while <a href="http://neatoday.org/2013/10/02/educators-take-stand-against-bullying-during-national-bullying-prevention-month/" target="_hplink">one-third of students have reported being bullied in school</a>. Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-36470490191430477442013-10-05T14:21:00.002-04:002013-10-05T14:22:25.827-04:00Who is at more Risk for Suicide? Bullied Children who are Gay or Bullied Children who are Percieved to be Gay<br />
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Children who were bullied because they were perceived to be gay are more likely then other bullied victims to consider suicide. These children who were perceived as being gay also, according to a 2010 study were deemed to more depressed along with poor self esteem. Perceptions of others in the world of kids mean everything to a child. But this is just more then not being popular. Children who are popular such as athletes and cheerleaders also are candidates of victimization of ill conceived perceptions by their peers.<br />
<a name='more'></a> The main thrust of this study is to stress that being bullied based on sexual orientation puts the victim at a greater risk for suicide. The study is based on a 2010 survey of nearly 28,000 students in grades, eight, 10 and 12. The survey defined bullying based on sexual orientation as being, "bullied, harassed or intimated at school, because they were thought to be gay or bisexual.<br />
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The problem with the survey according to Brian Mustanski, an associate professor in the department of medical social sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago, is that it fails to ask whether those bullied are actually gay and not just perceived to be.<br />
"Because of this, it is a major underestimate of the rate of bullying among gay youth," he said<br />
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<br />Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-33610012133922621692013-10-05T14:05:00.001-04:002013-10-05T14:05:16.689-04:00Does Bullying Cause Suicide?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Does bullying cause suicide? Bullying, directly does not cause suicide per se. However bullying, repeated and systematic behaviors that cause physical and or psychological hurt can very well cause depression and anxiety. Depression coupled with anxiety can lead to suicide. Many times after constant bullying a child may suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is a viable mental illness cause by life events Happy, anxiety free children do not consider suicide. Children who suffer from depression due to a continuous assault on their self esteem are candidates for suicidal thoughts. These thoughts can turn into action if the bullying is not stopped.<a name='more'></a> Even if the child is in therapy due to the bullying, the child's crushed self esteem can overwhelm the child to the point where therapy may be too late. It will take quite a bit to undue the emotional collapse of the child's self worth. The goal is to catch the bullying early and notify the school so safety measures can be placed to ensure the child's emotional well being is managed. <br />
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If therapy is an option it is important to place the child with a therapist who deals with trauma. Trauma therapists have a better understanding of how to deal with traumatic events and focus on those events in an effort to relieve the stress so the child may start to feel strong both physically and mentally.<br />
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Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-38390629249266961292013-10-04T20:17:00.001-04:002013-10-04T20:21:09.363-04:00Bullying Mediation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Parents are taking a stand up position when it comes to reporting bullying issues at school. They are recognizing the signs of bullying and questioning their children so they are able to properly report issues to school authorities. However, there is a huge problem with schools not taking these reports seriously. If the bullying complaint falls under the definition of the state law and district code of conduct where the bullying is systematic and continuous which causes either physical or psychological hurt then schools are mandated to rectify the situation. This is not happening in many cases. Many parents think the only way to solve the problem is a lawsuit<a name='more'></a>. Lawsuits that are typically filed are failure to supervise or failure to follow the anti bullying law. This would be under the Tort of Negligence. However there has to be injuries and damages and many cases do not arise to this level. There are solutions though: Hiring a lawyer to meet with school administration and legal counsel, along with the victim and family members, can be very helpful in mediating issues and solving problems within the school. Sometimes it just takes a face to face meeting where the victim and family can be heard. These meetings can consist of strategic problem solving in matters involving keeping the bullied victim safe and protected so the child can be in an environment conducive to learning.<br />Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-46189350663873758862013-09-17T22:06:00.001-04:002013-09-17T22:06:03.528-04:00At what point does bullying become a crime?<a href="http://www.wfla.com/story/23457404/when-does-bullying-become-a-crime?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=9317594#.UjkKgPdOxNt.blogger">At what point does bullying become a crime?</a>Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-63999455626634922612013-09-09T22:40:00.001-04:002013-09-09T22:40:49.696-04:00Florida Law and the New Stalking/Harassment InjunctionsIn October of 2012 the Florida Legislature passed a law that would allow victims of harassment and stalking to file an injunction with the Court in the corresponding jurisdiction where the offense has occurred. The current injunctions that individuals may apply for including stalking/harassment are: Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Violence and Repeat Violence. At least one of the incidences of violence must have occurred 6 months prior to the filing of the petition. <a name='more'></a><br />
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The person who files the injunction is called the petitioner. The person who receives notice of the injunction is the respondent. If the judge grants the petition it is usually a temporary order. Usually the respondent is served within 15 days of the filing of the petition where at that time a permanent injunction hearing will be heard before a Judge in that Circuit. <br />
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Stalking another human being can be just as dangerous as physical violence. Many years ago in Florida, stalking was not illegal. But a case out of Largo, Florida which was featured on LMN Movie Network brought the dangers of stalking to the forefront where eventually the law was changed. Even though stalking became illegal, injunctions were not available until recently. If you believe you are a victim of stalking go to your jurisdiction's Clerk of Court Website and search for injunctions. read the applicable statutes and determine whether it applies to your situation. If you believe you are in danger, apply. Talk to your local law enforcement or local domestic abuse shelters or advocates to get more information.<br />
Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846489187620977559.post-35039024546801701392013-09-05T15:19:00.001-04:002013-09-05T15:19:43.034-04:00Florida Parents: Check the School District's Code of Conduct Handbook and Bullying<br />
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This article pertains to Florida public schools: Florida has an Education Code under the Florida Statutes. This Education Code pertains to public schools because these schools are funded by both Federal and State money. Even though some private schools may get state or federal money, this is usually due to scholarship money provided to indigent children so they may obtain a private school education. The anti-bullying statute pertains to public schools only [K-12] and does not pertain to public universities or colleges. <a name='more'></a><br />
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Because Florida law mandates that public schools implement bullying policies, each and every School District in Florida must include in their Code of Conduct [usually found in the Districts School Handbook] their policies and procedures,. The mandate is to define bullying, harassment and cyber bullying and include reporting and investigating procedures exclusive to the District and or school. Districts which have been investigated by the Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights may have additional policies and procedures regarding Civil Right violations, including victims who have been bullied due to their disability,, sexual harassment, gender discrimination etc., <br />
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It is always important for parents to check the <a href="http://www.stopbullying.gov/">www.StopBullying.Gov</a> website for updates on these matters.Robin L. Allweisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07330351412811152817noreply@blogger.com0