The Power of Support

This video has been circling around a lot lately and for good reason. The message it contains is powerful. This young man shows us the true harm that bullying causes, and also the strength it takes to beat it. As you watch the video, think about the pain simple words can cause and the drastic effect they may have. Think about the strength it took Jonah to simply post this video. Support is one of the easiest things we can offer one another, and it is also one of the best. Simply knowing someone is there for you can be all it takes.

The second video shows the power a single person can have. This is just one of the support videos created for Jonah. It shows the what love and compassion can do. Anyone, not just Jonah, can feel the support radiating from theses videos. To overcome bullying we first must rely on each other. This videos show just how capable we are of doing that.

We Added a New Author!

Hey Everyone,

Me and Ty decided to add a new author to our blog. Erick Rice holds a very proactive and insightful view on bullying. We warmly welcome him aboard and hope that as we only add one more author, we will also impact many more lives. Stay tuned to hear more from Erick, and keep spreading the word.

Taylor

School's Back

It's that time of the year again everyone. School is back in session.

Now I don't want to directly link school to bullying, because its not. The beginning of this school year brings for a fresh start to your school career. However, bullying will become more noticeable now that everyone is brought back into the hustle and bustle in the halls of schools nationwide.

Be alert. Take this new school year as a chance to be someone who stands up against the problems we are faced with bullying.

Best wishes and good luck on another year of learning!

SIDE NOTE: If you haven't seen our new video, check it out! It's posted below. Couldn't have been done without the help from Eric White Jeff Neil and Isaac Rizo.

Interview with Isaac Rizo

Its finally done. Here is the interview with Isaac Rizo, a bullying victim Isaac was kind enough to let us interview him and give us his testimony against bullying. Due to physical conditions, Isaac was caught on the worse end of bullying and explains it in this video. He has very powerful thoughts on bullying and can teach all of us a lesson about self image.

Isaac from NCYFC on Vimeo.

Thank you Isaac for this great video and thank you to Eric White for his amazing video editing skills.

Power in Numbers

We have talked a lot about what a single person can to by themselves to fight bullying, but the truth is there needs to be more. While a person doing something on their own is amazing, 15 people doing something together is even better. Countering bullying takes perseverance and 100% effort. The power in numbers makes these two concepts easier on us. When we can count on each other to keep ourselves straight, then breaks in our actions are few and far in between.

These types of group activities can be creative and unique, as in the flash mob video I posted a a few months ago. Have fun and take pride in what you do to stop bullying. Suggest an awareness week to your  Student Council or talk to your boss about giving a presentation to your fellow employees. Everything counts in the battle against bullying. If we can achieve power in numbers, we can also take one step closer to a bully free world.

The many aspects

Trying to grasp the entire issue of bullying can be so complicated. Because it's not always about the common LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) bullying that most people worry about.

We often see bullies using the simplest of aspects in peoples lives as a tool against them. From the awkward puberty stage in a young boys life to a few freckles dotted on an innocent girls face.

While we can never provide any specific response that kids or parents should take to end bullying, I believe that the issue is so complicated that doing so would limit the ideas that people could come up with to solve the problem. The message that people should take away from our project is that no matter who you are, we are all effected by bullying and we all need to take steps to end it.

Media can be a Vessel...

...for bullying to make its way to us.

From television, to music, to posters, bullying is being expressed strongly through the media. Many songs praise the popular good looking student while casting everyone else into the shadows. We must be very careful of the things we endorse and what it means when we support such things. Sometimes it seems like a song is just fun to listen to or a shirt may be funny, but when the wrong person sees us waving these flags around the wrong message is delivered. The things we say, the things we do, and the things we put our interest in reflect who we are to the people around us. For this reason we have to be over diligent in ensuring we express exactly who we want people to see us as. To truly fight bullying we must attack it at all angels, even when it may seem like harmless fun.

