Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-3006074-20131231073352/@comment-8-20140101235204

I'll answer here, as I think it's a useful topic for others to see too.

Yes, there have been some extreme cases in the past where online harassment and bullying have had tragic results. And some of those have resulted in the bullies getting into trouble with the police. It's important to think about what you say, and how you say it. Being nice to others makes a big difference online... and offline too of course.

One problems is that people sometimes don't think of online as "real life". So they think that being nasty here doesn't really matter, it's "only online". But online is just an extension of offline. And what is said and done here is just as real and can have very real consequences.

That said, not all interactions described as "bullying" or "harassment" actually are those things. Cyberbullying exists and is a serious thing, but I have seen very mild comments or simple disagreements described as harassment - things that I would consider well below the level requiring staff (or even admin) intervention. The target of the comments may be genuinely upset and hurt but at the same time that doesn't mean that every comment that upsets people is cyberbullying.

However, if you see someone being attacked, remember that you can contact staff and we will look into the situation. We may not interpret the situation the same way you do - especially if the conversation is a two-sided argument, but we will do our best to be fair to all sides. If you contact us, then you will need to include clear links to the abuse - if you don't link it, we probably won't see it!

And if you are feeling attacked, the best place to start is by talking to the person concerned. Or if that's not possible, to an admin on the wiki. You should also consider taking a break from the conversation, either by doing something else online or even by (dramatic music) going offline for a while. Sometimes a breather can give you another perspective on the conversation.

Ultimately, if you feel threatened or the situation becomes very bad, then you should talk to a parent or someone else trusted offline, or contact your local authorities.

I also want to mention a few things about suicide

If you think someone online is in serious danger from themselves, you should contact your local authorities (or, if you are under 18, talk to your parents or another responsible adult).

It's also good to suggest that the person calls the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-8255 (see also http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/Default.aspx). If they aren't in the USA, you can point them to the international directory at http://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres.

And, of course, you can always contact us any time you are concerned about someone on a wiki.

I should also mention that suicide and suicidal thoughts are always serious, and never something to say as a joke or as a way to try to manipulate others. If someone falsely claims to feel suicidal in order to get their way ("do this or...") then that is very bad and could actually be a form of bullying in itself!

But in most cases this isn't the motivation and someone talking about suicide is likely to be genuinely distressed. The advice above should help and, again, please remember you can always contact us if something on Wikia worries you