Originally posted by: SixteenAgain
Dear All,
I am not completely sure if this is the right forum to share these thoughts, but have decided to, considering that a lot of the readers of this FF are youngsters.
Few days back, a teenage daughter of a school friend committed suicide. The family is extremely shocked to find out that she was a victim of cyber bullying and blackmail. I do not know the details, but apparently the girl had shared some photos with a guy she had met in some chatroom. The guy/man was now blackmailing her that he would share them over social media sites and apps.
In today’s world, where we all form so many virtual friendships and relationships, it will always be a very big challenge to not run into some manipulative and cruel people. Some of us are more trusting or gullible than others.
We will never know what exactly she must have gone through; extreme fear, shame, disillusionment, guilt and despair, probably just to name a few. Her parents had warned her against the dangers of sharing too much information online, but it still happened. What she should have realised was, irrespective of her having a serious lapse in judgement and landing in this situation, her family would have stood by her. Her parents would probably have been angry, shocked and maybe disappointed too, but they would not have stopped loving her and would have tried to understand her.
I have a young daughter, and time and again, I try to impress upon her that no mistake of hers will be too big for us to not move beyond. None of us can go through life, without making a lot of mistakes, both big and small. But, these blunders do not define us and should not dictate the entire course of your life. Learning from our various mistakes and not committing them again and again is important. Sometimes our only mistake is trusting the wrong person, and it should not cost our life.
Please, always remember, you are all much bigger than one or more of your mistakes. Even if your parents are not able to articulate it or do not say it often, you are the centre of their universes and existence. Please do not give into despair and do share your problems with your parents or any other adult that you trust. It is our role and responsibility as a parent, to protect you and fight for you, till you can stand very strong and fight all your battles. Also, as much as you might value your friend’s privacy, sometimes it’s important to seek help for a friend from another adult or the right authority figure. It could literally make the difference between life and death.
I am sorry, if some of you do not like this post, but I feel compelled to share these thoughts in the hope that someone will learn and benefit from this.
I have not made a lot of progress on the current update and will not be able to share it this week. Will share it next week.
Lots of love, May
May,
This is indeed a very correct place to share such note. I am glad that u did it. I am feeling very pity for girls parents, may her soul rest in peace n her parents get strength to bear this pain n loss of their.
Well being mother of daughter it already giving me goosebumps. Not only this note of yourz will enlighten young teenagers but also young mom like us. Where we shd assure our child wid our gesture n words that no matter what we will be there with u, if u fall in wrong company, plz come n let us know. We may b angry wid u but will be with u.
I DNT want to lecture here but will definitely want to share my pov, sometimes it's lack of communication, which leads to accident n here is my learning too.
Thnks a lot to share here, n open many of our eyes.
Regards, sakina