Setting the example

Setting the example

Some adults in our community need to wake up. They are currently showing a great deal of immaturity by publicly shaming minors in our town on social media.

Bringing this middle school behavior to Facebook can be destructive to all involved. Though there are only a few culprits, the rest of the community often logs on to watch the drama. These are the same exact behaviors that most parents would find unacceptable of their children.

I have seen the effect of this harassment even in my own life. In 7th grade, a friend and I scaled the gate to a locked up field so we could play soccer. Though this was not a serious offense, a parent who was sitting in their car posted a picture with our faces clearly visible.

Instead of simply asking or questioning our behavior, that individual publicized our mistake to the entire community. I still remember the fear the post incurred onto me. Would my parents see it? Would it hurt me in the future?

I, like all others, have made more than a few bad decisions throughout my teenage years. Though I regret every one of them deeply, moving on and growing from these decisions have made me into who I am today.

Public shaming of our youth makes it difficult for them to learn from their mistakes because they first have to deal with the additional resulting fear and embarrassment.

Any member of Flower Mound Cares knows this type of situation isn’t exclusive to me. The pattern of immediately going to social media rather than talking to the person has become too common.

Without a doubt, Flower Mound is one of the best places to grow up. With remarkable schools and teachers, a community that makes constant strides to keep kids safe, and many responsible parents- there is no question why so many kids go on to do great things from our town. Flower Mound Cares is often used as a positive tool to share teens acomplishments and keep our town safer and more informed.

These adults acting irresponsible however have shed a negative light on our entire town. They also have set a bad example for how to act online for a generation whose online presence will only matter more as they grow older.

The ability to voice one’s opinion is one of the things that makes America so great, but it is when children and teenagers are publically humiliated for their mistakes that digital citizenship is not being exhibited in the slightest.

Much of the problem might originate from the fact that previous generations never experienced cyber bullying as kids. Everyone has now heard of the dangerous effects of what this type of harassment can do, but many fail to see it takes more forms than just name calling.

Personal attacks, no matter what the intentions of the post might be, leave profound effects to a person’s life. “Bettering the community” by bringing attention to the wrong doing of individual teens or children online should not be seen as helpful or insightful, but instead bullying.

If adults have a problem with a child in our community, they should try to contact the parents. If adults are scared, they should send the names or pictures to the police. There is no situation where public embarrassment is the smartest choice.

Though this problem is in no way exclusive to Flower Mound, it is my hope that our community steps up to set the example for not only our youth, but the adults of other communities as well.

Social media and email groups have bettered our town and neighborhoods in many ways, and let us continue this betterment without the presence of cyberbullying.

Remember your actions are often reflected by the younger members of our society. Whether you are a city councilman or a parent, act online how you hope your child will one day.