"I want to see you suffer as slow and painful a death as
possible"
Julianne was a victim of persistent verbal and physical bullying at school,
but even at home she couldn’t escape her tormentors, as they continued their
assault over the internet.
Julianne’s ordeal started with a simple argument after a basketball game.
One girl continued to bully her, and the problem escalated from name-calling to
physical assaults. However, the incidences were not limited to the confines of
the school, and the bullying continued outside of school.
Although the school acknowledged that there was a problem, their solution was
for separate teachers to escort Julianne and her tormentor whenever they were at
school so they did not cross paths. Undeterred, the bully turned her attention
to tormenting Julianne’s younger brother and threatening their dumbfounded
mother outside the school gates, sitting on the bonnet of her car and hurling
abuse at her.
The bullying did not stop there, and the bullies continued to attack Julianne
online. At the peak of her torture, when she was 15, Julianne received a series
of vicious messages and online postings via her MySpace profile. One of the
most vitriolic read “I just want you to know what a fat, evil, sadistic cow you
are. I want to see you suffer as slow and painful a death as possible.” The
bully’s message of insults and threats ran to over a page.
When Julianne began receiving anonymous insults and threats via MySpace, she
contacted one of Beatbullying’s Directors. Julianne became withdrawn, angry and
upset. Each time Julianne received an abusive message online, she would contact
Beatbullying with a copy of the message, and the charity was able to offer
support and advice.
Over a significant period of time, Beatbullying persuaded Julianne to tell
her learning mentor. Ultimately, with the support of her learning mentor and
Beatbullying, Julianne was able to overcome her experiences. The learning
mentor had an idea of who the perpetrator might be, and the messages
stopped.
Julianne continued to work with Beatbullying and her confidence grew. She
has now changed schools and has no contact with her bully, but continues to work
with Beatbullying to increase awareness of bullying and help others that are
experiencing similar problems to those that she was able to overcome.
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