Bullying Extends Beyond the Language Barrier

I have been away in Europe for the last 10 days and while I was gone I realized something about bullying. Despite what language you speak, bullying is still being communicated. Words can still hurt even if we do not know what they mean. If one can tell they are being used negatively, then the effect is the same. It all seems to be revolving around ignorance. People can be too ignorant to try and understand others, especially when there is a language barrier in the way. It is crucial that not only as we strive to get rid of bullying in our culture, but that we also try ten times harder to avoid bullying to other cultures. Bullying can come so easy and almost naturally when engaging with people who speak another language. Try hard to understand where they are coming from, where they think you are coming from, and where you actually are coming from. Understanding is key to acceptance. Acceptance is key in the fight against bullying.

Eyes open

It hasn't been long since we've started this project and already I realize its made a change. Not just in our community but in myself. I thought I knew everything there was to know when we first started, and how wrong I was. This project has made me more aware of my surroundings, the things I say and the little things most don't stop to think about. Even the simple act of holding an elevator door open for someone.

In light of this, I spent a week and really focused on the subject in every aspect of my day. What was discovered shocked me, and I realized little things I can change in my daily habits to help others. So I will ask you a favor. Take the time and spend a week, a day, even a few hours and really think about bullying as you go about your routine. Then, comment on this post and share what you've found. We would really appreciate others findings and input.

On a side note I would like to inform all of our followers that we are currently working on a documentary, so keep checking in on us! We will keep you posted. Thank you always.

What you can do

Report. Be a friend. Stand up.
Three simple things you can do to create a change.

Don't be afraid to tell someone, mainly an adult. Telling isn't tattling, you're helping someone. There is an endless possibility of adults you can confide in telling something as serious as bullying. School counselor, teacher, parent, coach, anyone of authority.

Just being supportive to a person who is being bullied is comforting and shows them that they're not alone. That people care. When someone is down they need a friend. Be a buddy at school, get together after school, include them in activities. Being understanding and supportive means so much. If you care, show it.

Stand up to the bully. If you feel safe and comfortable, tell the bully that what they are doing is wrong. Keep it simple. What they are doing is not cool and they need to stop. But remember, it's not ok to bully them back.

The Negative Image

Negative actions often have a more memorable effect on people than positive ones. People remember the mean and harmful things that happen to them much more than the uplifting ones. As we engage with others it is important to reflect on this idea. Our negative actions will be how people remember us. Even if its just one encounter, if that encounter is negative you will always be remembered as "the person who hurt me". Since bullying is a negative action in every way we must strive to avoid it. At one point or another we have all bullied someone. If it happened isn't the problem tho. The problem is the effort we put into fixing it. What if we take the time to fix the negative images that others have of us? By ensuring people see us in a non-bullying light, we not only fight the bullying that occurs within all of us, but we also pave the way for others to follow. Actions really do speak louder than words and while we can fight bullying by spreading the word, we must also spread the actions. Live the words you spread, act the way you speak, and thus change the world.

When your with your siblings....

do you bully or do you tease?

There is a very fine line in-between these two. I know i have crossed it many times a whole heartily regret it. Siblings pick and tease each other relentlessly, but where do we draw the line? When does playful teasing becoming harmful bullying? Well, lets look at what bullying really is. Bullying is the tormenting of another to elevate one's self above them. To me it seems that teasing can easily fall into this category. We must be very careful about the words we choose to say to anyone, our loved ones especially. Sticks and stones may break bones, but words can stab at your soul.

Bullying Later in Life

Bullying exists far past the realms of school. In school, bullies learn their bad habits and often hold on to these bad habits for the rest of their life. This video does a good job of depicting how such bullying is projected later in life. As we grow older, it seems that the playground is replaced by the office cubical and the bully is now "Fred" three cubicles down,or unfortunately even your boss. Whichever the case, bullying in the workplace is a very real factor that hundreds of thousands of adults deal with on a daily basis. Bullying can be prevented in the workplace and is often treated with several different organizations inside a company;however, treating the problem where it starts can be a concrete fix, not just a temporary one. If we attack the problem in the schools, then we ultimately aid everyone later in life.

Bullying is a large problem that creates gargantuan rifts in every aspect of our lives, despite our age. From elementary school to the work place, bulling NEEDS to be stopped.

