Cyber Bullying: A Look At Linda Nyangweso,Vera Sidika And Miss Kenya Cases

Unless you are a god, we have all encountered bullies once in a while, but the worst kind of bullies have got to be cyber bullies. They hide behind they screen like cowards, after all it is easier to be mean when you are anonymous. Most of these bullies unfortunately do not have the balls to tell you such things face to face, they just type away unnecessary insults for their entertainment completely disregarding your feelings or the repercussions of their actions.

Cyber bullying is an unfortunate habit in Kenya with people like Linda Nyangweso, Miss Tourism Kakamega 2013,Susan Mirfat and Vera Sidika being a few of the victims. The bullies call it Roasting and you do not have to mess Up to be a victim, you can just be a normal person minding your own business and they attack you just because you called yourself the Cutest KOT. So what if you call yourself the Cutest Kenyan On Twitter? Is having a self esteem a problem now? And how does someone calling themselves the Cutest Kenyan on Twitter affect your life? Do you fail to eat just because someone has called themselves the best thing since sliced bread?

Unfortunately most of us just watch on the sideline as  someone gets mowed over by strangers which is terrible. To quote one Desmond Tutu “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”

Desmond Tutu

I’m Glad one Julie Gichuru Spoke out against Cyber Bullying after Susan Mirfat was viciously trolled into Stardom thanks to a Tujuane date gone wrong. Julie had this to say “The current hideous and relentless online bullying of a young lady for a choreographed tv show is simply sad. We must reject #bullying”

Despite Julie campaigning against bullying yet another victim was thrown under the bus, Linda Nyangweso. She was bullied over her weight completely disregarding her feelings Linda did not take this lying down and her response was a classic:

First *Linda Nyangweso*-not my name. Second: thank you for exposing your ugliness and pettiness behind your pseudonyms and trying to dampen my shine. it’s cool though #nothingbutlove .believe it or not, me being a big girl isn’t exactly news let alone Kenya’s best kept secret. I have a music video and guess what, I’m in it .I have a facebook profile and guess what, I’m on it. In full view of the world. Unashamed and beautifully and wonderfully made. I really could keep going but why should I? I’ve got bigger things to do and I am on the Christ side of life and I am way too blessed to stress. Third: if me waking up in the morning and loving who I am offends you, well tough! #gonnakeepshinning #wwjd #kiss100

Beauty queens have not also been left behind with Miss Tourism Kakamega and Miss Kenya being ridiculed for not being ‘beautiful enough to be a miss something’. Socialites have not been spared either with Huddah and Vera Sidika being some of the common victims. But these girls sure know how to handle their detractors with Huddah serving them with attitude and Vera Sidika poking fun at herself too till her detractors got bored of mocking her and started sucking up.

So how do you handle cyber bullying? How do you handle negative opinions from people who do not know you?

I have had my share of bullying in my life and to be honest it was a terrible time that is until I was reminded that you should not listen to opinions of depressing strangers hiding behind a keyboard. The opinions of your friends and family are the ones that matter. Negative opinions of a person who is nobody to you should not be held in high regard, if you can, ignore them. But if they become rampant and you can no longer ignore them seek professional help to help you deal with it or speak to someone who knows you and cares about you.And to the bullies: