Lee-Yun

Patricia Lee
Courtnie Yun
Period 0
Public Forum Aff Case

Introduction:
Say what?? A site where I can make a profile about myself and let anyone and everyone ask me
questions or make anonymous comments that they would otherwise keep to themselves? They’re
probably going to tell me I look fabulous everyday and how I’m so nice to everyone... SIGN ME
UP!

This is the attitude that most teenagers have concerning social networking websites such as
Facebook, Twitter, and of course, the infamous Formspring. There are many cases where cyber
bullying has influenced so many lives in a negative way, so far as to help cause breaking teens
commit suicide. The seemingly harmless “You have major thunder thighs” comment by a peer
might just cause a young girl to starve herself to death because she doesn’t want to be thought of
as fat. Through our technological advances has also come several problems including cyber
bullying. It is now much easier and accessible to bully others over the Internet. We must also
consider the fact that Americans aged 13 to 18 spend more than 31 hours a week using the
Internet-that’s about 4.5 hours a day.

Resolved: Cyberbullying should be a criminal offense.

Definitions:
"Cyberbullying" is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated,
embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive
and digital technologies or mobile phones. It has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have
been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and
simple cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. Adult cyber-harassment or cyberstalking is NEVER
called cyberbullying.

Criminal offense is an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of
crimes” according to dictionary.com.

Contention 1

Criminalizing cyber bullying would act as a deterrent. If we criminalize cyber bullying, it would
decrease the number of people who do it, because they know that there is the possibility of
getting in trouble for it. For example: before the laws about using cell phones while driving,
pretty much everyone at one point or another used their cell phone, even though they knew it
probably wasn't the best idea. However, after the cell phone laws, less and less people talk or text
on their cell phones while they're driving, because they know there's a consequence. The same
idea applies here. If you know that there's a chance you could get in trouble for cyber bullying
someone, then you're going to be a lot less tempted to do so. The risk of getting in trouble is
enough for some people to just say "no."
 Lee-Yun

My second point is that cyber bullying is a widespread problem. According to the U.S. Justice
Department, a startlingly 43 percent of teenagers report being victims of bullying by phone or
Internet. And as technology improves, so do the opportunities for bullies to strike. By creating a
law against cyber bullying, we would be essentially extending harassment charges into the "cyber
realm". We have laws against harassment, so why wouldn't we have laws against harassment over
the Internet? Just because it's online, doesn't make it right. 43 percent of teens have admitted to
being cyber bullied: this problem needs to be treated, and be treated seriously, because it is so
widespread.

Third contention: criminalization would give victims a method to stop the bullying. By allowing
bullies to continue bullying without a legal consequence we are choosing to cover ourselves with
the veil of ignorance. We see the issue but we don't acknowledge it as a problem deserving of
consequence. However by choosing to criminalize cyber bullying we will be providing victims
with a way to stop the bullies from harassing them. This is important, because cyber bullying is
hurtful to the victims, and sometimes may even lead to the victim committing suicide, as I will
talk about in my next contention.

Fourth contention is that criminalization of cyber bullying could save lives. Both state and
federal laws were prompted by the suicide of Missouri 13-year-old Megan Meier, who was the
victim of repeated harassment on MySpace.com. An adult neighbor was indicted in the case last
month by a grand jury in Los Angeles on charges of unauthorized access of a computer system
with intent to harm another person. (Citation: Olsen, Stephanie. "A Rallying Cry Against Cyber
bullying." cnet News. 7 Jun. 2008. Web. 27 Nov. 2010.) Megan Meier, who was only 13 years
old, committed suicide because she was being cyber bullied. If, however there had been a law
against cyber bullying, this incident may never have occurred, or it may have been stopped before
it became such a huge problem. This is exactly why we need laws against cyber bullying: to save
the lives of other people just like Megan Meier.

Every person has certain inalienable rights, and one of those rights is the right to feel safe and
happy. Because of this, we need to take action. We need to do something about this problem.
This is why I urge you to vote Affirmative.