Physical scars...

Are a thing of the past.
Over time, with much more social networks being created and widely used, no longer is bullying restricted to the playground. The bullying issue has expanded and spread like a virus among many of the social networks such as twitter, myspace, and lets not forget facebook, where victims of the bullying problem can not seem to find a break. It has turned into a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online bashing to humiliate another.

Here are some statistics of the online cyberbullying based on a survey from 2004 with 1,500 students in middle school:

• 42% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once.
• 35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly 1 in 5 have had it happen more than once.
• 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other messages.
• 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more than once.
• 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online. More than 1 in 3 have done it more than once.
• 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

Although there are no physical signs of this type of bullying the damage done is no less real, and can be more painful.

Those Little Actions

Its the small things that can have monumental effects.

Here are some things that others have done/created to spread the word. Some of these show the small actions we can do to make a difference, while others simply create a message against bullying. Whatever the case, they focus on aiding the anti bullying cause through peaceful and harmless ways, ways which benefit everyone including the bully. It is important to remember that every action counts and the small things do add up. Showing someone who is being bullied one tiny bit of love could be what saves them in the end. It could also show the bully the treasures found in love for others.
I leave you now with one question. What is that small action you could take today to save a life?

A Small Reminder of...

 ...the effects bullying has, to everyone.

Some of you might already have seen this video. For those of you who haven't, it is good physical evidence and a strong reminder of the effects bullying has on people. As you watch this video keep one thing in mind. Casey (the boy being bullied) has become an icon while Ritchard (the bully) has become internationally hated by hundreds of thousands of people. While Ritchard was in the wrong, he is a human being and does not deserve to be treated so cruelly. We do not endorse bullying in anyway or letting bullies "off the hook" but in the same sense, we dont support bullying the bully. It is a vicious circle that can only be ended by means outside of bullying. In other words, you cannot nor should you try to fix bullying with bullying. It all comes back to the reason bullies do what they do. They a normal people who suffer from insecurities and internal problems. Meet the bullies with well directed love, not the same sort of hate they inflict of others. Being the stronger person is not always measured in physical strength, but in goodness of heart and soul.

-Taylor and Tyler

Words hurt...

But attitudes can heal.

Words. They can have so much power, yet be so simple at the same time. The funny thing about them is; they are powerless until we put power behind them. We can use them... to hurt or to help. Many people can put truth behind their words. Others... put lies. Be careful of the power you put behind your words. Because in this world intention is everything.
Hurtful words are used more predominantly every day and can have long term effects. Again I would like to leave you with this thought. Words can hurt someone or words can heal. Which did yours do today?

Thought of the Day

"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it"        -Albert Einstein

If we relate this to bullying, we can draw a pretty strong message from it. Bullying survives because most people let it. Speaking up and standing up for someone who is being bullied could not only prove beneficial (and even life saving) to them, but it could also help the bully see the error in their ways. Seeing as bullies usually act out against others due to their insecurities, stopping them from bullying and thus showing them how they are in the wrong (in a peaceful yet effective way) could enable the bullies to fix their insecurities in a more healthy way for all.

Animations...

Can still feel so real

Where We're Coming From

The fact of the matter is simple, we hate bullying. Both of us coming from experiences where we have had first hand confrontation with bullying against ourselves and others, we have grown a desire to create change. Not only does seeing such actions enrage us, but it fills us with sorrow and dread. The physical and emotional toll bullying has on its victims is enough to crush anyone, literally anyone. It is evident bullying has massive effects on a wide variety of people, including more than just the person being bullied. One person being bullied can damage not only the victim but their friends and family. It is for this reason we seek reformation.

As high school students, we have both seen the horrors bullying can bestow on a life. Friends, peers, and relatives have been driven to the brink of their lives and all we could do was watch. Now we choose to act and bring awareness. Both of us are strong believers in the power of the word of mouth, ie awareness. Simply knowing the crude truth is enough to make change, and sometimes it's all we can do. We encourage others to follow us on our journey battling the bully. Spreading the word can sometimes be enough to spark the fire of change.