Bullying, a kid's game? (Citpart)

We live in a world of constant change. But beware, because the change is not always positive, that is, that instead of an evolution, we can find social aspects of clear involution. Someone once said that "the world, as it progress, destroys itself," and maybe it's a too alarming judgment, but seeing certain things, how not to take it seriously? But let's get to the point.

One of the most fashionable social problems today, to my regret, is known as bullying, that undeserved punishment that may accompany any child from an early age, as well as into his maturity. Good verbal or physical, the objective is to ridicule the victim, denigrating to the point that even he considers himself worthy of what is happening. An act of insensitive intimidation that not only physically, but psychologically, destroys the little victim. Anyone can be a partner of this misconduct, not only taking part in an active, but staying indifferent towards it.

But this criticism against child cruelty does not emerge from my head suddenly. And that’s because the Internet, that wonderful world of lights and colours, has the virtue and the defect of having your doors open and unlocked for everyone who wants to venture into it. And so it happens that bullying, using the communication skills of the monstrous global network, has been strong here in recent years, where justice could not seem to reach it. The portals for displaying video or social networking are now the perfect hunting ground (opened 365 days a year) for all kinds of mindless thugs, who boast of the strength of his fists (as opposed to serious emotional disorders) or have fun undermining the morale of his colleagues.

Let's face it, bullying, to a bigger or lesser extent, has been around for a long time, beyond the present generation and beyond many of us. The problem now is, as I said, the vast outreach capacity that every stalker is holding today. In thhe videos can be seen clearly that aggression is the new "trophies", instead of hanging on the wall, are posted on YouTube. And social networks, a huge world in which (to my surprise) go smaller and smaller children. A photo retouched for mocking a classmate may result in he or she running out from the rest, isolated by insecurity produced by the laughs of others (I mean, obviously, from the cruel and disrespectful laughs).

So, surfing the net, I came across one of those videos tha I had ever wanted to see, starting with its title (translated into Spanish: "Impotent Asian boy attacked and dragged for seven behind the school") did not invite a display. And I can say, once repressed impotence and nausea, that cruelty shown in the video for 7 masked boys in an alley in Chicago, invited (as little) to stop and think about what this world is becoming, if cases like this emerge frequently.

From the very first minute, the representation begins with the Asian guy on the floor in a heap, surrounded by seven others, while a barrage of kicks and insults is raining on his unprotected body. The phrase used by the attackers is "Fuck his ass!" While the victim, can hardly ask for mercy on a poor English "please, no more". The child does not try to defend at any time, because numerical and physical superiority is overwhelming, and he just waits protecting himself, until the storm is out. Beaten, dragged and shaken, the poor guy manages to stand up, and directs his prayers toward what seems to be the leader, who only replied with more punches. The video ends with an attempt to escape from the victim, which is lost by the camera at the end of the street, with seven hounds at his heels, still hungry for blood. Looking closer this document, we can see each of the acts of the attackers, and it is chilling. As possessed by some evil demon, the children (who, even if they are teenagers, are still children too) give escape to their anger against a target that has not done anything to deserve such torment. Another child like them that, for some unknown circumstance, has to be on the side of the weak.

So, as I started the column, I will just remember that we live in a world of constant change, and at the same way clearing that is in our hands to evolve or regress, giving the children a clear notion of respect for others and education to their partners, and a healthy instruction of the responsibility needed in the world of Internet and social networks, a subject that is often treated as a game for little kids. Try to do it, just for the "simple" reason of not having to see our children in a similar situation in a near future. And remember that, if bullying itself is a serious difficulty, joined to the misinformation of children and the immensity of the networks, it becomes a monstrous problem.