Cyber Bullying Needs to Stop

The other day I heard about and read the story about the death of Japanese pro wrestler Hana Kimura.  She committed suicide.  It stems from cyber bullying.  She was on a reality show on Netflix Japan.  From what I've read on Facebook, there was an incident on the show where Kimura slapped a guy for accidentally ruining her gear.  This is what lead to the cyber bullying, harassment, and abuse. The article doesn't say what happened on the show that lead to this.  Apparently the abuse was so bad that people went as far as to kill herself.  That's what she ended up doing. We don't want it to be real, but it is all too real.  It is a problem on major social media platforms.

Even though most people have been sending their condolences to her family, friends, and fans; there are still some people saying disgusting and vile things in regards to her death.  Former WWF superstar and one of the early divas Tammy Sytch aka Sunny made a post on her personal Facebook.  She said some pretty shitty things.  Here is the screenshot of her post which I saw on Twitter.

This is a garbage take from a garbage person.  Her reputation proceeds her.  This post just adds to it.  She used Hana's death to make herself look like the bigger person because she rose above the cyberbullying, abuse, harassment, etc..  Really?  So she has never thought about killing herself.  Does she want a cookie ?  You would think since she has gone through the same thing that she would be empathetic.  Considering who we are talking about, why would she?  Seems like she wanted an ego boost hence this post.  Does she want people to kiss her ass or something?   That last bit makes no sense at all.  It took bullies for her to make money.  Right...  Getting people to pay to see her naked and do things on Skype isn't something to brag about.  She really doesn't want to ruin her trashy reputation.  Trashy is putting it nicely.

I checked her personal Facebook and the post is gone.  It's no surprise that it is gone.  I had to rant.  It's just enraging when people who have experienced the same thing are like this.  Oh and it's convenient she said this considering Hana's recent death.  Ugh.

Some platforms are doing much better in trying to combat this than others.  But the platform with the most criticism for it's long history of cyberbullying, abuse, harassment, etc. is Twitter.  Even though they've said in the past they are going to do something about it.  In the past they've announced and rolled out tools to combat this, but they do nothing to address the core issue.  Those tools just sweep it under the rug so you can't see it unless you actively search for the abusive tweets

Twitter needs a major overhaul. Those tools they've rolled out over the years are not doing anything to reduce the abuse on its platform.  But they won't admit it.  Social media as a whole needs to keep doing more.  The cyberbullying, harassment, abuse, etc. will always be around in some form or another.  The point, it's needs to be curbed.  Even though Twitter is one of the worst, there is always more social media platforms can and should do.


Posting, tweeting, uploading. and snapping videos, pictures, and other things are can be seen as the the modern suicide note.  All of Hana's tweets and pictures before her death were that or so one could say.  The world can see them at a moment's notice.  It's something you don't want to see.  You never want to see someone in pain.  It's unfortunate that it had to end the way it did.

I read on article on Forbes (it has good points about the topic it covered regardless of what I think about Forbes) and one quote is not just in relation to child abuse and Snapchat that the article was addressing.  It works for all forms of abuse online.

"We cannot wait for the next tragedy before tech companies are made to act."

It's true.  We can't wait for the next tragedy before social media platforms do something or do more.  But tragedies are occurring and these platforms are still not doing enough.  Again, it's not going to stop and the abuse will be around in some form online.  It shouldn't be.  I cannot emphasize enough tech companies and social media need to do more.

Hana Kimura was only 22-year-old.  Sure you might think she was too young.  In reality, age is can be seen as irrelevant.  Suicide at any age is terrible.  She has a bright in wrestler.  Now we'll never know how far should could have gone in her career.

The sentiment of being nicer to each is being echoed all over the world.  It's true, we need to be nicer to each other and not just online.  But the reality is it's easier to be negative and hateful.  You can't say you've never been hateful.  If you say you haven't, you're a liar.  It's something we need to work on.  Sure it will be hard, but in the end you will be better for it.  I will be better for it.

Hopefully the people who said all those things that drove Hana to suicide feel some sort of guilt and remorse.  The old adage is "it's not what you say but how you say it."  There are times where that is true.  But when you are going as far as to tell someone to kill themselves, the intent is clear.  I don't understand how someone can tell someone online to kill themselves.  What's worse is they would never say that to someone's face.  They hide behind keyboards thinking they are bulletproof and they don't have to be held accountable for their words.  That couldn't be further from the truth.

This debate and conversation about abuse online in it's many forms will rage on.  It's touchy subject that will always need addressing.  For now, that's all I am going to say about this.

Rest in peace, Hana.   I hope you are now resting easy.  Condolences to her family and friends.  Peace be with them.  Godspeed.