Tag Archives: harrassment

General Safety Issues

SEVEN BAD HABITS KIDS PICK UP FROM FACEBOOK

Guest Blog by Martina Keyhell

You had to have seen this one coming: kids are picking up bad habits from their extensive use of social media giant Facebook. This can’t come as too big of a surprise though, because it stands to reason that something so popular and fun would be bound to have some ill effects. Not that we’re condemning Facebook, mind you, but there are a few potential pitfalls to watch out for regarding your child’s usage. The following are seven bad habits that kids pick up from Facebook:

  1. TMI – To be honest, many of us are already guilty of grossly over-sharing our personal lives on Facebook. When you have a place to update your status 24/7, though, it shouldn’t come as any real surprise that eventually one’s entire personal life is right there for anyone and everyone to read on their profile.
  2. Inappropriate Friending – It tends to be an automatic reaction for some to “friend” someone after they’ve added you, accompanied by the friend confirmation request, whether this person is someone you know well or not. While they may not like the idea of saying ‘no’, safety should have a higher priority than popularity.
  3. Posting Inappropriate Photos – Inappropriate photographs always seem to find their way onto people’s Facebook pages. For that matter, taking such photos in the first place is ill-advised, to say the least. Coupled with the prospect of being friended by stalkers and strangers, not to mention being available for any potential employers or school officials, this makes for a very dangerous mix.
  4. Poor Time Management – It’s very easy to lose track of one’s time while socializing on Facebook, and hours at a time can be lost without even realizing it, often at the expense of more important things like homework, chores, etc. It may be wise to install a filter software that can monitor use and block certain sites during specified time periods to ensure that your kids don’t spend too much time on the website.
  5. Indiscriminate Downloading – Facebook is notorious for third party apps that seek to gain access to personal data and the friend lists of members who use them. There’s a large risk associated with accepting gifts via some of these apps, unfortunately, that could end up compromising your personal information.
  6. Poor Grammar – As with chat rooms, IM’s, and text messaging, all of which came prior to social media, Facebook posts can tend toward cyber shorthand, whether it’s in the interest of brevity or simply born out of sheer laziness. Although it’s acceptable – even necessary in some cases – to limit character usage, it’s very easy for this habit to leak over to your child’s more formal writing and correspondence.
  7. Not Safeguarding Personal Info – Facebook provides varying levels of privacy settings for its users. Members can share everything with anyone, or limit access to their profile to just friends and/or family. Kids today have become ok and even lax with the safeguarding of their personal information, and identity theft, stalking or harassment can end up being one of the penalties for your child being too open with his or her personal information.

You can read more of Martina’s advice for parents and youngsters Facebook is a very popular social network; it is a good way for old friends to locate long-lost associates.  However, many times young people have been cyberbullied by someone on social networks to the point of hurting themselves or taking their lives.  Teens and parents would be wise to follow this advice from Martina. 

General Safety Issues

“HAZING” IS A CRUEL WORD

It seems the only time the word “hazing” is brought to our attention is when something horrible happens to a young person bent on joining some type of organization.  Just recently, the death of a Florida A&M drum major has been ruled a homicide, as reported by the state medical examiner’s office.  The young man had bruises to his chest, arms, shoulder, and back, as well as internal bleeding, which caused him to go into shock, which killed him.  The hazing occurred on the band bus, where he was found unresponsive, according to witnesses. 

Over the past several years, hazing cases have emerged.  A spot in the marching band is coveted and many bands are as revered as much as the sports team.  In 1998, a clarinet player from Ocala, Florida, said he was paddled around 300 times, sending him to the hospital and leaving him physically and emotionally scarred.   In 2001, a MU band member suffered kidney damage because of being beaten with a paddle.  In 2008, according to an AP release, two first-year French horn players in Southern University’s marching band had to be hospitalized after a beating.  In 2009, 20 members of Jackson State University’s band were suspended after being accused of hazing.  Now, Florida A&M is going to be taking steps to ensure that they can create a safe environment for the entire school community and that this will never happen again at FAMU.  One of the most important things for parents is the assurance that their children are going to be safe when they join a high school or college group.  Years ago, we were initiated when we entered high school as freshmen.  We had to wear silly things, or sing to a football hero, etc., but there was never the violence that is associated with hazing, as it seems to be now, in many cases.  We aren’t saying it happens in all groups, but there should be rules established to prevent injury or possible death to new members.

According to StopHazing.org, there are three types of hazing: Subtle Hazing; Harrassment Hazing; and Violent Hazing.  Here’s an explanation of each type.  See if any of them are familiar to you or someone you know: 

Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize a power imbalance between new and other members of the group or team.  Subtle is termed as such because this type is often taken-for-granted or accepted as harmless.  Some examples of this type of hazing are:

  • Deception.
  • Demerits.
  • Requiring new members to perform duties not assigned to others.
  • Socially isolating new members.
  • Silence periods with implied threats for violation.
  • Line-ups and drills on meaningless information.
  • Name calling.
  • Requiring new members to refer to other members with titles, while they are identified with demeaning terms.
  • Expecting certain items to always be in one’s possession.

Harassment Hazing:  Behaviors that cause emotional anguish or physical discomfort in order to feel like part of the group.  It confuses, frustrates and causes undue stress for new membership.  Here are some examples:

  • Threats or implied threats.
  • Verbal abuse
  • Asking new members to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire.
  • Stunt or skit nights with degrading, crude, or humiliating acts.
  • New members being told to perform personal service to other members.
  • Sleep deprivation.
  • Sexual stimulation.
  • Depriving new members of bodily cleanliness.
  • Be expected to harass others.

