Concerns raised over cyberbullying in Harts

[The Straight Story]

Concerns raised over cyberbullying in Harts
The Harts Forum can be found at the www.topix.net Website. (Lincoln Journal image)


HARTS (WV) - A number of callers to The Lincoln Journal's offices have expressed concern over what one termed "cyberbullying" at a news and information Website.

The site, www.topix.net, is a news aggregator site, where stories for a particular locality or ZIP code can be found from a number of different media outlets.

If the ZIP 25523 is entered, the site presents news stories relevant to the Hamlin area, including stories from The Lincoln Journal and Charleston Gazette. Similarly, if Harts or its ZIP code is entered at the site, news stories particular to Harts are returned.
However, it is the comments feature at the site that has some individuals concerned. An online comment left at www.lincolnjournal.com in recent weeks read:

I just wanted to let the Harts Middle School and some parents know what has been happening on this Website http://www.topix.com/forum/city/harts-wv. I think its a shame what some of your children are doing to other kids on there....

Some recent examples of polls and topics up for discussion include:

•What do you think about cheerleaders? Replies to this question ranged from "Some of them are ok" to "Personally I think there (sic) stuck up snobs...well most of them are anyway."

•Who are the fatiest (sic) girls girls at HMS? This is one of the many polls posted by users at the site. This particular poll was posted by someone calling themselves "boss69" on Monday, December 15. The poll lists 10 names, all girls, presumably all students. By late Monday, 47 individuals had cast their vote in the poll. The poll also allows comments. While most of the comments were specific to the topic, one individual posted a lengthy comment warning posters about the consequences of posting such polls and remarks.

•Do you think xxx or xxx is HOTTER? The names of the two students have been omitted here. Five individuals commented on that topic, two of whom suggested the poll was unfair ("This is dumb" and "They are all pretty").
•Who are the ugliest boys at HMS?
•Who is the nerdiest girl in Harts Middle School?

http://tinyurl.com/7u7g39

They wouldn't last a minute in the lounge or GD:Primaries :rofl: