It can be a wonder how some people seem to have a thick skin when it comes to online dragging. And by this, I mean cyberbullying. This can be in the mildest form, or even in its harshest forms. Whereby people say mean thin
gs about you, calling you names and heaping insults and curses on you. They could all be a lie, or they could be the truth. Either, the effect could be the same if an individual is not mentally strong to get through such.
However, there are people who can easily handle such heat. There are those that no matter what you say about them online, no matter how you try to bully them, it’ll be like trying to shoot Superman with rubber bullets, they’ll simply bounce off. They’re not moved by what people say about them, what matters is the truth that they know and they’ll stick with it.
For some, to protect their own account, they could disable it for a while and take some time off the internet. Others, also do this for their peace of mind, choosing not to dwell on the bitterness and negativity that has camped on social media, because they know it will make them bitter as well. Many have come to get used to this lifestyle, especially celebrities, knowing that at one time or the other, they will surely get dragged.
But then, there are those who live for the chaos. They personally go in search of controversial topics, knowing that it would invite dragging. This could be a tactical movement to promote their page, knowing that it would drive views for them and probably increase their followers. Or it could simply be who they are. Either way, it is what it is.
And then, there are those who can’t handle the harsh realities of social media. The two-faced demon that even though it was instrumental in building you up, could turn on you like a feral beast and drag you down in its unforgiving claws. It’s just sad because when the internet chooses to be on your side, you’ll seem unstoppable. However, the same is also the case for the reverse. Because when the internet is against you, it would be like the entire world is.
And many people can’t handle this. This is usually a time when such victims have to be with friends and family, they have to be surrounded by loved ones because if care is not taken, it can escalate to even worse. Many people have taken their lives because they couldn’t handle the hate and bitterness that was directed at them on the internet. And even worse, the internet doesn’t care!
The internet is made up of millions of individuals, all of them safe and snug in their homes and offices, hiding behind their screens and keypads. Basically untouchable. And that’s why they can say whatever they want without any fear of repercussion. How many people can you go after? You could decide to report the accounts, but how many? How long will the account stay down? It’s just the reality of what we see.
I guess we just have to be careful. The internet can come for us at any time, it can be for good, or it can be for bad. If good, I pray for the wisdom to be able to utilize it and as such, use it to change our lives. However, if it’s for bad, I pray for strength to get through the ordeal in one piece. The only good news that can be gleaned from this is the fact that the attention span of the internet is very small.
If you’re being dragged today, within a few days or at most, a few weeks, you’ll be forgotten and the world will move on. It can be fifteen minutes of fame, or infamy. Either way, it could have the capacity to make or destroy your life. If and when it comes for us, may we be mentally prepared.