Violent Hazing:  Behaviors that have the potential to cause physical and/or emotional, or psychological harm.  Some examples:

  • Forced or coerced drug or alcohol consumption.
  • Beating, paddling, or other forms of assault.
  • Branding.
  • Forced or coerced ingestion of vile substances or concoctions.
  • Burning.
  • Water intoxication.
  • Expecting new members to abuse or mistreat animals.
  • Public nudity.
  • Bondage.
  • Requiring illegal activity.
  • Exposure to cold weather or extreme heat without appropriate protection.
  • Abductions or kidnaps. 

The problem of hazing is very complex, with no “easy answers.”  Every individual has an important role to play in helping to solve the problem of hazing.  We all must build awareness and develop intervention strategies to eliminate harmful hazing.  There’s no group worth being in to go through this type of humiliation and possible injury.  Hazing extends far beyond college fraternities and sororities, school groups, athletic teams, bands, and the military.  The activities of these groups should concur with fraternal law, ritual or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution.   Educational institutions owe it to their students to ensure their safety.

Health Issues

OBESITY IN THE WORKPLACE

Obesity in the workplace is a part of a growing national trend, one that is getting larger at an alarming rate. The cost of obesity in the workplace is in the billions of dollars every year, due to the ill health of millions of employees. Companies who struggle with this problem and take a pro-active stance toward it will be ahead of the curve, not only by saving money, but providing a healthier workplace environment for their employees.

What weight is considered obese? 

  •       Persons who are 30 – 40 pounds overweight are considered obese.
  •       Severe obesity is 60 pounds overweight.
  •       Morbidly obese being 100 lbs. over normal weight.
  •       Super obese is 200 plus pounds overweight.

These classifications aren’t flattering, causing many overweight persons to feel that they are discriminated against because of their weight.  Race, gender, age, disability, religion, and now obesity are reasons that persons may feel  discriminated against. 

There can be many reasons for being overweight.  Some are genetic, caused by certain health issues, or lack of exercise, and eating unhealthy foods.  This problem is going to continue if our schools don’t serve healthy foods and require physical education for youngsters.  It should be a given that kids “get out and play an hour a day.”  Parents should strive to start their families out with a healthy breakfast, and choose fruits and vegetables rather than fast food on a regular basis.  It’s a proven fact that there are more obese youngsters than in past generations.

Regardless, no one should be bullied, harassed, or humiliated because of their size.  People that are obese have a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, gall bladder disease, lung and breathing problems, and early death.  As of now, Michigan is the only state that declares discrimination of this sort as illegal.  There are no federal laws making it illegal.  Some cities do, though.  Through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and courts, persons diagnosed with morbid obesity may be seen as disabled, thereby possibly being protected under the Americans with Disabilities Amended Act of 2008.

Companies can achieve having healthier and happier employees through weight-loss plans, employee wellness programs, and/or health club memberships.  Planning a better environment,  such as healthy snacks in vending machines, less fast foods in the cafeteria, and holding health fairs would be good for everyone.  The programs should not be targeted toward certain groups, in order to be nondiscriminatory, but to all employees, and those who wish to enroll may do so on a voluntary basis.  Start up a group walking program during lunch break. Wear a pedometer to see how  any steps you take in a work-day.  If it’s not very many, we need to step it up when we get home!  (The recommended number of daily steps is 10,000.)  You may be surprised at just how much  or little walking you actually do each day.   The Centers for Disease Control report that obesity can cause chronic health issues that equal twenty years of aging. 

Let’s start parking the car a little farther from work, walk up stairs rather than take an elevator, and encourage others to do the same.  If you have a friend or family member that is overweight, offer to go to a wellness center or take a daily walk with them.  Possibly, you can get them started on a healthy path, and reap the benefits, as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

BULLYING CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR ALL AGES

Probably everyone has had to deal with a bully at one time or another.  There’s always going to be someone making another person’s life miserable.  Almost like a disease without a cure, bullying often goes too far.  Too often, we hear about a teenager that has decided the only way to escape the torment of a bully is to commit suicide.  This needs to stop.

Definitions of a bully are, someone who:

(a) intimidates;

(b) threatens;

(c) frightens;

(d) terrorizes; and/or

(e) endangers.

Anyone who has encountered bullies can no doubt add other descriptions.  What can we as a society do about this problem?  Parents are the key.  By paying close attention to our kids, we can notice when they seem to be acting differently, and ask questions.  Many times a child won’t say that someone is harassing them, until it’s gone too far.  Place a confidential call to school officials to bring the problem to their attention.  If school administration or teachers are unable to curtail the situation, call law enforcement.

In the past, things like this happened on “mean streets.”  With cell phones, computers, and email chat rooms, the cyber world creates virtual “bad streets” everywhere!  Cowards hiding behind a computer or cell phone can make a person’s life miserable by spreading all sorts of rumors or making threats.

Then, there are some of the bullies left over from junior high, still out there, seeking attention the only way they know, by picking on someone else and trying to build themselves up by making others feel small.  (We’re talking about the workplace, now!) Here’s some advice for grown-ups and students to apply when encountering a bully:

  • Avoid this person as much as possible.
  • Develop self-control; don’t let them think they have the best of you.
  • Ignore them.
  • Talk to teachers, school administrators.  They have laws to follow to protect you.
  • Talk to your supervisor; your company should have policies that protect you.
  • Ask that security cameras be placed in areas that could deter these activities.
  • Keep a record.  It’s always good advice to document, document, document!
  • If it keeps up, make a formal complaint to management.
  • When that doesn’t work, seek legal advice.  Personal injury lawyers’ consultations are usually free.

This all goes back to parenting.  If parents know they are raising a bully, they should put a stop to it before it gets out of hand.  The damage that bullies can cause sometimes leaves a permanent scar on their victim.  We all must learn to behave toward others in a positive way.
Only then will we see a safer world.