(Dr Abe Carmichael is Head of Psychology, Coolabar University)
View: Dr Carmichael seeks to draw attention to the terrible consequences of cyberbullying and urges parents to be more attentive to its symptoms.
Technique: Dr Carmichael introduces his article with a real-life experience of the girl who committed suicide. The girl is portrayed as a sorry and sad victim who became extremely depressed because of the taunts aimed at her. The purpose is to provoke sympathy for the girl whose life was so miserable. Also, the anecdote helps to establish the author’s credibility and show that he cares for the victims of cyberbullying. In so doing, he challenges us to show the same amount of care. Also another purpose of the real-life story is to alarm parents at the terrible consequences and show that it can happen to anyone.
View: Dr Abe Carmichael states that the bullies are deliberately mean and seek to harm their victims in very spiteful ways.
(Tone/ technique): In a judgemental tone, Dr Carmichael uses negative words to attack the bullies and to depict (portray/characterise) them as cowards and as people who lack moral values. They are “gutless, masked sissies and poisonous vipers”. The purpose is to provoke the public’s anger and to show just how mean these people can be. Accordingly, the author seeks to isolate these bullies and to encourage parents to take action to protect their children. Parents are likely to be receptive to (listen to) his advice that they should communicate more openly with their children.
Appeals and purpose:
Emotional appeals:
- Emotive words such as “taunted and teased” increase our sympathy
- The author’s reference to the fact that “the abuse never switches off” shows the reader how difficult it is for the victim to withstand the stress of the taunts.
- The author arouses our sympathy by describing the unfortunate experiences of the girl who has been “taunted and teased”
- The fact that the neighbour “concocted a false online identity” reveals that such people are manipulative and mean.
- The fact that it became a “bit of a game” for the neighbour reveals her flippant nature and desire to be harm.
- The reference to the suicide is also bound to raise parent’s anxiety.
- Dr Carmichael seeks to isolate and shame the bullies by portraying them as particularly mean and cowardly.
- The author describes the offenders using emotively-charged words such as “gutless, masked sissies and poisonous vipers” to show their mean-spiritedness.
- The author also fosters ill-will (directs the reader’s indignation) towards the bullies by suggesting that they are deliberately manipulative, and simply want to “mess with” their victims. They are depicted as people who enjoy taunting and disturbing others.
- Although the effect is “mind altering and mind boggling” the bullies seem to escape unharmed.
- The author appeals to parents to show responsibility when he states that “every child…
- The author appeals to the child’s right to a safe environment and encourages parents to provide a “safe and harmonious environment”
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