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Drue Stroud
Adam Padgett
ENGL 1102
February 3, 2014
Context
I would not say social media does not play a large role in my life because I use it
everyday; however, I could definitely live without it if I had to. I am in no way addicted
to social media. Well maybe a little, you see, I really only get on Twitter, Instagram, or
Facebook when I am bored, although, sometimes it tends to be quite often. I definitely
have problems with social media too; one thing that bothers me is that some people get
on it strictly to bully others. I have personally never been cyber bullied, but I know a lot
of people that have. I have also known a few of the bullies. I really do not understand
why people choose to bully others; do they not think about how that makes the person
they are bullying feel? I also have problem with social media users that cross the line
posting things that are inappropriate for social media. There are just some things that
should not be posted on social media because they are either too personal or too
inappropriate. For example, in the past year or so I have seen a lot of posts of family
members laying in their death bed at the hospital or posts of already dead family
members in the hospital, and to me that is way over the line. I also think that social media
discourages someone to be their own person. Social media makes people that are
different from the norm feel like they are social outcasts, which can lead that person to
be cyber bullied for being different.
Inquiries
Comment [AP1]: So would you say that it does play a large role in your life?
Comment [AP2]: How do you mean the word addicted? usually the implication is that the addiction itself causes adverse effects.
Comment [AP3]: So are you bored often?
Comment [AP4]: Are you friends with these people? If so, why?
Comment [AP5]: Im not sure Im following this. Can you be clearer? Or more specific with a n example?
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My first inquiry is why do people allow themselves to be cyber bullied? I
understand completely that they did not ask to be cyber bullied and they probably didnt
do anything to deserve it. I have heard so many stories about teenagers killing themselves
due to cyber bullying, but I would think that after being bullied for a while I would delete
my social media pages. They cannot make the cyber bully stop all together, but they can
control whether they allow themselves to take it or not, at least, that is my opinion. My
second inquiry is, is social media blurring our perception of what is socially
acceptable? I believe that younger teenagers who have been around social media their
entire life do not know what is and is not acceptable or appropriate to post onto social
media. For example, I definitely do not think it is acceptable to post a selfie of yourself
with your dead grandmother in her casket in the background, honestly that is disturbing.
My third inquiry is, does social media discourage people to be themselves? In my own
opinion I think it does, because the people that are different than the social norm are
the ones that are ostracized from society. This can also lead to cyber bullying. I want to
know why there is a social norm and why the people that do not fit that category are put
out by the normal people.
Next Steps
I think my research will prove that most of my opinions are correct, especially
when it comes to social media discouraging people to be themselves. I also think that I
will find that being yourself, if that means you are different, leads to being cyber bullied.
I also really want to find out what psychologically makes a person feel the need to bully
another person on social media. I want to find out if it is considered a mental illness to
want to make someone else feel like crap about them self. I think my research will show
Comment [AP6]: I feel like this approach doesnt address cyber bullying specifically. This conversation can exist within the context on regular bullying. Also, youve prefaced this piece with the idea that you have never been the subject of
bullying, so is safe to make the claim that they can control whether they allow themselves to take it or not? Im not sure if youd be able to convince anyone who has been the subject of bullying.
Comment [AP7]: A selfie of yourself is redundant, right?
Comment [AP8]: Im not sure what you mean by this.
Comment [AP9]: What does being yourself mean? Imnot sure what youre saying in this sentence. Or what you are implying.
Comment [AP10]: I think the answer is that some people are just jerks.
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that most people cannot get away from cyber bullying because even if it is hateful
attention they are still getting attention. I expect to also find that the generations coming
up today will no longer know what is appropriate and inappropriate to post on social
media sites, as well as, in general life, and that not knowing what is and is not acceptable
could pull societal morals down to an all time low. I believe that social media also effects
society one hundred percent and will continue to have more and more control over what
society thinks and does as technology advances and years go by.
Drue,
I like what you have to say here and I think your inquiry has the potential for engaging
and worth while academic investigation. But Im getting a little lost in what you have to
say about bullying and the causes of (and potential solution to) the problem. Also, Im
not seeing how your discussion fits, specifically, into cyber bullying. You discussion
would have to focus on issues unique to cyber bullying, at least in part. Otherwise, youre
just talking about bullying. Also, why are you so interested in this topic since you say that
you yourself have not been victim to bullying. I would just like to see a tighter
connection to your personal experience and your inquiry. I think your off to a good start,
but I need a little clarity here.