13 Reasons Why Aftermath
So I jumped on the Netflix bingewatch bandwagon and started watching 13 Reasons Why and I have to say, I didn't think that it would affect me so profoundly. But it has.
I didn't know much about the show before I started watching but I've sat here for ages absolutely hooked. And it's not just because it's a well-written show, it's because it's real. It happens. The suicide rates, especially amongst our youth, are only further proof that it happens. These are not just statistics. These are real people with real hurts that are so painful that they cannot see past them. The victims are real. And you might think that it doesn't affect you, but it does.
We've all been the victims of others. Of words. Of rumours. Of bullying. Everything we do has the potential to affect others, be it good or bad. Everything we do has consequences.
The rise of social networking only helped open further the door of social humiliation, social harassment and social harm. It's so easy to sit behind a screen and say things that we'd never imagine ever saying in person. Our phones and computers become filters, that blur out reality. We judge each other on a daily basis without even really recognising that we're doing it. Remember those photos that made the rounds here on Facebook? The ones of socially-deemed unattractive people where you were asked to tag their "boyfriends" or "girlfriends" in an attempt to humiliate your friends and create laughter. Now think about how it would feel if you were the victims, not the tagged ones, the photographed ones. If you tagged or shared any of those photos, you perpetuated bullying. You became a bully. And most of you wouldn't have even thought twice about it, because you were safe behind the screens not confronting the reality of your actions.
Every day people are ending their own lives. As if disease and war and famine weren't enough to contend with, we are now forced to face a terminal epidemic. One of which we've constructed ourselves. In our cultures, schools, families, workplaces, society. Suicide is upon the human race, and statistically speaking, the rate of which it devours cannot be foreshadowed by even cancer. Suicide is a black cloud that grows thicker and darker and all-consuming every minute of every day. But the good news is, and yes there is good news even if it be a little cheesy, the sun always comes out after the rain has passed.
So rather than turn a blind eye, rather than stay blissfully ignorant or naively misguided, start talking about suicide. Start thinking about the reactions your actions can create. Start thinking about others. How you might hurt them. How your words might push them over the edge. How your attitudes might neglect their basic human right just to live without fear or judgement.
Life can be hard enough without making it any harder. We are all on this planet together whether we like it or not, therefore we have the power to affect every single living human being that exists on it. We have the power to help or hinder. Don't ever forget that beyond your screen is another screen, with a person with very real feelings sitting behind it.
If you see someone being bullied, stand up for them. Don't let them believe that they're standing up on that ledge alone, because it's a lot easier to jump when there is no one telling you not to.
Until next time,
Ruby xx
I didn't know much about the show before I started watching but I've sat here for ages absolutely hooked. And it's not just because it's a well-written show, it's because it's real. It happens. The suicide rates, especially amongst our youth, are only further proof that it happens. These are not just statistics. These are real people with real hurts that are so painful that they cannot see past them. The victims are real. And you might think that it doesn't affect you, but it does.
We've all been the victims of others. Of words. Of rumours. Of bullying. Everything we do has the potential to affect others, be it good or bad. Everything we do has consequences.
The rise of social networking only helped open further the door of social humiliation, social harassment and social harm. It's so easy to sit behind a screen and say things that we'd never imagine ever saying in person. Our phones and computers become filters, that blur out reality. We judge each other on a daily basis without even really recognising that we're doing it. Remember those photos that made the rounds here on Facebook? The ones of socially-deemed unattractive people where you were asked to tag their "boyfriends" or "girlfriends" in an attempt to humiliate your friends and create laughter. Now think about how it would feel if you were the victims, not the tagged ones, the photographed ones. If you tagged or shared any of those photos, you perpetuated bullying. You became a bully. And most of you wouldn't have even thought twice about it, because you were safe behind the screens not confronting the reality of your actions.
Every day people are ending their own lives. As if disease and war and famine weren't enough to contend with, we are now forced to face a terminal epidemic. One of which we've constructed ourselves. In our cultures, schools, families, workplaces, society. Suicide is upon the human race, and statistically speaking, the rate of which it devours cannot be foreshadowed by even cancer. Suicide is a black cloud that grows thicker and darker and all-consuming every minute of every day. But the good news is, and yes there is good news even if it be a little cheesy, the sun always comes out after the rain has passed.
So rather than turn a blind eye, rather than stay blissfully ignorant or naively misguided, start talking about suicide. Start thinking about the reactions your actions can create. Start thinking about others. How you might hurt them. How your words might push them over the edge. How your attitudes might neglect their basic human right just to live without fear or judgement.
Life can be hard enough without making it any harder. We are all on this planet together whether we like it or not, therefore we have the power to affect every single living human being that exists on it. We have the power to help or hinder. Don't ever forget that beyond your screen is another screen, with a person with very real feelings sitting behind it.
If you see someone being bullied, stand up for them. Don't let them believe that they're standing up on that ledge alone, because it's a lot easier to jump when there is no one telling you not to.
Until next time,
Ruby xx
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