Bullying

[Nashville]

I think this is cool...

Some of you may read a certain notorious Hollywood gossip columnist. He's notorious for being really biting, mean, a real bully. He gets into people's personal lives and business, tries to out people, and is just very cruel in general and puts a LOT of negativity out there. This has contributed to his site being one of the most read in the world.

He posted a video today that I found pretty inspiring. Given the rash of recent suicides due to bullying, harassment and stalking, he has decided to reformat his website on the basis of personal change and growth. He noted how even though his site may lose traffic, he would like to be the part of the change that he hopes to see in other people and has vowed to stop the cruelty and negativity on his part. He noted that as a man in his 30's who wants children, it's time to grow up and be a better person and role model.

I thought that was pretty cool. You seriously never know how your words and actions may affect someone else. It will be interesting to see how his articles change now, because he was one of the real major pioneers of online bullying... crazy.

 

[Kaleigh]

Perez Hilton?? I am glad he's going to change the tone of what he posts going forward.

BUT so much more needs to be done. This bullying is crazy. Kids are being brutalized and people look the other way. Makes me so sick. Can the teachers not see what is going on?? How about teaching the kids to have some empathy?? Parents try to do something and get told, we have this, don't worry.... And of course some parents don't act on the behalf of their kid... And then complain why did this happen??

Oh this topic needs pages and pages to cover what is going on..

 

[Nashville]

Yes. And it's not just kids, pretty much anyone with a computer can be stalked, violated, bullied... but for kids and teens especially... I don't know how they handle it. It's hard to understand when you're young that bullies have no real power and are just insecure people who are unhappy with their own lives. But when you're a kid or teen they seem so powerful.

 

[princesss]

I just watched that video - he looks like he'd been crying. Good for him for doing some self reflection and realizing he needs to change. I wish more people would.

 

[Nashville]

I just watched that video - he looks like he'd been crying. Good for him for doing some self reflection and realizing he needs to change. I wish more people would.

I agree. I started browsing his site a few years ago but it really became not fun when he started making fun of people's children (like the Gosselin kids and Adam Sandler's daughter and Sarah Jessica Parker's son). You have to be a pretty rude person to make fun of a child (and probably shouldn't have any children until you can practice better behavior). Kids are going online younger and younger these days. Can you imagine a 6 or 7 year old reading something derogatory about them on the internet? If he's really looking into parenthood it's a great thing that he's making changes now before he raises another child to be an internet bully.

I think this is a good thing that could make kids (and adults too) think twice about what they say to another human being. The lack of privacy, harassment and suicides have just been devastating. I'm liking the "It Gets Better" campaign as well...

 

[Autumnovember]

It's about time. I've been following him for a really long time and he was just getting worse and worse every single year. It was getting tiresome to read all of his negative comments. Him calling women whores and sluts was also getting VERY old. Let's hope he sticks to it.

 

[oranges]

it's one small step that everyone should take. self reflection is really important and the ability to say "hey I was wrong" is even more important. good for him.

 

[Cehrabehra]

it's all nice that he wants to change his tone now that he's famous, but I remember when his page was first coming out and there is no way he would have seen success playing it good.

 

[dragonfly411]

it's all nice that he wants to change his tone now that he's famous, but I remember when his page was first coming out and there is no way he would have seen success playing it good.

That's the sad part though. Why can't someone be a success playing it good? Why does everyone get such a kick out of cruelty?

 

[TravelingGal]

it's all nice that he wants to change his tone now that he's famous, but I remember when his page was first coming out and there is no way he would have seen success playing it good.

Oprah was totally tabloid too when she started. I remember the show where she decided she would be a "better" talk show host. That was the time where talk show hosts were jerry springing up like crazy!

 

[Nashville]

It will be interesting to see how it plays out and if he'll stick to his promise or revert back after a few months. Even more interesting, will his traffic/advertisements suffer? It's nice to see someone who makes a living off hostility choosing to be decent and respectful.

 

[Autumnovember]

I'll be on the site more often if he stops with his bullying. I used to be on it often and the nastier he got the less I visited his site. If anything, I actually think it will bring in more traffic.

 

[OUpearlgirl]

I'll be on the site more often if he stops with his bullying. I used to be on it often and the nastier he got the less I visited his site. If anything, I actually think it will bring in more traffic.

Ditto. I stopped checking his site regularly after he basically outted Lance Bass from N'sync. I just couldn't believe that someone who was himself gay, would gleefully out someone who was obviously trying to keep things quiet- for whatever reason. His comments were repulsive, so I started getting my shameful dose of celebrity gossip elsewhere.

He was also on Ellen this week, apologizing and saying he wished to move forward.

 

[Steel]

It will be interesting to see how it plays out and if he'll stick to his promise or revert back after a few months. Even more interesting, will his traffic/advertisements suffer? It's nice to see someone who makes a living off hostility choosing to be decent and respectful.

Me too. I felt that he went too far with the Miley Cryus incident and so I just stopped looking at his site. It was always the same anyway and I felt it was not the kind of site I felt I could have open in public. This will abslutely give him great publicity and this man knows how to sell his product. I doubt he makes any move that is not calculated. So I'm sure his advertising will actually increase; he stands only to gain more hits IMHO. But whatever his motive, if he is being more respectul then I will be glad to see it.

 

[Nashville]

It will be interesting to see how it plays out and if he'll stick to his promise or revert back after a few months. Even more interesting, will his traffic/advertisements suffer? It's nice to see someone who makes a living off hostility choosing to be decent and respectful.

Me too. I felt that he went too far with the Miley Cryus incident and so I just stopped looking at his site. It was always the same anyway and I felt it was not the kind of site I felt I could have open in public. This will abslutely give him great publicity and this man knows how to sell his product. I doubt he makes any move that is not calculated. So I'm sure his advertising will actually increase; he stands only to gain more hits IMHO. But whatever his motive, if he is being more respectul then I will be glad to see it.

I agree. Calling a 16 year old a slut is ridiculous. Plus calling Nicole Kidman's daughter "Sunday Roast" making fun of her name, and saying that Sadie Sandler is "One ugly kid" (I believe she was 2 when he made that comment). It probably is calculated, but could be a positive thing. Or maybe he just doesn't want to be responsible for someone suffering a breakdown as a result of online bullying. Remember how he constantly ripped Britney Murphy to shreds on his site right before she passed away.

 

[Amber St. Clare]

Perez Hilton?

He's a dirtbag

I'll believe it when I see it.